Page 40 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Dragon Suite, Pack Bonds Island

“ I can see the imprints of my Dragon’s teeth.

You’re so lucky.” Cricket’s expression is dreamy, as he traces over the bites and hickeys that litter my neck.

Through these marks, Jin has declared as loudly as he can that not only has he selected me but he’s bonded me.

Take that fucking taboos. “When we walk into the masked ball this evening, everybody will know that we’re his rightful pack. ”

Naked, I sprawl on the couch.

Cricket leans over me, stroking down my neck.

I purr, turning my head to the side to give him more room.

At the same time, I allow myself a luxurious sniff of Cricket’s intoxicating honeycomb and cherry scent.

I haven’t been brave enough to get dressed in the silk brocade dress, which was delivered along with suits for Jin and Torin to wear for the ball.

The dress is splayed across the bed like an invitation.

I’ve never worn anything so expensive or beautiful in my life before.

Normally, I’d be angry about being dressed up like a pretty doll.

Except, the dress is made out of blue silk with coiling dragons in silver thread. The sleeves flare like wings. It’s backless with a long train, as if it belongs to a Dragon Queen.

When I put it on, it’ll be drawing Jin over my naked skin.

I hope that I’ll be able to understand my Beta better by spending time dressing up in the elaborate costumes that he’s spent his life masked in.

Next to the dress is a large, gleaming silver box, which is smothered with ribbons. I’m guessing that the box holds our masks but I haven’t been brave enough to peer inside yet.

Are all the contestants dressed the same? Or has Jin managed to persuade a Beta friend of his in the costume department to help us make another statement?

In that dress, I will be Jin’s Queen for real.

Torin and Cricket are already dressed in their costumes. The outfits for the ball were designed to match the ones that Jin wore when he was sitting on his throne.

The Alpha and Omega look like Jin’s consorts.

I won’t tell Torin that.

Alphas’ egos are as large as their knots. And Torin has a fucking huge knot.

Torin is dressed in a pale blue satin suit with a dragon embroidered waistcoat. It has a silver silk cape. The cape flutters all the way to the floor.

Torin’s hair glitters with a dozen tiny glittering clips like snowflakes.

He’s a villainous Prince Charming from the land of ice and snow.

It suits him.

Cricket’s suit is similar to Torin’s but without the cape. A cricket has been sewn more crudely onto the pocket of the jacket, which Cricket touched reverently.

“Jin sewed this, I can tell. It’s the same style as the knitted dragon with the wonky tail.

” Cricket smiled like the badly sewn picture of a Cricket was a courting gift.

Since Cricket had lost his knitted dragon, this was Jin making it up to him.

It was a courting gift. “He still sucks at crafts. I love it. I never want to take this off.”

Cricket’s feet are still bare.

He eyed the posh, shiny black shoes with suspicion.

He’s never worn anything like them before. They do look restrictive.

Cricket is the opposite of the type of elite Omega that you’d expect to match with a billionaire like Torin.

The type who wears tight shoes and suits as a second skin. The type who knows appropriate Omega etiquette.

The type who wasn’t raised in the middle of the forest with poverty stricken outlaws.

Yet Torin looks at Cricket like the Omega is the brightest, most precious jewel, which is more valuable for not being polished.

After all, Torin has piercings beneath that suit and a lifetime of being treated as either invisible or as an outcast.

Also, he has the type of cold tongue that would terrify a submissive elite Omega (and I can attest feels fucking incredible on my pussy).

Cricket leans closer to lick over a deep bruise on my neck. My purr deepens.

When Cricket’s hair brushes against my skin, I shiver.

Earlier, Torin threaded diamond encrusted decorations that looked like ice shards into Cricket’s tumble of hair, while Cricket sat awestruck.

Cricket didn’t appear to know what to do with his hands.

Both men look fucking gorgeous.

Despite the fear of what will happen in the final of the Pack Bonds contest and how we’ll need to perform, I’m excited to see them dressed up like this.

I’m also impatient to be back with Jin.

“Just think that only last month, the most exciting thing that happened to me was a new squirrel family moved in behind our cabin.” Cricket finally straightens. “I spent so much of my life hidden away. During the day, I wasn’t living. I only came alive at midnight, when I was online with you, Bee.”

I slide my hand up the silky material of Cricket’s hip. “I was just as addicted to you. I wanted every day to hurry up and end, so that I could be alone with you in bed, even if I had no idea where you were. It didn’t matter that you were online. It felt like we were…”

“Bonded,” Cricket supplies.

I nod.

