Page 33 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

CONNOR

I’ve done everything but shave my balls to avoid going back downstairs. Back to Daphne. Her sweet scent filling the room beside that blanket she’s wearing like a goddamn mantle. Cum, heat, and hardcore fucking draped over the shoulders of a woman I shouldn’t be looking at but can’t stop watching.

My cock’s been hard since she got here. Weeping the closer she gets, aching the more I inhale. It’s torture.

In the safety of my new room, I can admit she calls to me. Her vulnerability, the sweetness, the desperate hunger for affection. I want to give it to her. Swaddle her in blankets and plop her on my lap where she’s safe and warm and loved.

No, not loved. Appreciated. Yeah, that’s better.

From the moment our eyes met, I knew Daphne was like me. A little broken from her circumstances, but she’s braver than I’ll ever be. Even when she pulls away, I can see she still hopes for a future that’s different. One I already know doesn’t exist.

Yet here we are instead of the pack house; a decision I didn’t even fight my brothers on.

I’m so screwed.

Nate

Quit being a chickenshit and get down here.

His text lodges next to all the others I’m struggling to get through.

From the moment I turned my phone on after Daph’s heat, it’s been going off nonstop, and I truly mean non-fucking-stop .

Emails from vendors and potential clients, calls and text from employees and a few high-level clients that have my personal number.

Our employees are rockstars, but going off grid has set me back more than a week.

I’m a workaholic. Without romantic entanglements or the desire for sex, I prefer to spend my time in the office, making a future for my pack. I haven’t had a sick day in years, and this is a good reminder why.

I’ll have to spend some time on admin after dinner and consider hiring an assistant again.

Years of Dez nagging at me for more work-life balance, and I still haven’t even looked at the resumes languishing in my desk drawer.

The break would be nice, but it’s hard to let go of even a little of control.

Who knows, maybe Daphne will be just the excuse I need to make it happen.

Not that I’m going to court her with my brothers, but if she agrees to their proposal, it would be best if there was some flexibility in my schedule in case they need me.

Yeah. That’s totally why I’m considering it.

Dropping the device into my pocket, I head downstairs, almost wishing I could fake a work emergency and leave. But the image of Daphne expecting to be ignored for a fucking phone call is still vivid in my mind. The way she avoided eye contact when I asked about her exes walking out of her nest.

Who the fuck does that? It’s Omegas 101: Never let them feel neglected. Whether I court her or not, I refuse to let Daph feel like that again. Even if I want to hide in my room until she leaves. Away from those blue eyes that see through me.

The second I hit the first floor, Nate calls me out. “Finally made it, I see.”

“Wanted to be pretty for you, baby.”

I blow him a kiss he catches before tossing me the finger. “Love the shirtless look on you, snookums.”

What?

Looking at my chest, all I see is skin. Shit. I was so distracted by the omega waiting for me that I didn’t even get dressed. Apparently, I’m not the only one. Nate’s broad chest is in full view.

“Seems like we match,” I droll.

He grins as Daphne’s head whips around, mouth dropping as she realizes we’re half naked.

Even exhausted and clearly starving, she’s so fucking beautiful it takes my breath away.

Pouty lips, freckles I’ve followed with my tongue and teeth, all that strawberry blonde hair tossed onto her head in a mess of curls that bare her neck.

The love bites we gave her have deepened into bruises and fuck me if it doesn’t turn me on.

I like seeing my mark on her. Like seeing her in general. Fuck, I can’t get a boner right now. These sweats don’t hide a damn thing, and I am not interested in courting .

Daph’s eyes rove over me, catching here and there on my ink.

A visceral memory of her mouth tracing each tattoo rushes through me, and I nearly stumble back.

Having her attention is like holding onto a live wire.

This powerful, dangerous energy that begs me to give in.

Cede control and let my instincts run wild even when I know it’ll end badly.

Her tongue darts out, wetting that bottom lip I can still taste, and finally—fucking finally —she speaks. “You have matching tattoos.”

Daphne’s voice is raspy, like it was during the heat when she sucked my cock so deep she was nose to skin. I practically shout at my brain to stop reminding me of fucking her, but it doesn’t help.

“They’re pack tattoos.”

“What do the bands mean? I’ve seen them before.”

Her head tilts, neck curving until I have to look away. There’s only so much control in me. “That we’re brothers. Siblings at heart, though not by blood.”

