Ottis’ b...?
Ottis didn’t have any money. And he didn’t have a lot of things starting with B. Book? Baby? Birthday? Brother?
Crushdidhave a lot of money, and so did Vigil and some of Ottis’ other brothers.
Hmm. Had someone commissioned Zenith to write a book for them?
One of Ottis’ brothers?
But none of them read romance books, especially the enemies-to-lovers trope.
Still puzzling over this, Ottis followed Doc, who kept moving down the hallway. Doc stopped at the last door and knocked quietly. “It’s me.”
“You brought friends,” said a voice inside. The door opened.
Bruiser peered out at them, taking in Ottis, Marcie, and Zenith. Marcie had shifted back to her human shape. “This is a crowd. Is that your—Wait. Isn’t he the omega who went missing?”
“I was never missing,” Ottis grumbled. “My brothers couldn’t find me and declared me missing.”
Doc laughed and slipped his arm around Ottis’ waist, pulling him close. Zenith continued to scribble in his notebook.
Bruiser sighed. “C’mon, get in here.”
Doc handed him the bagged phone. “I haven’t decontaminated it. Wasn’t sure if it’s necessary, but since its owner is a tree person, I didn’t want to risk spreading around any unidentified pollen.”
Bruiser nodded, bringing the phone into the sparsely furnished living room. “That’s fine. I’ll handle it.”
Doc led Ottis to the couch, pulling both Ottis and Marcie onto his lap. Then he wrapped his strong arms around Ottis’ waist, coaxing him to lie back.
For the first time in what felt like hours, Ottis relaxed. He breathed out his nerves from the parking lot, the worry that someone had followed them here. He set aside the memory of Doc narrowly escaping the spiky tree branches, and the slimy feeling of someone wanting to steal his baby.
“You’re safe,” Doc murmured in his ear. “You were safe the moment I got you out of there. I would rather calm you down back at my lair, but we’re safe here, too.”
“Is this a safehouse?” Ottis blurted.
“More like an all-purpose disposable HQ. Somewhere to bring questionable things, away from prying eyes.”
“You don’t have enough chairs in here for a HQ,” Ottis said. “There’s atonof alphas on your chat.”
Doc laughed. “No, we don’t usually all show up. That’s difficult to coordinate, with everyone’s schedules.”
He ran his hands over Ottis’ body, over his hips and thighs. He rubbed Ottis’ forearms where they were folded around Marcie, then his upper arms too. Doc brushed his fingers through Ottis’ hair, tucking his nose against the crook of Ottis’ neck. With every touch, he left more of his smoky scent all over Ottis, claiming him.
Without meaning to, Ottis began to purr.
Doc rumbled. “Feels good?”
“Yeah,” Ottis whispered, his limbs going loose. “So much better.”
Doc massaged Ottis’ scalp and nibbled on the crook of Ottis’ neck, reminding him of the plug that was still inside. Holding in the other evidence of Doc’s claim.
Before Ottis could get distracted by Doc’s touch, the alpha scooped him and Marcie into his arms, carrying them to the kitchen. He sat Ottis on the counter and opened the fridge. “Drinks? There’s milk, juice, wine, soda...”
“Grape soda?” Ottis asked hopefully.
“You’re in luck.” Doc fished out a can from the fridge, popped it, and stuck a straw in.
When he held it out, Ottis didn’t immediately accept the can. Instead, he opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, trying to catch the straw with it.