“But then, you also had Jin with you. I love the painting of him in your bedroom. I wouldn’t have left my bed, if I had a picture of my Dragon above my nest.”

I wave my hands, trying to hush Cricket. But it’s too late.

Torin tries not to laugh. “You teased me about liking a mirror above this bed, but you touched yourself, while staring up at a painting of Jin…?”

My cheeks heat. “Why did you have to imagine me…?”

“Writhing in your heat, while you imagined that your fake Jin was fucking into your tight pussy? Begging him, please Jin, harder…? ” Torin’s voice becomes low and breathy.

“Hey, I don’t sound like that.”

“Is this when you confess that you’re secretly not a journalist? That you’re a stalker? Wait, are you actually a serial killer with a basement filled with life-size Jin dolls?”

If only he knew my real secrets.

Cricket rocks on his heels. “It’s like that film King of Comedy . Perhaps, we should simply kidnap Jin.”

“It’s more like the Omega actor, Jex’s, famous film, Omega Taken ,” I say. “Everybody thinks that Jex is being trafficked but actually, it’s a rescue attempt to get him away from his abusive mob family.”

“Oh, I rated that nine out of ten. Jex is an inspiration as an Omega actor,” Cricket chirps.

“Wow, love between geeks. I’m moved.” Torin glances between us. “Should I write a song about you two little darlings?”

I glare at Torin, but to my surprise, Cricket turns to Torin.

“Would you?” He asks, enthusiastically.

I arch my brow at Torin.

That’s what happens when sarcasm fails.

Torin clears his throat. “What shall I call it? “Geek?” Radiohead’s “Creep” was pretty successful.”

Torin begins to sing “Creep”, with a sly smile and a rumbling, seductive voice that makes my skin tingle, replacing the lyrics with ‘geek’.

“If you’re trying to serenade us,” I point my bare toe at Torin, sprawling back on the couch, “that’s a fail, Mr. Anti-Romance.”

“If you’re trying to flash your pussy at me,” Torin’s voice is silky, “that’s a pass with flying colors, Ms. Sexy.”

I deliberately cross my legs…slowly.

Both Torin and Cricket are watching me, spellbound.

Cricket is panting.

Witness the Sharon Stone approach to taming your pack.

Torin tries to distract himself by doing up his bow tie with jerky motions.

His blue eyes are frosty. “Don’t think that I’m not aware of your tricks, a chroi.”

“I wish that I knew your tricks.” I study Torin, thoughtfully.

“Don’t you like a man of mystery?” Torin strolls to the armchair, snagging Cricket around the waist to pull him onto his lap sideways.

Sitting on his lap, it’s possible to see just how tiny Cricket is. Cricket’s legs are slung over Torin’s thighs.

Torin traces circles over the Cricket’s bare right ankle. His other palm lies flat and heavy on Cricket’s knee.

Torin pushes the bottom of Cricket’s trouser up to curl his forefinger and thumb around his ankle. “You’re so small.”

He says it like it’s a surprise.

Or a realization that’s sinking in.

Cricket rests his head on Torin’s chest. “Does that make me easier to hurt or protect? I’ve survived living with four vicious Alphas and being rejected by a brutal pack. My size hasn’t saved me. And it hasn’t broken me.”

Torin slides his palm up Cricket’s right leg, squeezing.

“I could break your leg without even trying.” Torin’s expression is shuttered. I snap upright in panic. But Cricket doesn’t pull away. “Yet you’ve never been scared of me. Why do you trust that I’m not bad?”

Cricket cups his Alpha’s cheeks with a deep tenderness.

“I feel it in my soul. How many broken bones do you think I’ve suffered?

Bruises? Busted lips? I know when I’m in danger.

I’ve been threatened with death. I’m not frightened of it anymore.

While I’m alive, I simply want to be loved.

And I love you. But why do you think you’re bad, Charming? ”

Torin’s jaw clenches. “I’ve spent five years feeling nothing but bad.”

I edge closer on the couch. “Why?”

Cricket strokes Torin’s cheek in comfort.

“In Ireland, they hold fun carnivals and dances regularly.” Torin’s expression is tight.

“Fiddlers and pipers play, while Alphas and Omegas laugh and dance for days. Betas serve Guinness, whiskey, and hearty stews. Everybody joins in. Apart from the pack’s outcast. I was forced to watch but stay in the shadows at the back of the room.

Nobody spoke or danced with me. I couldn’t even drink to get through that hell.

Christmas or Easter, any big event was the same.

I was the ghost. I was forced to be present but was made an example of. Excluded .”

I hiss out a breath. “How could your pack do that to you?”

How could any pack?