Page 108 of Priceless

The atmosphere was so much lighter in here, despite the darkness of the room. Because we were out of the sight of the press, and everyone was suddenly being more themselves.

Cam and Micah wandered further into the party, but I glanced up at Everett, who still had me glued to his side. “How’s my lipstick?”

“Not ruined enough for me.”

A soft whine rose from me, and I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety or arousal. I felt both. “Rett.”

“Fuck, I love the way you say my name, little nymph.” But he stopped and looked at me, running his thumb below my lower lip. That single movement didn’t have any right to be as hot as it was. “Good as new.”

“Thank you. Not just for the lipstick.”

I felt more than heard his purr beneath the noise of the room. “If I have anything to say about it, that woman will not report on any more of our events. That was more than inappropriate, and I’m sure whichever outlet she’s with, I can’t remember, will agree with me.”

The sleeves of his tuxedo did little to hide the muscles beneath as I smoothed my hands down his arms. “Promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t get her fired.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Why not?”

“Because she’s not wrong. People are asking those questions. And even if she shouldn’t have asked them to us, it’s still her job.”

Everett shook his head slowly, but that tiny smile was still there. “You’re too kind, little nymph. Most of these people don’t deserve it.”

“Please?”

“Anything for my Omega,” he murmured, kissing my forehead.

I whined again, craving that nameless feeling I had whenever they claimed me as theirs.

“Now,” he said, turning me toward the room, and where Cameron and Micah waited. “I have some people I want to meet our wife.”

37

AEGEAN WALLFLOWER

(GILLYFLOWER, GOLDLACK, REVENELLE, VIOLACCIOCCA)

MEANING: BLISS; BONDS OF AFFECTION; ENDURING BEAUTY; NATURAL BEAUTY

CAMERON

________

There were few things I loved more than watching Ocean come out of her shell. Because that shell didn’t belong to her. It had been forced on her. Needed to protect the gentle, soft-hearted person she was.

But as she let it drop away, her sweetness drew people to her. She was funny and clever, and even though she wasn’t outspoken, she was charming everyone at the party. I watched her from a small distance while she spoke with Clarissa Winters. The actress she’d been jealous of. Now it seemed they were fast friends.

The three of us had seen some looks at Ocean, from a distance, and I marked those people in my head if I knew them. It wasn’t only about protecting my Omega. It was that people who would judge her purely based on appearance weren’t the kind of people we wanted to associate with.

I didn’t understand the stigma to begin with, considering I loved Ocean’s body and the way it curved. The way it hugged me. Moved with me. Its softness.

Fuck, I needed to stop that train of thought or I was going to cut the party short with her.

Well…

Glancing at my phone, I looked at the time. It had been a couple of hours. More than enough time to have mingled. If Ocean was game, there was a whole trunk of toys waiting for us back in our suite. Micah and Everett could keep the party going and entertain the guests.

---