Page 44 of Wicked Truths

Hawk sighs, shaking his head.

“And if it was a courting gift, you’d be fine with that?” I tilt my head, studying Marcus. I want him to be truthful. As surprising as it is to realize, I am genuinely happy with him. He hasn’t given me a single courting gift, but we are together. We’re not just fake dating for the press, and I don’t want to hurt him or negatively impact what we have building between us.

As I’m having the thought Marcus swaggers over, tossing himself down on the bed at my side. “I guess I’ve been slacking, huh? I need to give you more than mind blowing orgasms to declare my intentions. Is that what that look means?”

My jaw falls open.

“I-I didn’t say any of that.” I pat his arm. He’s had really shitty luck with women, and I don’t want to be another statistic for him. “I’m happy. You make me happy.”

“I’m pretty fucking pleased with how things have been going too.” He tilts his forehead to rest against mine. He nuzzles his nose to mine, and my freaking heart tries to pound out of my chest. “Omegas are meant for packs. Suppressants aren’t a long-term solution. It’s ultimately your choice, but the more research I do about them, the more convinced I am that you’d be happier without them.”

I bite my lip, shaking my head. “Taking the heat leave Jamen offered to pad into our schedule could tank our career.”

“A career won’t mean shit if you screw with your health trying to make it in the industry.” Marcus raises his eyebrows.

“I hate it when you say things that make me respect you,” Hawk grunts, staring at Marcus.

My eyes widen.

Marcus uses my distraction to give me a quick kiss. “Omegas aren’t built for monogamy. That’s all I’m saying. I’d prefer we discuss each person before adding any additional partners into our relationship. Especially since we’re fluid bonded, because it affects me too. But I don’t control you, so you don’t need my permission. If you do want my blessing with Hawk, then you’ve got it.” He pecks a final kiss on my lips and rolls off the bed. He swaggers for the door while I’m still processing what he said.

Hawk blinks repeatedly at Marcus’s retreating form. “Right, I don’t want to push.” He tosses a thumb toward the door. “So just know that I’m here if you need me, or hell, if by some miracle you want me.” He shoves off the bed and heads to leave the room.

He grabs the handle.

“Hey, Hawk?”

“Yeah?” He turns back slightly.

“Thank you for the gift.”

He nods, leaving without another word.

My head falls back to rest on the bed as I wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

ChapterFourteen

Oakley

Marcus and Liam head out to help Mourning Glory with something. I’m not exactly sure, but I think their bassist pulled a muscle or maybe tweaked a tendon, which sucks for them.

Hawk saturated my portable snuggle thing in his sandalwood scent. Once Marcus is gone, I realize we don’t have practice for another two hours. My nerves are starting to get the better of me again. I shimmy my way into the stretchy thing, and it does have a very compressing effect. It means a lot that he put thought into ways to help with my anxiety.

It takes about fifteen minutes of scrolling on my phone before I start to feel a little better. The bus is cramped, and there’s zero privacy, but my room smells like Marcus, and having my alpha’s scent so heavy in the air usually helps calm my system. It appears Hawk’s scent has the same effect.

I stretch down, releasing the sleeping bag foot flap. I’m going to look utterly ridiculous if I run into anyone, but also, I really don’t care because the thing is working. It takes some work, but I manage to get off the bed to go search for a room service menu.

I make it out to the living room area of the suite and spot the maroon menu next to the phone on the end table.

Jackpot.

I slide around the chair, jolting when I catch sight of Sullivan lying across the couch with his arms crossed. It’s hard having things so strained between us. I miss my best friend, but I’m also tired of pining after someone who never wanted me the way I wanted him.

“Hey.” He sits up when he spots me, and a smile I haven’t seen in ages breaks out over his face. It’s so familiar that I smile back. Fuck, he’s gorgeous when he’s happy, but it’s not the outside that drew me to him. It’s the fact that we could talk about anything for hours and I’d never get bored. Or how he’d listen to me ramble about making it in the music industry, and rather than try to discourage me, he used to have my back. “What the hell is that?” He nods at me, pulling his feet off the couch.

“It’s comfortable is what it is.” I grab the menu and take the end seat next to the hotel phone. It’s not the easiest because of the material, but I manage. Although I do imagine I look a little like a kangaroo hopping around the room.

Sullivan’s spread legs are right next to mine. It’s so awkward, and I don’t even understand how we got here. I wish I did. Then maybe I could fix it. I straight up destroyed years of friendship for nothing. It felt worth it at the time. As he stared down at me with his big blue eyes dilated, I was sure he felt the same.

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