Page 93 of Love Me Knot, Part One (Knotty Omegas #1)

Deciding a group cuddle on the couch sounds nice, I turn for the living room and freeze. It’s a nest. Lights dimmed, curtains drawn and sheets hung from the ceiling to make the space cozier. The massive couch is covered in every spare pillow they have and a plethora of blankets I’ve never seen.

I stumble, too busy staring at the masterpiece to focus on my balance.

Connor wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his body. “Got you.”

“What is this?”

When I crane my head to look at him, he’s so uncertain, hand running through his hair as he explains. “It’s a sleepover nest. We thought it might be a nice way to hang without having them in your actual space.”

He built me a nest to share. They all did. This is so far beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

I’m not ashamed to admit I get a little weepy, but my feelings are so big, it’s hard to contain them. Must be the booze. “Last I checked, you don’t have this many sheets.”

“We raided the pack house.” When I look sharply at him, Connor shrugs. “We’ve been talking about moving the rest of our stuff in here since we’re not planning to go back. This is just the first load before we clear it out and discuss pricing.”

“You’re selling it?”

“Maybe. We wanted to talk to you first.”

It’s such a small thing, asking my opinion. Selling their house doesn’t affect me, but it is something a pack would ask their omega. It’s an olive branch, a reminder that this is the position these men want for me.

Their center. Their heart.

Waiting for my opinion doesn’t seem like the type of thing a man who isn’t interested in me would do, right?

“Thank you.” I give in to the urge to kiss him. Connor meets me stroke for stroke, his body molding with mine until I can’t pick us apart.

“It’s nothing, angel.”

Mellie shrieks and all attention snaps to her. “Ohmigod, are these snacks?!”

She leaps for the couch, snatching what looks like an individual charcuterie board, though it’s less meat and cheese, more pizza and cookies. The real drunk woman’s desired snacks.

“I’m going to punt you into the ether if you don’t stop fucking screaming,” Kai snaps, only to shut up when Mel shoves a cookie in her mouth. She’s still chewing when she mutters, “’S good.”

Nate beams. “Thanks, I made them.”

Stop. He cannot be this cute. My ovaries can’t handle it.

I creep closer and spot something lining the edge of the couch.

Identical pjs sit along the cushions, each with my friends’ initials embroidered into the pocket of the silky button down.

The guys even included shorts and pants so we could pick whichever was most comfortable. And there’s a set for Maverick.

“Pajamas?”

Connor nuzzles into my side. “So everyone can change into something cozy for the night.”

“These are fucking adorable,” Lacey says, running her fingers over the silk happily. Our resident luxury girl is pleased with the fabric and that makes me happy, too.

I wonder how long they’ve had these waiting for us because I know they’re special ordered. I’ll ask tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll bask in the joy that is seeing my alphas dote on the people I love.

The others head to change while I strip where I am with Connor’s help.

He’s buttoning my shirt up as Nate and Dez come back down in pajamas that match the rest. They look fucking edible, though I’m grateful both men wore a shirt.

I’m not sure I could contain myself if they were flaunting muscles at me.

“I can’t believe you all did this.”

Connor finishes with the buttons and steps away. “Well, we assumed your friends would be over often, so we wanted to be sure they were comfortable. We can even keep the pajamas here for next time if you’d like.”

“Please,” I whisper, trying to ignore how tight my throat is.

Of course, they notice. Connor, Nate, and Dez block me in with their scents and their bodies.

“What’s wrong, kitten?”

“This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. For my family. Thank you.”

Dez runs a hand over my hair. “It was worth it to see you smile like this, little muse”

Their kisses are drugging and my body’s loose by the time the others come back. Until I look around and see we’re missing a pajama set.

“Where are yours?” I ask Connor, stomach plummeting because I know. He doesn’t need to say a word.

“In my room.”

“Are you changing, too?”

He grimaces, motioning toward the back of the house. “I’m going to?—”

Leave. That’s what he was going to say. To work in his room or the office or hell, drive to their shop if this is too much. All to get away from me.

Stupid fucking hope. Stupid fucking feelings. Stupid fucking tears.

I’m flying on delicate butterfly wings and who knows how much more it’ll take to snap them. Connor goes from making me feel like the only person in the world to someone he barely knows, and while I’m positive he’s not doing it to hurt me, it doesn’t change the outcome.

I’m hurt. So motherfucking hurt.

His brows furrow, even as he steps back. “I’m not leaving the house. I was just going to work a little while you enjoy the rest of the night with your friends.”

I knew it was coming and yet it still stings. How many times have Nate, Dez, and I sat on this couch after dinner and watched that fucking door shut behind him? How many times have we gone to my place, curling into my nest as if there isn’t an empty spot where Connor should be?

How much longer can I take it if the most I see of him is his back as he walks away?

“Please don’t go.” I inch closer so it’s just us. “I know work is crazy and you’re busy, but you’re never here and I need you to be. I need you, Connor.”

“I get that, but I have a little left to?—”

“Look at her, Con,” Dez snaps. “Listen to what she’s saying. What we’ve all been saying.”

The guys look at each other, with Nate backing Dez up, and it hurts to know that even with his brothers telling Connor to show up, nothing’s changed.

