Page 26 of The Violence of Love (The Black Market Omega #2)

I smile, then glance up at him. With his tousled hair, broad shoulders, and that boyish grin…he looks effortlessly charming. It makes my heart flutter in a different way. Safe. Warm. Sweet.

“The company belonged to Rhett’s two fathers,” Myrick continues. “He inherited it when his last alpha father passed away.” He sighs long and hard, telling me that there’s a much longer story there. “Textiles aren’t exactly his passion.”

“That’s understandable.” Charlie gives Myrick a lopsided grin, lifting the last of my nerves. What is it about handsome betas with sexy smiles?

“Is it just Rhett and his brother?” I ask, eager to learn more about my pack alpha.

“Yeah. They’re the last of his immediate family.” Myrick leans back against the counter, arms crossed. “Brock doesn’t care about the business, and Rhett doesn’t want to hand over something that meant so much to his parents to just anyone. He wants to make them proud. ”

“I get that,” Charlie says softly. “My dad died when I was a kid. It’s hard—feeling like a ghost is watching you.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, reaching out to trace my fingers down his arm. His skin is warm. Solid. His fingers twitch like he wants to hold mine, but doesn’t.

I wonder if Rhett told him not to touch me. It wouldn’t surprise me.

“That’s okay,” Charlie murmurs. “It’s been just me and my mom for a long time now.”

They keep talking—Myrick asks about Charlie’s mom, and they fall into this easy, comfortable conversation about childhood and broken families.

Charlie talks about his mom and how she moved in with her new girlfriend a few years back. She now lives halfway across the world, eating dumplings and learning Mandarin. He talks to her at least once a week.

Myrick, on the other hand, hasn’t spoken to his parents in almost a year. They had a pretty bad falling out sometime last year, but he stays purposefully vague about it, and Charlie is too polite to ask.

I stand quietly, curling my fingers around my wrist. I feel my puffy, thin scar, tracing it over and over again. I’m scared they’ll ask about my family.

What would I even say?

It’s not like I can tell them the truth.

“Well.” A loud clap cracks from the hallway right as Oli strolls back in with the biggest grin plastered on his face. He looks like he won the lottery. “Looks like I’m the newest member of your pack.”

“Don’t push it,” Rhett snaps, stalking in behind with a scowl on his face.

The room tightens as their scents mix—Rhett’s warm hazelnut and Oli’s earthy mint—and I hate the way it hits me. It shouldn’t smell good. But it does. My stomach flips, heat blooming low in my belly.

They smell good enough to eat.

I blink hard, trying to scrub the thought from my brain.

“Myrick.” Rhett pulls his phone out of his back pocket. “I need to go into the office. I want the contracts ready in case Jannis convinces the board. I’ll be late. Don’t wait on me for dinner.”

My heart sinks. I know I shouldn’t feel disappointed. Rhett is busy. This is important. But I wanted more time with him. I need more time.

“But I was going to take Autry and Charlie downtown.” Myrick frowns. “They need clothes. Toiletries?—”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take you,” Rhett says firmly. “You know how fragile all of this is.”

“I can do it,” Oli offers, a little too eagerly.

“You’re not getting another penny out of me,” Rhett snarls, and my heart picks up, nervous.

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Oli says with a respectful bow of his head. “I’m trying to be nice. I’ve got nothing planned for the day, and I’m feeling generous.”

Rhett narrows his eyes. “Have you ever even been around an unmated omega?”

Oli snorts. “I’m in the same room as one right now.” His eyes flicker to me—and, lord help me, I feel it everywhere. Heat crawls up my neck, spreading across my cheeks. I drop my gaze immediately, ashamed of the way my skin reacts.

He smells so good.

“Don’t be a smartass,” Rhett growls. His tone makes my stomach curl up, and I hunch my shoulders, trying to shrink.

Charlie instantly mirrors my posture, even ducking his head.

“There are all kinds of alphas out there that are waiting to get their hands on an unmated omega. One false move, and Autry could be seriously hurt.”

“Well,” Myrick’s voice is tentative, like he doesn’t want to argue, but he’s going to anyway.

“I have reservations for us at a few omega-only boutiques,” he says to Rhett.

“Stray alphas aren’t allowed inside. We can also take a car and stay within omega-approved areas.

Oli would be a lovely extra layer of security.

” He places his hand on Rhett’s arm. “Omegas need nests, and it would be really good for her to pick out her own materials.”

My ears perk at that, and my heart flutters. “My own nest?” I whisper, praying that I heard him right.

