Page 35 of Knot Our Reality (Heated #5)

Emilia

I ’m so happy that the pills Ian gave Camden seem to work.

When I saw him at breakfast this morning, he was doing so much better.

I feel bad about spending so much time with him yesterday when it was meant to be a day spent with all my suitors.

It just seemed to make such a big difference to be so close to me. I didn’t have it in me to leave him.

Luckily, no one seemed to mind, and they all came over to hang out with us a few at a time, so as not to overwhelm Camden. If I didn’t already think my suitors were amazing men, this would have proven it to me—just like with Ian.

But it’s time for me to focus on my date and not Camden. It’s getting harder and harder to keep him off my mind—and the fact that my brother is running tests to see if we’re an omega pair.

“Emilia?”

My eyes widen as I turn my attention to Sasha, who’s wearing a small smile. I glance at Maverick and Dalton to find them both sporting the same smile.

I sigh. “I did it again, didn’t I?”

“It is okay,” Sasha assures me. “You worry about Camden. We all do.”

“Yes, but I’m excited to be on a date with the three of you, and I’m not acting like it.” I shake my head. “I’ll do better.”

Maverick’s hand closes around mine. “You don’t need to do better. I’d rather you not hide the fact that you’re worried. I want you to feel comfortable enough with us to tell us things like that. ”

Do I melt before their eyes? Maybe not physically, but internally? Absolutely.

“You’re all too good to me.”

Dalton scoffs. “I’m sure that’s not true. It’s more likely that we’re not good enough for you, sugar.”

I make a face. “Yeah, that’s certainly not true.”

“I’m glad that’s settled,” he says with a grin. “Now, do you have any idea what you want to order? Because we’ve sent the poor server away three times because you were zoned out.”

My cheeks warm, and I’m sure I’m turning a lovely shade of red as I glance down at the menu I haven’t even opened yet. “Ummm…give me like two minutes.”

The three of them talk among themselves as I flip through the menu, finally deciding on the chicken carbonara just as the server returns.

Dinner goes quickly, conversation flowing freely. After we finish, we head outside for a walk around town.

The plan is to get ice cream at some point—mainly because I’m craving it—but besides that, I didn’t plan much for the date.

It’s hard to plan my dates too far in advance because I never know how much energy I’ll have.

I figure if we find something that catches our fancy while we’re walking around, then we can take a detour.

But maybe after ice cream.

“There’s an ice cream place!” I point across the street, ready to run over when Maverick pulls me to a halt.

A car passes in front of us, and I look up at him apologetically. “Sorry. I just really want ice cream.”

“And we’ll get you the ice cream you desire. We’re just going to look both ways before crossing the street, yeah?”

I nod, laughing with the three of them as we do just that.

Once we each have our ice cream, we continue our walk. I can’t help humming to myself with each lick. It’s exactly what I needed.

As I finish up my cone, I look up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. My eyes go wide when I see all three of them watching me with hunger in their eyes .

“Ummm…” I glance between them, unsure what’s going on.

“Did you enjoy your ice cream, omega?” Dalton asks, his voice deep and almost dangerous sounding as he takes a step toward me.

A shiver runs through me at him calling me omega like that. It makes me feel almost feral—like we’re going back to the basic instincts that drive alphas and omegas.

I tilt my head, remaining where I am and curious about what he’s about to do. “I did, thank you.”

I jump at the sudden heat at my back. My nose fills with leather, sandalwood, and vanilla, telling me it’s Sasha as Dalton and Maverick advance on me.

“Do you know you make the sexiest little sounds when you’re enjoying what you’re eating?” Sasha asks, his hands pulling me back against him until I can feel his cock pressed against my back.

“I…uhhh…” A whimper falls from me as my words fail me.

When Sasha’s lips press against my neck, I shiver. I don’t have much time to think about it before Dalton’s lips are on mine.

The kiss is filled with heat as my mouth drops open, allowing his tongue to glide against mine. I cling to his and Maverick’s shirts as he pulls back, but Maverick’s lips quickly take the place of his. When he pulls back, I twist my head to kiss Sasha.

My body feels like it’s on fire, pressed between the three of them. I forget all about the cameras following us and the fact that we’re in the middle of the sidewalk in Rancho Mirage.

All I can think about is their lips and hands on me—about the pleasure they can bring me.

A catcall has us breaking apart, and I flush as the woman shoots me a wink. “What a lucky woman you are.”

“Uh, thanks?”

