36. Hoary Stock – Meaning Bonds of Affection Lasting Beauty You’ll always be beautiful to me
36
HOARY STOCK
(TEN WEEK STOCK)
MEANING: BONDS OF AFFECTION; LASTING BEAUTY; YOU’LL ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL TO ME
OCEAN
________
I didn’t know how celebrities did it. No one told you how fucking bright those lights on the red carpet were. Because holy shit, it felt like my eyes were filled with rainbows because of the lights and all the flashes.
The dress they put me in fit perfectly. Purple, just like the collection, but trending towards violet. A deep neckline showed almost too much cleavage, but with the stunning underwear set they gave me, I was supported, and nothing hurt.
Makeup and hair and dressing was a whirlwind. Now I knew why the woman—I never managed to catch her name—had been panicked. Everything took longer than I thought it would. But as soon as I was ready, I was being swept downstairs with my husbands in tuxedos.
If I hadn’t already known what they looked like naked, I would say it should be their daily wardrobe. Because it came second, but it was a close fucking second.
What I’d thought was a red carpet was actually a purple carpet, and I was surrounded by famous people. Literally famous people. An actress named Clarissa waved at us. Or rather, she waved at my husbands.
I found myself stepping closer to Cameron and taking his hand. He took it a step further and put his arm fully around my waist. I felt his smile as he kissed my temple. It was almost our turn on the carpet. “Jealous, wife?”
“No,” I lied. “I know you had a life before me.”
Cameras clicked in our direction as he bent to speak in my ear. Chills rose on my skin and my eyes fluttered closed. It wasn’t fair how simply being close to them could make me feel like this. The scent of lemons and sugar curled around me like a physical embrace. “I like you jealous. I want you as possessive as the three of us feel. As for Clarissa, she did some modeling campaigns for Cheria . That’s all we know her from. Nothing more.”
Pleasure and relief swirled down my spine, and I stood straighter. “Good.”
He laughed quietly.
We were stepping on the carpet when I panicked. “I don’t know how to pose.”
“You don’t have to pose, princess. You’re perfect.”
Unease rose under my skin, knowing that the pictures very well might not be perfect. But it would be okay. I was who I was, and whether or not a picture was flattering didn’t matter to who I was or how they felt about me. They’d already seen all of me.
Micah took my hand and kissed the back of it. A wave of light crashed over us with all the flashes. “Ready?”
“No?”
“We’ve got you,” Cam said.
It was only a few feet of distance, but it felt like a mile. The noise was now a physical force, questions being hurled at all sides. This was more than a product launch, I realized. It was a press event of all kinds. A way for the rich and famous to see and be seen and also to advertise for the brand. All their brands. Since myself and others were wearing their clothes.
Maybe next time I could design the flowers.
I stopped that thought in its tracks.
“Cameron,” someone shouted. A male voice. “You’re on your honeymoon?”
“Almost. First, we have to spend the evening with all of you.”
A female voice now. “How is marriage treating the DuPont pack?”
In response, Micah lifted my hand to kiss it again, making me smile. The wave of light in response didn’t even bother me while I was looking at him. “Very well,” he said. “It’s going very well.”
We moved down the carpet, being asked various things. There were a few questions I caught wind of that weren’t kind, and I just as swiftly saw Everett mark them, and I saw someone pulled out by security.
Turning, I reached for his hand, taking a turn with him next to me. “You don’t have to kick out everyone who has a mean question.”
“Watch me, little nymph.”
I tried to squash the smile and failed. “Don’t alienate someone who could be good for your business.”
Everett snorted inelegantly and glared in the direction the reporter had been taken. “Fuck them. There’s not a reporter in the world that can break our business. We don’t need them, and I won’t tolerate bullies. Or assholes. Every single one of our companies tries to be inclusive. Why should there be reporters here who don’t value that?”
Tears blurred my eyes, and I blinked them away. Not only so the cameras didn’t see, but so I didn’t ruin the beautiful makeup I had on. Rett’s face softened. “Are you all right?”
I swallowed. “It’s just nice to hear someone say those things and actually mean them. It’s not just words with you.”
“Never just words.” His gaze strayed downward to the way my breasts pushed against the gown, nearly touching his chest. “Have I mentioned how fucking incredible you look?”
“No.”
“You do. Micah has the right idea, wanting to design a whole collection for you.”
“ Everett . The three of you have barely been seen with women in the past. Is it because you have a fat girl fetish?”
My husband’s head snapped up so fast there were gasps. In a single breath he went from my husband to the predator that had built a worldwide empire. I felt the visceral rage that built under his skin.
Cameron and Micah were with him, searching the crowd for the source of the question. But they kept their rage leashed. Barely.
Everett growled. “Where is he? I’m going to beat him into the ground.”
I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Everett. Look at me.” He didn’t. “Husband?”
That word got through and he looked down, anger pouring through his gaze. “Don’t attack him. Kick him out if you want, but don’t touch him. I need you for the rest of the honeymoon, not in a Venisian jail.”
One long, harsh breath out through his nose, and he closed his eyes before pulling me closer, gluing me to his side with an arm. “Fine,” he muttered, inhaling me. “I’ll murder him later.”
“No murdering,” I teased him.
“Yet.”
I just shook my head with a smile. The way he jumped to my defense sent delicious heat shivering along my bones. I loved it, but I also told the truth: I didn’t want him to hurt anyone and I didn’t want him in jail.
At the end of the carpet there was a reporter with a camera and a microphone. Her dress sparkled in the lights. “Is this normal?”
