Page 2 of Silas's Sweetheart

“Does it ever get old, loving yourself that much?” Kari groaned. He used the most put upon voice that tickled Silas with how much he sounded like a parent when he used it.

Jupiter, whose smile drew admiring looks from men and women, beamed at them all. “Look who’s talking! And nope.” His hand flicked down his body. The suit he wore was form fitting and styled to emphasize his willowy frame. “Someone’s gotta love all this amazingness.”

Silas got an ache just under his heart at recalling a time that Jupiter never talked about, how he came to be a part of their family. What he’d looked like when Dad had carried him into the house. Inside was still the boy who’d been tossed aside by his parents to be used by the pack for…

No, Silas didn’t want to dwell on something that made him sick to his stomach. He got up and rounded the table to drag Jupiter up out of the chair, giving him a bear hug. The rich scent of amber filled Silas’s nose as he held him tight. “We all love your ugly mug, asshole.”

“You speak for yourself,” Booker said, no hint of sarcasm as he winked at Silas over Jupiter’s head.

Dad’s gaze held Silas’s, his expression revealing none of his thoughts. “So, does this mean y’all have given up your attempt to change my mind?”

Several hours later, Silas couldn’t figure out how Dad had turned the tables on them so fast and made them give up soeasily. An extensive conversation with Ethan, the manager of his ranch who was expecting him back to deal with several issues, just exacerbated Silas’ frustration. Ethan had been very vocal about being left with the additional workload when Silas had no timeframe to return to Darling Ranch. His haven.

His sanity.

Silas blew out a breath and got out of the company car.

“Do you require me to wait, sir?”

Silas tugged on his tie, which felt like it was strangling him, and shook his head. He needed to let off steam and had no plans on leaving Hidden Desires until he had. “No March, you can leave.”

With a nod, Silas closed the door and stalked up to the nondescript building in front of him, hearing the departing car crunching over the gravel. The exterior gave nothing away about what was inside one of the most exclusive omega heat clubs in this part of the country. Just on the outskirts of Hazardville, Silas had been a VIP member since the age of twenty-five, when it had opened.

He tapped in the code to unlock the exterior door, which led into a private lobby. Cast in red, the black flocked wallpaper looked like a velvet cape covering the walls. The thick, red carpet cushioned the sound as he walked towards the double doors in front of him. No noise penetrated the area, thanks to the building’s soundproofing. They had also used extra insulation materials to block out the smells from the omegas in heat. What he smelled in the lobby was only the scents others wore. Beyond was wholly different.

The first time he’d stepped inside, his wolf side had lost its goddamn mind at the number of intoxicating aromas. He’d since learned control, though when it had been a while, like now, Silas took a minute to prepare for what was coming.

Excitement buzzed like electricity through him at the anticipation of what lay beyond the inner door. A call to Sax, the major investor and owner of the club, and a friend, had ensured that beyond the doors, there was a snake shifter who matched Silas’ needs. It was rare to find an omega shifter who could give Silas exactly what he craved when it came to sex.

He had a few quirks, private ones, only shared in places like this to protect himself from ridicule. He was an alpha, and loved to fuck, only he preferred to be directed, dominated, and controlled by the omega. If they liked to wear sexy lingerie, and were a snake shifter, then fuck, he was in seventh heaven. The perfect trifecta, and it seemed Sax had worked a miracle and had found Silas a perfect match for the next couple of days.

The exorbitant price for being a member of the club was worth every cent. Not that he paid, he had a vested interest as a silent partner that gave him VIP access.

Releasing a shuddery breath, he used a trembling hand to knock on the door, which buzzed open before his hand had fallen away. The cameras watching the private entry were never unmanned.

“Silas, my darling boy, it’s been a while.” Sax, the tiniest sugar glider omega Silas had ever met, beamed up at him. He barely reached the middle of Silas’s chest.

The lack of dark curls that usually framed his elfin features gave Silas pause.

“How have you been?” Sax asked in a sweet voice which sounded like his vocal chords had gotten dipped in honey.

Silas took the offered hand, surprised as usual by the strength of the handshake, which turned into a half hug.

“Good.” Careful not to squish him, Silas nodded at Sax as he eased back. “When did you cut off the curls?”

Encouraged inside, Sax didn’t immediately answer as the door shut soundlessly behind them and Silas ensured he breathedthrough his mouth, the scents becoming richer, more potent in the larger reception area.

Inside, the color scheme was the same as the small entrance lobby, but the overhead lights cast a soft cream glow, giving a softer feel. Sax had worked to make the place feel non-threatening to the uninitiated who came through a different entrance to the one the VIP members used.

Silas gave a brief nod to the omega who stood welcoming those coming through the main door, checking their invitation before explaining the entrance policy—which would have been in the information they had already received—and ensuring everyone put all cell phones and recording devices in the personal, coded lockboxes the club supplied. It was a strict rule in the club. If anyone broke it, they got tossed out and their membership terminated without discussion.

Sax might be tiny, but he was a force to be reckoned with and not someone to mess with. Silas had witnessed firsthand how the little omega liked to play rough, despite his punitive size. The man could easily manhandle a large alpha.

Releasing his hand, Sax fluffed at cropped bangs, grinning to reveal crooked front teeth that gave him an oddly appealing look. “Oh ‘bout a year ago. Do you like the new me?” At close to fifty, the omega didn’t look a day over thirty despite the silver threaded through the dark locks.

Willowy, with dreamy hazel eyes, Sax cocked his hip in his white skinny jeans and did something odd with his eyes. “I wanted to see if I could look a little more sophisticated.”

Silas eyed Sax like he’d lost his mind. “Why would you do that? Those curls made many an alpha happy.”

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