Page 107 of Knot All is Forgiven

I'll never get over how wonderful she smells. I remember ignoring my parents to sneak out and study with her under our tree, incurring my Dad's wrath when I finally got home.

It was always worth it.

I rub my hand on my neck, nerves flaring up out of nowhere. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to Omegamart."

"Omegamart?" She wrinkles her nose. "Why?"

"I know you have a nest and probably everything you need, but if you wanted…" I breathe out heavily, acutely aware that I'm probably fucking this up. "I'd like to spoil you, Jay. You shouldn't have had to buy your own nest. It's my fault you did. I want to fix it if you'll let me."

Jordan inhales sharply and ducks her green eyes. "I love my nest," she says.

"I'm sorry, it was a dumb idea," I interrupt, lifting myself off the couch.

"Wait!" She reaches out and grabs my hands, stilling my movements. I lower myself to the soft surface, trying to remember the last time she touched me.

We don't hug. We don't kiss. There is no affection between us.

Her fingertips are like a brand. Her touch is a balm on the burnt-out husk of my heart.

"I was going to say," she continues, "that I love my nest. But. It wouldn't be so bad to start fresh."

Joy flashes through me, and I have to stop myself from whooping in excitement. "Let's go tomorrow, yeah?"

"Sure!" Her smile is brilliant, eyes sparkling, and I want nothing more than to grab her behind the neck and pull her into a kiss.

I don't, of course.

She's not ready for that.

"Guys!" Jordan calls out, startling me from my daydreams of what her lips would feel like on mine. "We're going to Omegamart tomorrow to shop for my nest!"

"Rad!" Simon hollers back. "I'm in!"

Rafe and Icarus also voice their agreement, and my stomach sinks. I have to school my face so as not to show her how disappointed I am that it won't be just the two of us.

She squeezes my hand affectionately before curling up in the corner like she does every night. "Thanks, Cyrus. I needed something fun to look forward to tomorrow."

Chapter forty-one

Lanie looks up andstores her phone as soon as I walk by her desk with my second coffee of the day. "Jordan, hi," she says absently. "You've just had a meeting dropped on your calendar by Mr. Woods."

My steps come up short.

"Mr. Woods? What does he want to see me for?"

Alistair Woods, our COO, is generally pretty hands-off, especially with me. A few years back, when he asked me if I was an Omega because his pack was looking for one, it was so uncomfortable that we've not been in a one-on-one meeting since.

"It just says performance review." She waves her hand breezily. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"Sure," I mutter as I sink down into my desk chair. I'm suddenly very self-conscious about everything I've done recently at work. I know I've taken heat leave and a few other half days here and there, but I've worked for HUG for years, and I've barely taken a sick day in the years I've worked here.

The Alphamatic campaign rolled out this week, and it turned out better than I could have imagined. The first ads driving people to the gym to get their grip strengthener and to enter to win a date with Cyrus will be hitting people's doorsteps in the Sunday paper.

Overall, I'm proud of the work I've done, so I should have nothing to worry about.

Or so I tell myself. Icarus must feel something down the bond because my phone chimes with a text.

Vickasaurous Rex

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