Page 60 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

“T-Thank you,” I whispered, not sure what kind of decorum the moment called for.

Gio chuckled. “No. Thankyou.”

I pushed against his chest until I was upright again and gazing down at him in confusion. “But you didn’t even get anything out of that.”

Those sinful lips tugged up in a crooked smirk as he leisurely withdrew his hand from my shorts. “Sure I did,” he promised, the green in his hazel eyes burning a little brighter.

To my absolute shock, he brought his fingers to his mouth and sucked them clean.

“I got dessert,” he teased, and yet, I could tell he was absolutely serious.

The blood that was slowly returning to the rest of my body all rushed south again. My clit pulsed and my legs shook as I tried to remember how to breathe.

I scrambled off Giovanni’s lap, my face burning bright red. My thighs were slick and my core still throbbed. I was a hot mess from head to toe.

Trying to regain some composure, I tugged my shorts back into place and smoothed my rumpled top. But it was no use—the potent scent of arousal clung to me like a second skin. I was sure I looked positively bedraggled.

The Alpha males regarded me with dark, hooded gazes that made me very,veryaware of how little my pajamas covered, and what they’d just witnessed their brother do to me.

Dimitri’s eyes smoldered with a primal hunger while Marco seemed ready to give chase. Tommas smirked as he openly ogled me, as if he wanted to know what I tasted like. And Giovanni? He looked as smug as a cat who’d just finished a bowl of fresh cream.

Each of them exuded an aura of barely restrained desire.

I needed to get out of here before all my bravery turned into anxiety about what I’d done. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I gave them all a sheepish smile. “I, uh, I think I’m going to head to bed now. It’s been a long day and I could use some rest.”

Giovanni knew I was running, and he murmured a soft sound of disappointment, but didn’t try to stop me. “Of course, Dolcezza. Get some sleep. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

The promise in his words sent warmth blooming through my chest. I was certain they would be. These four Alphas had made it clear they weren’t going to let me slip away. Not now. Not ever.

Which is why you have nothing to be ashamed of, I told myself as my embarrassment morphed into its more sinister cousin—shame.

With a nod, I hurried towards the hallway, desperate to escape their hungry gazes and process—or, more likely, overthink—everything that had transpired. But as I reached the staircase, Dimitri’s deep voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Kitania.”

I glanced back, my heart pounding. The way he said my name, all rough edges and molten desire, left me weak-kneed.

“Sweet dreams,” he murmured, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a half-smile.

I swallowed hard, unable to form a coherent response. Nodding jerkily, I quickly jogged up the stairs and made a beeline for my room, practically running the last few steps.

Once the door was firmly shut behind me, I leaned back against it, chest heaving, wondering what the hell I’d just done.

And why I wanted to do it again…soon.

twenty-three

KITANIA

The late afternoonsun bathed the rooftop in a warm golden glow, casting long shadows across the polished tiles surrounding the heated infinity pool. A cool, gentle breeze carried the mouthwatering aroma of grilling meat, mingling with the crisp scent of chlorine. The city sprawled out below, a gleaming expanse of glass and steel that stretched to the horizon.

It was Tommy’s idea to ‘take the day off’ and spend it together—as a pack. Everything we’d done as a group thus far had been relatively stressful, and, according to him, it was past time they showed me what it really meant to have mates and a family by doing something fun.

Deep down, I knew it was fueled by Nick’s passing. Life was too short to miss out on connecting with the people you cared about most. It was a lesson we’d all taken to heart.

And yet, I wondered if thisparticularexcursion was the best idea.

I wrapped my arms around myself, hugging the loose sweats I was wearing tight against my body. Beneath them was the new bikini the guys had insisted on buying me. The sapphire blue fabric complimented my pale skin, but I wasn’t used to showing so much of it. My toes curled against the sun-warmed concrete as I hovered uncertainly at the pool’s edge.

---