Page 109 of Knot Going Down
He looks obscene like this. Arms stretched above his head, biceps flexed enough to tease, chest rising and falling with each controlled breath. The cuffs tug at his wrists when he shifts, metal glinting in the low light like a promise. His thighs are spread enough to make me ache, muscle and tension wrapped around need.
There’s defiance in the set of his jaw, sure. His mouth is parted slightly, the tip of his tongue just visible, and those eyes—dark, steady, watching me like I’m the one tied down.
Declan McLaren, pinned and waiting and angry. I’ve never wanted anything more.
“What are you waiting for? Leave already. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Take off so you can keep living your life the way you have been. Maybe warn Glenn and get a promotion for it.”
I cross my arms over my chest. His eyes drop, clocking the way my forearms flex.
“You know, if you go through with this, and Glenn gets arrested, your sister won’t get suppressants anymore.”
I don’t move. “She’s of age. She can handle herself now. I even taught her some self-defense.”
“What about other omegas like her?”
That pulls me up short. I glance at the door, but stay rooted in place. Maybe it’s time I fight the system a different way. If I want Emily, Ava, and Lucas, I can’t put them in danger by continuing the shady work I’ve been doing.
And Glenn’s not the only source around. If omegas need options, they’ll find them. People are resourceful when they’re desperate.
“Nice try.” I push off the desk and stand at the edge of the bed, knees pressed into the mattress. “Do you want me to run, Declan, is that it?” I wrap a hand around his ankle. “Or do you want me to stay?”
I drag my hand a little higher, over his shin, until it’s resting right below his knee. He’s still in the khaki shorts he was wearing on the cruise, and the tiniest shudder runs through him when my palm touches bare skin. The coarse hair on his leg feels rough and masculine under my calloused touch.
“Do you know what I want, Declan?” With one knee on the bed, I lean forward. He’s still quiet, not answering, not nodding or shaking his head. I crawl all the way up and place my other hand on his other leg. “I want to be part of this pack.Yourpack.I want you to trust me, to want me the way…” I suck in a breath. There’s no going back if I say this. “I want you.”
Moving forward, I push his legs a little wider and position myself between them. My hands slide up his thighs, fingers teasing the hem of his shorts. “Do you want me?”
His pupils are blown wide open, his breath fast and heavy. He pushes his legs up into my touch, causing my hands to dip higher. But he still won’t admit it. Stubborn asshole.
I draw back all the way until I’m standing at the foot of the bed.
He curses under his breath. “I knew you’d run.”
“I’m not running.” Reaching behind my back, I pull my shirt over my head, flexing a little extra just to torture him. I toss my shirt at him. With his hands cuffed, it takes a minute for him to get it off his face. By the time he does, I’m buck naked.
“Fuck.” His gaze travels over my body. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, not after Ava’s heat, but this time is different. This time it’s all for him. My cock is already half-hard, and under his gaze it swells more. I wrap a hand around it, and stroke myself slowly.
“This what you expected?” I murmur. “Officer?”
He tugs on the restraints, clearly frustrated. I spit in my hand and work it over my cock, using it for lube. “Fuck, that feels good.”
He glares at my groin and licks his lips.
“You want some?” I ask. A drop of pre-cum collects on my head, and I swipe my thumb over it. “All you have to do is ask nicely. Tell me you want me. That you won’t kick me out, and it’s yours. All of me is yours.”
A noise that’s pure animal comes from his chest.
“Say it,” I coax. “Say you want me.”
“You fucking asshole.” He shakes his head. “I want you. I want you as much as I want any of them. I want you so much I’vedreamed about fucking you for the past three nights in a row. Is that what you want to hear?”
All the air leaves my lungs, and I freeze. “Is that true?”
“Every. Single. Word.” Our eyes lock. “Now, get the hell up here and uncuff me so I can show you.”
“I don’t think so. Those cuffs are staying on. You want to test me? I’m gonna test you, too.” My heart is running a marathon in my chest. This is it. Everything will be different after this. There’ll be no more running, no more questioning. He’ll be mine, and I’ll be his.
I crawl up the bed, dragging my hands up his legs, under his shorts, brushing along his length before my shaking fingers undo the zipper and slide the fabric all the way off, shorts and boxers together. I push his shirt up until it’s covering his eyes, unable to come off with the cuffs in the way. But I kind of like that he can’t see me for this.
