Page 115 of Bliss & Her Idols

So, this is what it looks like when my sweet Omega snaps and becomes feral.

I rush to the bed in Cricket’s defense.

Over the last week, Chase started to give Cricket self-defense lessons, but Cricket is still only an amateur.

I can at least kick Torin’s ass — a little bit — to defend my Omega.

I grab Torin by his unraveled bow tie.

When I sniff, however, Torin’s vanilla tea scent hasn’t soured with anger.

He’s looking amused.

“I’ve had fantasies about being climbed by two dominant Omegas.” Torin throws his head back dramatically like he’s anOmega on a romance book cover, watching me out of the corner of his eye. “Ravish me.”

Cricket appears bewildered.

I growl.

Torin laughs. “Wow, sexy.”

I yank him closer by his bow tie. “Talk.”

“Interrogation play. I’m down with it.”

“Good, then tell me: What’s going on?”

“You liked the invites then?”

Torin is watching me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip.

“Yousent us the invitations that got us onto the island?” Cricket’s face instantly brightens. “You are here to try and help us save our Beta. You didn’t abandon us. I knew that you wouldn’t. It felt like I was dying when you left. Don’t abandon us again.”

Cricket drops his head to Torin’s neck, nuzzling him. Torin raises his arm to rub his back.

My gaze meets Torin’s.

Strangely, I can tell that we’re both thinking the same thing:Cricket is too trusting.

We need to protect him and also protect him from himself.

Torin kisses the top of Cricket’s head. But I don’t let go of Torin’s bow tie.

“I’ve worked out which of you is the good cop and which the bad.” Torin smiles at me. “Did you like the roses?”

In shock, I finally let go and sit back. “They were from you…?”

“Of course.”

He sent me roses…?

Torin’s brow furrows. “Wait, who did you think was sending you roses and getting you into this contest? I couldn’t give you more clues than that. You are a journalist, aren’t you? I didn’tthink that you were the type who got your information from wire taps and searching through celebrities’ garbage—”

“And I didn’t think that you were the type of CEO to treat Idols like property who could be forced into bonds as TV entertainment.”

“I’m not.” Torin’s jaw clenches. “It’s why I’m here now. After all, I need to keep you out of trouble. We’re going to do this together. Aren’t we pack?”

There’s something sincere about the way he asks that, which catches at me.

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