Page 75 of Knot Happening

Meeting my gaze in the mirror above my bathroom vanity, I gather my resolve to walk out to the handsome man in my bed. After a deep breath, I throw open the door and rush over to the side I typically sleep on. I draw up short, at the sight of the nearly naked version of him.

Easton looks ready to bolt. I wince, because… I thought he was into me? Maybe I’ve just mistaken his offer of friendship for something it’s not.

I turn off the light on my dresser and move to my side of the bed when I hear Easton snort.

“What?” I ask, feeling defensive.

“Barbie night light?”

“It makes stars on the ceiling. I don’t like pitch black. Don’t tease me!” I grumble, climbing under the covers. Easton remains sitting at the edge for a long moment, and then finally lays down under the covers beside me. “You don’t have to sleep in here…” I don’t want him doing anything he’s uncomfortable with.

“I like it. The stars, I mean.” There’s a long stretch of silence as we both stare at the stars. “And lying beside you. I’m not…used to it.” The sincerity of his statement is punctuated by thepulse of his scent that spreads around us. My own scent takes on a more vanilla cream taste as it answers.

“Oh. Well, I like it too,” I say gently, before reaching out and taking his hand in mine. My Omega instinct has a small purr ready in my chest, but I hold it back. He doesn’t move, just lets me hold his hand. It's a comfortable silence, and I’m at ease with him beside me.

For some reason, I just know that Easton would never hurt me.

It’s not long before I’m out cold.

It’s hot as fuck. Why is it so hot? I try to kick off my blankets, but I can’t move my limbs. Why can’t I?—

What the fuck is that scent? Holy brownie factory. Ooey-gooey brownies melting in your mouth. I let out a whine, making my blankets cling to me tighter. That makes no sense… Blankets don’t move…

I blink, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, Easton is on top of me, his head on my chest, his body between my spread legs. And he’s perfuming. What a lovely scent. Delicious, irresistible brownies.

He’s perfuming?! Oh my god… “Oh my god!” I yelp, as the reality of what that means settles over me. Easton is an Omega, and he’s been hiding it from me. He’s not an Alpha…

It clicks then that the reason his scent is so overpowering, is because he’s been scent marking me all night.

“Easton?” I say gently, and after significant effort, I get my hand free. I push my fingers into his hair, and caress the strands out of his face. “Easton…”

Everything happens in a flash, and my mind is too sleep fogged to understand for a long moment. Easton shifted, and now something sharp is pressed to my throat. His eyes are wild as he pants heavily, searching my face for a threat.

“Oh fuck…” he murmurs, lowering the fucking weapon, making it disappear like a magic trick, before I even have time to process that he nearly killed me. “This isn’t what it looks like…”

“Okay,” I nod. “Then explain?” Easton stares at me for a very long, silent moment. He doesn’t move… Not even an inch. He’s still lying between my spread legs, his body propped up by his elbows on either side of my body.

“Right, compelling argument. Valid point. This is in fact what it looks like,” he eventually says, and I snort.

Then, crazier still, he leans up, pecks my chin with a tiny kiss, and then lays his head back down on my chest.

“Never going back,” Easton mumbles and starts gently purring.

“Going back to what?” I ask, but he doesn’t respond. I have questions about the knife…but I’m not sure that I’ll get any answers.

His purr gets louder with my hands in his hair, tugging and caressing the strands. My heart rate is pounding against my chest, and there’s no doubt he can hear it with his head against my skin.

“To before.” Easton eventually murmurs, as he turns his head, resting his chin against my chest.

“What was before?”

“Dark, cold, lonely.” I watch him bury his face between my breasts, and take a very deep breath. The neck of my oversized t-shirt slips low enough that when Easton does this, he’s skin to skin.

“Easton!” I gasp, when he licks my skin, a half feral growl rumbling in his chest. His scent spikes, filling the room with thatintoxicating brownie. My own scent rises in response, my slick warming my core, and wetting my thighs through the fabric of my shorts.

“Need you, Tatum.” he rumbles. I’m saying yes, nodding my head and dragging him up my body before I can think better of it. Easton is an Omega. Not an Alpha.

He’s safer. Won’t leave me heartbroken and destroyed.

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