Page 17 of Knot That Delicate

My skin itched with the desire to be free. It wasn’t so much that I was scared of them. While, yes, I was worried about what they could potentially do, it was more that I hated being stuck in one place.

Asher placed a few cookies next to my cup as I drank the hot chocolate. It was quite possibly the best hot chocolate I had ever tasted, and that was saying a lot because my dad used to make amazing hot chocolate. On winter nights, we would all gather around the firepit outside. It was always a good time with family, laughing, joking. The boys would end up wrestling, no doubt, and I would usually cuddle up to Mum as we watched, sipping hot chocolate.

"It's good, isn't it?" Asher asked.

I nodded. "It definitely is, but it’s not as good as white hot chocolate. That is the best, especially when you add a little bit of hazelnut syrup."

Asher cocked his head to the side. "That sounds like a good combination," he said. "I’ll have to try that next time."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Did that mean he had the supplies to make that kind of hot chocolate here? If so, I was definitely going to be asking for that, because if his regular hot chocolate was anything to go by, he would be able to make an elite white hot chocolate.

"I know Dylan’s a grumpy one," Asher said, "but he’s got a heart of gold."

I thought about that for a second, biting my lip. I could see what he meant. Despite his imposing size, the alpha had only ever been gentle with me. Sure, he had been grumpy, and his words were abrupt, but physically, he was careful.

"Why do you guys like coming out here into the middle of nowhere?" I asked, cocking my head.

Asher thought for a moment before answering. "It’s peaceful, we like it. When we’re in the city, everything’s so noisy. We’vehad such busy careers that it’s nice to take some time to stop and be still."

I stirred my hot chocolate before answering. "I suppose I can understand that," I said. "I just feel entirely different because I’ve been still for so long. I’m raring to get out and explore."

Asher grinned. "What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back to the city?"

I cocked my head to the side. "I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I’ll be going to a Haven. They look really nice from what I’ve seen, so maybe I’ll start doing something like… I don’t know, a pottery class? Or if they’ve got a big area of land, maybe I could go jogging because I am pretty thin and weedy," I admitted with a laugh.

Asher nodded. "You are severely underweight. I can tell that just by looking at you. But give us a few weeks, and we’ll get you well-fed."

"Have you actually got enough food here for me? I assumed if we’re stranded out here, food is limited." The last thing I wanted to do was to take food away from this sweet alpha, when he had been nothing but nice to me. Asher had fed me hot chocolate and didn’t call me a princess. In my eyes, that made him the best of the bunch.

Asher laughed at my comment. "Trust me, we’re big guys, so I prepare well. We’ve got freezers full of meat, vegetables, and all different manners of food. Can you imagine if I didn’t bring enough food for Dylan? Given his sheer size, he would starve to death in a day if I didn’t bring ten times the amount I thought we needed."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that idea. "I thought he was like a bear. I figured he’d just hibernate for the winter and wouldn’t need feeding."

Asher snorted. "That would be nice. Maybe he’d be a bit less grumpy if he hibernated for a bit."

I took a deep inhale of my hot chocolate as I finished the last sip, looking down at the cup with a pout, sad that it was over. Asher, seeing my look, chuckled.

"There’s plenty more where that came from," he said, whisking the cup away and placing it in the sink to be cleaned later. "For now, you’ve been given chocolate, so maybe it’s time to get cleaned up," he said, gesturing to me.

I was still wet, and I looked down, noticing for the first time that I was dripping all over the floor.

"Oh, crap," I said. "I’m so sorry. I’m dripping all over the carpet."

Asher waved off my concern. "It’s no big deal, we can clean it up. Now, would you like to have a shower? We do actually have a bathtub, as well, if you’d prefer a good soak," he said with a smirk.

I couldn’t help but whimper up at the idea. I wanted a bath so badly. I loved a good soak, but I refused to have a bath while I was a captive, despite there being one. I didn’t relish the idea of being watched.

I looked at Asher, dithering for a moment before speaking. "I…"

Asher cocked his head to the side. "What’s concerning you, sweetheart?" he asked. "You can tell me."

"It’s just…” I shifted from one foot to the other. “Is there any way to check that there aren’t any cameras in the bathroom? I know that sounds crazy, but it’s just…"

His face darkened. "Why are you concerned about cameras in the bathroom? We would never put a camera in the bathroom. Do you think I’d want to see Dylan’s ass while he showers?"

I snorted with laughter. "No, that’s fair," I agreed. "It’s just, the last place I was at…" I trailed off, unable to find the words, but Asher seemed to catch my drift.

"You were somewhere where you were watched at all times, I’m guessing," he said, and I nodded. He cocked his head to the side as he thought. "Well, you’re welcome to check the entire room for cameras. The tub in the main bathroom actually has a shower curtain that goes all the way around, so you’ll be quite well concealed if you’re having a bath," he said. "And there are two deadlocks on the bathroom door."

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