Page 133 of Knot So Fast
"Ah." The sound escapes me as another piece of the puzzle clicks into place. The rivalry between the brothers isn't just sibling competition—it's based on a fundamental moment where one succeeded where the other failed.
I shake off the heavy revelation, needing something lighter. I turn to Kieran with what I hope is a flirtatious smile. "Karting tonight? Bet you won't beat my splits."
The grin he tries to hide makes my stomach do something complicated. His dark eyes light up with challenge and something else, something that makes heat pool low in my belly despite the exhaustion.
I can feel myself blushing but push through it. "So is that a date you're asking?"
His smirk goes full wattage. "It is. So you better not be tardy."
"Never," I tease back, enjoying the way his eyes track the movement of my lips.
"Go change," he encourages, nodding toward the facilities. "We've got one more challenge to do."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to wait to find out."
I groan but head toward the changing rooms, desperate to get out of these sweat-soaked clothes. The Spanish heat is oppressive even in the shade, and I can feel my shirt clinging to me in ways that are probably indecent.
I change into something more comfortable for the heat—a sports bra that's basically held together by hope and elastic, and boy shorts that I usually use for kickboxing sessions. They're short enough to be cool but have enough coverage that I won't scandalize any traditional sensibilities. Much.
When I emerge from the changing room, I nearly walk straight into a wall of Alpha pheromones and cigarette smoke.
Lucius leans against the mosaic wall like sin on a cigarette break, all dangerous angles and careful nonchalance. His voiceis low when he speaks, intimate in a way that makes me want to step back and step closer simultaneously.
"You always liked your apexes late."
The non sequitur throws me for a moment before I realize he's talking about racing lines—the point in a corner where you clip the inside barrier before accelerating out. Late apexes are safer but sometimes slower, a conservative approach that prioritizes exit speed over entry speed.
"You look like a stalker leaning like that," I tell him, deflecting from the intimacy of his observation.
He gives me a side look that should be illegal, his eyes tracking down my body with an appreciation that's anything but subtle. "You gained muscle."
I can feel his gaze like a physical touch, cataloging the changes in my body since the accident. The way my shoulders are broader from the training, how my legs are more defined from the running, the new strength that comes from pushing myself to physical limits.
"Thanks, Trouble," I smirk, enjoying the way his jaw tightens at the nickname.
"I'm not trouble," he protests, but there's no real heat in it. "I have a plot in mind."
The admission is unexpected, and I find myself asking the question that's been burning in my mind since he showed up earlier. "Is that why you won't commit to me?"
The directness of it surprises him enough that he actually drops his cigarette, the lit end hitting the ground in a small shower of sparks. We both look down at it, this small moment of clumsiness that seems impossibly human for someone who usually maintains such careful control.
He puts it out with his foot, taking his time to formulate a response. "You're being blunt today."
"It's a genuine question," I admit, surprising myself with the honesty. "You won't commit to the pack, you won't commit to me, but you keep showing up. Mixed signals much?"
He opens his mouth to respond, and for a moment I think I might actually get a real answer. Something honest about what we are to each other, about why he can't seem to let go but won't hold on properly either.
But before he can speak, Luke materializes between us like some kind of Beta guardian angel. His arm slides around my shoulders with the casualness of long practice, like it's always been there, like he's not actually creating a physical barrier between Lucius and me.
"Walk with me," Luke says, bright as daylight, as if he hasn't just interrupted what might have been an important conversation. "Security wants to adjust your paddock lanyard."
Translation: You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to.
I let Luke guide me away, partly relieved and partly frustrated. Lucius watches us go, his expression unreadable, the unfinished conversation hanging between us like smoke from his discarded cigarette.
When we return to the main training area, Terek has set up what he calls the "ice bath challenge" which is basically a glorified torture device masquerading as recovery therapy. Three tubs filled with ice water that looks about as inviting as jumping into the Arctic Ocean.
