Chapter Seventeen
Oren
“I’m not wearing a mask,” Noble marveled, his voice wobbling a little. “Are you sure you want to be seen with me like this? I mean I—”
A sharp spank to his bottom stopped him right there. “Don’t you even consider talking badly about my omega. The nicest, sweetest, handsomest male in the place. Hell, in the city.”
“You like me. I get it, but I still have a lot of scars.”
“Yes, and they are part of you. So, unless you have some sort of removal surgery planned that is going to change the face I already love—which I am not thrilled about because surgery is dangerous and might not turn out the way you hope—I think you’d better settle down and let me appreciate you.”
Noble handed his phone to the foyer submissive, but mine stayed in my pocket. Couldn’t say I hated not having to leave it with someone else. “Yes, alpha mine.” He gave me a small grin, and the subbie turned from stowing his phone, startled.
“Noble, it’s you. Hi. How are things?”
They spoke for a moment about their jobs and the weather, ordinary things, while I watched, loving the fact that he seemed relaxed. It wasn’t until we walked into the main room and headed for the conversation area that he repeated, “I’m not wearing a mask.”
I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time he said it. But before I decided whether he needed a response, Gatlin waved from where he sat with his omega and we headed in that direction. “Hi. Are you two here to play tonight?”
“Nope.” I sat on the sofa opposite at right angles to Gatlin’s and pulled Noble down next to me. “We are here to chill. Right, omega mine?”
“Y-yes.” Shoot. He’d made it this far in pretty good shape, but the nerves were coming back. I wanted to make him feel better, but somehow my alpha greatness was failing me.
And then, Shaw came to the rescue. “Noble, I didn’t know you were mated. Congratulations.” He stood from his alpha’s lap and came to plop down on Noble’s other side. “I want details.”
To my pleasure and amazement, as they began to converse, I felt the tension ease out of my omega’s body where he leaned against me.
Shaw was the best listener ever, wanting to know more and acting as if our love story rivaled any he’d ever read or seen in a movie.
Then, because my omega was the best, he said, “I don’t even know how you and your mate got together.
Gatlin tapped my arm and tilted his head. “I think they’re fine for the moment, so why don’t we go to the bar and get drinks. We’re shorthanded for servers tonight.”
“Is that something an owner should volunteer to do?”
“Only in desperate circumstances and never on date night.”
I followed him away, pausing to look back. “He really is okay, isn’t he?”
“Seems so.”
“Shaw is a great friend. I’m so grateful for his helping like this.” We joined the line at the bar and waited our turn.
“He wouldn’t consider it helping. He’s said for a long time that he wished Noble would stop wearing that mask. It looks hot and hard to breathe in, and Shaw believes it was just making him feel worse to hide like that. He is genuinely thrilled that his friend has an alpha.”
“Next.”
“I’ll have a bourbon water and a rum and diet ginger,” I told the barman. “And put Gatlin’s order on my tab.”
“Thanks.” Gatlin got old-fashioneds for them both, and soon, we were on our way back to our omegas who were still engaged in deep conversation. “Your tab, by the way, gets charged on the card on file once a month.”
“Perfect.” I set the drinks on the table and shook my head. “Do they even know we’re here?”
“They do,” he said. “Watch.” No sooner did I lean back than Noble reached for my hand. He didn’t stop talking, just touched me. And that was everything.
My co-owner and I relaxed and sipped our drinks, exchanging an occasional comment while enjoying our omegas’ happiness. “I’ve never seen Noble like this,” I said after a while. “Just being with a friend. I know we haven’t been together very long, but wow.”
“Removing the mask was a lot more than it seemed, wasn’t it?”
Others came by and chatted with us here and there, and although I knew they noticed Noble’s face, none of them said or did anything that could hurt him.
Apparently his scars were an open secret.
People had seen him here and there at the mart or on the street, but they hadn’t known how to tell him it wasn’t necessary.
Like me, they appreciated him for who he was.
Warming my heart beyond measure.
We closed the place down, not leaving until the last member had filed out and after an impromptu gathering of staff and owners in the kitchen over sandwiches, milk, and cookies.
Pretty wholesome for what people in the city called a sex club.
Finally, I caught Noble yawning wide, his head drooping toward his chest.
“All right, omega mine. It’s time for us to head for home. You’re tired.”
“But I’m having fun!” Another yawn cut through any further protests, and I stood and reached for his hand.
“We’ll come back anytime you like.” Watching him enjoy himself without the mask vied with the first time I saw him here, for my favorite night ever.