Page 36 of Knot Their Opening Act

Double shit.

My heat is creeping back. But as far as I’ve seen, it doesn’t really creep for long before it’s full-on sprinting.

The greying man calls out good-naturedly to the other, “Good to see you. Enjoy!” as he heads straight toward the bottom of the bouldering wall I’m on. The sandy head sits down on a bench opposite mine, changes his shoes, and then checks his mobile.

I grumble under my breath, frozen in place. If I go down, I’ll be in Grey Dude’s direct path. And I’m going into heat, so if he’s an Alpha not on suppressants it won’t be long before he knows all about it.

“Hello up there!” he calls, looking up at me. He’s got glasses and a goatee, and looks like a fit man in his fifties or so.

“Hi!” I call as brightly as I can manage, though I’m afraid the single note wobbles and gives away my nerves.

I glance down again. He’s standing with his hands on his hips, tilting his head at me. “You all right up there?” He winces after this comes out. Probably doesn’t mean to sound patronizing, and honestly, I’m not worried about that.

“Oh, all fine, just taking my time,” I shout and flash a smile before turning back to the wall. Up or down? Dammit.

“Well I’m going to shoot up past on your left, just to give you a heads up. Plenty of space. That all right?”

“Oh, yes, absolutely! All the best.”

Right, once he’s drawn level with me, I will descend. Or descend quicker than I plan to right now.

Slowly I back one foot down, then a hand, then the other foot, then the other hand, and by the time I’m thinking of moving that first hand again, homie is flying past me on the left as promised. He holds his hand out as he draws level as if to high-five me. I bite my lip, avoiding his eyes, and try to maneuver my left hand out and he gives a surprised squawk then chuckles. “No, no, I was kidding. Little climber humor. Sorry, love. Carry on! Doing great!” He winces again and then takes off at speed.

Sweat and slick are both streaming off me now. I feel like steam must be rising from my entire body. Honestly even if I could’ve reached over to slap him some skin, the mere touch would’ve probably electrocuted me and had me rushing toward the ground.

Just as I start to lower again, the other man, who for a moment, I completely forgot evenexisted, heads right for me.

Rightbelowme.

And then he laughs. “Look who it is.”

The sandy head angles up as I look down into Holden’s eyes.

Fuck. This. Timing.

“Can I help you?” I say frostily. What a dumb question. I immediately draw my left leg closer to my right, balancing both on the same point. My thighs press together but I know that won’t keep the scentorthe slick in.

On suppressants, he won’t notice the scent. But he will notice the slick if he gets much closer. My army green gym leggings are as tight as can be, and any wetness is going to show. If the other man didn’t see, it was only because he was climbing to my left and focused on the task. Or maybe just figured I have a really unfortunate sweat pattern.

Holden is directly below me as though he intends to take the same path.

“Nah, it’s good,” comes Holden in his thick Aussie accent. “I like the looks of your path better than the other, though, so if you don’t mind, I might follow you up.”

“I was actually on my way down.” No need to tell him I hadn’t made it to the top yet. Let me think I’m that agile at this time of night after a gig. Or any time, really.

“No worries, I can overtake once I get there.”

Holy God.

The heat is getting worse, and with those blue eyes looking up at me, probably right up my arse, I have to force my thoughts off how soft his hair looks, how broad his shoulders are, and how much my clit wants his tongue to do to it the same thing he does to hiso’sandi’s.

Ahhhh, stop thinking that shit!

“Okay, great. Great show, by the way. All except that utter horseshit out of Kai’s mouth,” I manage, as I wait for him to approach and pass me. Hopefully as fast as Spider Guy up there, who’s still on our side of the wall, but now kind of dangling from the inverted section.

Holden’s halfway up to me already, and looks up to reply. “Oh, right. That was super shitty. And not planned, by the way. I think he saw that fan’s sign and decided he needed to make it clear who was on stage at the time.” He rolls his eyes then turns his gaze back to the grips. “I’m really sorry he did that. If it makes you feel any better, we all gave him a bollocking, and Ash told him if he pulls a stunt like that again he’s going to have him change the lyrics of an entire song into an apology to you.”

“Jesus,” I say softly, clinging tightly and pressing my thighs into each other like my life depends on it. My muscles are quaking now and the sweat is giving the slick a run for its money. I have to get off this wall.Please hurry up.“I don’t think that would make me feel any better, to be honest. He could just give me a shout-out and then get on with your show.”

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