Page 15 of They Love Me Knot (Starsfalls Omegaverse #2)

I sputter unintelligibly while he pulls me off the ground and tosses me over his shoulder. My hands are finally free, so I push myself up on his back to look for help, but there still aren’t any workers around.

I slap a hand on his back and kick my feet, but his arm is banded around my lower legs, so that doesn’t accomplish much.

I didn’t get a good look at who’s carting me off, he got me up on his shoulder too fast. The only thing I can see from my new vantage point is his muscular back and ass, which isn’t a bad view, but it’s not going to help me identify my kidnapper once I get away.

Unless the police will do a lineup of their backsides.

He’s walking quickly, and we reach the farm’s main office in no time.

I renew my struggles to get free. If he lets go now, I think I could make it to my truck and speed out of here before he catches me.

He pulls the door open, and I struggle harder, trying to roll off his shoulder. He spanks my thighs more firmly this time, though it’s still just a slight sting.

“Stop moving, you’ll hit your head on the doorframe if you keep that up,” he says.

His warning is unnecessary. I’ve already frozen, clenching my thighs together, hoping he doesn’t notice that I like it when he spanks me.

We enter the building unscathed except for my throbbing pussy.

He rolls an office chair into the corner and sets me in it, putting his hands on the armrests to loom over me.

“You!” I exclaim when I finally see his face.

The alpha from Queen of Hearts’ alley quirks an eyebrow. “Hard to keep track of all the peasants you run into, princess?”

I’m too busy gaping to respond.

“Now, what were you planning to do with those flowers? Do you think everything in this kingdom belongs to you? That you can just take anything that catches your fancy?”

His words conjure up images of what I could take, and I flush and look away.

Ciro grips my chin to turn my face back.

“Tell me. Unless you want me to turn you over to the police right now. I could be persuaded to be lenient if this is the first time you’ve done this.”

He’s making me confused, leaning over me and holding my face close while he issues commands in that firm voice. I’d be leaning in if he weren’t holding me in place.

A shred of dignity waves pathetically in my mind, reminding me that as much as my body loves being tossed around and ordered about, I haven’t agreed to do those things with him.

I straighten my spine and give him a stern look, trying to give the impression that I’m looking down my nose at him even though he’s above me. Ciro’s eyes flick to my lips, so I’m sure he sees my pursed expression and knows I mean business.

“I already told you. I’m here to pick up the flowers for Queen of Hearts.

When I got here, one of the workers said they didn’t have time to cut them, but told me I could collect them myself.

I don’t know why you think you have any authority over me, but if you’re really so concerned about theft, you can call our shop, and Anicka will tell you I’m telling the truth.

Now, I need to get back to work. Some of us have important things to do.

We can’t all just wander around town half-cocked, complaining about everyone we run into,” I finish my imposing lecture with a haughty sniff.

I won’t take any more shit from smug alphas who think they know everything and can do whatever they want just because they have big dicks .

I have a big dick too. He’s pink and his name is BuzzyBoi and he vibrates, so he’s way better than this alpha’s dick.

No matter how big or knotty it is.

My eyes momentarily stray lower before going back to staring Ciro down.

His nostrils flare in irritation. “The workers wouldn’t let you pick the flowers yourself.”

“Well, one did! He said they were too busy to help, and I asked how I could get the flowers today, and he told me which ones I could cut,” I argue.

“I see. So, what did you do to get him to agree? Did you order him around, princess? Or did you do something else to convince him?” he growls, and the chair creaks under his grip, though his hand on my chin remains gentle.

“I just told him we really needed the flowers for our customers. It’s not a crime to ask for help!”

I don’t know why he’s so angry about that part. It’s between the worker and me. If he didn’t want me to cut the flowers, he could have said no.

“That’s all you did? You didn’t show him these pouty lips too and plead your case on your knees?”

He’s staring at my mouth, and I realize it’s fallen open.

Is he suggesting what I think he is??

I’ve never tried to seduce someone to get what I want! Why would he think that about me when he barely even knows me? Is this alpha some kind of psycho? Or is it because I’m an omega and he thinks that’s all we know how to do?

A sudden tinkling sound breaks the tension, and Ciro clenches his teeth before letting go of my face.

He pulls out his phone and answers, “Yes?” Watching me while he listens to whoever’s on the other end .

