Page 28 of Knot Our Reality (Heated #5)

Emilia

C ome Saturday morning, I feel like a brand-new person. After I shared dinner with my new suitors, I sat up with them for about an hour and a half before calling it a night.

I was in bed before ten, sleeping for over ten hours before waking.

I expected to be exhausted after the events of yesterday, but I guess I just needed a good, solid block of sleep. It probably helps that I didn’t dream about my pack.

When I step into the entryway, I find all four of my suitors coming down the stairs.

“Good morning, Emilia.” Alexei hurries down the stairs, taking my arm and sliding it into his, as his whiskey and bourbon scent fills my nose. “It is good we catch you. Can escort to breakfast. How are you feeling today?”

“Much better,” I tell him, patting his arm. “Thank you for asking.”

Nikolai, Gavin, and Paxton follow us into the dining room, where we find Millie waiting for us.

“Miss Emilia!” Millie smiles as she comes over and takes my hand, tugging me away from Alexei.

“We have decided we won’t be doing buffets for breakfast anymore.

We don’t want to run the risk of something turning your stomach.

Instead, we have added food to this tablet so you can order what you want.

The others as well, but you are my main concern. ”

She helps me sit, pulling the tablet closer as Paxton pushes my chair in for me. As he moves to my left and takes the chair on the other side of Gavin, his scent rolls over me. Cinnamon and nutmeg with a hint of…pepper, I think. It’s an interesting combination, and I certainly don’t hate it.

“Just press the button and it will load for you. We will do this for each meal, and if you’re worried about anything causing issues for you, you will let us know.

We’ll take it off the menu. If you have any more incidents like yesterday, you will also let us know.

We need to make sure you’re able to be happy, and we don’t want you getting sick when it can be prevented. ”

“Oh, Millie. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble. I think it was just a one-off. I don’t want to make more work for any of you,” I protest, but she’s having none of it.

“Nonsense. You choose what you’d like, then pass it to the next person. If you have any questions, there’s a help button you can press and one of the staff will come speak with you.”

Before I can thank her, she’s taking off back toward the kitchen. I glance over the menu, finding no ham or anything else that sounds disgusting, before choosing some food and submitting my order.

I hand the tablet to Nikolai, and he leans close. “You are sure you feel better today? We can have stay-in date if you need us to.”

“I promise, I’m fine, Nikolai. No reason to worry.” I wave him off and turn my attention to Gavin. “Did you sleep well?”

He nods, hints of his cinnamon and pumpkin scent rushing over me. Beta’s scents are never as strong as an alpha’s or an omega’s, but it doesn’t make him smell any less scrumptious.

“I love the beds here,” he admits. “And the soundproofed rooms? It’s so easy to sleep here.”

“I actually find it harder to sleep. Even with just me and the boys in the house, there are always sounds. The quiet kind of freaks me out.”

We fall into easy conversation after everyone finishes ordering, and our food is brought out. I still feel a little like I embarrassed myself yesterday with my outburst and sob fest, but none of them bring it up. I’m happy to pretend it never happened.

I make sure to check that they’re all wearing their swim trunks or are bringing them with them. I’d hate for any of them to miss out on the fun we have planned for the day.

“Good morning!”

I frown, my head shooting up to find Evangeline walking in with Tessa and Bree. “Not that it’s not great to see you, Evangeline, but what are you doing here this morning?”

“Oh, darling, I haven’t been to sleep yet. Juniper did not want to sleep, and I needed a break, so Tessa is taking her omega to work with her.”

Tessa sighs. “That’s not at all what’s happening. I told you I’d take Juniper so you could get some sleep.”

Evangeline shrugs, grinning at me. “Close enough. I’m too wired to sleep, and I’d rather not keep Juniper up since she’s finally sleeping.”

“That’s always the risk you run with babies. Sometimes they just screw your sleep schedule up. That’s one thing I’m not looking forward to once this baby comes.” I lay my hand on my belly and rub it.

“But you’ll have a pack with you, which is better than trying to do it on your own.” Evangeline’s smile is soft as she glances around the table. “Oh, hello, suitors. Gavin, I’m so glad to see you here! He’s amazing, Emilia.”

Another sigh from Tessa. “Enough, Evangeline. Lucas has the SUV out front waiting whenever the five of you are ready to head out.”

“I’m good, if the rest of you are?” I glance around the table.

Instead of answering, they all stand. Nikolai grabs the back of my chair and pulls it out before helping me to my feet.

“Thank you, Nikolai. Such a gentleman.”

