Page 57 of Knot Her Reality

“It’s okay, Tessa. You can turn back around. I don’t mind an appreciative look here and there. I’m used to being around models who drop their clothes wherever they happen to be. It’s a habit I’ve picked up, and I don’t always remember that not everyone is like that.”

Tessa clears her throat before she glances over her shoulder. “Are you sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“What part of putting myself on display for you made you think I was uncomfortable?” I ask with a laugh.

A smile spreads across her lips as she turns around to face me once more. “I probably shouldn’t ignore the show you’re giving me. Plus, fair is fair, right?”

With that, she pulls her own shirt off before tugging off her bra. Only, she doesn’t stop there. She kicks off her shoes and pushes down her pants, giving me time to take in the beauty of her body. Where I’m all soft curves and hard-earned muscles, Tessa is hard lines and tight muscles with fewer curves. It doesn’t make her any less attractive to me, as I’m into all kinds of body shapes.

Heat swells within me as my eyes peruse her body, and I know we’re playing a dangerous game that I need to stop now, or we might not make it out to our class. I can’t tear my eyes off of her, but I do pull the sports bra over my head and settle it into place. Tessa seems to take this as a hint to dress herself, and I have to bite back an audible sigh of relief. Turning my back on her, I kick off my shoes and pants before pulling the tiny shorts up and over my ass. Turning around once more, my eyes widen at Tessa’s body in the outfit that hides nothing.

“Shit, I’m not sure if that’s any better,” I mutter, and she laughs.

“Come on, omega. We have a class to attend and three other suitors waiting for you.” Tessa gives me another smile before heading for the door. I trail behind her, definitely checking out her ass.

When she swings open the door, I hear Yolanda in the hallway—and she doesn’t sound happy. “You can’t take the class in those clothes.”

“Why the hell not?” Sterling demands. “I’m not wearing that shit that was left in the locker room.”

“Sterling, I think you need to calm down,” Mike begins as I hurry past Tessa.

“Keep your nose out of it. You’re little more than a bodyguard. You and the other two look like idiots, and I refuse to look like an idiot with you.”

I guess he didn’t pull the stick out of his ass on the way over. Great.

“What the hell is going on?” I demand as I swing around the corner into the small entrance area. My eyes scan over Mike, Evander, and Bradley, all dressed in the tiny dance shorts, and though I can’t see them, I know they’re wearing a dance belt underneath. Gotta keep their dicks out of the way while they’re swinging around a pole, after all.

“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m wearing that shit,” Sterling growls as he stalks toward me.

Mike steps in front of me before he even gets within ten feet of me. “I think you need to step the hell back and watch how you’re talking to Evangeline.”

“And I think I already told you to fuck off.”

“It’s okay, Mike.” I lay my hand on his bare back, waiting until he glances over his shoulder at me. “Sterling isn’t going to hurt me—though I can’t promise that I won’t hurt him.”

Mike hesitates another moment before stepping back, and I turn my attention to the asshole in front of me.

“First of all, stop talking to Mike like that. You’re acting like an entitled prick. Second, none of them look like idiots. In fact, I’d say everyone looks amazing in what they have on. Just because you’re insecure about your bod—“

“I’m not insecure about anything.” Sterling bares his teeth as he cuts me off.

I shrug. “Could’ve fooled me, but regardless, if you won’t put on the required outfit, then you can’t participate. If you won’t participate, then there’s no reason for you to be here. You might as well head outside and have Lucas call Bree to send a car out for you. But know this—if that’s the decision you make, you’ll be sent home tonight.”

Sterling takes another step toward me but stops when the other suitors and Mike move in around me. “That’s not fair. You can’t send me home just because I don’t want to learn to be a fucking stripper.”

“We’re not teaching you to become a stripper,” Yolanda says, wrinkling her nose. “Although, anyone who wants to be a stripper, more power to them. Pole dancing is a damn intensive workout.”

“Not to mention fun,” I add. “I guess you figured out that we’re taking a pole dancing class. Cool. Here’s the thing, Sterling. Heated isn’t about being fair. It’s about me finding my pack, and I don’t want someone in my pack who isn’t willing to put themselves out there to do something they’re not one hundred percent comfortable with. I’m too much of an adrenaline junkie for that.”

He scoffs. “This isn’t something for an adrenaline junkie. It’s for someone who wants to whore themselves out for others.”

“That’s it. You’re done. I don’t even care if you changed your mind at this point. You can walk your ass out that front door on your own, or Mike can escort you.”

“I’d like to see him try.” Sterling puffs out his chest.

Rolling my eyes, I glance at Mike, who nods. He moves so fast that Sterling never stands a chance, getting him in a headlock and walking him out the door in the blink of an eye.

“Maybe I can have a drama-free date now.” Turning to my remaining suitors, I smile. “Does that sound good to you?”

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