Page 27 of The Kingpin’s Omega Lover (River City Omegas #2)

King completely understood, and he’d never pressured Malori to go anyplace.

His therapist was a tele-call. Dr. Melish came here for the occasional check-up.

Food and clothes were delivered. Malori only really left for medical appointments that required specialized tests, which were infrequent.

Malori read, studied, exercised, and shopped from home.

King loved that Malori wanted to do something so out of his normal routine.

“We can absolutely go to the pool today,” King replied. “Just us?”

“Oh, no, we can invite Kensley, too. And Bishop, if he isn’t busy.”

“We both have appointments this morning, but we should be home by noon. How about a light lunch, and then we’ll head down to the pool? I can’t imagine they’ll say no.”

“Great.” Malori’s smile was brighter and more genuine than since before that first damned DVD showed up. He leaned over for a long, leisurely good-morning kiss.

King’s phone alarm went off before things could get frisky, and he reluctantly rose to start his day. Before he managed to grab a bagel and coffee on his way through the kitchen, Malori texted him that Kensley was all-in on the pool, and he’d convince Bishop it would be fun. Perfect.

The morning meeting was long but productive, and he arrived home around eleven.

Bishop was due back from his assignment by noon.

Hartford was in the lobby, looking a bit awkward in white linen pool pants and an island-style shirt that covered his concealed weapon.

The bodyguards had to at least attempt to blend in.

“Nice shirt,” King said with an amused wink as he passed.

“Bought it on my last vacation, boss,” Hartford replied. “Don’t get much call to use it.”

King kept any further snark to himself, because his guards didn’t receive much time off.

But taking a vacation wasn’t exactly safe for them, either, and wouldn’t be until they no longer worked for King.

He’d help his most loyal people start over somewhere safe, once all was said and done.

Especially Hartford and Garvey, who’d been with him for years.

He found Kensley in the kitchen, already putting together cold-cut sandwiches for lunch, plus a board of cut veggies and dip.

Something light, so they wouldn’t have to wait long before swimming, if they so desired.

King had never been fond of open water, like the ocean or even a lake.

Pools, he could deal with, if he could see the bottom.

He liked knowing exactly what he was dealing with.

“Schedule cleared for the rest of the day?” Kensley asked then popped a slice of cucumber into his mouth.

“Cleared, barring emergency.” King snagged a baby carrot off the board and took a bite of the sweet, crunchy veg. “How do you feel today?”

“Good. Tired but good. I’m looking forward to swimming, even if I’m dreading having people stare at me.

” Even though male omegas were known, most ended up forgoing carnal pleasure for religious servitude—like Kensley for half his life.

Pregnant male omegas were even more rare, and Kens was certainly the only one in their high-rise.

“If people stare too much, all it will take is one good glare from Bishop to make them stop.”

Kensley laughed. “That’s very true. Having an intimidating charus is definitely a plus, when you’re a genetic anomaly.”

“You’re not an anomaly. An anomaly is being born with six fingers. You are absolutely a normal human being, Kens, you’re just part of a much smaller, marginalized group who have every right to exist freely in this world.”

“You’re right. It’s all that old priest indoctrination. Comes out occasionally.”

“I know, and you’re working on it. You can’t undo fourteen years of programming in six months.

” Programming King was ultimately responsible for, because he’d chosen to send Kensley to the Holy Order Ninth Cathedral when Kensley was fourteen.

At the time, King thought it was the only way to protect Kensley from his gender identity and King’s enemies. He’d been wrong on both counts.

“You’re right.” Kensley began arranging cherry tomatoes on the veggie try.

“I guess I’m worried that as more omegas come out and show our faces, show the world who we are, that the people in charge are going to start, I don’t know, outlawing us or something.

Force us back into the church where we only exist as background characters. ”

King circled the island to stand by his brother’s side, bubbling with so much love and respect he felt lightheaded.

“I hope that won’t happen. I also don’t want you to worry about being the poster child for omega rights.

You and your baby, and the rest of our family?

We’re going to lead a joyful, peaceful life far away from here. ”

“Yeah.” There was hesitation in that single-word response, though.

“What is it?”

“I just…sometimes I feel selfish hiding here. For knowing I get to run away when there are so many others like me who can’t. The other Elders, who’ll probably die behind the abbey walls, lonely old men and women. Sometimes, I think I should stay and fight. Be the poster child.”

“But?”

Kensley sighed and sank harder onto his stool.

“That’s not who I am. I can fight for me and the people I love.

But I’m not a confrontational person, King.

I’m not the guy to get up in front of a hundred people and make fiery speeches about omega rights.

I know it’s cowardly, but I just want to raise my child in peace. ”

“Wanting that isn’t cowardly, Kens. You have every right to think of yourself and your child first, especially your child.”

“I’m not being selfish?”

“You are being the best kind of selfish, in my opinion. You don’t have to save the entire world to be a good person.”

Kensley considered his words with small nods of his head. “You’re right. Thank you. I think my hormones are out of whack, and I get emotional over every little problem in the world.”

“The way omega men and alpha females are treated in this world isn’t a little problem.

But it’s also not a problem for you to fix.

