Page 21 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

I do as she asks, handing Connor my ID as we pull into Revelry’s parking lot. Thank god, my skin is crawling under these clothes. “What’s up, Lace?”

“We’ve got your location and we’ll be checking in periodically.”

Mellie’s voice is loud, like she shoved her mouth up to the phone. “If they hurt you, say the word and we’ll break in and kick their?—”

“Stop freaking her out,” Lacey snaps. There’s another scuffle before a door shuts and quiet reigns. “Hey. I’m respecting your request, but I want you to know that according to what Maverick’s found, they really are safe. Have fun, enjoy yourself, then come back and tell us all about it.”

Relief floods me. “Thanks. Give everyone my love.”

“Have fun getting knotted to extinction.”

Let’s hope.

We leave the bags and walk into Revelry with Nate plastered to my back. My skin’s getting itchier by the second and the only time I feel even remotely focused is with one of the alphas touching me. We need to get into a nest before I fuck them where they stand.

Mellie convinced me to register months ago, so even though I’ve never used the clinic, all they need is the card on my keychain and a PIN to pull up my information.

“And this is?” the attendant asks, glancing toward the guys without lingering. She definitely works with territorial omegas.

“Pack…”

Oh, fuck. Nate told me earlier, but heat brain stole it already. This man fucked me to filth, and I don’t even remember his last name. I look at him, eyes round, but he just pats my hip.

“Pack Morgan.”

The attendant smiles politely as she types. “Oh, good. You’re registered too. That makes things quicker.”

My reaction is visceral and immediate. The territorial fog sets in, deafening me. My nails dig into the arms tugging me closer and the tang of fresh blood floats around us almost immediately.

Instead of getting angry, Nate leans in until his lips trace my neck with every word. “Retract the claws, kitten. We signed up years ago, but we’ve never come here.”

I nearly snarl at him. “How do I know that?”

Way to go overboard, Daph.

Nate presses his hips against me, letting me know exactly how he feels about my little display. It helps a little, but not enough to cool my rage. “Can we see the visitation log for our account, please?”

The attendant glances between him and the computer. “But it’s?—”

“Our omega would like to see.”

She shrugs and twists the screen my way.

It’s blank. Completely fucking blank.

Both of the attendant and I lean forward, voices lowered. “They’ve never visited?”

“Never,” she confirms. “There’s no other way in, either.”

Huh.

Twisting out of Nate’s grasp, I face off with the pack. “Have any of you helped an omega in heat before?”

Because if not, this is going to be a bumpy ride.

Nate answers first, hand in the air like he’s being called on in class. “Considering I just had my first time with you, no.”

The warring sensations of pleasure and irritation vanish in a burst of what the fuck- colored smoke. “You’re a virgin?!”

“Not anymore.” He watches me intently, and I swear that big body caves in on itself. “Is that a problem?”

Oh, sweet angel baby. He’s so vulnerable behind those long lashes, willing me to understand. And I do. He’s an optimist and a romantic. He waited for his omega.

For me.

I think I swoon a little.

Cupping his cheek, I make sure he hears my sincerity. “It’s not a problem, Nate. I’m flattered.”

Too flattered, probably. Knowing this man’s only been with me has me nearly vibrating to take a nip. Lock him down so he can never find anyone else.

“I haven’t done this either, but we’ll figure it out.” Dez shifts uncomfortably. Obviously insecure, too.

He doesn’t need to be. I’m used to big dicks with subpar skills, but Nate was a virgin, and he fucked me into a puddle. If that’s their least experienced member, I’m not sure I’ll survive days at their mercy. Doesn’t mean I’m not excited to try, though.

Connor is disturbingly blank. Like he’s remembering things he’d rather forget. “I have.”

I hate how the knowledge burns in my throat, even if I already knew. Some other omega has had him naked under them, serving them. Worshipping them. It’s worse because it’s obvious they took what he offered and broke him in return.

I try to center myself, not wanting him to know my feelings, but I get the feeling this alpha sees everything. He kisses my forehead, laying an apology against my skin. “The only thing that matters is we’re here now.”

Maybe, but what happens when all this is over?

Get through the heat. You’ve got bigger problems than a little scent-sympathetic crush.

The attendant looks me over. “Let’s get you into a nest. I don’t think you have much time left before things get hazy.”

She’s not wrong. I’m rubbing their wrists along my body and it’s getting harder to focus on anything beyond the heat in my veins, the ache in my stomach. Lower. My scent’s growing wilder and there’s a frenetic energy surrounding us that I’m very interested in experiencing firsthand.

The attendant checks and thankfully, my top nest choice is available.

Revelry also does a meal service where they deliver food at specific intervals, including a massive order of snacks and electrolytes at the beginning so you’re stocked for the in-betweens.

Connor forks over a credit card, holding it high when I try to snatch it away.

“You’re here because of me. I’ll pay for it.” It’ll make things tight later, but I can manage.

