Page 34 of Knot Enough

THIRTY-THREE

I leaned my forehead on the sill of the bedroom. I’d stood here the entire time they fucked, and it hadn’t tapered off until a few minutes ago.

She let him into the room. As much as it was my fault for the distance between us, my little Omega should be with me.

The entire time they’d been in there, I’d been combing through ideas of how I could win her back to me. My thoughts were tinged with desperation. For now, there was one thing her delicious body needed.

I creaked the door open a sliver to find her sprawled across the bed, naked and spent. Her breasts rose and fell with each breath. She had such a succulent body. Grimm lay on his front, curling her hair with a finger.

They’d fucked hard, and she must be hurting. Her chest rose and fell harshly, telling me she was still awake.

I shouldered into the fire-lit room. He met my eyes with a satisfied smirk on his lips.

He was happy as fuck. I trailed my gaze down to the teeth marks in his neck.

No . . . I stiffened, slowing to a stop before reaching the bed.

Lena hadn’t opened her eyes yet. Fortunate since I was struggling to keep myself controlled and not lunge forward to collect her into my arms. My hands shook, and I balled them.

Patience, patience . . .

I breathed out in a steady stream. Violence wasn’t the answer right now, as much as I wanted to shred the room apart. Or just take her and run.

Axel had shown how he cared for her by bathing and feeding her. I wasn’t a cook like him, but I could do the bathing one. He’d gotten her to soften with his care.

I rolled my neck and approached, gently sweeping her into my arms. Her eyes flew open.

“What are you doing?” she gasped, her arms flailing. I tossed her a bit to settle her against my chest. She smelled like sex and Grimm, and wholly herself. My cock stiffened.

“The hall bathroom has the largest tub,” Grimm called, and I jerked my head at him in thanks. I never believed I’d be allied to the man who killed my brother. I had complicated feelings on the topic, but I needed to focus on saving my relationship.

I strode directly for that bathroom.

“Kane,” Lena admonished, her glare fixed on me.

“Let me take care of you,” I murmured. I met her eyes and dropped them to her lips, offering my submission. She gasped, and her hand on my chest clenched. Being submissive went against everything I was, but for her, I could do it.

When she didn’t utter another word, I kept forward, nudging the bathroom door open.

With her in my arms, I balanced her to one side of my chest and dropped on the closed toilet seat with her legs sprawled over my thighs.

I reached over to turn the bath on and made sure the temperature wouldn’t burn her.

She covered her yawn with her hand.

“Sleepy girl,” I murmured and tucked her hair behind her ear. She blinked up at me with her owlish brown eyes while the tub filled. Her silence put me off—made me anxious. I scanned her sleepy eyes, and she finally relaxed in my arms, resting her temple against my shoulder.

I checked on the bath again, and it was already full. With my arms back under her, I hoisted her up and stepped up to the edge of the tub to lower her. Her shoulders relaxed the deeper her body went into the water, and she studied me from under her eyelashes. Her attention warmed my face.

I was fucking blushing.

Clearing my throat, I reached over and shut off the water. Once I turned back to her, I grabbed the soap. We had washcloths at home, but my hands would have to do for now. I plucked the bottle of soap, my hands slightly trembling.

So much emotion coursed through my body, and I didn’t know how to process it. I was fucking terrified of fucking up more than I already had.

I started on her shoulders, and since I faced her and her back was propped against the porcelain, the tip of my fingers had easy access to the muscles of her neck.

She groaned, her head tipping back as I massaged her. My movements were slick and glided across her skin.

“Lena,” I said, my voice rough. She stiffened, and I worked the muscle to relax her. “You don’t owe me anything.” I paused to clear my throat. “But please listen.” She remained silent, her eyes shutting, and it gave me the courage to continue.

“I’m sorry for how I’ve hurt you. You didn’t deserve any of it. I won’t make any excuses because they’re bullshit. You were perfect from the start, and I should have worshiped you.” Tears slipped out from her squeezed eyes. I let out a hard breath. Fuck. That broke my heart.

I struggled to swallow.

“I've stepped down as Alpha of Reaper Pack.”

She gasped, her eyes widening. I stopped massaging her shoulders and cupped her neck, leaning so close I was in danger of falling into the tub.

“You already left your Pack?” she finally said. “But why, how?—”

I rubbed my thumb on her lower lip, and she clammed up.

“Because I don’t care for anything other than you, Lena,” I admitted. Now that I’d said it out loud, it felt like I could breathe. “I will make up for every fucked up thing I’ve done to you. You will never have to doubt me. My love for you won’t ever be swayed.”

Her eyes widened, and she shot upright, causing the water to sway. Water splashed over the lip of the tub.

I’d made her speechless.

I tucked her hair behind her ear. A flush spread across her cheeks. A beautiful shade of pink. I rubbed my thumb along the swell of it.

“Now let me take care of my little Omega.”

I inched her back until she finally rested against the porcelain again. She watched me through still-stunned eyes while I massaged and cared for her tired, abused body.