Page 17 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

She whines, her head tilting to the side, baring that neck. Omegas are sensitive to rejection, even more so during their heat, so I trail my teeth along her skin in a phantom bite. I’m not saying no, just not now.

“That’s it, kitten. I’m right here. You feel me, don’t you?” Lacing our fingers together, resting them over her lower belly. “I’ll sink my teeth into you later, promise.”

It’s enough to settle her, unwinding the tension in her shoulders, but mine stays. Asking a stranger for a bite isn’t normal, even in pre-heat. Maybe it’s the scent match fucking things up, but I’m not so sure.

There’s this squirming in my stomach, this ache to claim and keep that doesn’t feel like mine. It’s hers. Her hunger for that connection reaching out, snatching me by the throat. What the hell happened to make her so desperate for a bond?

Daphne’s clawing at the fabric around us, panting hard. Pushing our hands lower until we’re circling her clit, sending her closer to an orgasm that feels like it’s going to ruin my life. Or start it. “My omega’s taking me so well, isn’t she? Can’t wait to tell our packmates how good you’ve been.”

She spits the gag out, whimpering as her hips buck frantically. “I need more, Nate. I need a knot.”

Fuck, is she right? I get as close as I can, dragging a deep breath into my lungs. While there’s an oversaturation to her scent, I can focus on other things. Which means no knot yet. “Later.”

“Knot!”

She slams her hips back, trying to force herself all the way down my cock. I’m already swollen at the base, so once Daphne’s on, there’s no way I’ll be able to pull out. My fingers clench tight against her hips, barely stopping her, but the whine makes it hard.

An omega’s whine is an evolutionary measure meant to protect them. A weapon designed to send an alpha into hindbrain, instinctual responses, and Daphne’s using that shit like it’s going out of style. Dangerous when I’m already struggling to stay lucid around her.

She tries again, and I rush forward, snatching the back of her neck with my teeth. She stills, caught in a predator’s jaws, but there’s no fear. Only more arousal soaking my jeans.

A sweet kiss soothes the burn of teeth too close to piercing skin.

“Don’t try that again, kitten,” I rasp. Moving away from her neck is impossible, so I let myself tease her with nips and sucks that bruise. “You’ll get my knot when I give it to you, and not a second earlier.”

Daphne’s sobs are almost incoherent. “Please, it hurts.”

There’s no way we can manage what she wants in here. That no one’s found us is a testament to the air filters and luck. Either could give at any moment and I won’t be held responsible for what happens if someone stumbles on my omega like this.

But there are other things I can do. Next time I pull out, I slip two fingers inside, giving a little extra girth to ease the worst of her aches.

“Holy fuck!” Daphne’s nails scrape against my arm as she rocks onto her tiptoes.

“Better?”

“Oh my god, yes .”

“Shh. Don’t want anyone to hear you.” I kiss her cheek, desperately trying not to think of how fucking tight she is now. My teeth ache as I struggle not to rut her ass into the stacks. To bond her to me.

“I need you to come inside me, Nate,” she begs. That urgency of hers a beating heart in my chest as she clenches in waves, her pussy pulling me deeper as she comes. “Please fill me up.”

The thought sears away the last of my sanity until all I know is Daphne and the alpha instinct to breed my omega telling me to push my cock deeper. Make her drip.

Break the condom, bind her to us. She can’t get away if she’s carrying our child.

Take it down a notch, psycho. You just fucking met.

But it does nothing to temper the orgasm that leaves my knees shaking.

“Does it always feel like this? Like we’re made to be together.

Or is that just for us?” Brushing sweaty curls out of Daphne’s face, I nuzzle our cheeks for another scent mark.

I haven’t pulled out even though I know I should, but I can’t find it in me to leave her yet.

Her skin’s still warm and I can feel her need for more time, more togetherness, more pleasure despite her scent mellowing.

Yet she’s silent. My heart pounds, breathing stalled as I wait for her answer. Please tell me we’re on the same page.

“I’ve never felt like this,” Daphne finally admits.

Thank fuck. “I don’t want you to have this with anyone else.”

“I’m not sure I could.”

Remembered pain flares along my breastbone, another feeling that’s definitely not mine. “How long were you with them?”

I don’t know why I ask. To torture myself? To prove a point? All I know is I can’t take it back now.

Daphne stiffens, softening when I kiss apologies along her throat, trying not to imagine it scarred with my mark. Humming under my breath, I don’t stop until she’s pliable in my arms again. Until she answers me. “Eight years.”

“This was a bad idea,” she whispers. This time, it’s my pain flowing through my body. My chest hurts when she steps away, both of us groaning when I slip out of her warmth. I wish she hadn’t moved because it feels like every inch is a mile separating us.

Tossing the condom in a nearby trash gives me a moment to collect my thoughts before carefully helping to right her clothes. “It’s okay if you’re not cool with continuing this. I get that you were in a tight spot and?—”

Daphne jerks, eyes wide. “Oh my god, no! I meant I should’ve gone straight to the clinic. What if you were a psycho or something?”

The growl takes us both off guard, and I dig fingernails into my palms to shut it off, but Daphne’s laugh surprises me. Especially when she steps into my chest. She realizes my dick’s still out about the same time I do, and those eyes drop and hold.

Fuuuuuuck. “Stop looking at me like you want to eat me, kitten.”

She licks her lips, scent rising. “Maybe I do.”

