Page 31 of Knot a Thief

We both know this job needs to be over with the moment we have the opportunity.

As I go over the blueprints, a surge of excitement covers the unease. Now, despite the large boat putting us on edge, the more I look at the files, the more eager I feel.

Just knowing the island holds a notorious reputation for being impenetrable, its security measures unmatched, makes me desperate to prove I, a lowly omega, can be the one who makes the island’s alphas drop to their knees.

“How’s it going?” Seb asks after a couple of hours.

“Not too bad. You?”

“If that boat passes us so close later, the surveillance will capture the images of the guests and I can feed those images through my database to work out who they are and if they’re a danger to us.”

I nod, stroking my hand over the back of my neck.

“Do you need a massage?”

I groan. “Would you?”

Seb smirks, scooting behind me and sliding his hands down my tense shoulders. His touch is firm yet gentle as his fingers knead my tension away.

“Of course,” he says, his voice filled with warmth. “Anything to help you relax.”

I close my eyes, allowing myself to melt into his touch. The anxiety that had been gnawing at me slowly ebbs away.

Seb’s presence has always had a calming effect on me, grounding me in moments like this.

As his skilled hands work their magic, I lean into his touch and feel a surge of gratitude for having him by my side.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I don’t know why, but this job feels different. There’s something brewing.”

“It’s the value of the jewel and having to get on and off an island. Hotels and homes are much easier.” His breath ghosts over my neck as he lowers, whispering, “But we can do it. You can do anything.”

Maybe that’s the problem. We’ve become so in tune with each other, we’ve never failed.

I’ve always been able to rely on each of his strengths, the grounding he gives me and the way he makes me believe in myself.

When I first contacted Seb, I was overcome with anger, yet he soothed me—a beta soothed me—an omega.

He kisses the side of my face as he kneads my shoulders. “I can think of a better way to loosen you up.”

“You’re going to knot me?”

He smiles. “And then I’m going to sleep inside you.”

He kisses my shoulder, pushing the fabric of my top down my arm.

I chuckle, feeling the tension slowly dissipate. “As tempting as that sounds, we’ve got work to do if we want to leave here first thing in the morning.”

Seb pouts playfully. “Spoilsport,” he teases, but then his expression turns serious. He squeezes my shoulders and pulls away, letting us return to our respective tasks.

I turn and smile at him, slipping my top over my head. “I think we both work better when we aren’t stressed.”

“You’re proving you’re an omega right now.” Smiling, he pulls me into his arms. I wrap my legs around his waist.

He strides down the alleyway to our cabin.

Throwing me on the bed while he grabs his knot ring from the top drawer.

He tosses it to me, and I take it and slide my fingers through my omega slick, wiping the slippery mess over the knotty ring, lubricating it.