Page 132 of Bliss & Her Idols

He could have drowned.

Shit, no wonder Cricket is scared of going into the water.

“Hey,” I cup Cricket’s cheek, “we can find a way to get you out of this task. You don’t need to do this.”

Torin glances between us, surprised.

Torin stands, resting on the lounger with one arm, deliberately blocking us from the view of most of the other Alphas and Omegas who are milling around and drinking fruity cocktails.

Torin is doing his best to reduce our anxiety and make sure that we can only smell his soothing pheromones. But he’s doing it in a casual way.

He raises a questioning eyebrow. “What do you need, mo stoirin?”

Cricket wrestles with whether to say anything, glancing at the cameramen who are ringing the area.

At the moment, they appear more interested in the pink haired Omega, who is storming away from the oil baron.

In his sixties and in good shape with steel gray hair and eyes, the Alpha looks like he wishes he could simply enjoy his cocktail in peace.

“Madan,” the Omega weeps, “you have no idea how to treasure an elite Omega of my worth.”

Madan simply appears bemused.

While the focus isn’t on us, Cricket hurriedly glances up at Torin.

“My parents would punish me with water,” Cricket whispers. “They had a barrel outside. The water was freezing. If I had impure thoughts or broke the rule, you know, that Omegas mustn’t…”

He blushes.

Torin’s knuckles are white around the lounger like he may snap it, but he’s careful to keep his voice level. “Sorry, you’ll have to narrow that down. I don’t remember giving my Omegas any rules.”

I blink.

Huh, that’s true.

“Abouttouchingthemselves,” Cricket gets out as quickly as he can. “They washed me free of my filth.”

Torin takes a deep breath to calm himself down, before he replies.

I’m struggling with the same rage.

Torin’s eyes have become chips of ice. “Let me sit with you both. I need to know that you’re warm and safe or I may have to leave and tear out a few people’s throats.”

I scoot to the side, allowing Torin to sit beside Cricket and wrap his arms around him. He rubs Cricket’s arms vigorously like the sun isn’t enough to heat him up.

Then Torin, the devil on Cricket’s shoulder, murmurs seductively, “Would you like me to bathe with you in a hot bath, while showing you just howfilthywe can both be together? I love my Omegas to be as impure as I am. Do you have dirty thoughts about me? I hope so, else I’m not working hard enough. Your body belongs toyou. You touch it as much as you like. And by the way…? This is me giving you consent to touchmewhenever you want.”

I’m delighted when Cricket flushes but also laughs.

Cricket looks at Torin underneath his lashes. “What if I’m having impure thoughts about touching youright now?”

Torin smirks. “An exhibitionist. Perfect. Because so am I.” He sprawls back in invitation. “Go for it. Both of you. I’m all yours, little darlings.”

Cricket meets my gaze with a desperate, helpless look.

Bluff called.

At least Cricket is no longer either ashamed or frightened of the water.

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