Rett sounded closer to normal when he spoke. “Is what normal?”
“All of this. It’s brilliant, don’t get me wrong. But this isn’t a movie premiere. All the press and interviews for a sex toy company seems… I don’t know.”
One side of his mouth pulled up into a grin. “Yes and no. We host events like this when we can because they work. People love wearing things they’ve seen on famous people, and they love the idea of using the same toys as their celebrity crushes. We’ve never done one for Extasis, but there’s an added benefit to this one.”
“What’s that?”
“You.”
I flushed. “Why me?”
“The whole reason our board wanted us to marry is because they, incorrectly, think we have a branding problem and aren’t family friendly enough. So while having this now was convenient for the honeymoon, it’s also a big fuck you to them. Having our first public appearance with our wife be for a brand that’s all about pleasure.”
The word pleasure rolled off his tongue and made promises that spoke of silk and darkness and shared breaths.
“You’re a bit devious.”
“You have no idea, little nymph.”
He pulled me around so I was standing in the middle of the three of them in front of the camera and the lights.
Cameron leaned in and whispered, “Her name is Layla.”
“Finally,” the reporter said with a laugh. “I think we’ve all been waiting for this moment tonight. The DuPont pack. Our creators of the hour. Without you, none of us would be here. Congratulations on the launch of the new Extasis line.”
Cam was the one who spoke. “Thank you so much. We’re happy to be here celebrating with everyone.”
“And of course, we can’t ignore the news. You’re recently married. Congratulations again. And welcome.” Her eyes fell on me. “Are you wearing your husbands’ designs, Ocean?”
“Thank you,” I said, nerves making my voice sound smaller than I wanted it to. “And yes, I am. It’s part of the larger Caesura collection. My wedding dress was Caesura as well.”
Micah leaned forward and smirked at me. “She’s wearing Cheria too, but that’s only for us to see.”
My face must have turned a cherry red, because Cameron kissed my cheek with a low chuckle.
“Now, I have to ask,” Layla said. “There’s been a lot of press coverage talking about how this is an unconventional match. There are even rumors that your wedding was hiding a scandal. This is a chance to clear that up. Are the rumors true? What do you say to people who question your relationship?”
“There’s no scandal or secret,” Everett said. “I know that won’t be enough for most of the press, but it’s true. They’ll keep digging, but there’s nothing to find. As for your other question, we’re not even going to dignify it with a response. It’s offensive, both to us and to our wife.”
I froze, but tried to make it seem like the question didn’t bother me. “Careful,” I faked a laugh and put a hand on Everett’s arm. “He’s been kicking people out left and right for questions like that.”
He smiled down at me. This time, the smile was sharp. The ruthless Alpha who would stop at nothing.
The reporter tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “But surely you understand the questions? You three are— excuse me, were , one of the world’s most eligible packs. You’ve been connected with many women and Omegas over the years, and now you’re off the market.” The way she let the words hang made the unsaid words read. They were off the market with a nobody, and someone who looked like me.
Should I say something? I wanted to, but at the same time, defending myself against something like that would feel shallow. Like I was desperate.
But I didn’t have to. Everett took a small step forward. “Ocean Elise Correa Caldwell is our Omega and our wife. That’s the only statement we’ll make on the matter.” He turned me to him and kissed me the way he’d kissed me in the hotel lobby earlier. Unashamed and deep. His tongue tangled with mine to the point of indecency, showing the world in no uncertain terms what he thought of their questions.
He stole my breath. Owned it. Gave it back before he stole it all over again.
“Thank you, Layla. Enjoy the rest of the event.” I heard Micah say it from outside myself. Because everything in me is still wrapped up in Everett.
He pulled me away and into the entrance of the venue, which was still the hotel, just entered a different way into a big ballroom decorated in purple and gold. Fabric dripped down the walls in sumptuous columns, and the lights were low. It gave the room a sensual glow. Light music pulsed beneath the hum of the crowd.
Cocktail tables dotted the space, and waiters circulated with drinks and finger foods. It was everything Laura wanted the Caldwell Gala to be but had never quite gotten right.
The atmosphere was so much lighter in here, despite the darkness of the room. Because we were out of the sight of the press, and everyone was suddenly being more themselves.
Cam and Micah wandered further into the party, but I glanced up at Everett, who still had me glued to his side. “How’s my lipstick?”
“Not ruined enough for me.”
A soft whine rose from me, and I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety or arousal. I felt both. “Rett.”
“Fuck, I love the way you say my name, little nymph.” But he stopped and looked at me, running his thumb below my lower lip. That single movement didn’t have any right to be as hot as it was. “Good as new.”
“Thank you. Not just for the lipstick.”
I felt more than heard his purr beneath the noise of the room. “If I have anything to say about it, that woman will not report on any more of our events. That was more than inappropriate, and I’m sure whichever outlet she’s with, I can’t remember, will agree with me.”
The sleeves of his tuxedo did little to hide the muscles beneath as I smoothed my hands down his arms. “Promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t get her fired.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Why not?”
“Because she’s not wrong. People are asking those questions. And even if she shouldn’t have asked them to us , it’s still her job.”
Everett shook his head slowly, but that tiny smile was still there. “You’re too kind, little nymph. Most of these people don’t deserve it.”
“Please?”
“Anything for my Omega,” he murmured, kissing my forehead.
I whined again, craving that nameless feeling I had whenever they claimed me as theirs.
“Now,” he said, turning me toward the room, and where Cameron and Micah waited. “I have some people I want to meet our wife.”