Page 38 of Knot the Last Chapter

She smiles. “Deal.”

And that’s how I find myself standing shoulder to shoulder with an omega who smells like something I’ve dreamed of andnever dared want, both of us sleeves-rolled and elbows deep in leftover dishes like we’ve done this every week for years.

It shouldn’t feel this easy.

She hands me a rinsed plate, and I dry it slowly, trying not to stare at the curve of her mouth as she hums something tuneless. Misty has curled up under the stool again, tail flicking lazily.

“You’re good at this,” she says lightly.

I grunt. “Mom didn’t raise helpless sons.”

“She raised dangerously competent ones, apparently.”

That makes me smile. “Corwyn’s the flashy one. Tyler’s the fixer. I’m just the guy who shows up and makes sure no one burns the house down.”

“I like that about you,” she says simply, and it hits harder than I expect. I stare at the glass I’m drying like it’s got the secrets of the universe etched into it. She rinses another plate and hands it to me, fingers brushing. The contact zings through me like a match to dry tinder.

And her scent—

Herscent. It clings to everything. Sweet and warm and coaxing. Not heat-ripe yet, but enough to tug at every cell in my body. I take a step back, trying to get my balance, and start stacking the dishes on the upper shelf.

Which means I have to reach over her.

Which means I end up half-caging her against the counter, one hand braced on the cabinet above, the other lifting a stack of plates into place.

She goes very still.

I can feel the shape of her breath. The heat of her body, not quite touching mine, but close enough that every part of me is aware of the space between us. And how easy it would be to close it.

“You do that a lot?” she murmurs.

“Hmm?”

“Trap people against counters with your arms.”

A slow smile curls at the edge of my mouth.

“No,” I say honestly. “You’re the first.”

She tilts her head slightly, looking up at me. She’s not afraid. She’s not even pretending to be. If anything, she looks… amused. And curious.

Which is dangerous.

I finish putting the dishes away and take a deliberate step back. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

I freeze. She says it so softly, like a kindness, like a dare.

I clear my throat. “You smell like heat.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “That’s not exactly polite. I’m on heat suppressants, but I’ve never been caught with three alphas for so long...” She’s not apologetic, which I love. But I can tell she’s not thrilled around her biology, and I respect that. Mama didn’t raise rude alphas, either.

“I get that, but…” I glance away, jaw tight. “You should know. You’ll get three different reactions in this house. Corwyn will flirt. Tyler will avoid you. I’ll do my best not to stare.”

“Which is why you keep staring?” she teases, but there’s something softer in her eyes now. “You’re doing great, by the way. Very subtle.”

I snort. “Thanks.”