Faith & the Dead End Devils (Sweet Omegaverse, #8)(97)

"Here's what's gonna happen today," King said, stroking his fingers through my hair, running his hands down my back, and then starting the process all over again. "I've got a few things on the agenda, some stuff to butter everybody up, and I'll get through those first. Then Rider is gonna try and make his case about the laws I've broken in the club. He'll say his piece. Present any evidence he has. You being in the room is only gonna make things stickier, and if he drew you into it, I wouldn't keep my cool. So I need you to sit it out, okay?"

"Okay," I murmured.

"There's a process. He presents his case today. We both have two weeks to campaign," King said.

I blinked at that. "Campaign."

"Mhm. I've known this was coming. I'm sure he's got bribes and threats he can make to gather votes, but so do I," King said. "In two weeks, we'll take the vote."

Two weeks felt like a long time. It'd only been two weeks since the whole club had returned and discovered my presence. If King could turn the men's opinion in that time, whatever damage I'd done would disappear, or at least be shoved into the background.

"Now, I don't want to hear you talking about us like I was helpless," King said, continuing the strokes of his hands through my hair and down my back. "You didn't break my self-restraint by walking into my office smelling like candy and just begging for my knot. I very eagerly threw that restraint out the window. I knew exactly what you were up to, and I was desperate for the excuse. I might owe you an apology."

"No," I said quickly. Going after King had been a gamble, but I'd been thrilled by the risk.

"Okay then," King said.

His touch was hypnotic and my eyelids sagged as he carried on, soothing both of us with the petting. I wanted to ask if he was calm because he knew he would never cross the line of biting me, or because he didn't care about that stupid “no pack” rule anymore, but I was afraid of the answer. I liked King too much now. I hadn't hooked him into a bite. Now I wanted one, not for protection, but because I needed to know King was as possessive about me as I was him.

He rolled to the side and I burrowed into his chest, afraid of what might come next.

"I gotta get going soon," he said.

I breathed him in, ignoring the words.

"Think you're right that this room shouldn't be smelling like other women though, princess." I grunted, and he shook with laughter. "Got a change of sheets around here. Wanna do me a favor?"

I stretched my neck to tip my head back. "What kind of favor?"

He glanced around. "Fix it up in here for me?"

My eyes narrowed. "You want me to clean your room?"

King snorted. "Not clean. Perfume," he said, waggling his eyebrows. "Thinking maybe you should stay here in my bed. Touch yourself. Get yourself off. Make it smell like you so I get hard every time I walk in. Especially when I get back from this meeting. Could probably use the distraction then."

My blood heated in my veins at the invitation, King smiling down at me as I squirmed into the bed.

"Can I use the toys Bear got for me?"

"You can use whatever you want, princess," he said, bending down and kissing my forehead. "You should start with my pillow." My breath hitched and King's hands squeezed my hips. "Would you do that for me?"

I licked my lips and nodded. "But you have to find your other sheets. I'm not your maid."

He laughed, all grit and gravel. I arched my hips, pressing myself into him. "Deal, go on then." His hand slapped my hip once and he sat up.

I scrambled off the bed and then turned back, lunging forward to press my mouth clumsily to his. He pressed back, his purr vibrating into the kiss, and pulled away smiling.

"Hurry."

"Yes, Prez!" I answered, darting away at his huff.

It occurred to me as I ran back to the nest, grinning and ignoring the stares of the club, that King was doing this more for my benefit than his. Or at least that was what he thought. I would make sure it worked out best for us both.





35. KING





“And do you deny" —my eyes ached from not rolling, and Rider's repeated use of that phrase made my entire body want to twitch— "that you alienated a long-standing and beneficial relationship with Preston Bowers on behalf of the omega?"

I stiffened, and Rider's mouth fought an obvious smirk as he stared back at me. Neither Bear nor Chance would ever have told Rider about Bowers. Which meant Rider had taken the initiative to talk to him himself.

"I don't deny it," I said slowly, a crackling growl trapped at the back of my throat.

An answering murmur stirred around the table as Rider turned away from me to face his audience.

"This club was founded on the principle of brothers before all else. We're not white knights meant to be on hand to rescue stray omegas. We're sure as hell not meant to see our prez and enforcer packing up like their loyalties won't be split away from the club."

I reminded myself for the hundredth time to unclench my jaw. My eyes circled the room as Rider spoke and I studied the faces of my men, watching the ones who nodded, the ones who listened, the ones whose eyes rolled. The room was split in Rider's favor now. I had to remain seated, silent as Rider made his case against me.