“Fifth,” Keld responded. He saw no need to tell her which apartment he was in. He had a feeling she’d only be more suspicious if she knew Keld lived right below Grayson’s feet. He could respect Jenna’s fierce loyalty and protectiveness, but winning her over would likely be more challenging than Grayson.
“Good,” she huffed. “I was worried you were about to tell me you live on the same floor.”
Keld shook his head. “This floor is for humans. The Mer apartments are on the second and fifth floors.”
She shot him a quizzical look.
“We need space below us for the pools,” he clarified.
Jenna tried and failed to mask the spark of interest in her dark eyes. The elevator chimed and opened, revealing the sixth floor.
“Come on.” Jenna led him down the short hallway then paused. “Ah shit, the code.” She turned a wary eye on Grayson, still curled up against Keld’s shoulder.
“Gray? Babe? We need your door code.”
“Mmph?”
“Your door code. For your apartment.”
“ ’S m’birthday.”
Jenna furrowed her brow. “Month, day?”
“Mmm.”
“You’re lucky I have a good memory.” Jenna moved to block the keypad with her body and unlocked the door.
“Think I’m going to sneak in?” Keld asked, amused.
“Better safe than sorry.” Jenna shrugged. “Bedroom’s at the end of the hall on the right. I’ll get him some water.”
Keld moved down the darkened hallway where a moonlit bedroom waited. The bed was unmade—a nest of down duvet and pillows. Keld’s lips twitched as he eased Grayson onto the mattress. The silver light caught the bridge of his nose and his parted lips. His eyelashes glinted white, despite the black shadows they cast on his cheekbones.
Without thinking, Keld reached out and brushed a lock of blond hair from the Omega’s forehead. It was even softer than he’d imagined.
“Cold,” Grayson mumbled. Limp hands groped around for a blanket.
Keld laughed under his breath and tucked him under the fluffy duvet. “Better?”
“Mm. Thanks.” Grayson wriggled deeper, pulling the covers up to his chin.
“Gray.” Jenna’s soft voice nearly made Keld jump out of his scales. “You gotta drink some water first. Trust me.” She helped Grayson sit back up and held a metal straw to his lips.
Keld tried not to look too hard at Grayson’s throat bobbing as he drank.
Jenna glanced over at Keld. “Thanks for the help, but I got it now.”
Keld jerked a shoulder. “Sure. Have a good night.”
He backed out of the room, but paused as he passed the kitchen island. A notepad and a pen lay waiting—too good an offer to pass up. He clicked the pen and began writing.
Chapter 13
Grayson
Grayson Miller regretted being born. Nausea churned in his stomach with each pound of pain in his skull.
“Fuck.” He held a hand to his eyes, blocking out the sunlight.
