Page 21 of Knot Letting Go

I marched to the door and swung it open to find Aubrielle standing there with her hands clutched in front of her. She gasped and her red-rimmed eyes shimmered. She’d be crying.

Everything in me roared to tear down the world and rid it of whatever had upset her. I squeezed the door handle andstepped to one side. I breathed out slowly, trying to maintain control. “Please, come in.”

Aubrielle murmured a thank you and walked around me as far as she could as she went to the other side of the room. The musky scent of her nearly knocked me off my feet. It was because I still held the door that I remained standing.

Holy fuck. I’d been enchanted by her scent before. The sweet honeysuckle and rose perfume that was so natural and feminine. Now it wrapped me up and kidnapped all my common sense.

Omega. Mine.

I turned away from her as I closed the door. My dick was rock hard and demanding I take her. Was this what it was like to scent match with someone? I hadn’t been compatible with Giovanna, so I had nothing to compare it to, but everything I’d heard from friends said that this was exactly what was happening.

Aubrielle and I were compatible.

The door clicked but I didn’t drop my hand from the knob.

She hadn’t taken the seat in front of my desk, but stood in front of it, wringing her hands. “Mr. Birk, I want to apologize—”

“Apologize for what? You’ve done nothing wrong.” I pushed away from the door and stalked slowly toward her. She was trembling and glanced at me through her long lashes. A rosy flush colored her creamy skin and her full lips were slightly parted. They’d feel so perfect around my cock as I slid it between them…

What the hell was I doing? It didn’t matter if we were compatible. She was my employee and Callista’s friend. If I bent her over my desk right now, every moral person in the world would say I was taking advantage of her.

“Then why…?” Aubrielle’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

“Sit.” I pointed to the chair, and she lowered herself down to perch on the edge. Perfectly poised, with her back straight and breasts perk. Oh, good girl. With her long hair up in buns, her neck was bared. My jaw twitched with the urge to kiss along her throat and bite her, claiming her as mine.

I reached out to grab her, but yanked my hand up at the last second to grip the tall back of the chair. “Miss Smyth, there are a few things I wanted to talk about this evening.” Like how hot she’d look laid out on my desk with her legs spread as I fucked her hard. “You’re doing an extraordinary job with Lillianna. Her imagination has exploded, and she’s already showed me a few new words she learned this week. Not only does she adore you, but she’s so happy. You’re exactly who she needs in her life right now.”

Aubrielle was exactly what I needed, but I couldn’t have her. I forced myself to walk around to my side of the desk.

“Oh.” Her eyes were wide and surprise burned on her face. “Thank you. Lillianna is a joy, and it’s my pleasure to be her nanny.” She squirmed, moving further to the edge of the chair. Her head dropped, sadness claiming her features again. “But…”

“But nothing.” I wouldn’t have her thinking anything that happened with Lorenzo was her responsibility. “What happened earlier was not your fault.”

Aubrielle stiffened and grew swiftly pale. “You know… what happened?”

“Of course, Gavin let me know.”

“Gavin?” She squeaked and lifted a hand to cover her mouth. “How?”

She was still terrified. I fucking loathed Lorenzo all the more for it. “He saw it all.”

“Oh God.” Aubrielle bent forward, covering her face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I’d been trying very hard to follow the Omega laws—”

“None of it was your fault.” I repeated and found myself coming around the desk. She was scared and upset and needed comfort. There was no way I could resist. “Lorenzo Pacetti is Lillianna’s grandfather, but he is no friend of the family. He’s nothing but trouble. I will make certain you have proper security the next time you and Lillianna go out, but it’s best if you stay in the manor and on the grounds until I get that sorted.”

I took her arm tenderly and lifted her from the chair to press her against me. If I hadn’t been certain we were compatible before, I was more than sure of it now as every Alpha instinct snapped into overdrive. My arms tightened against her as I scanned the room for unseen enemies, daring anyone to try to take her away from me.

“Oh no,” she whimpered and tried to slip free. Heat radiated off her body and her scent wrenched up another notch.

“It will be alright. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I rubbed my cheek against her silky hair as a soft purr rumbled in my throat. “You’re safe. You’re mine.”

“What?” Aubrielle pushed against my chest, but I wasn’t going to let her go. Not ever.

Her wriggling only made me more aroused. My purr ramped up to close to a growl. One bite and she’d be mine. I brushed my fingers along the length of her neck.

“Mr. Birk!” She knocked my chest with her elbow and pulled away from me. “This isn’t proper. You’re my boss. I shouldn’t be around any Alphas, and… Oh God.”

Aubrielle wrapped her arms around her abdomen and squeezed her legs together. I didn’t need to see the wetness in the material of her skirt to know her slick was flowing. She wanted me as much as I did her.

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