“Sex?” Roman made a low, sad noise in his throat, but Sidian leaned up to nip at him to make him stop. “That’s just so fucking sad, Sid. You should know. No one should have hurt you like that. I wish I’d been there.”
Sidian wished Roman had been there, too. “I don’t want to think about that at all right now. You’re here now, and that’s good. I would have… I don’t know what I would have done.”
Lose another pup without youwas seconds away from slipping from between his teeth.
“You never have to worry about it.” Roman tightened his grip on Sidian, his hand smoothing over Sidian’s hip as he nuzzled into his hair again. “I’ll be here. I don’t know what we’re going to do after all of this is over, but I’ll be right here while we figure it out.”
Tears stung Sidian’s eyes, but he blinked them back as he cuddled into Roman’s chest, content for the first time in a long time. “Now we get to figure out our little fucked-up future together.”
“I’d like that.” Roman paused as if considering his words. “I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t a Viper, but if you’re against it, I can figure out something else, I suppose.”
“You would do that for me?” It was so surprising to just hear him say it.
Roman nodded, pressing another kiss to Sidian’s forehead. He really was so affectionate for an alpha, so unlike the rest of his designation. “I would do anything for you. I understand you don’t believe me yet, though. We’ll get to that understanding together.”
Sidian refused to cry in the middle of such a nice, cozy bath. “I trust you to get me there.”
“Thank you.” Roman drew Sidian’s hand up, pressing soft kisses to his knuckles before giving him a gentle squeeze.
In the back of Sidian’s head, in his hindbrain, he was aware of just how fucked they were. Roman might have been a trained badass, which Sidian didn’t doubt, but Pack Kincaid would not be easy to kill. They weren’t pushovers, and as much as Sidian wanted to rip their eyes out of their skulls and dig his knives into their knots and choke them with each other’s entrails for taking Amethyst away from him… On a very primal level, he was terrified.
Their alpha commands had slipped right into his mind before he could stop them, and he did not want to admit to himself how easy it had been for them to take him apart.
Roman rumbled for him, wrapping Sidian up in his arms, but he didn’t question what had Sidian upset this time. Sighing, Sidian closed his eyes and just tried to focus on his alpha. Roman’s rich metallic scent all melting and hot, his comforting touch, his own omega’s purrs harmonizing with Roman’s rumbling—because no matter what, Sidian was happy. Being with Roman was like having the shredded pieces of his soul stitched back together, Roman’s tenderness and affection filling the cracks until he felt whole again.
That was what an alpha was supposed to be like. Even when it was bad, even when the world was going to crash down on them at any moment, Roman had him. Romanhadhim.
“Thanks,” he muttered, rubbing his hand over Roman’s chest. “Being in control… That was good for me. Felt good and safe. Like I knew you’d listen the whole time.”
Roman kissed his temple this time. “I liked it. Dunno. Taking orders wasn’t easy when I joined the Vipers, but with you, it feels… Natural. Like it’s just what I’m supposed to do. And you’re sexy when you’re bloody, too.”
Sidian snorted at that, and Roman just chuckled, rubbing a hand up and down Sidian’s back and letting him melt the rest of the way into Roman’s embrace. Whatever came next, no matterhow bad it was, at least they had each other. Nothing was going to change that.
Not even the babies. Sidian was sure of that.
Chapter Fourteen
“We can grab something to eat at the diner on the way out.” Roman shifted his limited supply of clothing around in the suitcase, doing some quick mental math. If there were a place in town where they might find some more clothes, it would be a good idea to hit it up before they left. The fewer stops they made, the less likely they were to run into any trouble on the way to New Jersey.
They could meet up with the Mambas to ask them for a better variety of weapons because guns would not do the pain Roman wanted to inflict any justice. They would have to go straight through Oregon, making sure not to creep back into Washington to keep the Ultima from crossing that state line. The cops might be on the lookout for the plates now. Taking the Ultima at all was a risk, especially if the investigation widened, but Roman would push it until they had to pick up a new vehicle.
Having to ditch the Ultima and pick up another car would be simple. He would keep his eyes peeled for any suspicious police activity while he eyed a car they might snatch. That would alsolet them avoid being pulled over with multiple fake IDs in the car; he should choose one and hide the others. At least he didn’t have to worry about a credit card giving him away.
Thank the Goddess, most places still accepted cash. Credit cards left a paper trail.
Sidian sat on the padded trunk, fidgeting with the sleeves of his jacket. He had on a long-sleeved, dark purple shirt that matched his eyes, paired with black jeans. Pretty little thing; for a moment, the methodical planning slipped away in lieu of appreciation, and Roman imagined dragging his mate back into the nest and making him fall apart under his mouth all over again.
Sidian’s eyes snapped up to his. “Insatiable fucker, aren’t you?”
“You do that to me.” Roman cupped Sidian’s cheek, and his alpha thrilled when Sidian nuzzled into his touch with no hesitation, his eyelashes fluttering. “I can keep my knot under control, though. I promise.”
Sidian snorted up at him. “That, I don’t doubt. Hell of a lot sexier than a guy who’s on the edge of losing control.”
“I care little for the alphas who are like that.” If he could, Roman would kill them.
Sharp teeth nipped at the palm of his hand. “That’s why we’re mates, isn’t it? Because you’re the only alpha in the world who suits me like I need you to.”
“All I want to do is please you.” He pulled his hand away before he made a mistake, but the glowing grin he earned, sharp white canines exposed, was well worth it.
