Page 40 of Knot that Simple

She was mine. Not just any omega, but this one. This incredible, selfless, smart, beautiful woman.

Her mouth fell open as we watched each other. We shared more than just sex and knotting. There was a secret now, the feeling of being unwanted your whole life just to be wanted by the right person.

“What did I miss?”

We all turned to look at Oisin coming down the stairs, his eyes barely open.

CHAPTER 14

GABRIELA

“Salted caramel, please.”

The smile was fixed on my face, my cheeks hurting from pulling it on both sides. Alice was at the front with Tadgh, pointing at all different ice cream flavors she wanted to try. I was happy to see my child again, but anxiety was also creeping in.

Lorcan and Tadgh fucked me seven days to Sunday, and now they were taking me for ice cream?

I didn’t know how to smile and act normal when the inside of my legs still hurt from their intense fucking. Thank God for melanin, because my cheeks were so warm, I knew if I was a shade lighter, I wouldn’t be able to hide my blushing. It seemed all I did since coming to Ireland was blush.

Right as that thought crossed my mind, Tadgh turned to me with a wicked grin on his face.

Mmm, maybe I wasn’t hiding my intentions so well at all.

Alice’s sperm donor was never in the picture for me to worry about being a mom and a lover at the same time. Our initial relationship swept me away and then left me with a broken heart and Alice. It had been a long time since I thought much about myself.

Sure, I was feeling just a little awkward as I tried to grow accustomed to our new dynamic, but for the most part, I liked our situation a lot. I likedthema lot, and each encounter felt like the final pieces of me clicking into place.

Being a solo parent sometimes felt like it was my only job, my only purpose in life. Everything I did was for Alice, and somewhere along the way, I forgot to do things for me too.Gabriela was more than just a mom.

I wanted to work and have hobbies. I wanted to have a group of friends. And yes, I wanted to have a sexual life. I wanted to be more than just a mom.

Being Alice’s mom was my favorite thing in the world, but it felt great being a woman too. Passion I hadn’t felt in years ran through my veins even as I sat with my ice cream cone.

My rational brain still protested everything I was feeling with them. Experience and years of disappointments had taught me not to trust, but it was almost as if the heat gave me the permission I needed to open up.

It wasn’t just my heart that needed them. After years of ignoring my body, I didn’t realize how deeply that neglect ran. I chased away my own passions, always ashamed for wanting to be more than just the provider and protector. The soft side of me, the mother and wife, had been rejected so painfully, it didn’t even feel like she had a place in my life. And now, I could be all the pieces of me, the calm mother I always hoped I could be.

Gabriela–a woman, an omega, and a sexual being. I could be protected instead being of the protector. I could be silly and call LorcanDaddywithout judging myself so hard after. I could be sure Alice and I were safe.

It was a damn good ice cream cone, and I couldn’t help but smile as I polished it off.

We spent the afternoon with Alice. They drove us to Dingle and showed us around town while Alice told me about her timewith Clodagh. Turns out, she loved the old woman, and it eased my guilt. By the end of the day, she didn’t even blink when Lorcan suggested taking her back there. She was happy enough, so much so, it almost stung a little.

“Don’t make that face. I told you mam was good with kids,” Lorcan chuckled when I watched my kid skipping to meet Clodagh at her house.

“I believed you.”

“But?”

“But I was hoping she would miss me more. It has always just been the two of us.”

“It’s never going to just be the two of you again.” There was such a strong assuredness in the way he said it that, combined with my earlier thoughts, I believed every word he said. “You will get used to having help, a family. It’s okay if it takes time.”

“You know, for someone who’s not so good with your words, you’re pretty great.”

“It’s getting easier with you.”

And for some reason, that melted my heart more than anything he could say.

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