Page 64 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

He looks tempted, leaning in for a kiss that’s hardly even a touch, then pulling out of reach. “Soon.”

I pout as he shuts me inside, stalking around the car to slide into the driver’s seat.

“I feel like this pack should know I’m not a fan of delayed gratification.”

“We’re well aware.” Connor looks over, face bright with laughter. “I promise it’ll be worth it. The next time I have you, I want to know you trust me.”

“Fine.” I tip my nose in the air, but secretly, I’m pleased that he cares enough to wait.

We pull out of the neighborhood and onto the freeway before he drops a gentle hand on my thigh. “How is the case going?”

“Good,” I hedge.

Truth be told, I’m wary of telling Connor anything about my exes. Maybe it’s petty, but my instincts don’t want to give him information he can use against me. Not until I get to know him more.

Connor seems to realize it. His scent shifts too fast for me to register, but I notice the change. “It’s okay if you’re not comfortable talking about it. I understand.”

You didn’t even give us the chance to disappoint you.

Kai was right. I don’t want to do that with this pack, especially when I see how hard they’re working to make it up to me. How hard Connor is working to fix his mistake. Time together, texts as often as possible, respecting my boundaries without disappearing.

I said earlier that I was going to take a step with him. Maybe this is it.

“Things aren’t good,” I admit. “Our next appearance isn’t for a few months, but the judge told me it would be best to settle out of court. There are things missing that make winning this case impossible for me.”

He glances at me. “Things like?”

“Documents, bank statements.” It’s the easiest way to explain without giving actual details.

“Who has them?”

“My exes. My parents. Everyone but me.”

“I’m so sorry, Daph.”

I don’t say it’s fine because it’s not. My family is doing their level best to fuck me over and that’ll never be okay. “My lawyer’s reached out to other attorneys to see if they have some suggestions, but for now, I’m sort of stuck.”

“Will you let me know if you need anything?”

Probably not, but I can see how much it means to Connor that I try. “Sure.”

“Thank you, angel.”

I hate that I ruined the mood, so I force a sunny smile, practically begging for a topic shift. “Enough about me. Work’s been busy lately, huh?”

“No busier than usual.”

Considering he’s been gone for days at a time; I’m concerned about what that says for his work-life balance. What that says for us. “Do you usually spend a lot of late nights at the office?”

“No. Things have just been a little off lately. Nothing to worry about, though.”

Something crosses his face and my pulse trips.

I know that look. It’s the one that says Connor’s hiding something from me. Again, my head tells me to let it go, that asking questions will end badly for me. Maybe it will, but I refuse to go back to ignorance. Not again.

Twisting in my seat, I lay it all out. “Look, I know this isn’t really first date territory, but I feel like something isn’t right here and I don’t feel good ignoring it. Are you hiding something?”

Connor sighs, raking a hand through his hair. “Yes.”

Air whooshes out of my lungs. Fuck, I wish I’d worn descenter. I’ve stopped using it around the pack, but the whole car is going to smell like stressed omega in no time.

He reaches for my hand, pausing when I pull away. I’m unsettled, aching to run and hide, but avoiding my problems won’t help when I need answers. So I let him hold me, the contact grounding us as he twines our fingers together.

Before I can decide how I feel, he pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “I am keeping something from you, but I promise, it’s nothing bad. I’m just not ready to share yet. Okay?”

Is it? Not really, but at the very least, I trust that Nate wouldn’t let anything happen to me and there’s no way he doesn’t know. Packs don’t keep secrets.

“You promise it’s not going to hurt me?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“And you’ll tell me eventually?”

“I promise.” Connor sounds so earnest that it’s hard not to believe him.

“Okay. I can wait.” Because at the end of the day, it’s what I wanted from him at the start. The chance to tell him my secrets when the time was right. How hypocritical would it be for me to push now when I nearly walked after he did the same?

His relieved breath hits me deep in my chest. “Thank you, angel.”

I’m still unsettled, but I lean into the calmness of my body. How safe I feel. It helps.

We stay in comfortable silence for the next twenty minutes as I take in the drive. Leaving Seaport, we pass through the suburbs and metropolitan areas before finally stopping in front of an adorable, two-level house on the outskirts of town.

“Are you ready?” He asks after pulling my door open.

“Depends. Where are we?”

“Just wait.” Connor dutifully helps me out and keeps my hand in his. When we’re near the door, he pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “You’re going to love this.”

“The date?”