I haven’t had my own nest in months . The boarding house gave us piles of used, stiff blankets, but no coves.

No secluded spaces. Just regular hospital beds and scratchy pillows.

I miss having a real space all my own. I miss the comfort and safety.

The little ritual of shaping and patting the perfect materials into place.

And the scents. All the wonderful, comforting, soothing scents.

That I miss most of all.

“She needs a nest, Rhett,” Myrick says a little firmer, and my belly swoops at his thoughtfulness. I really hope Rhett agrees.

“It would help settle her.” Charlie lifts his head enough to see Rhett through his shaggy hair. “Autry smells stressed.”

Myrick’s blue eyes fall to my face, and his nostrils flare. His brows pull together, clearly not smelling anything.

“He’s right,” Oli says with an impressed lift in his voice. “You’ve got a decent nose on you, kid,” he compliments Charlie, making the beta smile.

“Autry.” Rhett’s rough voice cuts through me, and I snap my eyes to him. He crooks a finger, beckoning me over .

I obey, coming to a stop right in front of him. Tipping my head all the way back, I look up at his powerful body, waiting for him to speak. But instead of saying something, Rhett wraps his big hand around my wrist, then pulls me out of the kitchen, down the short hall, and into the living room.

I see a flash of the city outside as well as an impressive chandelier, before Rhett leans down, blocking my view of anything else.

He looks intense, looming over me with dark, narrowed eyes. “I know you want a nest,” he says, our eyes locking together. “But it’s dangerous out there for unmated omegas. Risking your safety over something so trivial.” He shakes his head. “It’s not a good idea.”

Annoyance, followed by deep disappointment, flickers in my chest, and I look away. A nest isn't a small thing. It’s not fluff and blankets—it’s home. It’s comfort. But I swallow that down. Saying it would only sound disrespectful.

“I’m sorry, omega.” Rhett’s muscular arms wrap around my waist. He holds me softly at first, before allowing his hands to slide up my spine and rest between my shoulder blades.

It feels good. “You’re too precious,” he purrs, voice dark and warm as he buries his face in the crook of my neck.

He breathes me in—slow and deep—before brushing his nose right over my scent gland.

The simple touch makes my breath hitch, and he pulls me tighter, flush against his chest.

My body responds, and my head instinctively falls back, granting him more space. “Alpha,” I gasp when his warm tongue glides across my sensitive skin. “Please.”

“Please, what?” His voice is husky as he lifts his head and studies me. “What do you want, omega?” He’s teasing me .

And I like it. I think.

“Talk to me, Autry,” Rhett purrs.

I know what he wants to hear. He wants me to beg him to stay, to touch me, but right now all I want is a nest.

Focus on what’s important here , I silently remind myself. You need Rhett to mark you.

Once I have his bite mark on my neck, then he’ll be compelled to protect me. His alpha nature will demand that he kill anyone who tries to hurt me or take me away.

“I want you to stay home,” I say quietly, trying to sound flirty and sad at the same time. “I know you can’t. You have to work. But if you can’t be here…” I decide to go for it, “...I’d feel better if I had a nest.” I drop my voice to barely a whisper, “I need it.”

Rhett watches me. Quiet. Considering.

So I keep talking.

“I know you’re trying to protect me,” I say, softer now.

“And I’m grateful. I really am. But a nest isn’t trivial.

It’s comfort for an omega. It’s safety. It’s.

.. how we stay calm. I haven’t had one in a very long time.

” I bite my bottom lip, trying not to get too emotional.

“Myrick and Charlie will keep me safe, and Oli will be there,” I add, hesitant.

“You trusted him before. Why would today be different?”

Rhett’s eyes narrow slightly, jaw tight. I feel the tension in his body as he weighs his options. From the kitchen, Myrick’s voice rises in a laugh, joking about Brock, loud and familiar. It feels intentional—like he's trying to remind Rhett that Oli isn’t a complete stranger.

Feeling a little defeated by the alpha’s silence, I bow my head. “I understand if you say no. What you say goes, and I’ll obey without any complaint.”

A soft snort pushes from Rhett’s chest. “I wish you could teach Myrick to agree so quickly. ”

I glance up, happy to see the alpha smiling.

Finally, Rhett exhales through his nose, then he tightens his hold on me, drawing me closer. I rest my hands on his chest, feeling his firm pecs through his shirt. There’s so much power and strength beneath my fingertips.

“Okay,” he finally relents, then bends slightly and hooks one arm under my butt. He lifts me easily, walking us toward the nearest wall. “You can go shopping with Myrick. But you’ll do it covered in my cum.”