He came out from behind Arden and strode over to Beckett, making sure that Arden got a clear view as Jack bent over Beckett and kissed him.
Beckett didn’t shove Jack away and scramble up to equal footing. He stayed where he was, let himself be kissed, and was rewarded for it by the approving gleam in Jack’s eyes and the gentle touch on his jaw before Jack strode off.
CHAPTER 26
BECKETT
Arden had drifted closer again, Beckett saw with amusement.
He held out his hand. This time, Arden took it with half the hesitation.
Beckett was about to launch into his apology—still didn’t quite know what to say, though he had no doubt that once he got going, he’d come up with something—only Arden cut him off before he even started, surprising him with a gentle tug.
“Would you come over to the bench and sit with me?” he said, gesturing behind him. “The ground must be hard on your knees.”
“That it is,” Beckett agreed. “Think it’s best I stay where I am for a moment, though.” On your knees was the right place for a penitent, after all. “Arden, I’m sorry for how it went between us.”
Arden’s cheeks turned a dull, ugly red.
Beckett tightened his grasp on the now-slack fingers. “I was a proper arsehole,” he said. Arden choked out a shocked little laugh, and Beckett smiled. That was the right direction. Keep him off balance. “I was worried about Jack,” he continued, “and took it out on you. There weren’t no call for it, and I shouldn’t have. I apologise.”
“I understand,” Arden said.
“I’m sure you do. In fact, I’m sure there’s no hard feelings, and you don’t blame me a bit.”
“Yes,” Arden said with relief, and swayed a tiny bit closer. “Exactly.”
Beckett took advantage and reached for Arden’s other hand, rising to a high kneel as he did. Arden’s breathing picked up. Because Beckett couldn’t help himself, and because he was a controlling bastard and he liked what it did to the little omega, he drew Arden’s hands slowly behind his back and held them there firmly. “Do you understand it weren’t right for me to do it, though?”
Arden didn’t reply. He was staring down into Beckett’s face as if fascinated. He twisted his wrists in Beckett’s grasp but didn’t attempt to pull away. He was feeling it out.
Beckett obligingly tightened his grip. “Arden?” he prompted. “Tell me you know it wasn’t all right.”
“I…no.”
“No?” Beckett arched a brow, exaggerating his disapproval.
Arden quailed. Just a little. Beckett had to swallow down the pleased growl. “No. I don’t agree. Jack is your lover. You had every right to be angry.”
Beckett studied his face. “No one gets to treat you like shit, Arden.” He watched it bounce clean off.
“But I deserved?—”
He dragged Arden in until they were pressed together. He was tall. Arden was short. Arden was looking down at Beckett, but not by much. “You deserve respect. Consideration. Kindness.”
“I’m just?—”
“Arden.”
“Beckett, I?—”
Arden had a little squirm. Oh, Beckett loved this. “I was wrong to do it,” he said firmly.
“You—”
“Say it.”
“I don’t want?—”