“Do you still want me to help you through your heat?”

Daphne toys with the hem of my shirt restlessly. I almost take her hesitation personally, but then I remember.

Eight years. Obviously, no bond.

Yeah, I’d be wary of alphas after that too. Fuck, I don’t even think it’s legal to be packed up for that long and not bond an omega.

“Yes. Will your pack agree?”

She bites her lip and something warm sparks in my chest as I tug the plump skin out of danger. Her upper lip’s fuller than the bottom but her mouth is so fucking plush I barely notice. “Definitely.”

Should I have asked my brothers? Yes, but I can’t regret it when Daphne gifts me the most incredible smile, leaning back so I can kiss her properly. It’s another first and fuck, I could drink air from her lips and survive on her alone. How do people work when there’s kissing to be done?

“Thank you,” she whispers. My stomach clenches with wariness she’s trying to hide.

“Trust me, I don’t mind.” How could I when she makes me feel for the first time in so long ? I may not understand what’s happening between us, but I don’t care either.

I want Daphne. End of story.

We’re still kissing, with a little heavy petting thrown in, when Connor’s irate hiss slithers between us. “Are you shitting me, Nate? This is a fucking fabric store. ”

His voice makes Daphne shiver, as does Dez’s low laugh.

“Close your eyes,” I bark, covering her long enough to finally tuck my dick away. It takes forever because Daphne’s laughter keeps distracting me. She’s just so fucking pretty when she smiles.

By the time I’m dressed, she’s beaming. “You’re cute.”

Hell yeah. My omega thinks I’m cute.

“I know you are.”

Daph rolls her eyes, whine slipping out the second I try to pull away. Nope. Not doing that. We both settle when I pick her up and I decide she can live here forever. A lifelong workout.

Instincts are fucking wild.

“Kitten, these are my brothers. Dez, and our pack lead, Connor. Guys, this is Daphne. She wants us to help with her heat.”

As expected, Dez moves closer, peering over my shoulder to see our omega. Despite signing up for heat helping, Connor couldn’t do it, and Dez refused to go alone. He said it didn’t bother him, but I know my brother’s been struggling without an omega.

Now we have one, and the awe on his face as he looks at Daphne for the first time, the way his scent goes from muted to something far happier, makes my chest hurt in the best way.

Daphne scents him, shooting one gimme hand out to coax her alpha closer. Dez grins and takes it, letting her pull until we’re all touching. He brushes her hair back, feeling her skin with a frown. “Hey, gorgeous. I’m Dez. Are you feeling okay?”

“Hot.”

She frowns like she wishes she could be in my arms and his at the same time. I take pity on her, mostly because I need to handle Connor. He’s watching our omega likes she’s a cobra ready to strike, scent flaring bitterly, and I’m about to punt him through a wall. “Let’s have Dez hold you.”

Daph lights up. “Can he?”

Dez answers for himself. “Whatever you want.”

She gives me a sweet kiss before jumping into his arms, settling with her legs around his waist, nose to his throat. Her low hum goes straight to my dick, it’s so primal. “You smell good.”

I leave them to moon over each other, finding Connor’s eyes darting everywhere but her , body tense and ready for anything. His protective side body-slamming its way to the front of his brain because of the available, needy omega at hand.

“She’s ours, Con.”

“We don’t even know her.” He’s trying to play it cool, but I see the fear. The remnants of a past he can’t forget. The way his thumb trails across his ring finger.

When I respond, I’m as gentle as I can be. “This is a good thing, Connor. A fucking miracle.”

Because I know in my gut that Daphne’s scent-sympathetic to all three of us. That means Dez and Connor are getting a second chance at the future they almost had.

“We’ll see about that.” Connor rocks forward, but I stop him before he can go far.

“You don’t have to do this. Dez and I can handle the heat without you. She was thinking about a heat clinic, so we could add some extra alphas if need be.” He doesn’t need to help Daphne if he’s not ready, and I won’t let him hurt her because of his issues.

“No.” For a moment, Con looks lost. Like he doesn’t know why he said it. Finally, he breaks, anxiety hovering between us like an unfixable wound. “What if she doesn’t like all of us?”

“Then we’ll deal, but I don’t think that’s a problem.” Daphne’s been skirting looks at him since they interrupted. She’s interested, even if Connor doesn’t realize it.

“You really think she’s ours?”

“I know it.”

“Then I can’t let her hurt because of me.” He steps closer, gaining Daphne’s attention with startling speed. “What was your plan before…?”

“Before your packmate rutted me into the stacks?” she quips, grinning. “Revelry has on-hand alphas”

“We’ll help.” She doesn’t know what saying that costs Connor, but I know the demons he’s fighting. The same ones that twisted Dez up for years. But he’s doing this, putting his heart on the line even if he doesn’t realize it, for her.

“Absolutely,” Dez says.

She gives my brothers this blinding smile, and I watch as them break into a million pieces for her.

“We need to call Sawyer on the way. Someone has to cover the garage.” Connor looks at us, still absolutely terrified even if he’s hiding it well.

“Sure. We just need to buy a few things first.”

I haul every bolt of fabric Daphne touched into my arms and head to the checkout counter. Our bill’s going to be obscene, and I don’t even care. She can have my entire bank account right here, right now.

We came to Diamond’s for inspiration and we’re leaving with our fucking dream. What could be better than that?