Page 46 of They Love Me Knot (Starsfalls Omegaverse #2)
Daphne
T he bumpy road out to Flower Gully is more titillating when you’re trapped in a vehicle with a giant, delicious alpha. Even Alister’s fancy SUV isn’t enough to smooth out all the ruts and bumps, so I’m being bounced around and vibrated while Alister’s scent curls around me.
It’s almost enough to make a poor horny girl come.
I squeeze the door handle on a particularly big bounce and clench my thighs together. I’m not sure my slick-wicking underwear can hold up to me actually coming. They’re already overworked just from being near Alister. You’d think I hadn’t had sex in years with the way my pussy is acting.
Think of the flowers, think of the flowers I chant as we go over several bumps in a row.
I’d be so embarrassed if I came without Alister even touching me, just from his scent teasing me (and a feisty stretch of road. NOT how I ever imagined I’d receive road head).
“Sorry about the rough road. I’ve been telling Ciro for years that this should be resurfaced, or better yet, paved. The farm is doing well, it can afford the upkeep,” Alister says.
He must have noticed my rhythmic clutching. Luckily he doesn’t seem to realize why I’m actually struggling.
“It’s fine, I’ve been out here before. I knew what to expect,” I say in as normal and not moany of a voice as I can manage.
Alister puts his hand on my thigh and squeezes it, and I almost come right then.
“I didn’t realize you’d been here before. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but I thought Ciro typically delivered to Queen of Hearts,” he says.
I focus on his words to distract myself from the other stimulation.
“We had a flower emergency, and I had to pick up some flowers ahead of schedule. The high school kids unexpectedly ordered tons of bouquets for their promposals. Thankfully that’s calmed down, but with the Flowerfalls Festival coming up, we’ll be busy with that. ”
“I’m assuming this will be your first time at the festival? Have you participated in other fairs before?”
I launch into my florist experience, probably giving too much information as if this were an interview, but it’s a good way to keep my mind off other things. My rambling gets all the way to the Flower Gully.
“…and we actually had a silly misunderstanding when I came to pick up the flowers,” I say as we pass through the gates, cutting myself off there. The road is better, so I’m not struggling as much, but I’m also not sure I should talk about that little incident.
“Oh really? What happened?” Alister asks.
Of course he asks. He’s so sweet and attentive and interested, of course he would want me to continue the story I teased .
“Um, well, you see, the farm was busy that day and didn’t have time to harvest the flowers for us, but I didn’t know that until I got here.
One of the workers said I could collect the flowers myself.
I’d never worked at a big farm like this before, just my own small garden. It was an…interesting experience.”
That should explain what I said without giving away that Ciro thought I was a flower thief and he felt me up and I liked it.
“I’m sure Ciro will let you come out and pick flowers whenever you want, baby girl. He’ll probably bring you lots of bouquets too.”
I was going to say I don’t think he’ll let me pick any more flowers, but my brain short-circuited when Alister called me that, and my tongue is no longer working.
If he’s going to call me that, does that mean I can call him…?
“Let’s go find Ciro,” Alister says after helping me out of the car.
It’s dark except for a few low lights dotted around, the moon a small sliver. Alister has his arm wrapped around me, keeping me close as we walk out to the greenhouses.
He calls Ciro, and a phone rings in the distance up ahead.
The ringing cuts off, and Alister asks where we’re going. Ciro directs us until we find him at a small greenhouse hidden behind the rest.
A flashlight on the ground provides the only light, leaving Ciro’s face in shadows. I can tell it’s him and not some other giant alpha from the whipped honey floral scent blowing toward us, more complex than the actual flower.
Ciro hangs up at our approach but doesn’t look away from the HVAC unit on the wall in front of him.
“Were you able to get the parts I need?” Ciro asks curtly.
It’s good to know he’s this surly with everyone.
“Yes, I’ll go get them out of the car now that I know where to bring them,” Alister says.
The wind shifts, whipping my hair forward into my face.
Ciro’s head snaps over, and he focuses on me immediately.
“Why did you bring her?” Ciro grits out.
Alister tenses, but replies smoothly, “I know this isn’t a very fun date activity, but Daphne wanted to help. Isn’t that sweet of her?”
It’s hard to tell with the lighting, but I think Ciro may be glaring at me.
Is he still mad about our little miscommunication the last time I was out here? It’s not like I’m trying to pick his flowers this time. I really did come to help however I can, so his plants don’t die.
