Rickon nods thoughtfully. “Yeah. It shocked me to feel what he’s been through.” He glances at his watch and then stiffens. “Biscuit, as much as I want to linger here, we’ve gotta run.”
“Okay, okay.” I let him lead me out of the beautiful space, twisting to look over my shoulder. “But when are we going shopping?”
Rickon chuckles as he heaves the doors closed and tugs me back to the elevator. “Assuming the appeal goes through, how about whenever Zack lets us out of bed?”
I snicker, knowing he’s right. “Sounds good.” We’re all going to be so damn thirsty as soon as we get our hands on each other. “You said something about a Jacuzzi, right? Or was that my ears ringing?”
Rickon holds the car door open for me in the garage. “I did. We’ll pick one out and get it installed, too.”
“So we’ll need towels and bubbles and chlorine too. Wait, can we even put bubbles in a Jacuzzi?”
My lovely alpha laughs. “No idea. Let’s learn about it on the drive.”
All the way to the studio, we talk about the things I want to put in my hothouse, including asking Omoogle how to look after our future hot tub. It’s a dream I never thought I’d have to anticipate my heat like this without dread. But as we pull into the parking lot, Rickon grows serious.
“Don’t do anything today you’re not comfortable with, Red. Even if Callisto’s your co-actor, if it feels wrong, just cut the scene.”
I nod. “You’ll know if I’m uncomfortable,” I say, splaying a hand across my belly.
“Right.” He switches off the engine and slumps over the steering wheel. “Bloody hell. I think I’m more nervous than you are.”
I pat his back. “Maybe you are. Your little actress is all grown up and ready to do the dirty on screen.”
He flips his head over, lips pouting out. “That doesn’t help.”
“Well, remember you’re the first person I fucked in public. Nothing changes that.”
His cheeks turn a pretty pink. “Red!” he scolds, sitting up.
I laugh and throw my door open.
Inside the studio, Ashana’s house is ready to go. The front door, stairs, and bedroom are all carefully styled and set with cameras on stands. A minimal crew makes the set feel bigger than it really is, and everyone keeps their voices hushed.
The intimacy coordinator checks in with me and gives me a brand new Shibue to wear. We go to the side room for costuming, and I lie on my back while she and Ricky check the scrap fits securely in place. Then the team gets bandages on me, followed by white, high-cut briefs with a band of lace, a white bra, and the loose clothes the jockey wears on her way home from the hospital.
I check my appearance in the mirror. Although I look kind of frumpy with hair spilling out of a messy bun, underneath I feel sexy as fuck. Maybe because I know the Shibue will soon be the only thing I’m wearing.
“Director’s asking if you’re ready,” Rickon calls.
Instead of answering, I step out.
“You look great,” he says, scanning me with an experienced eye. The costume coordinator appears next to him and compares my appearance to a printout of how Ashana looked when she left the hospital. Once I get her approval, I walk over to the house set.
The other changing room opens, and an alpha walks out. He wears a button-up shirt and slacks, fiddling with his top button as he looks around. I feel my eyes bug out as his familiar cherry wood scent hits me. It’s Callisto, but different. He’s dyed hishair a sun-streaked brown, and he strains the shirt more than I’m used to. This man’s a dashing concoction of my alpha and Ashana’s James.
He turns, looking for me, and our eyes meet. The smile he flashes is all Callisto’s, and my belly flutters. Especially when I think about the surprise Rickon showed me this morning. This hot-as-sin lawyer’s been looking out for me in his own diligent way since the day we met; even if he didn’t have time for an omega, he still connected me with Rickon. Despite Zack kicking him out of his own house, he arranged the rooftop space to make me a nest I’d be comfortable in.
My inner omega sighs. It’s all rather romantic. Clumsily executed, but romantic.
“Um, hi?” Calli says as he stops in front of me.
“Hello,” I murmur, hesitant with all the thoughts in my head.
“Do I look okay?”
I chuckle and brush his cheek. “Better than okay.” Now that we stand close together, the unfamiliarity drops away. This is the Calli I know, the one who helped me every time I thought I couldn’t go on. Calli, but a little more buff.
“That gym program’s really working for you,” I say, eyeing the way his shirt stretches across his chest.
