Page 47 of Trick Knot Treat

“I lost my stomach for it.”

I study his face, taking in the stubble, the blue eyes that are more of a stormy grey than Khione’s clear ocean eyes. Or even Jace with his stunning cerulean gaze. Zaire is gorgeous. Did I ever really look at him before? No, I hated him because he hurt Asher. Did he hurt Asher or did they just not work out?

Zaire comes and leans on the rail, staring out at the ocean. “It is beautiful up here. Better than my view.”

“You live in one of the shitty rental properties here in Sunshine Cove. It’s not going to have great views or be a fantastic place to live.”

Zaire turns his head, looking up at me. Soulful eyes. My mother said to me that one day I would know my alpha because he would have soulful eyes. Asher needs laughing eyes. But for me, I need someone who reaches past the walls, past the pain, past the mundane, someone with eyes that speak to the creative heart of me.

“You have soulful eyes,” I murmur, not realising I’ve said it out loud until it’s said.

Zaire’s lips twitch, and suddenly, I’m finding it hard to breathe, and I’m getting hard everywhere. Over a smile. That has never happened before.

I stumble back, anxious to put space between us.

“I, uh, I should go inside and see how everyone is doing, if they need help.”

“Sure. I’ll stay out here for a while.”

Fuck. It was easier when he was a monster. I’m panicking. I’m freaked out. Zaire was never part of the plan. I was going to tolerate him, but now, it looks like I’m going to have to fight not to end up under his thrall or his bond.

I find myself chest to chest with Jace. He studies me with cool, crystal eyes. He’s reserving judgment, holding back, but I punched his boyfriend, I mean stepbrother.

With a growl, I try to step around him, but he steps into my space. I step the other way, and he’s right with me as if he’s reading my mind. I growl louder and look up, but Jace is smirking, and that smirk hits me hard.

I step back again, feeling that overwhelming urge to run.

I need something.

“Come on, you lazy omega, you can set the table.”

My whole body bristles. I turn and narrow my eyes on Clint, who gives me a lazy smile as he carries a bowl of salad to the table and sets it down.

I step into his space. “You don’t know me. What is your problem?”

“I might ask the same.”

He reaches up, but I catch his wrist, squeezing tight. He doesn’t respond to the pain I know he’s feeling, just crowds into me more.

“Let’s just get along for the omega, huh? We both know exactly how you feel about me.”

I close my eyes because he doesn’t. If he did, he wouldn’t be so hostile, he’d be smug and satisfied, and I would be naked under him, knotted and bonded, probably on the table because I don’t think we’d even make it to the bedroom.

Clint and Jace have been my weakness since I discovered they were my scent matches when I was nineteen.

Watching how in love with each other they were, to the exclusion of everything, including their scent match, turned whatever feelings I might have had to bitter anger. Our rivalry for the years beforehand, unknowingly drawing and repelling each other, didn’t help either.

I shove him off me. “You don’t know anything, Clint. You just think you do.”

I turn my back on him, trying to ignore the way he steps into me, his body heat burning my skin through my clothes. I lick my lips and wait, tense for whatever he’s going to say.

“You are a surprise. What if I decided to keep you? Would you let me? Should I let you go or make you mine?” Clint whispers.

Red flashes in front of my eyes, but he slides his hand up under my shirt and grips my hip. Heat slices through me, heavy and sharp.

“Would you scream for us, Omega?”

Fuck. I would. I absolutely would. Damn him for asking that. I elbow him sharply and spin out of his reach, giving myself some room.