“In addition to what?” Ciro says, narrowing his eyes at me.

Like I should know what’s going on with his phone call? I glare back at him and consider poking him in the eye. I think I could do it while he’s distracted. I slowly creep a hand up and hover it near my stomach, waiting for the best time to strike.

He stands up abruptly and takes a few steps back. He’s still between me and the exit, so I remain in the chair for now.

“What did this person look like?” he asks the caller, looking me up and down.

“No, I’ll tell her,” Ciro says, and then hangs up.

I open my mouth to ask what’s going on, but he holds up a finger to silence me. For some reason that works, and I snap my mouth shut.

I lean back in the chair with a huff, decidedly not pouting.

He scrolls through his phone before putting it up to his ear again.

“Hey. Did you send Poppy to pick up the flowers?” After a pause, he says, “I don’t think I’ve met her.

My team just informed me they haven’t had time to cut your flowers yet, and they let her cut them, so if you’re missing a worker, that’s why.

I’ve been out this morning, but I’m at the farm now so I can get those flowers clipped and sent back to you. ”

Ciro listens for a moment and then hangs up. He puts his phone away and stares at me with a clenched jaw.

I glare right back and cross my arms.

His eyes follow the movement before asking, “What’s your name?”

I consider not responding. It would serve him right. He hasn’t been listening to me, but he’s more than willing to listen to whoever he talked to on the phone.

But since I want to get out of this situation as quickly as possible, I deign to answer.

“Daphne.”

He grunts, and I think that’s all the response I’m going to get.

I glance at the front door and contemplate walking out of here on my own terms (or running for it just to get out of this mess, no matter the cost to my dignity).

Before, when I thought he was just some psycho alpha, my only hesitation at the thought of poking his eye was because he has nice eyes and it would be a shame to hurt them.

Now that Ciro finally realized I’m not a thief and we’re business associates, there are potential professional conflicts with poking him. Poking his eye, that is.

It’s too bad those eyes keep glaring at me and looking down on me.

“How long have you been working at Queen of Hearts?”

“About six months, I guess.”

He frowns and gives a curt nod before looking down like he’s deep in thought.

This is my chance.

I slowly stand up and edge toward the door, facing him in case he makes any sudden moves.

I bump into the wall and slide along it until I reach the door, fumbling behind me for the knob. I slowly turn the handle so it doesn’t make any noise. When I feel it unlatch, I quickly spin around and yank it open, darting outside.

At least, I try to.

I squeak as I’m yanked back inside, Ciro’s giant arm around my middle stopping my momentum.

He slams the door shut and pushes me against the wall .

“I didn’t say you could leave,” he growls.

His forearms are braced on either side of me, hips practically touching mine, and I’m panting as I stare up at him.

His eyes are dilated, and I have no idea what he’s going to do next.

As the seconds tick by, my fingers itch to tangle themselves in his shirt and drag his lips to mine.

He leans closer, but I hesitate to close my eyes. I want to keep admiring his sharp jaw and shortbread-colored eyes and full lips and imagining how they’ll feel on mine (and other places).

Soon I won’t have to imagine, but I don’t want to miss this view, so I hold off on closing my eyes until the very last second.

“Just because you act like the princess of Queen of Hearts’ alley doesn’t mean you get to act like a princess on my farm. At least not without consequences,” Ciro says in a low voice.

My eyes fly open. His face is close, but his lips aren’t on mine.

He is looking deep into my eyes, but it’s more like a challenge rather than longing.

So, we’re not kissing then?

As his words register, I gasp.

“I’m not acting like the princess of anything!

You’re the one acting like some king alpha of the alley and dirt.

” I poke him in the chest (his eyes are still too good-looking to poke).

“Some of us are out here working hard for our customers. You’re out there goofing off, not even coming into work until halfway through the day, and then tossing your customers around! ”

He bares his teeth before gritting out, “I put my all into this business. You’re the spoiled one, demanding favors and wanting a large order with less than a day’s notice. You’re lucky Nash has a soft heart and let you convince him to gather the flowers yourself.”

I thought the phrase “spitting mad” was just hyperbole, but now I know it’s a literal description.

It’s one thing to call me princess, it’s quite another to suggest I’m a spoiled employee who orders people around and makes them do the work for me.