Grayson was waiting for him in their building’s small lobby, shifting from foot to foot.
Keld pasted a grin onto his face. “Nervous,aiu?”
“Yeah,” Grayson muttered.
The smile slipped. “You know, we don’t have to do this if you’re uncomfortable with it.”
Please say you’re uncomfortable with it.
“No, no.” Grayson took a deep breath. “I’m fine. It’ll be fun.”
Keld eyed him, masking the drop in his stomach. “If you say so… Are you wearing makeup?”
The flush was instantaneous. “No! Jenna just… did something to my eyelashes.”
Keld tipped the Omega’s chin up with a finger. “Hm. I like it. Remind me to thank her.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Grayson mumbled.
The route to Siren was singed into Keld’s brain, which left him far too much time to think as he drove.
“You know,” he said aloud. “You don’t have any obligation toonlysee me. You’re free to try out other partners.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Grayson didn’t look at him.
“I mean, you can go to Siren without me if you want to,” Keld pressed, ignoring that deeper part of him that hissed and spat at the thought. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck with me.”
“Do you want me to see other Alphas?” The Omega’s voice wavered.
“It’s not about what I want,” Keld said. “If you want to branch out, you don’t need to worry about hurting my feelings.”
Lie. But it should be the truth.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Keld glanced over at the passenger seat. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Just… Going to Siren without you would be nerve-wracking.”
Unbidden warmth and relief flooded through Keld.
“I’m definitely not complaining if you want to stick with me,” he said. Without thinking, he reached out and gave Grayson’s hand a squeeze.
The Omega’s gaze snapped to Keld’s, his expression inscrutable.
Too familiar?Keld withdrew his hand and cleared his throat. “We’re here.”
Grayson blew out a breath. “It’s going to be fun,” he said, almost to himself.
“It’s going to be fun,” Keld affirmed. “Let’s go. I think Reiz is already down there.”
“Right.” Grayson climbed from the car and gestured for Keld to take the lead.
Reiz was indeed already waiting. He was parked at the bar, chatting with the weekend bartender, Cedar. The human Omega was a fairly new hire, but everybody knew Reiz had bagged him in his first week of employment.
Cedar was, to be fair, absolutely stunning. He had high cheekbones, deep, russet skin, and long, silky black hair he always wore in two braids. Keld himself had contemplated wrapping them around his fist, back when he still paid attention to other Omegas.
“Reiz,” Keld said, when they’d gotten close enough. “Thought I’d find you here.”
