Page 21 of Knot Now Knot Ever

“No,” Eli stated.

“No?”

“You’re going to stay here, eat something, and then we’ll go to the consulate together,” Eli instructed. “I brought you here because I wanted to spend time with you alone, where we could feel comfortable and not have to dodge questions we didn’t want to answer.”

“Oh…” This was the only response I managed to come up with.

“I don’t think you understand that I want to know everything about you. The good, bad, and all the in-between. You’re my scent-matched Omega, the person who was born as a perfect match to me and vice versa.” Eli spoke almost as if he were pleading for me to hear what he was saying. “Lyra, I’m not sure why you believe you’re not good enough just as you are, but if I ever find out who made you doubt that, I’ll be sure to set them straight. Within the short time I’ve known you, I can’t say I’ve met a stronger, more resilient person. Okay, maybe my sister, but for a vastly different reason. You, my sweet Omega, have survived so much loss and loneliness, but now you have me. I hope you’ll let me in, in time, and allow me to share that burden with you.”

Tears burned in my eyes, but I didn’t want to cry. I have had so many tears in my life, and I was tired of shedding them. What Eli was offering me was something I’d been dreaming of for years but didn’t believe could be possible. Yet here I was, sitting across from a man who didn’t scare easily and wasn’t willing to let me run from my feelings. Those two things terrified me as much as I wanted to throw my arms around Eli and let him hold me forever.

“I-I don’t know if I can let you in,” I whispered. “What if you leave me too? Then there will be nothing left of me to survive.”

“You were right to tell me I can’t promise I’ll never leave you, but I can promise that no matter what, I’ll fight like hell to get back to you,” Eli stated boldly. “Life is full of twists and turns we can’t predict… you know that better than anyone. However, I am a man with nearly unlimited resources, and I have zero fucking issues with using every last one of them if it means getting back to you.”

He released my hand to cup my cheek and wipe away a tear that slipped out. “I know this seems ridiculous to say with how little time we’ve spent together, but Lyra, you are precious to me, and I won’t be able to live a happy life without you in it. All I ask is that you keep talking to me, sharing your thoughts and feelings, and we’ll figure out the rest together.”

I covered his hand with my own and sniffled. “Okay, I can do that.”

He pulled me closer and kissed me with such tenderness I thought I would melt along with the outer shell of ice that I’d wrapped around my heart. There were many more layers to get through, but this was a start, and everyone needed to start somewhere. Eli waved over the waitress, and we ordered our lunches. Once we had our food, we chatted about lighter topics that anyone would ask on a first date and got to know each other a little better.

“So, what were you saying about needing a form from the consulate?” Eli asked as we finished up.

I took a second to wipe my mouth, feeling some barbecue sauce from the burger on my skin. “Friday, Emily got a call about a shipment of oil that was delayed due to customs. Today, I finally got to speak to someone who would tell me what happened and how to fix it. Ethea had a change in their import-export requirements, and the only way to get the new form is from the consulate. I have a meeting with someone once we’re done here.”

Eli looked up from signing the bill he refused to let me even touch. “Did they know you’re an Omega?”

Frowning, I tilted my head slightly. “Why would that matter?”

“In Ethea and a few other countries, Omegas are not allowed to work. They are to be kept in the pack’s home and doted upon as they care for the children they’ve birthed along with managing the home,” Eli explained. “They believe Omegas were created to give life, and that is the only job they should have since Alphas and Betas were created to provide.”

“Seriously? I’ve heard people talk like that before, but I didn’t believe it was the current way of thinking anywhere in the world,” I admitted. “So what would have happened if I went there alone?”

“Nothing bad, but I would have been called since I’m your Alpha. They would have demanded I stop whatever I was doing and pick you up to return to our home,” Eli shared. “Since I’m going with you, there won’t be any issues or fear of a wasted trip.”

“It seems I have a lot to learn about the world,” I said, sliding out of the booth. “Honestly, this is a little embarrassing to see how ignorant I am, especially after spending so much time in school, my face buried in a book studying.”

“That’s the beautiful thing about life. There is always something new to learn,” Eli pointed out, taking my hand. “I have no doubt you’ll learn fast. Being in the oil industry, you interact with people worldwide, and it’s always smart to learn about the culture. I could blow a whole deal by offering the wrong hand to shake, plus it shows respect.”

We returned to the office so Eli could have the driver take us to the consulate. What would have taken me thirty to forty minutes round trip ended up being twenty. It was for the best that Eli came with me since it gave him the chance to ask about other issues we might run into with the changes. It was amazing to see Eli as he interacted with the consulate official. He had an ease of dealing with people I’d never known, but it was also obvious Eli wasn’t a man to be pushed around. It was clear to me why his father chose him to run the business. There are some things you can’t teach a person. They simply had the knack for it. Form in hand, we returned to work just as Eli’s phone buzzed with an urgent message.

“Do you have any questions about the form?” Eli asked, guiding me to the elevator. “I only ask because Emily just alerted me some are people waiting to speak with me.”

“I should be good, but if something comes up, I’ll email you,” I assured him.

I yelped in surprise as Eli pulled me into a hug and kissed me deeply. “Thank you for going to lunch with me. I enjoyed it immensely.”

I’m sure I was grinning like a fool when the elevator stopped, and he released me, putting on his business face. I watched him walk into the sitting area where four men were seated. I had to admit I was kind of loving I was one of the lucky few to see the real Eli. Taking my time as the men shook hands, I grabbed the callbacks Eli needed to make from Emily. I was unsure about what to do next since I assumed Eli would take the meeting in his office, but they hadn’t moved. Feeling it was more awkward to linger out here, I slipped into the sitting room and tried to walk by unnoticed.

“Wait,” a man called. “Please?”

Pausing, I glanced over my shoulder at hearing the question in his voice, even though I doubted he was talking to me. One of the most beautiful men I’d ever seen had indeed been talking to me. Caught in his hazel gaze, I didn’t notice he was quickly moving toward me until his face was buried in my neck.

“Holy fuck, you smell amazing,” the man moaned against my skin.

He then wrapped his arms around me so tightly his entire body was pressed against mine. The feel of his lips as he tentatively kissed up my neck felt like heaven. Then his scent finally hit me, and I was gripped his curly, pastel-pink hair, moving his head so I could access his neck. This man smelled like the sweetest strawberries and decadent cream to make a dessert fit for the gods.

“Who are you?” I managed to ask, rubbing my last two brain cells together.