Why am I never enough of a reason? For my parents to love me. For my pack to respect me. For Connor to be here with me. Is there something in me that makes it easy to walk away?

“Oh, angel.” His face creases with worry as he drags me into his chest until I’m surrounded by the juxtaposition of his chilled scent and warm skin. This is the Connor I’ve seen peeking through before. The one that cares so deeply about me, even when he’s not here. The one I want to know.

My voice wobbles and shakes. “Please.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Daph. I’m right here.”

For how long?

We end up in the downstairs bathroom together because I can’t let him out of my sight. It’s like I’m worried that if he gets a moment to reconsider, he’ll disappear again, completely out of reach.

When he’s cozy and cute, Connor plops me on the counter and runs a clean washcloth under the water. Then he grabs a bag from below the sink and pulls out my face wash. At first, I think it’s a fluke, but then I see the other bottles. All duplicates of my skincare.

“Where did this come from?”

He doesn’t look up from where he rubs the cleanser into the washcloth. “Bought it after your heat. Didn’t want you to have to leave just to be comfortable.”

“Did the others do it?”

He tips my face up and I get a firsthand look at the pain in his expression as he slowly starts removing my makeup. “No, I did.”

Oh.

We say nothing else until my entire nighttime routine is done.

With every step, I relax a little more into his touch.

He carefully spreads my moisturizer on my face, making sure to work it into the skin after my serums so it locks the moisture in.

Deft fingers wrap my hair in a satin bonnet I’ve never seen, ensuring every curl is tucked in where it belongs.

He even puts lotion on my hands and elbows so they don’t get dry.

When it’s over, I thank Connor quietly, scooting forward to get off, but he doesn’t move. If anything, he creeps closer, trapping me where I sit.

“Why would you expect the others to set this up and not me?” he asks carefully.

Because you’re never here. “Do you really need to ask that?”

His whole body moves with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Daph.”

“You say that a lot.” My eyes sting and I force myself to swallow them back.

“I know.” He clears his throat, looking down at where his hands bracket my thighs. “I hope you know I want to be here with you more than anything.”

“How could I when you’ve never said it?”

He doesn’t bother arguing. We both know I’m right. “It has nothing to do with you. I’m working through something, but I swear, it’s important.”

My laugh is as frustrated as I am. “We’re all working through shit, Connor. At least the rest of us are doing it together.”

His scent flares, agony and disappointment twisted into that strange shift from earlier. Con’s long fingers cradle my cheeks, forcing my eyes on him. “How can I fix this?”

“Other than show up?” He nods and I swallow thickly, already knowing what I’m going to say. Do I want to do this? Not really, but something has to change. I can only hope it works out for the best. “I want you in the nest every night.”

“Oh.” Connor blinks. “That’s what you want?”

“It’s what I need, yes.”

“Okay.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That’s it? No arguments?”

“Why would I argue about spending more time with you?” I don’t point out that he’s been absent for most of this courtship because I’m a fucking saint like that, but we both know it’s true.

Connor seems to realize this too, sagging until his forehead rests against my shoulder. “I’m really fucking this up, aren’t I?”

“Kind of. Yeah.”

The people pleaser in me hates admitting it, but my friends were right.

Connor and I have a fundamental inability to communicate.

We both bottle shit up until it explodes and incinerates everything in our vicinity.

If we keep this going, there’s no chance of having a happy, healthy relationship and despite his issues, I want Connor to be my alpha.

I want to love him the way I love his brothers.

I want to build a life together because the glimpses of him he lets me see are so fucking beautiful. I just don’t get enough of them.

I know it’ll be hard because of our pasts, but I also know that he’s not the same as my exes.

He isn’t ignoring me out of spite or because he thinks it’s his right to.

He really believes that putting his focus wherever the hell it is what’s best for us.

Now let’s see if he listens when I say it’s not.

Connor kisses my forehead. “I promise, I’m going to be here for you, Daphne.”

My stomach clenches at yet another promise from this man, but I tell it to shut up. I can give him another chance. One more. “That’s all I want.”

After helping me off the counter, we walk out of the bathroom hand in hand to find every eye on us.

“Have we made up?” Mellie asks, decidedly less drunk than before.

Rolling my eyes is practically second nature now. “Yes, mom. We’ve made up.”

“Ew. Don’t even joke about that.” I laugh and she tugs me into a hug. “Now, come enjoy what your alphas did for you.”

For the next few hours, my men dote on us.

They bring water and refill what I’m lovingly calling our adult snack packs.

They listen to us rant and rave about whatever the hell we want, and when it’s time for bed, all three settle on the floor, knowing I want them close by.

I rest on the edge, hand hanging so Connor can hold it while we sleep.

In the morning, not one of them mentions how my awful breath or how knotted my hair is.

They give us fluids and make a carb-stacked breakfast to soak up the remaining booze.

When my friends thank them on their way out the door, where Nate’s waiting to drive them back to the car, Dez smiles. “Come back anytime.”

Kai quirks an eyebrow. “Might not want to issue an open invitation when you barely know us.”

Connor’s completely unfazed. “Daphne’s family is our family.”

And I believe he means it. I’m just not sure I trust him to mean it forever.