There are other activists out there, other governments, and other support groups.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll feel differently in a few years, when you’re in a better position to do something.

You are six months out of not only a traumatic kidnapping, but also a lifetime spent being oppressed by others.

You have a lot of healing left to do yet, brother. ”

Kensley smiled brightly. “Okay. Starting with the pool.”

“Absolutely. Do you know where Malori is?”

“He said he might use the practice room for a while, exercise a little.”

“Thank you.”

King went in search of his lover, and found him in the exercise studio where they typically had their self-defense lessons.

Malori was seated on the mat facing the window, legs crossed, arms loose.

Soft music played in the room, and he didn’t react to King’s entry.

Malori had been reading about meditation and taking some courses online.

Ways to center himself and channel his emotions through something besides physical violence.

King observed him for a little while. The smooth lines of his back and shoulders, the slow way his chest rose and fell as he breathed.

He barely moved at all, lost somewhere in his own head.

Interrupting him seemed rude, so King left and went to his office.

The computer was still warm, so Malori had probably been in here and then needed to calm down through meditation. King wished that worked for him.

He logged into his account and did some busy work while they all waited for lunch.

When Bishop texted he was back, King joined his family in…

the living room? He’d expected the kitchen, but Kensley had created an indoor picnic for them, complete with a blanket on the floor and paper plates.

King didn’t know they had paper plates in the house.

“We have a terrace, you know,” King teased.

“Too many stairs for me today,” Kensley replied. “This is the next best thing. A picnic right before an afternoon at the pool. Maybe one day we can do this at a beach. The four of us.”

King glanced at Malori, who was sitting on one corner of the blanket, knees drawn up to his chest. Malori offered him a warm, if distracted, smile. To Kensley, King said. “I think that can be arranged.”

The sandwiches were delicious, with a tangy spread he didn’t recognize, and Bishop poured sparkling grape juice for everyone. They chatted about simple things, keeping away from hard topics, enjoying each other’s company in a rare moment of peace.

King cherished it, because he knew it wouldn’t last.

Once the picnic was eaten, cleaned up, and everyone had changed into swim suits and t-shirts, they assembled with Hartford and rode the public elevator down to the fifth floor “resort.” All five of them had building resident cards that allowed them entry, one at a time.

Fudging Kensley and Malori’s identities to get those cards had been easy with enough money.

The spacious indoor pool was to the left, visible through a wall of plexi-glass.

The spa and sauna were to the right. The sharp scent of chlorine stung King’s nose when they passed through the wide doors to the pool.

He didn’t understand the engineering required to put a pool anywhere except the ground floor, but this one was impressive.

Forty yards long, twenty yards wide, and eight feet at its deepest end, the rippling water appeared perfectly aquamarine because of paint and filters.

Not a chip in the surface or a single faded depth marker.

The building’s superintendent took pride in maintaining the grounds to perfection.

A young male pool attendant strode toward them with a stack of white towels, and he greeted them with a smile. Offered to bring them anything they needed, from drinks to snacks to paddle boards. Hartford accepted the towels and sent the young man on his way.

A few clusters of swimmers and folks relaxing on lounges were scattered around the perimeter of the pool.

Kensley chose a row of four lounges at the far end nearest the wide bank of windows that overlooked the busy city streets.

It wasn’t a great view, but real sunlight streamed in those windows most of the day.

Kensley immediately sank down on a lounge and put his feet up with a groan.

Bishop tucked a folded towel behind his head.

Malori walked to the edge of the pool. The depth marker said six feet, which would be over his head, but there were two lifeguards, one at each end of the pool.

He stared down at the constantly moving water, ripples splashing against the concrete sides, sent from swimmers splashing in the shallow end.

King could only see his profile, and he looked… wistful.

He slipped off his boat shoes and slowly approached Malori’s right side. “Penny for your thoughts?” King asked.

“Thinking about something.”

“Something good or something bad?”

“Something sad.” Malori’s fingers plucked at the drawstring of his swimming trunks.

“My father taught me how to swim in a pool like this. An indoor one, I mean, but not as big, and definitely not with drink service.” The corner of his mouth curled up in a smile.

“I think it was a public pool. My father made me wear these orange floaty things on my arms so I didn’t sink.

Floating with him felt like flying. I’d forgotten that. ”

“We never know what will trigger a memory.” King took a quick count of the strange faces in the room. Sixteen. Twelve adults, four children. “You know, there’s something we’ve never talked about, because it’s never come up before.”

“What? Whether or not I can swim?”

“No, but I suppose that’s a good question. Can you?”

“Well enough not to drown. What’s your question?”

King glanced between them, where their hands dangled close together without touching. “Being open about us as a couple. Touching each other in public.”

Malori looked directly at him, eyes twinkling. “I didn’t hear a question.”

“Will you freak out if I hold your hand?”

“No. Will you?”

“One way to find out.” King slipped his hand into Malori’s.

The slow, warm smile that spread across Malori’s face settled a tiny spark of panic in King’s chest. He wasn’t used to public displays of affection with anyone; he had an image to protect, after all.

But this was right. This was his future.

He never wanted Malori to doubt his feelings.

Malori squeezed his hand; King squeezed back.