She just grins and continues down the sidewalk, leaving me feeling more than a little embarrassed.

“We are sorry, Emilia. We forgot where we were.” Sasha takes a step back, shaking his head .

“It’s okay. So did I.” I laugh, shaking my head in an attempt to clear my head. “Shall we continue walking?”

Dalton offers me his arm with a grin, and I slide mine into his. “It’ll be our pleasure, sugar. And I’m not apologizing.”

I throw my head back as I laugh, immediately feeling more at ease, if not a little turned on.

I’ll just have to take care of that myself when we make it back to the mansion. I’m not ready to sleep with any of these men, which has led to a lot of self-pleasuring.

I can’t even say I mind all that much.

Wednesday night brings my date with Ian.

Once again, I don’t have anything big or elaborate planned—which I’m grateful for since I’m exhausted.

We’re out by the hot springs, which I can’t go into. Damn pregnancy.

Bree and Tessa did an amazing job setting up the area with fairy lights and LED candles to set the mood. There’s a table for two sitting beside the water, but we’ve already abandoned it after finishing our dinner—steak, baked potatoes, and creamed spinach. It was divine.

Now, we’re lying on the blow-up mattress that’s been made into a mini nest with tons of blankets and pillows. I had to arrange it just so before we climbed on, but now it’s perfect.

We’re both propped up enough that we’re half-sitting up, which allows me to be on my back as we stare up at the stars.

It doesn’t look anything like this back in Los Angeles. There’s too much light pollution. There’s just no way to get around that when so many people live in one area, which is unfortunate because stargazing has always been one of my favorite pastimes.

I can feel Ian’s eyes on me, and I try not to squirm beneath his attention. The air around us feels heavy but still comfortable .

“What?” I finally ask, turning my head to meet his gaze.

He smiles. “Can I not just watch a beautiful woman?”

I shrug. “Of course you can, but it feels like you want to ask me something.”

“You’re entirely too observant,” he says softly, reaching over to push a strand of hair behind my ear. “Can I kiss you?”

“Is that all?” I ask, lifting my eyebrows. “You didn’t need to ask to do that.”

He chuckles softly as he rolls onto his side and moves closer to me. “Well, that’s good to know.”

Then his lips are on mine.

His kiss is softer than Maverick’s and Dalton’s were. Even Sasha’s—who made me feel like I was the most desired woman in the world.

I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him down to lie on top of me and relishing in his heat.

All he does is kiss me, not attempting to go any further, which shouldn’t frustrate me as much as it does.

I smile into the kiss as I recall Camden’s words to make sure to properly thank Ian. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

I might not be ready to sleep with him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make both of us feel good.

It’s easy for me to get enough leverage to flip our positions, pressing him back into the pile of pillows.

Ian grins as his hands go to my hips. “Well, hello there, omega. Was I doing something you didn’t approve of?”

Instead of answering him, I claw at his shirt until he helps me pull it off him.

It’s still early enough in the evening that the colder desert temperatures haven’t kicked in, so I don’t think twice about pulling off my dress and tossing it to the side.

I unsnap my bra and drop it beside us, smiling as his eyes narrow in on my tits as I sit there in nothing but a pair of lacy black panties.

I’ve always been curvy, but nothing compares to how big they get when I’m pregnant .

He blinks, eyes flashing up to me. “Are you sure?”

“We’re not going to have sex tonight, Ian, but that’s about my only hard line right now.”

I’m not used to being this forward. I’ve never had to be. My mates were the ones who pursued me in college, but I kind of like this. I feel powerful as I perch atop him.

“Okay, Emilia. You’re the boss.”

Yeah, I am.

It takes more effort than it should to not snort at the directions my thoughts go.

“Pants off,” I demand, going to my knees and trying to scramble down so I can reach his zipper. My damn belly is always in the way.

“Here. Let me.” Ian pushes my hands away gently, undoing them and pushing them down his legs where they get caught around his ankles.

I lower myself, grinding my slick-covered panties against his boxer brief-covered cock, and let out a long, loud moan. “Oh, fuck.”

The point of this was supposed to be about making him feel good, but all I can think about is how good it’s making me feel.

“That’s right, baby.” Ian grasps my hips, urging me to rock against him. “Use me to make yourself feel good.”

“But I want you to feel good, too,” I argue, but that doesn’t stop me from continuing to rock against him.

“I feel good when you feel good.” He sounds so earnest that I decide to take him at his word.