Page 54 of Knot Made to Break: Part Two

When the lock finally clicked, my heart leapt into my throat. I was on my feet before the door fully opened, the book forgotten on the cushion.

Dimitri entered first, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe. His presence dominated the room immediately, drawing my eyes to him like a magnet. Despite the late hour, he was still impeccably dressed in a black suit, though his tie was loosened at his throat, the top button of his shirt undone. His jaw was set in that way it got when he was still processing, compartmentalizing. Behind him came Gio, his hazel eyes scanning the room in that perpetually vigilant way of his, and Tommy, whose usual easy smile was absent, replaced by something more solemn.

Then Dimitri’s gaze found me.

The moment froze, suspended between heartbeats. His brown eyes locked onto mine, then swept down, taking in the sight of me in his shirt, the expanse of bare legs, the way the fabric draped across my body. I watched the change come over him—the hardness in his expression cracking, replaced by something hungry and possessive.

I felt my cheeks heat under his scrutiny, but I didn’t look away. A few months ago, I might have. But not now. Not anymore.

Gio’s eyes flicked to me and softened immediately, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. Tommy exhaled hard, a sound halfway between a groan and a sigh, and just like that, the atmosphere in the penthouse shifted.

Marco stood from the couch behind me, and I sensed rather than saw the look that passed between the brothers—some silent communication born of years together. He moved past me, squeezing my shoulder gently as he went.

I crossed the room without hesitation, drawn to them like a tide to shore. Something pulled me to Dimitri first—maybe because he still looked the most locked away, or maybe because wearing his shirt had made me crave his touch specifically.

My hand lifted to his chest, fingers light against the expensive fabric of his suit. The steady beat of his heart thumped against my palm, strong and reassuring.

“You’re home,” I said softly, the relief in my voice unmistakable.

Something in him snapped. His hands came up to cup my face, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones with a tenderness that belied the intensity in his eyes.

“It was Alec. We got him, Kitten.”

The air left my lungs in a rush, relief mixed with heartache because I knew how seriously Dimitri took loyalty. That the traitor was a man who had sworn fealty to the family, had been trusted enough over the years to be invited into Emilio’s inner circle only to betray them…

“D…” The single syllable was rife with everything I felt, but didn’t know how to say.

He moved closer, leaving no space between us.

Then his mouth was on mine, covering it completely. The kiss started slowly, almost reverently, his lips moving against mine with careful restraint. But as seconds passed, it changed, deepened. His tongue swept past my lips in a claiming stroke that made my knees weak, and his fingers dug into my hips, pulling me flush against him. I met him with the same energy, the same need.

When he finally broke away, I was breathless, my lips tingling and swollen. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide, and he stared at me like he was torn between apologizing and doing it again. I leaned into him, letting him know which I preferred.

I turned next to Gio, offering him the same touch, the same connection. His arm snaked around my waist immediately, pulling me against his solid chest. Where Dimitri’s kiss had started gentle and grown demanding, Gio’s was hungry from the start, like he’d been starving for me. His mouth claimed mine with a growl that vibrated through me, and his hand splayed possessively against the small of my back.

Tommy was next, but instead of going straight for a kiss, he wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug first, burying his face in my hair and inhaling deeply.

“Missed you, Butterfly,” he murmured, the nickname making my heart flutter before he ducked to claim my mouth for himself. His kiss was playful, nipping at my bottom lip before soothing the spot with his tongue, drawing a soft sound from me that made him smile against my lips.

I moved between them without doubt or hesitation, giving pieces of myself to each. They didn’t compete. They didn’t rush. They orbited me like I was the center of their universe, and in that moment, I believed it. I was the heart of this pack, and tonight, I needed to remind them—and myself—what that truly meant.

When I reached for Dimitri again, it was Gio who spoke, his voice low and laced with hunger.

“You wore that for him, didn’t you?” He nodded toward the shirt, his fingers playing with the rolled cuff at my elbow.

My cheeks flushed as I glanced down, suddenly aware of how the top buttons gaped, revealing the curve of my breasts. “I thought he’d like it.”

Dimitri’s voice rumbled behind me, possessive and dark. “I do.”

Before I could respond, his arm hooked beneath my thighs, the other supporting my back, and he lifted me effortlesslyagainst his chest. I gasped, my arms automatically circling his neck as he cradled me like I weighed nothing at all.

He didn’t speak as he carried me toward the bedroom, and the others followed without question, a silent procession that sent anticipation skittering through my veins.

In the hallway, I caught Marco’s eye as he leaned against the wall, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He pushed off to follow us, and the heat in his gaze told me everything I needed to know.

Tonight, I belonged to all of them. And they to me.

Dimitri carried me up the stairs and into our shared bedroom, his arms solid and secure around me. The space welcomed us with its familiar comfort—the massive bed dominating the center, plush pillows stacked against the headboard, ambient light casting a warm glow over everything. He set me down carefully at the foot of the bed, keeping me perched on the edge while he stood between my knees. His eyes never left mine as he shrugged out of his suit jacket, dropping it carelessly to the floor in a way so unlike his usual meticulous nature that it made my heart race.

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