Page 101 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

KITANIA

I drifted awake slowly,cocooned in the warmth of my mates. For a moment, I kept my eyes closed, savoring the feeling of being wrapped up in them.

Marco’s leather-infused scent mingled with the fresh minty-lime of Tommy’s signature, while Gio’s earthy musk was slightly further away. The blend was heady and addicting.

As my senses sharpened, I became aware of the solid bodies pressed against my sides. Marco’s arm was draped heavily across my waist, his calloused fingers splayed possessively over my hip. With his face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, each steady breath tickled my skin, sending pleasant little shivers skittering everywhere. On my other side, Tommy had curled himself around me, one leg thrown over mine. His fingers were tangled in my hair, as if even in sleep he couldn’t bear to let me go.

I could just make out Gio’s form on the far side of Tommas. My mountain of an Alpha was sprawled on his back, an armflung over his head, snoring softly. A fond smile tugged at my lips. They all looked so peaceful, so unguarded in sleep.

The moment was almost perfect, except for the one man who wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Dimitri.

Anxiousness filled my chest as I remembered he hadn’t returned home with the others. After taking a long shower, I’d tried my best to wait up for him, watching a movie with the guys to help pass the time, but I must have fallen asleep. The last memory I had was Tommas covering me with a soft, warm blanket. And then… nothing.

Where was Dimitri? Was he alright? Had he come home?

A gnawing sense of unease settled in my stomach. While my mind raced with one worry after another. I bit my lip, wishing, not for the first time, that we were bonded, just so I’d know he was okay.

Carefully, I began the complicated process of extricating myself from the tangle of my mates. It was slow going, my movements measured and deliberate to avoid waking them. Every time I shifted, one of them would unconsciously tighten their hold. But eventually, I managed to wiggle free.

The penthouse was eerily quiet as I padded down the hallway, checking Dimitri’s bedroom first. Gathering my courage, I rapped my knuckles lightly against the door, then cracked it open.

His room was pristine, artfully decorated in neutral tones. Part of me wanted to give in to my curiosity and explore, to run my fingers along the personal effects he kept on his dresser, to take my time studying the pictures he put on the walls. Anything to glean something new about my most enigmatic mate. But I gathered my wits about me before I snooped, focusing on the bed instead, which sat crisp, perfect, and completely untouched.

Backing out of the room, I searched all the common areas. My heart sank when I found them all empty. I chewed my lower lip, fighting back my disappointment.

It wasn’t like him to not come home.

Instinct pulled me toward the elevator, and before I could second guess myself, I pressed the button for the roof. The ride felt as if it took ages, and I bounced on my toes on the way up. As soon as I stepped outside, cold air nipped at my nose and sent goosebumps trailing along my skin.

The seasons were mid-change, and it was freezing out here.

Then again, I was only in a thin nightgown. Spaghetti straps did little to ward off a chill. Hugging myself, I padded across the rooftop.

And there, under the moonlight, was the man I was looking for.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him.

Dimitri sat half-submerged in the bubbling hot tub, steam rising around him, curling toward the star-studded sky in wispy tendrils. The silvery light of the moon bathed his inked, golden skin in an ethereal glow, making him look like some sort of Greek god come to life. Colorful lights from beneath the water’s surface danced across his body, highlighting every defined muscle.

His short, dark hair was wet and slicked back, save for one rebellious lock that had fallen forward, curling over his forehead. It drew my eyes to his face, where droplets of water clung to his strong jaw and full lips. I watched, mesmerized, as rivulets cascaded down the hard planes of his chest, tracing paths I longed to follow with my fingertips.

Taking a deep breath, I moved closer. “There you are…” I called softly.

He turned, surprise flickering across his face before it settled back into careful neutrality. “You were looking for me?”

I hugged my arms around myself tighter, suddenly aware that my white nightgown probably didn’t hide much from view. “I... I was worried about you.”

Something softened in his eyes. Even from this distance, I could see the intensity behind them. They were deep chocolate pools under the cover of night, seeming to hold secrets and shadows I couldn’t begin to fathom. His gaze locked onto mine, and I felt pinned in place, unable to look away.

“Come here, my little Omega.”

My heart stuttered, and I hesitated only a moment before obeying.

DIMITRI

I sensed Kit before the elevator doors ever opened. Somehow, even without the claiming bite and subsequent bond, I could feel her—knew when she was drawing near. It had been a long fucking night, and the sight of her settled me in a way the steaming water hadn’t been able to do.

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