Page 31 of Knot Happening Again

"Better?" he asks softly.

I nod, feeling more clear-headed than I have in hours. "Much. Thank you."

Rhys smiles, and my heart does a funny little flip in my chest. "I'm glad. Do you... would you like me to join you? Or I can leave if you'd prefer privacy."

I bite my lip, considering. Every instinct is screaming at me to pull him closer, to beg him to touch me. But there's a gentleness in his eyes that makes me pause.

He's giving me a choice.

When was the last time an alpha gave me a real choice?

"Stay," I whisper. "Please."

Rhys nods, stripping off his clothes without fanfare. As his collar slips away from his neck, I notice the pale, crescent shaped scar against his bronze skin.

It jars me for a second, but then I remember why it's there. I must not be as subtle as I hoped, because he gives me a knowing smile and caresses the mark with his fingertips. "Never seen one before?"

"No," I admit. "I mean, I know some omegas mark their alphas, too. But I've never seen an alpha with an alpha's bond mark."

"Does it bother you?"

There's no judgment in his tone, only gentle inquiry. Curiosity.

I pause to consider it before shaking my head. "No. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first," I admit, leaning over the edge of the bathtub. "But it's kind of nice."

"Nice?" He cocks his head, coming closer. "How so?"

I can't help but notice his impressive physique. He's all lean muscle and smooth bronze skin, and my omega brain short-circuits for a moment at the sight of that long auburn hair cascading down over all that muscle.

And that's to say nothing of his cock.

I immediately imagine having that knot, thick as it is even without being swollen, stretching me open.

But I just shrug. "Most alphas only want to put their mark on an omega. To make sure the world knows she's owned. Even if they have no intentions of dealing with the consequences," I mutter, unconsciously touching my own half mark. "To see an alpha willing to show he's bonded to someone else, committed—even if it isn't a mating thing—it says a lot."

He gives me a knowing smile and slips into the water. "Pack is forever," he says thoughtfully. "I don't mind the world knowing where my allegiances lie."

He settles behind me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his body, but not touching. "Is this okay?" he asks.

I nod, leaning back slightly. "It's nice," I admit.

Rhys hums in agreement, his hands coming to rest lightly on my shoulders. "May I?" he asks, and I nod again.

His fingers begin to work the tension from my muscles, and I can't help the moan that escapes my lips. It feels so good, so right, that I find myself relaxing despite my usual wariness.

As Rhys continues his ministrations, I feel something hard press against my lower back. Heat floods my cheeks as I realizewhat it is. Instinctively, I grind back against him, seeking friction.

Rhys's hands still on my shoulders. "Ophelia," he says, his voice strained. "Can I touch you? Really touch you?"

The raw need in his voice matches the ache building inside me. "Yes," I plead. "Please touch me, Rhys."

Rhys's hands slide down from my shoulders, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arch into his touch, craving more. His palms cup my breasts, kneading gently, and I gasp as his thumbs brush over my nipples.

"Is this good?" he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.

"Yes," I pant, grinding back against his hard length. "Don't stop."

He continues his exploration, one hand massaging my breast while the other trails down my stomach. I lean back against his chest, reveling in the feeling of his toned muscles against my skin. The water laps around us, creating a cocoon of warmth and sensation.

---