Lights, Camera, Omega (Hollywood Omegas #1)

Julian, however, comes as more of a surprise.

Perhaps it’s because Julian is so palpably hopeful, so visibly anticipating a new outlet through which to express his nearly endless supply of nurturing love. Or maybe it’s because he never asks me for anything for himself that I feel so suddenly and so convincingly compelled to make this work.

Even though I barely understand what this is.

I don’t have so much of a boundless ego that I couldn’t forgive the clumsy little blond ray of sunshine such a minor wound to my pride. It’s just that, from my miniscule memory of my single interaction with her—I can’t understand what has Sol and Julian so readily smitten.

“So, I’m guessing from all the clandestine whispering, you’ve got something lined up already?” I shrug into the button down and drift back to the dresser for my watch, my cologne, and a pair of socks.

“Well,” Julian winds one of his brilliant auburn curls around his finger a little too casually.

“You remember how we were going to grab some brunch tomorrow with Winnie and the gang?” Julian asks carefully.

Slippery little bastards, aren’t they? I think to myself, a surprised laugh escaping my lips.

“I do, in fact. Let me guess, Winnie was more than happy to reschedule when you told her that she was getting bumped from the calendar for a bit of matchmaking?” I chuckle, imagining Winnie making Julian promise to give her every miniscule detail as soon as possible before she hurried him off the phone.

“When I tell you that Julian was on the phone for maybe forty-five seconds all together–” Sol begins before we all dissolve into shared laughter.

We’re all enjoying our little serving of dopamine when suddenly Julian’s face pinches slightly.

Understanding dawns on me.

“Has anyone mentioned any of this to Cosmo?” I venture cautiously.

Instead of the expected blanket of silence, there’s a voice from the open door of my bedroom.

“Has anyone mentioned any of what to me?” Cosmo pouts, his cut tanzanite eyes tired and sad as he shuffles in, slowly eddying toward Sol.

Julian clasps the scent card behind his back as casually as possible, Sol stands rigid as a steel rod between Julian and Cosmo.

“Well Cosmo, you haven’t classically been keen on us taking auditions for omegas,” I sigh, the only one willing to get this out of the way.

“Because every ‘candidate’ the agencies seem to bring us are completely the wrong fit for this pack,” Cosmo bristles, giving each of us a look as if to ask us to challenge him.

“So, what? Because the agency has sent us some duds, we never put ourselves out there again?” I offer a counterargument to his challenge.

“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words in my mouth Magnus.” Cosmo lifts his chin and puffs out his chest.

This gives him a full three inches on me, but I won’t be cowed. The young buck is still nearly a decade my junior, and I’ve had the distinct pleasure of having him on his knees, which makes it very difficult for him to manage a successful intimidation.

“Keep giving me attitude and I’ll put something else in your mouth,” I warn, the edge of a smile touching the corner of my lips.

A low, rumbling sound escapes Cosmo, but he does his best to continue his argument, not taking my obvious bait.

“I’ve always said we should meet someone outside the agency. We’re big enough that we don’t have to worry about omega placement statistics.” Cosmo drifts toward Sol. Whether he’s looking for backup, or someone to rub up against with that tent in his pants, I’m not entirely sure.

“What if I told you I met her already when I was up in Vancouver for the Dubois shoot?” Sol offers.

Without another word, Cosmo closes the distance between him and Sol, dropping his chin to rest on Sol’s shoulder.

I’m thinking of what else I may say, of my own building desire just watching this conversation unfold between the members of my pack, when I see Cosmo’s nostrils flare, his fingers creeping up and over Sol’s shoulders and slowly curling closed around them as he unconsciously grips Sol—scenting the dregs of the omega’s perfume on him.

All of us stay silent, Cosmo follows his nose from the hollow of Sol’s neck to the open air—his eyes fall to Julian knowingly.

“Give it here,” he rasps, low and needy.

I feel the heat tugging at my lower abdominal muscles, that sudden spark of flame.