“You just let a sexual deviant jam his fist into your pussy with no complaint. I watched. I liked watching. Just as much as I’ll like watching your cunt eat up the treat he has in store later.”
Nothing.
Wait. Was she… was she actually crying?
Arms bulging, smooth chest puffed, he didn’t allow her to move when she began to try to wriggle free. Instead he kept her pinned like a worm on a hook and watched her fail utterly at escaping his weight.
The alteration in her scent didn’t please him nor did the sensation pinging at his ribs when she made her sad, little sounds. “What did you imagine was going to happen when you made your trade?”
Kieran really wanted to know, completely befuddled by this behavior—Omegas were designed to serve Alphas. They wanted to. Rosie had been begging for his cock only this morning.
Living with him was better than starving in a freezing shit-box and trading scrap for half a credit and some rotting food.
Sitting up just enough so she might weasel away, Kieran saw the look in her eyes. Hurt. It wasn’t pouting because he’d commanded she do something she didn’t want to. It was honest to god pain.
“Answer me.”
The part of her that he caught when she’d been half awake and content, this is what she’d hidden under the silence. Raw… just like Caspian had said.
“It was bound to happen one way or another, you must know that. Stamped face or no, some male was going to find a use for you. Make the best of just who claimed you first. For a few months you’ll live like a queen. You’ll have food. You’ll have water, and baths, and attention. Nod that you understand.”
She did, but the look in her eyes was not gratitude or even excitement at the prospect. The Omega was resigned.
“Do you know how many whores in the pen would spill blood to be in your shoes right now?”
The shake of her head and the accompanying expression was not provoking, yet still his irritation grew. It was clear she sensed it. Those violet eyes glanced down in submission, her posture changing from defensive to meek.
“If you think I’m going to fall for that, you’re playing with the wrong Alpha.” Climbing to his feet, he pulled her up after him. “You’re here for one reason. Tonight you’ll feel a reminder of it… and tomorrow, you’ll build your fucking nest on the bed.”
Chapter 4
Water up to her chin, enough to drink for a week, sloshed warm and lovely every time she moved a muscle. This is what heaven had to be. All the flesh that stung was soothed, tense muscles were rendered jelly. Wren didn’t even care that what had started crystal clear was dingy gray once she’d settled in. For the first time in five years, every speck of mud was going to be off of her.
And there was soap. Soap!
Things to clean her hair. Another bottle to soften it.
These precious items would have cost her three month’s income. They would have been stolen from her house had anyone in the Warrens known she possessed them.
She ran the bar over her shoulder for the third time, purring like a well-fed cat.
Who knew something as simple as a bath could heal so much?
The morning had been difficult. If she let herself ruminate over how completely fucked she was, she’d start screaming. The evening was going to be worse. She was going to be shared by all three of them. Something larger than a fist was going to tear through her body for the pleasure of a gangster she only knew by reputation and insinuation. All her fear had to be crammed into a little box in her head. The lid shut tight.
Warrens rats lived only in the moment, and took the small pleasures a hard life offered. She took the bath and relished every finger pruning moment.
Right now, she was a sleek mouse. One who’d been fed more food than she could hold. Who had swallowed not two, but three glasses of clean water. One who was still alive.
Whose boys were still alive.
The moment had to be savored. Small victories had to be enjoyed.
Even when the steam exacerbated her cough, she didn’t mind. Purring as loud as her tight chest might allow, she dunked her head and doused all that hair with shampoo. Bubbles, glorious bubbles, ran down her temples.
It was scentless, made for Omegas—so her natural odor would not be spoiled by perfume.
And it felt wonderful.
The Alpha who’d brought her here watched from the door. The creeper…
Always spying, that one. In the handful of days she’d known him, Kieran had watched Caspian fuck her. Watched Toby lick her. Watched Toby fist her.
And now he watched her take a bath.
Of all the moments he’d witnessed, this one seemed to intrigue him most. Not that Wren was paying him any mind. There wasn’t much to like about the good-looking one. And he didn’t seem to like much about her. Yet still he’d hovered all day, buzzing his irritated purr at her side like a mosquito looking to bite.