Page 63 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

“This is a terrible idea,” she pants when I move to her neck.

“Probably.” I suck at her pulse point, loving how her body arches into mine.

“I mean it.” But her legs wrap around my waist, pulling me closer. “We shouldn’t—oh God.” My teeth find that spot where her neck meets her shoulder, and she shudders.

I raise my head to look at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. “Do you want me to stop?”

Instead of answering, she pulls me back down, kissing me as if she’s drowning and I’m air. My hand slides up her ribs, thumb brushing the underside of her breast through her top. She makes a little whimpering sound that nearly undoes me.

“Dominic...” The way she says my name, all breathy and wanting, makes me want to wreck her completely.

“I know, angel.” I press my hips into hers, grinding my huge cock against her pussy, letting her feel exactly what she does to me. “I know.”

Her scent is overwhelming now—honey and cardamom and approaching heat, all mixed with arousal.

A knock at the door has us both freezing.

“Dom?” Cherry’s voice. “Your three o’clock is here.”

Fuck. I’d completely forgotten about the new client consultation. Ruby’s looking up at me with those big amber eyes, lips parted, chest heaving.

“I’ll cancel,” I whisper to my angel, not moving.

Ruby’s laugh is shaky. “No, I think this is perfect timing.”

“That’s cruel,” I murmur. I drop my forehead to hers, breathing her in one last time before pushing myself up. “I need to see you again, and soon.” I help her up, pulling her against me for one more quick, hard kiss. “We’re going to finish this lesson properly.”

“The self-defense lesson or the other kind?” Her smile is wicked.

“Both.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers trail down her neck. “How does tomorrow sound?”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll come find you.” I back her against the wall one last time, caging her in with my arms. “And trust me, angel,”—I lean down, my lips brushing her ear—“you won’t like what happens when I have to chase you.”

The small sound she makes tells me she might like it very much indeed. “Maybe it’s not a great idea. I-I don’t think I’m a good person.” Her voice breaks on the words, and I pull back enough to see her face.

“What do you mean, angel?”

She turns her face away, but I catch her chin, forcing her to look at me.

“I’m doing things... things that will make people hate me. That’s not who I am, but lately...” She swallows hard. “Lately, it feels like that’s exactly who I am.”

Ice slides down my spine as understanding hits. She’s talking about Knox and Garrett—has to be. They both told me about their encounters with her, how neither of them could resist her pull. Just like I can’t. And now, she’s drowning in guilt, thinking she’s playing us all.

Fuck.

I should tell her everything. Tell her about our plan—my plan—to let her see each of us as we really are. No fake dating bullshit, no pretense. Just three Alphas who all want the same Omega, who all agreed to let her choose naturally.

But looking at the pain in her eyes, the self-loathing... I know I’ve fucked up. We all have.

“Ruby.” I brush my thumb across her lower lip, watching it tremble. “You’re the best person I know. Whatever you think you’re doing wrong... it’s not as bad as you think.”

She laughs. “If you knew the truth.”

“I know enough.”

But she’s backing away like the spell she’d been under moments earlier has cleared from her mind. Her eyes hold mine, and I see the worry behind them. Then she grabs her bag.

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