“I wouldn’t want the princess to get her clothes dirty,” he drawls.
“Very chivalrous of you,” Alister says.
“I can wear my apron,” I pipe up.
They stare at me.
What? It’s a good idea.
“We don’t need an extra pair of hands in the way. Alister, call her a cab to take her home,” Ciro says, turning away to poke at something in the HVAC.
“More hands are better. Why don’t you have Daphne hold the flashlight up so you can actually see what you’re working on,” Alister says and walks off before either of us can protest .
Once his footsteps fade, we’re left alone in silence.
Oh, wait. That’s not exactly true. The crickets start up, so we have awkward cricket sounds serenading our standoff.
I still think my apron idea was a good one.
Ciro messes with the equipment for a minute before taking a deep breath and looking over at me.
“You can hold the light if you want to,” he says.
“Really? I can hold it?” I ask happily.
I don’t know how to fix machinery, but I’ll do whatever he tells me to if it will help.
I bounce closer before Ciro changes his mind.
“You can hold the flashlight ,” he repeats.
I don’t know why he’s so hesitant. Holding a flashlight can’t be that hard, right?
I scoop it off the ground and point it at the HVAC. There, I did a great job, and didn’t shine it in Ciro’s eyes or anything.
I look up at him with a smile, expecting praise for how good I’m doing.
His lips quirk. “Good job, princess.”
“Thank you.” I smile smugly to myself. I’m amazing at this already.
Ciro has me adjust the light as he does whatever it is he’s doing, screwing and shifting things around.
The stack of old parts on the ground has grown by the time Alister gets back. He sets the supplies down nearby, but I don’t pay much attention because I’m so busy concentrating on holding the light in the right spot.
Suddenly I’m blinded, white covering my eyes. Instead of freaking out like I want to because a giant moth is attacking my face, I hold steady, so the light doesn’t shake, keeping both hands on it and letting the moth have its way with me.
The moth moves away from my face and drapes itself over my chest. I keep my eyes shut so I don’t get any of its weird powder in my eyes. When it tightens its grip around my waist, I can’t help popping my eyes open to look down at it, because how big and strong is this thing??
It’s got a lot of frills for a moth. I squint, the shadows making it difficult to tell what I’m looking at.
Alister lifts my hair up, and something slides around the back of my neck. I shiver as whatever it is tickles me, ruining my perfect flashlight-holding streak, the light jerking wildly.
“Is that tied right, baby girl?” Alister asks.
I peer over my shoulder and find his face close to mine.
My lips part as I inhale his spicy floral scent. Alister growls low, and I tilt my head to the side.
“Why did you bring that?” Ciro snaps, interrupting as Alister leaned closer.
I look at Ciro in confusion.
What were we talking about?
“Daphne said she wanted her apron,” Alister says.
“That’s not a work apron, which we have plenty of hanging around. Why do you even have that thing on you.”
“It’s Daphne’s, she was wearing it earlier. It will work just as well,” Alister says.
“I thought you went out to dinn—never mind. It doesn’t matter. I’m losing light here,” Ciro addresses me.
I jump, hurrying to shine the flashlight where it’s supposed to be.
Alister finishes straightening out my apron, which was apparently not a giant moth attacking me.
“Does that feel right?” he whispers in my ear .
I tense my body so I don’t mess up again.
“So right,” I whisper back.
Alister chuckles, breath fanning over my cheek.
Is it possible to hyperventilate from being teased?
Something clangs loudly, and Ciro curses.
“Get me the thermistor,” he grunts.
I don’t want to let go of the light, otherwise I would’ve already dived to get him whatever he needs.
Alister hands Ciro the part before I figure out how to do two jobs at once. I relax, realizing he must have meant for Alister to do it.
I keep working hard to support them while they replace the old things with new, watching lustfully as they use power tools and lift heavy things, muscles straining against their shirts.
Alister must have left his jacket in the car, because now he matches Ciro, sleeves rolled up to show off their slutty forearms.
They move me around as needed, Alister putting his hands on my hips to adjust me, Ciro repositioning my hands.
Eventually Ciro has me step back so they can put the cover on.
“I’m going to turn on the power. Alister, see if it sounds normal when it kicks on,” Ciro says before walking off.
“You were a big help, baby girl. Thank you for coming out to help Ciro,” Alister says.
“It’s no big deal, I’m sure anyone could have done it,” I say modestly, even though I’m pretty sure those were some top-tier flashlight-holding skills.