Page 20 of Knot Letting Go

“Why did you bring me up here?” The words were breathy and choppy, but I managed to get them out.

Quill took another step closer, and I held up a hand to stop him. God, he looked at me like a panther ready to pounce on their prey. His whole body was tense, each move was smooth and measured. “I was going to show you the Strawberry Moon. It’s not very pink right now, but around midnight, the moon will be almost as beautifully flushed as you are now.”

My thighs squeezed together, and I swallowed a whimper. His words alone could make me come.

I glanced at the moon and could see a faint tinge of pink. Midnight was hours away yet. Had he been planning for us to stay up there for that long? I had to meet with Konstantin soon, and he sounded very serious.

Would he be able to tell Quill and I were compatible? My stomach twisted and an ache throbbed between my legs.

Oh no. Fuck. Was this more than just a realization I was compatible with an Alpha? Did Quill trigger my heat?

This could not be happening.

I backed away from him toward the stairs with tears blurring my vision.

“Don’t go. We need to talk about this.” Quill followed me step for step and reached out his hand toward me. It shook as if he was trying very hard not to just grab me. “I don’t want you to be afraid. I’ll never take advantage of you or hurt you. But fuck, I never knew it would feel this way. You can feel it, right? We were made for one another.”

No, no, no. Tears ran down my cheeks. My hand bumped against the railing for the stairs and I took a hold of it. The metal was cool against my too hot skin.

“Your scent…” Quill breathed in deeply. “I thought it was strong before, but now I’m fully wrapped up in it. You smell sweet and feminine, and fuck, I want to eat you up.” His mouth curled up as he continued to offer his hand to me. “In every possible way.”

“No. We can’t. I need to go.” I jerked myself onto that first step and nearly fell. My iron grip on the railing was the only thing that kept me on my feet.

“Please, come and sit. I’ll give you the space you need, for now, but—”

“No!” The word tore at me.

“You can’t ignore it.” Quill stopped moving forward, but his intense gaze held me more strongly than shackles.

“We have to.” There was no choice. This job was too perfect. I didn’t want to lose it, and the only way to make certain of that was to run away from him and never be near him again. I clamored down the stairs. They rattled with my desperate escape.

Quill didn’t chase me. He didn’t need to. It was as if there were an invisible rope tying us together and it grew tighter and more painful the farther we were from one another.

I ran down the third floor hall and bolted down the stairs to the second floor. My thighs were slippery from slick by the time I made it to my room and shut the door. I leaned back against it, panting, and slid down to the floor.

The laws were created for a reason. I was alone with an Alpha, and now look at the mess I was in. I was such an idiot to think nothing would happen.

If Quill had truly triggered my heat, I would be in no condition to take care of Lillianna. If Konstantin wasn’t going to fire me tonight, then he would have to get rid of me for this. I pressed my forehead against my arms and sobbed.

I’d been so happy. My first job with a lovable ward, a step closer to my dream of being a teacher, and living near one of my best friends. Then I messed it all up.

All because I didn’t think before I took the hand of a hot Alpha.

CHAPTER TEN - Konstantin

It was one minute after nine. Aubrielle was late. This wasn’t like her.

I’d only known her for a week, so I shouldn’t be able to say that promptness was one of her characteristics. But for some reason, deep in my soul, I felt like I knew her. As if she had been in my life for years. It made no sense, but something had to be wrong to make her late.

I paced the length of my office. Lillianna had drifted off while I read to her, exhausted from her day at the beach. I hadn’t seen her this happy since her mother was alive. She’d been a quiet child when it was just the two of us, and when we moved to Oregon with Quill and Callista around, she’d opened up and smiled more often. Yet with Aubrielle, it was like Lillianna was finally the girl she was meant to be. Vibrant and laughing and so excited for everything.

And it was all because of beautiful, nurturing Aubrielle.

Who was now two minutes late.

This would not do. Aubrielle had been quiet at dinner and barely ate. Whatever happened with Lorenzo had thoroughly shaken her, and I needed to assure her that I’d protect her. That bastard would never frighten her again.

Not just assure her, I would protect her. My upper lip curled with a soft snarl. No one and nothing would ever harm her.

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