Page 13 of Knot My Luck

And that’s when it hits me – she’s not just asking for help. She’s asking forme. She wants me to take control. Wants me to help her through this madness of heat.

I steady her again, my hands sliding down to her waist as I pull her in closer, my grip firm but gentle. “Calm down, Red. Focus on me,” I coax, my voice a steady hum in the tense space between us. “Listen to me. Just breathe. I’ll get you through this. I won’t let you go.”

She leans into me, her body trembling, but I don’t let her collapse. My touch, soft yet commanding, slides up to her neck, fingers brushing against her pulse point. The steady rhythm of my hand against her throat seems to help calm her, grounding her, at least for a moment.

“Breathe, Red. Deep breaths. You’re okay. I’ve got you,” I say again, this time a little more firmly, forcing her to focus on me, on the sound of my voice, on my touch.

But the grind of her hips doesn’t stop, not for a second. She’s desperate – she’ssodesperate – and the intensity of it is threatening to snap my control entirely.

I guide her hands to my chest, keeping her grounded, using my body to reassure her. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promise, my words low and steady, though my own body is starting to betray me. Her heat is like fire, igniting every nerve, every inch of me, and the urge to press her back against the elevator wall and take her is almost too much to bear. “I’m Lorcan by the way. I know we said no names last time, but I figured this is different.”

“Devlin,” she gasps.

I chuckle. “Devlin, huh? Descendant of the unlucky one?”

“Story of my life,” she sighs. “Heard it all before, looks like today is just my luck too.”

“I don’t know, Devlin. It seems like your luck might be about to change.” I flash her a grin.

She moves again, harder this time, her body grinding against mine with a quiet gasp that only serves to shatter what little control I have left. “Please, Lorcan...I need you,” she whispers, her words trembling as her hips push forward again.

I close my eyes, swallowing thickly, fighting the urge to take her right then and there. It’s all I can do not to lose myself in this moment, but I know she needs more than just me giving into the desire. She needs stability. She needs care.

But fuck my life, is it hard to deny her. And why the hell is this lift taking so damn long?

“Hold on,” I soothe, keeping my hands steady, both holding her tight now. “We’re almost there, Red…Devlin. Just a little longer.”

The elevator dings, and I feel the momentary reprieve as the doors slide open to the floor my suite is on. Fuck. I’m sharing the suite with my pack mates. Sure, they’re downstairs at the wedding right now, but they won’t be forever.

Shit. I’ll have to message them in a bit.

“Come on,” I say, hoisting her gently but firmly, keeping her close as I guide her out of the elevator. “Just a few more steps. I’ll make it better, I promise.”

The door to the suite swings open, and before I even have a chance to fully step inside, she’s on me again. I barely have time to register the movement before her hands are gripping my shirt, pulling me toward her. Her lips crash against mine in a frantic, desperate kiss, and I’m momentarily stunned by the force of it.

Her need is palpable, desperate, and it takes everything in me to resist the urge to rip her clothes off and claim her right here, right now. But I can’t – I won’t – not like this. Not until I know she’s in control of herself, even a little.

But the sound of her soft whimper against my lips sends a rush of heat straight to my chest, and when she pulls away just enough to look at me, her pupils wide, wild with heat, it takes everything in me to hold back.

“Lorcan, please…” she breathes, her voice shaky, pleading. “I need you. I can’t…can’t wait anymore.”

My heart is pounding in my chest, blood thrumming in my ears as her scent floods the air again, thick and intoxicating, nearly making me lose my grip on reality. She’s so close. I feel the heat radiating off her like a fever, her body trembling against mine, and I know this is the moment where I either snap or stay in control.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Devlin,” I command, my voice rough. “Listen to me. We need to slow down, just a little. You’re not in control right now, so I need you to listen while I take control.”

She shakes her head, a soft, pitiful sound escaping her lips. “I can’t. I can’t stop. I need you to take me, please…” Her voice cracks as she tugs at my shirt again, and I swear, if she keeps this up, I won’t be able to hold back.

“Devlin, look at me,” I command, my voice stern but gentle. There’s no alpha bite to it, but she reacts as if there was. Her wide, panicked eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, the world seems to narrow down to just the two of us. “You’re safe with me. You hear me? You’re safe, and I’m going to help you through this.”

She nods, but it’s not enough. The spike is so intense, I can feel her trembling under my touch, and my control is slipping, thread by tenuous thread. I push her back gently, forcing some space between us. “We need to breathe. You need to focus, just for a second. A minute longer, I promise. Then I’ll give you everything you need, I promise.”

Her breath is shallow, rapid, and I can feel her pulse racing under my fingertips as I hold her still. Her body is on fire, her scent so overwhelming I’m struggling to stay grounded. But I will. For her, I’ll force myself to remain in control. Somehow.

I guide her through the suite to the main bedroom, through the door and over to the bed, sitting her down gently, so that I can kneel in front of her. “I’m not going anywhere,” I swear, my voice steady but with an edge of something darker beneath it. “But you need to trust me. Just breathe, Devlin. Breathe with me.”

Her chest rises and falls in quick bursts, her pupils still blown wide. I place my hand on her chest, over her racing heart, trying to ground her. Slowly, I begin to count her breaths. In…out…in…out. Her breathing starts to settle, but every breath she takes fills the air with caramelised apples and toasted pecans – like a sweet, hot fire that’s about to consume everything in its path.

She finally exhales shakily and looks at me, her voice trembling. “I—I can’t hold back anymore. Please…I need you.”

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