Page 10 of The Knot Before Christmas

Her peppermint and chocolate scent lingers on my clothes. Gathering my shirt, I bring it up to my nose and take a deep inhale.

“Fuck,” I groan, my cock jerking in my pants.

In this moment, I’ve never wanted another person like I do her. A part of me wants to barge into the bathroom and take her over the sink.

That’s something Nick would do, not me. I have respect, and consent is a big thing for me.

Sometimes, I wonder how we’re even related. My brothers get their darker side from our dad, while I take after my mom. At least, I’m assuming so because I’ve never met the woman, or at least, not that I remember. And my dad doesn’t know shit about her because all she was to him was a piece of ass.

In the MC, when a sweet-butt gets pregnant, they have to stay at least until they give birth, and afterward, if they want to leave, they can. But they have to leave their child behind. Then, they do a DNA test to see what member has knocked her up. It’s fucking crazy and so messed up.

I’m about to ask if she’s okay in there when I hear the shower running. “Ian!” her voice calls out, and without thinking anything of it, I’m jumping in action.

“Yes?” I open the door, peeking my head in.

“Look, I’m sure that me taking a shower isn’t something you would have said yes to if I asked, but I’m already in here, and I really needed one. So, can you grab my clothes from my bag, so I have something I can change into when I’m done? Oh, and a towel!”

My brows raise, my cheeks twitching with the rise of my lips.

“Ah, I think Nick left it in the van. But I might have something you can borrow,” I offer, clearing my throat.

“Why can’t you just go get it?” This Omega is something else. She’s got a backbone and a personality to match.

“He went into town.”

“So, he could go into town but I couldn’t even take a piss? Real nice. You know, your brother's an asshole, right?”

A laugh slips free. “I’ve gotten that impression, yes.”

My eyes stare at the curtain, hyper-focused on the fact that Nova is naked behind it, rubbing soap all over her body.Did she choose mine? Something with a more sweet, subtle smell versus the spiced ones my brothers use?

“I think he needs to eat a Snickers or something. He was not as nice as he was in the van.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Nova, Nick isn’t a nice guy. He’s a loyal brother and a stronger soldier, but his manners... well, that’s not something he really took a liking to.”

She peeks her head out through the curtain, her hair wet and some strands sticking to her face.

“Do you think he’s going to hurt me?” she asks, blinking with worry in her eyes. “Likereallyhurt me?”

“No.” I shake my head. “He won't hit you, and he might be a crazy asshole, but he’s not a rapist. I do see him pushing you, though, trying to get you to break.”

“What does that mean?” Her brows furrow.

“With Nick, you never know.” I shrug my shoulders. My brother is a loose cannon sometimes. But I’ve never seen him harm a woman before. At least not one who hasn’t asked for it.

“What about your other brother, Will? Is he a raging dickwad too?”

“No.” I chuckle. “He has his moments, more stubborn than anything. He’s really big in following what Nick says, though.”

“But not you.” She cocks her head to the side. It’s not a question she’s asking me, it’s a statement. “No. You're nothing like your brothers, are you? That much I can tell just by talking to you.”

I shouldn’t be sharing all this information with her like this, but there’s something about her that makes me want to spill all my secrets and give her the world.

I clear my throat. “I’m going to go grab you something to wear and a towel.” I leave her to finish her shower and grab what I need before bringing it back.

“Thanks.”

“You know, for someone who’s being held against their will, you sure are taking it like a champ.”

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