Cedar shot the other Alpha a reproachful look. “Please tell me you’re taking him with you. He seems to think he still has a shot when I’m on the clock, bless him.”
“Are you telling me I do not?” Reiz asked in mock outrage.
Cedar rolled his eyes. “Can I get you fine fellows anything to drink? Or are you going to make space for paying clients?”
“Gray,” Reiz said. “Would you like a drink before we begin? Nothing strong of course.”
Grayson hesitated.
Keld bent down to his ear and whispered, “You might want to be clear-headed for this.” He felt Grayson shiver under his breath.
“I’ll pass, but thanks, Reiz,” the Omega said.
Cedar was subtly looking between the three of them, apparently torn between professionalism and intrigue.
“Very well.” Reiz got to his feet. “I will talk with you later, Cedar.”
“Have fun,” Cedar said, poorly suppressing a knowing grin.
Keld led his partners down the familiar hallway, and paused at a door on the left. “Gray, I know this isn’t our normal room, but this one has a bed to accommodate larger groups. Is that okay?”
Grayson nodded mutely.
“Anything I should know about him?” Reiz muttered in Loaish. “Poor thing is so nervous.”
“No degrading, lots of forewarning, and more check-ins than normal,” Keld said quietly. “He’ll relax once he’s used to you, don’t worry. I’ll take the lead at first.” Every word that came from his mouth was like ash on his tongue.
Grayson’s lips were pressed into a frown, but he said nothing about the language shift.
Keld pushed the door open, revealing a dark room with stereotypical black walls and modified furniture. An enormous bed consumed most of the space at the center—easily enough space for roughly three Mer and five humans, if Keld’s memory served correctly.
Reiz moved to seat himself in the chair situated in the corner of the room. His long, slender tail trailed behind him, the scarlet fin flowing as if under water. Thick, vertical stripes carved elegant lines of plum from the base of his tail, up to the center ofhis back, where they disappeared under pink hair. The strands swished from side to side as Reiz’s fingers swept it into a loose knot at the back of his head.
Keld couldn’t blame Grayson for staring. Hell, evenhewas staring. He refocused, allowing himself to sink into the familiar role he was here to play. He stroked a hand along Grayson’s jaw to get his attention.
“Okay,aiu. It’s like we talked about—we’ll start just you and me. When you’re comfortable, I’ll call Reiz over. You will promise to both of us that you will communicate the moment you feel uncomfortable or want to stop.”
Pale blue eyes lifted to meet Keld’s. “I promise.”
Keld gestured to the corner of the room. “To him, too.”
Grayson turned his head, jaw still in Keld’s grasp. “I promise to communicate.”
“What is your safe word to slow down?”
Grayson glanced at Reiz. “Yellow.”
Keld fought back a laugh, despite himself. Too shy to use their more creative options, it seemed. “And to stop?”
“Red.”
“Very good.” Keld brushed his lips over Grayson’s. “Now, let’s get you out of those clothes.”
He reached back to dim the lights, then pulled Grayson’s shirt over his head. He allowed his hands to roam the soft, warm skin, pausing at the peaked nipples.
Grayson let out a soft gasp against Keld’s mouth.
Keld slowly moved them toward the bed, until Grayson’s legs hit the mattress. He undid the button on the Omega’s pants and pushed them down his hips. Grayson’s hands joined his in removing the garment. Keld pushed him gently onto the bed and crawled on top of his trembling body.
