Page 58 of Knot Only His

She exhales slowly, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her mind. “I have. It’s just...awkward.”

“Awkward how?” My voice is low and steady as I press into a stubborn knot just below her shoulder blade.

“I mean, what if it doesn’t work out?” She shifts slightly under my touch, and I glimpse vulnerability beneath her strong exterior. “What if I say something wrong? I'll be blamed.”

“It won’t be like that,” I assure her. “We’re not asking you to live with us—unless you want to, of course. And we’d go through everything with you before the first visit.”

A laugh escapes her lips, lightening the mood momentarily. But it doesn’t last long enough for my liking.

“It would be on your terms,” I continue, pushing aside my own feelings to focus on hers. “We really need to keep Jagger with our pack.”

She sighs deeply, tension coiling in her shoulders and despite my attempts at coaxing her for an answer I need to hear, she says, “I’d love to help you out. Jagger is gorgeous and so happy when he’s with you. I’d hate to be the one who could’ve helped but didn’t. But—”

“It’s a big decision.”

“I know,” she murmurs. “It just feels like such a big thing pretending to be something I’m not.”

“Big things often lead to bigger things,” I reply. Her skin is warm beneath my fingers as I work my way up to her neck.

As if sensing my thoughts shifting, she stays quiet for a moment before speaking again. “You think it would really make a difference?”

I move to the side of the bed. My hands tentatively hover above her before I make contact with her upper back. My fingers slowly sink into her skin with measured pressure.

I’ve read her notes over and over. I know where she knots and where her areas of discomfort are, and gently I coax each muscle into a state of relaxation.

She moans lightly, the sound sends a flicker of awareness through me.

“Are you okay?” I ask noticing the tension in her muscles gradually dissipating under my touch, as if they’ve been waiting for this release.

She nods and my heart roars at her growing trust in me.

“Asher, that feels so good,” she moans.

Despite her moans, I’m maintaining the utmost professionalism, but when she groans as my thumbs press firmly against her thigh, I struggle.

My cock strains against my pants and the alpha in me wants to get on the bed and fuck her right here and now.

“Good.” I grit my teeth. “Sit up.”

My alpha instincts want her so fucking badly, but I also know I need to take this slowly.

She turns on the bed, wrapping the sheet around her as she does as I asked. Her eyes meet mine and she asks, “Would you like to meet Freya?”

“Freya?”

“My housemate. She’s a single omega.”

Our gazes lock for a moment and the desire that was whirling through me feels like it’s been douched in cold water.

I want to lean down and kiss her, not touch her fucking friend.

“Our pack has got bigger problems than dating omegas right now,” I say.

“Sorry. I just thought…” She shakes her head and sighs. “How likely is it that Jagger’s dad will get him back?”

“Unfortunately, high. That’s why we have to prove we can always provide a stable life for Jagger.”

Harlow groans as I stand behind her and massage her neck again, finding another tight spot. “How long have you known your pack mates?”

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