“Absolutely not.” His growl vibrates across my skin, and I sigh in pleasure and annoyance.

“Is this some sort of caveman alpha thing?”

Connor’s eyes flash and he pinches my chin, tipping it until all I see is him. It doesn’t feel cruel, like when Jacob did it. Just asking for my attention. “This is us wanting to care for an omega honoring us with her presence and her body.”

His scent deepens to fathomless ice caves and the thrill of the unknown. My perfume follows, getting so thick, I feel like we’re swimming in it. This alpha is going to test me. Pull every ounce of pleasure from my veins and set it ablaze. I can’t wait.

After the attendant takes me to a separate room to fit my teeth with temporary caps, she gives a refresher on the code words I’ll use if I need the monitor watching nearby and sends us on our way.

Each step toward the elevator grinds my thighs together, and by the time we make it to our floor, I can’t think about anything but who’s getting inside me first.

“Here’s your nest, baby.” Nate sweeps open the door, shepherding into my temporary suite.

When Mellie signed me up, we decided on a different theme from what I have at home, and this is exactly what I expect from Cloud Cover.

The suite is bright and airy with hints of marigold peeking through white, fluffy pillows like rays of sun.

Gorgeous sky-blue linens and blankets sit on the lowered bed with some additional pale greens added to the mix.

It’s plush and luxurious, the mattress big enough to fit us all.

The secluded alcove hiding the nest from the main space leaves me feeling protected rather than exposed.

“Do you all like it?” This isn’t my real nest and these aren’t my alphas, but I need them to say yes. Need to know I did well.

“It’s beautiful, omega,” Connor rasps. He gives the nest a haunted glance before turning for the nearest door. His scent shifts from sharp to smooth as soon as I’m out of view and I try not to let it hurt my feelings. “They have rainwater shower heads. Want me to run one for you?”

Warm bodies and slippery skin sounds heavenly, but I hurt too much right now. I need to get naked and knotted in quick succession.

“Later.” I whip my shirt off, only to find him edging toward the door. He’s leaving. “What the hell?!”

“Don’t panic. Just need to get our stuff before things get messy.

” Or maybe it’s him that’s panicking. His eyes are getting wilder by the second and I’m almost positive he’s going to duck and run.

I’m nearly swimming in his anxiety and it’s bleeding into me, making me wonder if this is the right call.

Leave now before they steal pieces of you forever.

I can’t go. My heat’s too far along for anything beyond seeing it through or sedation and that’s a last resort.

Beyond that, I don’t want to go. When have I ever taken something for myself like this?

It’s always been me giving, offering, holding my desires for people to chop up and discard.

This heat is my chance to have something for myself.

“But you’ll be back?” I hate the way I whine the words. Hate that tears pool on my lashes at the thought of this alpha forsaking me like the others because already, I want him too much.

Connor Morgan is fucking dangerous, and he doesn’t even know it.

He swallows, glancing over my shoulder at the nest. There’s that shuttering again; the blue of his eyes swallowed by pain and history. “Yes.”

He doesn’t look certain, though, and when he twists the doorknob, I have to turn away. Can’t watch as he leaves when I know there’s no real reason for him to come back. My own alphas didn’t want to deal with me. Why the hell would he?

“Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll bring him back.” Nate darts away before I can snatch his shirt and trap him with my cunt. Rude, honestly.

The door closes and I find a very intense Dez watching me. He stares like he could spend his whole life doing it. “Connor’s got his own issues, but I promise he’ll be here for you.”

“I don’t want him to leave, but I don’t want him to force himself to do this, either. He should have a choice. We all deserve a choice.”

The admission rips from my lips without thought, and I wish I could take it back. Not because it’s wrong, but because I feel so fucking bare now.

“Never doubt that he wants you, Daphne. Connor’s just too cynical to believe he can have you.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You are, and so am I. Do you want to play until they get back?” Dez’s cool breath feels good trailing across my heated skin, drawing goosebumps and a breathy groan. Despite the emotional whiplash, my body is primed and ready for rutting. Knots. Sex until I can’t move without one of them inside me.

There’s more to talk about, but when his teeth rake against my neck, I decide all that can wait. The heat under my skin is building to uncomfortable levels and the cramps in my belly feel more like hot spikes than anything else. The emptiness inside me makes my skin uncomfortably tight.

Yet, Dez just stands there staring at me.

He’s new to this , I tell myself. Be gentle.

Yeah, no. This is a trial by fire situation. He either learns or he gets left behind.

“Don’t tease me,” I growl, fingers clawed against the pain and desire twisting around one another in a nearly indistinguishable tangle.

“I’m not,” he promises. Connor’s forgotten as I watch the alpha in front of me take a careful step closer. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you. Always.”

“You,” I whine. “Just you.”

Dez spreads his arms, smiling like I’ve just offered him the world. “Then take me.”