Page 15 of Knot Giving Up 2

I feel the warmth of a blush creep up my cheeks as my imagination runs. I lean in, wanting to make him snap, wondering what he’ll do if that cool control breaks. “Do you prefer The Olympic’s Grinch?”

Oz stifles a laugh behind his hand.

Harrison’s smile is slow, casual and indulgent. “You can call me whatever the hell you want, Meggie. For now.”

There’s a promise in those last two words that has my thighs clenching and my mind working overtime to figure out what Harrison would want me to call him in bed. What does he like in the bedroom? Will he be vocal like Dante or sweet like Ellis? Has he even had enough sexual experience to know what he truly likes?

He smirks, as if he knows exactly the direction of my thoughts. With a hand on my lower back, he leads us towards the dorms while I test out sexy nicknames in my mind.

9

Ellis

Our apartment is new and beautiful, but small. Just a simple room with simple furniture. A kitchen. A hallway that leads to two bedrooms. A shared bathroom. Nothing fancy. But I couldn’t care less. I’m in Paris, at the Olympics, with my pack, my bonded, and my omega at my side.

During the last Olympics, I wasn’t on the same water polo team as Harrison, McQuinn, and Dante, so this is my first Olympics. Dante and I were dating then, but I was working and couldn’t fly out for the games. It was the first time we’d been apart for that long since we started dating, and without a bond, it was miserable. That’s when I started working on convincing him to bond me. Kinda like I’m working on Meggie now.

I come up behind her and pull her against me as we take in the sparse living space that will be ours for the next two weeks. Harrison drops his computer bag on the couch and goes to check out the tiny balcony that looks out over the grassy area all the building’s in the Olympic Village face. Nils and McQuinn head down the hall to check out the bedrooms.

Oz is already rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, which are all covered in plastic—probably to protect them from our fingerprints. After the Olympics, these buildings will all be sold as apartment complexes.

“There’s shit here,” he grumbles, pulling open empty silverware drawers.

“I think we’re supposed to eat in the cafeteria,” Dante says.

“After all the free stuff they gave us, you’d think there’d at least be some snacks.” Oz leaves all the cupboards open and turns his attention to the fridge.

Dante comes up behind Meggie and me and wraps his long muscular arms around us both. It feels good to be held between them. My bonded and my soon-to-be-bonded. I know Harrison told us not to bond Meggie until after the Olympics, and I know not everyone in the pack has come around to the idea of her being ours, but she is. She’s mine and Dante’s. If we have to leave the rest of the pack to have her, I’ll do it. If I have to give up the Olympics, or water polo, or the entire world for her, I will.

“Meggie,” Nils calls from somewhere down the hall. “Which room do you want?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Meggie snuggles deeper into my arms.

Nils walks back into the living room, puts his hands on his hips, and glares until Meggie relents and says, “The one with the outward-facing windows.”

Nils gives her an indulgent smile. All windows are outside-facing. But we all know she means the windows that face away from the Olympic village and not into the heart of it.

He picks up her bags and carries them into the room.

“I need some water,” Emily says. She came with us to our room first, not wanting to go to hers alone. I know she needs to be with her team, but I wish her room assignment didn’t put her bunking with Ava.

“Good idea,” Meggie steps towards the kitchen and Dante lets go of us, but I stay glued to her back, moving along with her like some sort of four-legged monster. I didn’t get enough time with her on the flight and, ridiculous as it sounds, I miss her. I’m a physical touch guy and need my cuddles.

Meggie laughs at my antics, which just makes me hold tighter, legs stepping awkwardly on either side of hers as we waddle into the kitchen. I love this woman’s laugh.

“I read somewhere that the trick to jetlag is hydration,” Emily says as she fills her water bottle.

“Are we supposed to drink that?” Oz asks.

“It’s a major world metropolis.” Meggie reaches for one of the free reusable water bottles we were just given. “They have water safety standards just like we do.”

“I’ll take some, too,” I say, bringing my cheek down beside hers after the bottle is full. She tries to offer me the bottle, but I keep my arms locked around her. “Share.”

Even from my position, I can tell she’s smiling as she brings it up to my mouth. I wrap my lips around it and she carefully tips it to let me drink. I get in a few sips before she tips the bottle all the way, splashing water down the both of us. Minx.

I let go of her only so I can tickle her until she squeals.

“If you guys are getting into wet t-shirt contests, then I’m out.” Emily laughs and refills her water bottle, but doesn’t make any move to the door.

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