Page 84 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

A hand slides up and covers my mouth, and I’m yanked back towards a closet. I smile against his palm and allow him to manhandle me into the dark.

Just in time, too, because the woman comes in and gets out of her clothes and gets into much more casual attire that one might wear when gardening. I pay exactly zero attention to her and all the attention on the body pressed against mine. His breathing is calm and even.

The door opens, and I jerk my eyes up, looking as the girl comes in, bouncing onto the bed and kneeling.

“What are we growing today? Carrots? Are the beets ready? Can we harvest the greens yet?”

The older woman smiles indulgently. “You have the patience of a toddler.”

“But how long do plants really have to grow? Can’t they be ready today? What happens if they aren’t? And where do clouds come from? Is the cake we cooked ready to eat yet? And why do you like ballerinas?”

The old lady, to her credit, laughs and puts her arm around the girl, leading her out of the room and closing the door with a little snick.

Pix’s stiff body softens against me.

“Are we going to kill her together?” I purr over my shoulder.

“No. We’re leaving,” Pix growls in pure warning.

“She upset Dove.”

“No, she didn’t. Now, get your ass out of this house before I make you pay for it.”

“And how are you going to do that?” I whisper, feeling my excitement for blood switch direction.

Pix growls and opens the door, hoisting me out. I fight him for a few seconds, just because I can, but then I allow him to lead me through the house and out the front door, where he grabs my hand and leans into me, smiling.

For all intents and purposes, to everyone on the street, we’d look like an in love couple just going for a stroll.

“I feel like you need to explain some things to me, Omega.”

“Nope. I don’t have to explain shit. If you love me, you’ll take my word for-”

Pix’s voice trails off as he realises what he’s said. I know because I’m watching that expression of chagrined shock spread across his face.

“Because I love you?” I tease. “You didn’t want to wait for me to say it? Stealing my thunder?”

He huffs and tries to walk, but I yank him back so he bumps into my chest. We’re face to face now, his scent under the suppressant patch is just a hint of the smell I want so badly to drown in, but I lean forward, running my nose along the line of his jaw. He swallows audibly.

“Rolly, we shouldn’t-”

“Do you know that I do love you, Pix? Do you know that the moment I saw you, it was like meaning ignited my life? That giving you space has been nearly impossible because I want so much to be inside you, over you. I want to leave my mark on your skin and tend to my bonding mark, sucking and teasing it, just because I can. It’s not just sex, it’s everything. The need to have you, own you, dominate you, and then have you take all of that from me. I want you to make me kneel, make me beg, make me earn your teeth in my skin. So, yes, I do love you, Daega. For me, I knew the second I saw you that I would, and every moment with you has just shown me the stubborn, dangerous, wise, kind, beautiful, delicious omega that I want to make mine is the most worthy of scent matches.”

His hand slides up my side, fisting in the material and pulling us closer together, even though there is no room.

“I have your bond, baby, now I want your heart,” I whisper to the corner of his lips. “I want your heats, every one of them for the rest of our lives. Everything. Soul, mind, body, devotion, your dreams, and your nightmares. I want it all. You don’t have to say if ever again. I love you, so I will stop, I won’t murder the old woman, simply because you told me no. I trust you.”

I kiss him softly, staying pressed against him for a long moment, and then step back, smoothing my hands over his shoulders.

“Is he all right?” The old woman asks as she comes around from the back of her house, a concerned frown on her face.

I turn and give her my most winsome smile. “Perfect, I swept him off his feet. Just confessed my feelings. I’m afraid he wasn’t ready.”

She breaks into a smile that could light up a room. “What are you waiting for? Take him home and celebrate.”

I give her a slight bow. “Yes, ma’am. Come, baby. Let's go get you knotted, bonded, and packed up.”

The woman laughs. “Have fun!”