Page 43 of The Kingpin's Omega Lover
“Cleared, barring emergency.” King snagged a baby carrot off the board and took a bite of the sweet, crunchy veg. “How do you feel today?”
“Good. Tired but good. I’m looking forward to swimming, even if I’m dreading having people stare at me.” Even though male omegas were known, most ended up forgoing carnal pleasure for religious servitude—like Kensley for half his life. Pregnant male omegas were even more rare, and Kens was certainly the only one in their high-rise.
“If people stare too much, all it will take is one good glare from Bishop to make them stop.”
Kensley laughed. “That’s very true. Having an intimidating charus is definitely a plus, when you’re a genetic anomaly.”
“You’re not an anomaly. An anomaly is being born with six fingers. You are absolutely a normal human being, Kens, you’re just part of a much smaller, marginalized group who have every right to exist freely in this world.”
“You’re right. It’s all that old priest indoctrination. Comes out occasionally.”
“I know, and you’re working on it. You can’t undo fourteen years of programming in six months.” Programming King was ultimately responsible for, because he’d chosen to send Kensley to the Holy Order Ninth Cathedral when Kensley was fourteen. At the time, King thought it was the only way to protect Kensley from his gender identity and King’s enemies. He’d been wrong on both counts.
“You’re right.” Kensley began arranging cherry tomatoes on the veggie try. “I guess I’m worried that as more omegas come out and show our faces, show the world who we are, that thepeople in charge are going to start, I don’t know, outlawing us or something. Force us back into the church where we only exist as background characters.”
King circled the island to stand by his brother’s side, bubbling with so much love and respect he felt lightheaded. “I hope that won’t happen. I also don’t want you to worry about being the poster child for omega rights. You and your baby, and the rest of our family? We’re going to lead a joyful, peaceful life far away from here.”
“Yeah.” There was hesitation in that single-word response, though.
“What is it?”
“I just…sometimes I feel selfish hiding here. For knowing I get to run away when there are so many others like me who can’t. The other Elders, who’ll probably die behind the abbey walls, lonely old men and women. Sometimes, I think I should stay and fight. Be the poster child.”
“But?”
Kensley sighed and sank harder onto his stool. “That’s not who I am. I can fight for me and the people I love. But I’m not a confrontational person, King. I’m not the guy to get up in front of a hundred people and make fiery speeches about omega rights. I know it’s cowardly, but I just want to raise my child in peace.”
“Wanting that isn’t cowardly, Kens. You have every right to think of yourself and your child first, especially your child.”
“I’m not being selfish?”
“You are being the best kind of selfish, in my opinion. You don’t have to save the entire world to be a good person.”
Kensley considered his words with small nods of his head. “You’re right. Thank you. I think my hormones are out of whack, and I get emotional over every little problem in the world.”
“The way omega men and alpha females are treated in this world isn’t a little problem. But it’s also not a problem for you to fix. There are other activists out there, other governments, and other support groups. And who knows? Maybe you’ll feel differently in a few years, when you’re in a better position to do something. You are six months out of not only a traumatic kidnapping, but also a lifetime spent being oppressed by others. You have a lot of healing left to do yet, brother.”
Kensley smiled brightly. “Okay. Starting with the pool.”
“Absolutely. Do you know where Malori is?”
“He said he might use the practice room for a while, exercise a little.”
“Thank you.”
King went in search of his lover, and found him in the exercise studio where they typically had their self-defense lessons. Malori was seated on the mat facing the window, legs crossed, arms loose. Soft music played in the room, and he didn’t react to King’s entry. Malori had been reading about meditation and taking some courses online. Ways to center himself and channel his emotions through something besides physical violence.
King observed him for a little while. The smooth lines of his back and shoulders, the slow way his chest rose and fell as he breathed. He barely moved at all, lost somewhere in his own head. Interrupting him seemed rude, so King left and went to his office. The computer was still warm, so Malori had probably been in here and then needed to calm down through meditation. King wished that worked for him.
He logged into his account and did some busy work while they all waited for lunch. When Bishop texted he was back, King joined his family in…the living room? He’d expected the kitchen, but Kensley had created an indoor picnic for them, completewith a blanket on the floor and paper plates. King didn’t know they had paper plates in the house.
“We have a terrace, you know,” King teased.
“Too many stairs for me today,” Kensley replied. “This is the next best thing. A picnic right before an afternoon at the pool. Maybe one day we can do this at a beach. The four of us.”
King glanced at Malori, who was sitting on one corner of the blanket, knees drawn up to his chest. Malori offered him a warm, if distracted, smile. To Kensley, King said. “I think that can be arranged.”
The sandwiches were delicious, with a tangy spread he didn’t recognize, and Bishop poured sparkling grape juice for everyone. They chatted about simple things, keeping away from hard topics, enjoying each other’s company in a rare moment of peace.