“The courting gift.”

Oh.

He steps inside without knocking, stalling us in an expansive yet cozy foyer. There’s an insane iron chandelier that looks both beautiful and functional. Past the doors, I see what looks like worktables and bolts of fabric. As if the entire house has been turned into a sewing room.

“Where are we?” I whisper, eyes wide as I take it all in.

“This is Travina Bellencourt’s atelier.”

No, the fuck he did not.

I look around and sure enough, there’s her logo at the top of a to-do list on the closest table.

Travina Bellencourt is the most exclusive lingerie designer in the world. Her designs are the stuff every celebrity wishes they could have and every royal hides behind their clothes. Her garments are so coveted even my exes couldn’t get me a set.

“Are we going shopping?” My fingers shake, body buzzing. I want lingerie from Travina more than almost anything in the world.

“No.” Connor smirks as I deflate, pulling me into his chest and scent marking me all over again. “You’re going to have a private lesson.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Any nerves from the car are gone, disappearing in the white noise of my thoughts. My heart stops and I cease to exist.

Goodbye cruel world. This alpha sent me to heaven.

“No way.” Breathing is impossible as I struggle to contain the urge to jump around with glee and mild panic. “She doesn’t do lessons.”

Jacob tried as an anniversary present, my first and only, and lost his shit when he was told no.

Connor shrugs , as if it’s no big deal that we’re in the home workshop of my dream designer . “Travi and I go way back. When I told her about our omega’s love of lingerie design, she was happy to meet you.”

“He says it like I would ever deny him.” We turn around and there she is. My icon. My idol. Travina Bellencourt in the flesh.

Ohmigod, ohmigod, OHMIGOOOOOOOD. She’s so cute, I’m going to die.

Dark hair piled on top of her hair in a riot of coils leaves her neck and more than one bondmark visible. She’s got a loose shirt tied off at the waist to bare a little more of her dusky brown skin and a comfortable pair of leggings that end in adorable fuzzy otter slippers.

“I’m overdressed,” I whisper to Connor.

“You’re beautiful.”

“He’s right. My omega would love those boots.

” Travina steps forward and shakes my hand— oh my god, I can never wash it again —before shoving Connor away.

Anyone getting so close to my alpha would normally have my hackles up, but the way she looks at him is pure friendship, and honestly, I’m too busy mooning over her to care.

“The guys are upstairs. Go get a drink or something. We’ll call when we’re done. ”

Connor ignores her, turning to cup my cheek. “You going to be okay? I promise you’re safe here.”

“Of course she’s safe,” my idol scoffs.

I glance at the angel next to me and pray I don’t pass out. “I’m having a lesson with Travina fucking Bellencourt. I could die right now and be totally happy.”

“Yeah, let’s not do that. We have plans for you.” Connor brushes our lips together before I’m stolen away, and he’s shooed out of the room.

“Christ, I thought he’d never leave.” Travina looks me over again. “You’re even cuter than he described.”

I’m not going to make it if she keeps complimenting me. “You’re beautiful,” I blurt, mortified at how unchill I am but my brain is offline, screeching pretty woman. Pretty, pretty beta woman . “Also, thanks for doing this. I know you don’t do lessons.”

With a warm smile, she walks toward the double doors, beckoning me closer.

“Not normally, but this is a special circumstance. Honestly, your boyfriend is the only reason I graduated high school. Geometry nearly kicked my ass until he became my tutor. Who knew math would be such a big part of design?” She throws me a wink, leaning into me like we’re old friends.

She smells so good. Nothing like my alphas, but cozy. Like my favorite blanket or something.

Holy shit, I’m smelling Travina Bellencourt.

I get full workshop tour, relaxing with each step. The main section is clean and almost sterile. Every station is perfectly set up and there’s not a thing out of place, but her personal area is chaos.

Fabric hangs on every possible surface, while needles stick out of a plethora of pincushions in adorable shapes. Sketches litter the walls, windows and floors of the room. The air smells heavily of a few other scents, ones that twine with hers perfectly.

It’s a fucking mess and I want to squeal because same, babe. Saaaaaame.

Jesus, Daph. Chill the fuck out.

“Where is your pack?” I ask, trying to keep my twitching fingers to myself. The urge to touch things is so strong, I feel my body shaking.

“With Connor, probably,” Travina waves loosely. “They all work in the upper levels, but I asked them to stay out while you’re here. Having an unbonded omega around can get hairy for everyone.”