Page 16 of Knot My Secret Santa

“Are you cold, dear?” My mom stepped in front of me and rubbed my arms. “Let’s go get a hot chocolate. That will warm you right up.”

Nathaniel hadn’t said a word to me this whole time, but as he breathed in deeply, the gleam in his gray eyes said a thousand naughty things. How could someone just staring at you be so hot?

“Okay.” Something to get my mind off the growing ache between my legs.

My family chattered on as we walked down Snowflake Lane. I had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. Maybe I could plead needing to use the bathroom and hide for the rest of the day?

Nathaniel walked with my dad and aunt behind us. I could feel his heat behind me. It was like I could even feel how his body was moving as he went along. The thick muscles of his legs, his toned arms flexing as he wrenched his coat closed, and that tight ass.

I whimpered as a lance of pain went through me along with a gush of slick. This was bad. While I’d worn a thick maxi pad just in case, if this pain continued, I wasn’t going to be able to sing later today.

“What’s wrong, Ave?” My mom asked softly. Her tender voice had me leaning on her.

I’m in heat, and the damn Alpha who triggered it is right behind me! I gnawed on my lower lip.Think. Think of something believable. “My tummy is cramping. I think maybe, you know,” I whispered, “It’s that time of the month.”

“Ah, my poor dear.” She rubbed my back, taking me off the sidewalk out of the busy foot traffic and let the others go on ahead. “If it’s bad, maybe you ought to head home and curl up with a heating pad. I can bring you dinner later.”

“But the caroling…” My protest was weak. I hated lying to anyone, but I was jumping aboard this train and letting it take me out of here.

“I know you hate to miss out on this stuff, but you’ve got a few nights coming up this week and all next weekend. Do you need me to walk you back to your car?” She was the best mom ever.

“No, no. I’m fine. Please give my apologies to everyone.” I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

Still holding my abdomen with one arm, I hurried off the main street and down the couple of blocks to where I’d parked my car. For some reason, the farther I got away from Nathaniel, the more the pain increased.

Tears chilled in the corners of my eyes. I had to get home. If I could get home, I would be okay.

It wasn’t until I was nearly running that I realized I had gone down the wrong street.Shit. I could barely focus. The wind whipped at me and my hat blew off. I didn’t have the energy to care. Which way was my car?

I pulled my collar up around my face, not looking where I was going. Banging into what I thought was a brick wall, I looked up into Nathaniel’s gorgeous face.

Oh oh.

“You lost your hat.” He held it up as he wrapped his free arm around me. The heat of his body made me shudder and his scent, fuck, I nearly doubled over with the pain encompassing me. He continued to hold me up and urged me to walk with him. “My apartment is just around the corner. I need to get you out of this wind.”

“My car…” I was babbling and not offering up any resistance.

“Your car can stay where it is. You’re coming with me.”

It shouldn’t have surprised me that he had an apartment downtown. More so, I should have figured that even though I attempted to run from him, he would hunt me down.

And for some reason, that made me happy.

CHAPTER TWELVE – Nathaniel

I tapped my key bracelet against the reader on my door and helped Avery into my apartment. She trembled against me, groaning as she held her stomach. Her sweet musky scent was intoxicating, and my dick was already rock hard.

Even though I really wanted to fuck her, the overriding instinct in me was to make sure she was warm and safe. I knew Alphas would do anything to protect their Omegas, that they put the females’ needs first, but I never honestly understood just how much one was driven to do so until now. Avery was in pain, and I had to make that stop.

I dropped the antler hat on the foyer table and unzipped her coat. “Let me get you undressed. I’ll get you comfortable and warm.” I slipped off her coat and hung it on the coat rack, and as she bent over to take off her gloves and boots, I whipped off my own coat. “Tell me what you need. Hot tea? A blanket?”

Avery stood, gripping my arms as if I might suddenly vanish. Her eyes were bright and beautiful against her rosy cheeks. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” I scooped her up into my arms and she let out a little yelp of surprise. Stepping into the living room, I stopped. The black leather recliner and small matching couch weren’t exactly the most cozy of furniture. Instead, I turned and took her into my bedroom.

“But I have to. You don’t need me complicating your life.” Avery held onto me tighter even as she said that. Last week, I would have completely agreed with her, but right now, I wanted her and any complications she might bring. “You’re my boss.”

“That means you have to do what I say.” I gently set her down on the bed and pulled the goose down comforter around her shoulders. I repeated, “Tell me what you need.”

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