I have two, Dez has four and Nate has three. Daphne stares at the extra on Nate’s arm, but she doesn’t ask. Intuitively knowing it won’t end well. The way she reads my brother makes it hard to stay frustrated at the situation, especially because none of it is her fault.

It’s mine. Always fucking mine.

“Come eat,” Nate says.

Relief swamps me when I drop into the last seat, a plate already waiting for me. It’s in front of Daphne, which means watching her all night, but at least we won’t touch.

Seeing her snuggled between my packmates is hell in all the best ways. They’re so similar. Three hopeful souls existing on the same plane, all a little scared for their own reasons. Daph looks like she belongs there, cradled between their bodies, softened by their big hearts.

You don’t want that, remember?

I shove naan in my mouth and try to pretend that’s the truth.

Dez piled her plate with more than anyone could eat in one sitting, but there’s plenty for me.

The energy we burn keeping an omega sated during heats is unreal and usually, there isn’t enough time to fuel up between rounds.

This heat was different. Balanced in a way I thought was impossible.

While I’m hungry, I don’t feel the stomach twisting ache I’m used to.

Daphne fought us on everything until we figured out that she’d only eat while knotted and even that wasn’t enough to replenish what the heat stole.

Yet, she doesn’t touch her fork. Instead, her fingers run over the wood of our dining table, brushing each scratch and knot on the surface. “This is beautiful.”

“Pop made it for my mom when they got married,” Dez says. “Family dinners, birthday parties, weekend brunches. Everything happened at this table. I want all my family’s memories to be here, too.”

Daphne’s practically got heart eyes when she tips her head toward Nate. “That’s so sweet. Are you close to your family?”

Pain slices through me when he doesn’t answer.

He shifts, no longer comfortable and Daphne notices.

For a nanosecond, she’s all confusion, but I barely have time to blink before it changes.

Reaching out, she holds his hand, looking so fucking small comparatively.

I don’t know what she whispers to him, leaning against his arm like it’s the easiest thing in the world, but it does the trick.

Nate’s grief fades slightly, and he stares at her like she’s his personal angel.

Powerful magic, this omega .

From the comfort of Nate’s embrace, Daph looks at me. I shake my head. “Estranged.”

That’s the nicest way to say my parents fucking suck. I don’t miss them. The whole family can eat rocks for all I care.

“Obviously, I am.” Dez bumps their shoulders together. “My parents had three kids in three years. Marisol, then me, then Levi as the baby. That’s tough already but add in that we’re all alphas and it was a lot.”

“I bet. Are your siblings packed up?”

“They’re not the pack type. Marisol’s husband, Sam, is a beta. Levi’s bonded to an omega, though. Omar. I think you’ll like him.”

Daphne’s eyebrow quirks. “Because he’s an omega?”

“Because he’s fucking awesome.”

I’m not sure if it’s because we’re scent-sympathetic or just a personality trait, but she has to be the most territorial omega I’ve ever met. Her eyes narrow but she quickly averts them, slowly chewing butter chicken and ignoring the way her scent surges. “Did you two ever…?”

Nate gets downright smug, nuzzling against her temple as Daphne seethes. “No. Omar found Levi freshman year of high school and they bonded before graduation. Besides, he’s not my type.”

“Because he’s a man?”

“Because he’s not you.”

Dez nuzzles into her neck, and I watch, awestruck as Daphne laughs, stretching farther to let him. “Oh, that was smooth.”

“It’s the truth.”

We share a look, and Nate leans in. “We’re all pansexual, so we’ve never cared what gender omega we’d end up with. We want the person.”

We all hold our breath, waiting to see if the admission is an issue. Shelby was less than thrilled, but since we found each other so early, it didn’t really matter. Not like I was going to cheat on my wife.

However, Daphne’s a new entity and this could make or break things for my brothers before they even get started.

Instead of getting upset, her face brightens. “I’m queer too.”

That’s it. Three words that settle any discomfort. There’s just something about knowing you’re with other queer people that makes you feel safe to be yourself. Understood.

Nate looks like he’s already in love as he leans over to kiss her cheek. “You’re perfect, kitten.”

Daphne blushes, mumbling about how very un-perfect she is as she grabs her fork and prompts Dez to continue. “Your family?”

“They talk all the time,” I say, diving into my plate. “ All the time. ”

Dez grins. “I can’t lie. The group chat is insane most days.”

“I prefer it that way,” Nate says through a bite of spanakopita . “The Barretts are hilarious.”

“They’re unhinged,” I correct. “But we love them.”