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“Yes, Sir.” He said, loudly. Clearly. For everyone to hear.

I held my breath. Ren and Mackenzie didn’t seem to notice that my omega had just called me sir. Or they didn’t care?

Mackenzie smiled brightly at me. “Dumplings, satay or spring rolls?”

“All three?” There was questioning in my voice, and it wasn’t about the appetizers.

Ren flopped down next to me on the couch, rolling up his sleeves. He hooked a finger under my chin and kissed my cheek. “Good day at work?”

I nodded, feeling unsure. We’d been keeping the “yes sir” thing between us, under wraps. A part of me felt like they wouldn’t approve. Especially Ren, given our shared feelings about Mackenzie’s past and abusive alpha asshole ex.

Maybe they hadn’t noticed?

Theo was back. He put two beers on the table. “Ren. Sir.” He said, handing one to each of us in turn.

Well, that blew the “maybe they hadn’t noticed” theory out of the water. Theo sat in a fluid movement right between my legs. Mackenzie passed my plate to Theo, who handed it to me over his shoulder.

I took a nervous sip of the beer before setting it on the floor next to Theo.

They ate and chatted about the food and the new bar that was opening up next to the Thai place. I tried to follow the conversation, but my brain wouldn’t fully get in gear. Something had shifted in my little pack. I crunched into a spring roll, not actually tasting it.

Ren took my plate to pile it high with Pad Thai. Theo was still between my legs, his shoulder brushing my knee. I traced my fingers softly at the nape of his neck. He shivered and moaned, bending his head forward.

As dinner wrapped up, Ren and Mackenzie handled the clean up. Theo sighed and leaned his head against my knee. I patted the couch cushion next to me in invitation. “You could sit here, if you wanted.”

He bent his head back to look at me. “I’m right where I want to be.”

I threaded my fingers in his hair and bent forward to kiss him. The angle was awkward. I kept him there, pulling his hair until he moaned and squirmed.

“See?” Ren’s voice was sharp and made me jump, breaking our kiss. “We could have been fucking this whole time. But no. You wanted dinner.”

“I was hungry.” Mackenzie said with a little whine in her voice.

Ren crouched and grabbed Theo by the ankles, tugging him a few feet forward until he was forced on his back. Ren popped offeach of Theo’s shoes and tossed them over his shoulder as Theo cursed and fumbled with his zipper.

I let out an ‘oof’ as Mackenzie dropped into my lap, straddling me. My dick had been hard this whole time. I moaned as she ground against me. She took my hand and put it between her legs, pulling aside her panties.

“I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home.” She moaned as I slid two fingers deep inside her.

“I’ll have to take half days on Fridays if this is what I have to come to.”

JUSTICE

The morning air was crisp, making me glad I’d suggested Mackenzie grab her sweater before we headed out for fresh croissants and coffee. We caught the light to cross the street, but we’d have to hustle to make it across before it changed. I put my hand on the small of her back. The causal touch made me shiver. I pulled my hand away after a moment, ignoring the subtle way she leaned back, seeking the contact I’d broken.

“Can I ask you something about business?” Mackenzie tilted her head to look up at me, the sunlight glittering in her hair.

“Always.”

“What’s the actual difference between a founder, a CEO, and a president?” She chewed her lip in that way that always made me want to kiss her. “Everyone keeps introducing me as the ‘founder and CEO of Twist,’ but I don’t feel like a CEO.”

“Technically, a founder is just someone who starts a company. You can be a founder and nothing else.”

“Like you’re the founder of Ice’d Inc., right?”

“Co-founder. Daisy and I are both founders. But I’m also the CEO because I run the company strategically. I make the big decisions about direction, growth, securing capital.” I winced slightly and added, “Daisy is COO, operations. And I’m also CTO, chief technology officer. A president typically handles more of the day-to-day operations.”

Mackenzie nodded, her expression thoughtful. She brushed her arm against mine as we walked. I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to wrap my arm around her shoulders.