Page 54 of The Night Movers: Season One

Ridley laughed softly. “To everyone but you and me…yes. They have to think that you’re my pet. At least, for now.” He caught Rain’s nod in his periphery. “I won’t ever let them send you back to Rurik’s people. Just so we’re clear.”

“Good,” Rain whispered.

“But…what about the others?” Ridley asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Rain turned to him. “The others?”

“Orochi, was it? Hideo’s brother?” Ridley asked quietly. “Do you want to go back to him?”

Rain shook his head, but there wasn’t much conviction behind it. His lovely floral scent withered, though.

Ridley turned onto his side, propping his head on his palm as he looked down at the boy. “Are you sure? It seemed like there was…something there between you two.”

Rain heaved a heavy sigh, his expression pained. “It’s…complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Ridley said around a sigh. “If you want to go back, I can make it happen.”

“They don’t want me back,” Rain said, his disdain obvious. “Trust me.”

“Orochi definitely wanted you back. He tried to barter with my alpha before we left. Seemed pissed when he wouldn’t negotiate.”

Rain scoffed. “If he wanted me, he had years to do something about it. Hideo bought me from an auction house when I was thirteen. Orochi saw me every day. He saw what his brother did to me. What they all did to me. He never took part. But he also never helped me either.”

“Was he afraid of his brother?” Ridley asked.

“No. They didn’t get along, but that was no secret. Orochi is only mad because he waited years to take me from his brother only for Rurik to snatch me away before he could finally have me for himself.”

“Orochi wouldn’t share you with the pack like Hideo did?” Ridley asked carefully.

“He claimed he wouldn’t. But alphas can’t be trusted. None of them. Ever,” he said, his conviction somewhat muddied by another yawn.

“Go to sleep. We’ll talk more in the morning.” Rain nodded, letting his eyes fall shut. “Do I have to worry about you trying to run away?”

“Run where?” Rain asked. “Does a safe place exist for people like us?”

Sanctuary cities. Maybe one day soon, Titus could sneak Rain away from all this and he could be safe and at peace, try to have some semblance of a normal life.

“I just don’t want you getting hurt, and it’s dangerous in this place if you don’t know where you’re going.”

“You’re not staying with me?” Rain asked, eyes cutting to him, his voice trembling a little.

“I’ll be back. I need to explain to Jensen why it’s just me tonight. But don’t worry. I know how to keep him distracted,” he lied, winking at the boy.

Rain gave a stilted nod, then rolled over to face the bathroom.

“I’ll be back,” Ridley promised, slipping from the bed.

He shoved his feet into the thick fuzzy boots that he’d gotten during his shopping excursion. They did nothing to help the biting cold whipping around the large space. It still pierced his thin shirt and chilled his bare legs, but at least his feet were warm.

Ridley had to pass the living room to reach Jensen’s bedroom.

He didn’t expect to see a flickering light or hear the soft hum of voices.

His heart tripped in his chest when he peeked around the corner and found Steele slumped on the couch.

He’d changed into baggy black pants and a t-shirt. Alphas always ran hot.

There was a projector behind the sofa, beaming an old movie onto a blank spot on the wall. Steele had a beer in his hand, but it was almost full. He cut his eyes in Ridley’s direction, but didn’t give him his full attention until he stepped inside the room.

“If you’re looking for Jensen, he bailed to play some game with Diesel and Ryker.”

“Rain’s asleep.”

Steele gave him a hard once-over, lingering on his bare legs long enough to make Ridley shiver. “But not you.”

Ridley shook his head. “Not me.”

They stared at each other in silence, sizing each other up.

There was something about the way he looked at Ridley that made him desperate to…

please him. He wanted Steele to want him, to be as desperate and hungry for him as Ridley felt every time he bothered to give him his attention. Which wasn’t often.

After a long moment, Steele dragged his gaze away, turning back to the screen.

A smile played at the corners of his mouth when he saw Ridley’s face fall.

Asshole.

He needed to turn around and leave. If he went to Diesel’s room, the others would let him stay. They’d give him all the attention he could want or need. Titus would, too. Hell, even Sugar wouldn’t turn him away.

“Do you hate me?” Ridley blurted.

Steele huffed out a humorless laugh. “No. ”

Ridley caught his bottom lip between his teeth, stumbling awkwardly as he attempted to get closer. “Do you like me?”

Steele slowly shook his head, even as he gave him another heated once-over. “No, not really.”

That stung, but it did nothing to stop the familiar heat stirring in his belly, his omega fully prepared to do whatever it took to prove himself to the alpha before him.

He gathered his courage, closing the short distance between them. “But do you want me?”

Steele set his beer on the table, letting his legs fall open, brow raised in a silent challenge. Ridley couldn’t stop himself from crawling into his lap, straddling his hips.

“Do you?” he asked again.

Steele’s big hands gripped Ridley’s narrow hips, dragging him forward until he could feel his hard length against Ridley’s own. “What do you think?”

That was really all Ridley needed.