He flushes, scowling as he looks down at me. “Nothing gentle about me.”

I just pat his chest, allowing him to lead me across the room. “Yeah, okay. Whatever you say.”

I bite my lip to hide my smile when he growls under his breath. Alexei turns around to grin at me. “I approve of you giving brother hard time. ”

“Of course you do.” Nikolai scoffs, and it just tickles me pink.

My eyes meet Evangeline’s and the mirth in her eyes sends me into a fit of giggles. I lose it so badly that Nikolai has to stop walking because I can’t take another step.

“What is funny?”

I shake my head. “Just you and your brother. You sound like my boys when they’re arguing.”

“Oh, so you compare us to children?” Nikolai’s scowl only deepens, sending me into another bout of giggles.

Alexei snorts. “At this rate, we will never leave.”

He scoops me into his arms and carries me across the entryway and out the front door.

“Good morning, Emilia. Have you forgotten how to walk?” Lucas asks as we reach the SUV.

“She has giggles and unable to walk. So I help.” Alexei sets me down, tapping my butt when I go to climb inside.

I spin around, eyes wide, to find him smirking at me. “Something wrong?”

Eyes narrowed, I shake my head. It’s not like I have a problem with him touching my butt. I just didn’t realize we were that comfortable with one another.

I wouldn’t mind him touching it in another context, that’s for sure.

Male groans sound out as I settle into the back seat between Gavin and Paxton, leaving the middle seats for the twins.

“What?” I ask, glancing between my suitors.

Paxton chuckles. “I don’t know what you were thinking when you climbed into the SUV, Emilia, but you were perfuming like crazy.”

My cheeks flush, but I remain silent. There’s no way I’m telling them what was running through my mind.

I’m seven months pregnant, and not once have I wanted sex. Now, it’s all I can think about. It’s ridiculous.

It’s not like I can just take one of my suitors for a roll in the sheets. I mean, sure, I could , but it would be something more than a one-night stand. I’m not ready to start thinking about choosing any of my suitors for my pack yet, which means I need to get this shit under control.

Luckily, none of them press the topic. We fall back into the easy conversation we’d been sharing at breakfast, and it’s just…nice.

Instead of heading into town, Mike drives us further out. Twenty minutes later, he pulls into the Crimson Sands Desert Tours parking lot.

“What is desert tour?” Nikolai asks, frowning through the window.

“I’m heading inside. Stay in the car until I come back.” Lucas is out of the car before anyone can say anything else.

I shake my head. “It’s a tour of the desert.”

The scowl is back on Nikolai’s face. “I do not know what means.”

“We’re going to ride around the desert with a tour guide who will point out things to us. We’ll stop for lunch and a surprise part of the way through. It’s going to be fun,” I assure him.

“Ignore Nikolai. He spoilsport. It sounds fun to me.”

“I don’t want to argue with the grumpy one,” Paxton says slowly, his eyes on Nikolai. “But it really does sound like a lot of fun.”

Nikolai shakes his head. “Bet it not safe. Terrible idea.”

Mike has been trying to hide his laughter, but at this, he just loses it. “Holy shit, Nikolai. I didn’t think you could get any grumpier. By the way, Lucas is on his way out.”

I bounce in my seat. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Joshua Tree, and I’m more than ready to get out there.

I’m most excited about visiting the Joshua Tree Waterfalls. It’s a massive lake with a thousand-foot waterfall.

According to historical records, it didn’t exist before the Event. It’s believed that it formed following the earthquakes that ravaged California. Even though it’s in the desert, the waterfall runs year-round, with the lake being fed from underground as well.

I’m just glad it exists. I remember it being utterly relaxing when my pack and I came years ago .

Before I can dwell on thoughts of the past, the back door to the SUV swings open. Nikolai and Alexei exit first, and I quickly follow them, allowing Alexei to help me out.

“We can head right inside,” Lucas tells us as Mike shuts off the vehicle. Gavin and Paxton climb out, Mike joining us moments later.

The twins walk on either side of me as Lucas scoffs, shaking his head. “You are aware it’s mine and Mike’s job to keep her safe, right?”

“You can do from in front or behind her,” Nikolai says. “We guard her too. She be safe with us.”

Instead of arguing, Lucas gives one last shake of his head before turning back toward the building. Mike’s laughter trails behind us as he falls in at the back of the group.

Stepping into the building, I smile when I see the owners waiting. As with most of the places frequented on Heated , Crimson Sands is pack-run and omega-owned.