Page 57 of Knot Your Karma
“Scale of one to ten, how much does this help?” I wrap my arms around her, and she melts against me with a broken sound of pure relief, whole body going limp like I’m the first solid thing she’s touched in hours.
“Eleven.” The word breathes against my neck, and I feel tension bleeding from her muscles like cut strings. “Definitely eleven. Why does that help? Why do you make it better when nothing else has worked all day?”
“Because whatever this is between us, your body already recognizes it. Knows we belong together.” I stroke through wild hair while she clings to me. “Your biology is preparing for vulnerability, and now you’ve found someone who can provide the care you’re craving.”
“Pack,” she repeats, muffled against my shoulder, and the word sounds like she’s testing how it feels in her mouth.
“If you want us to be.”
She pulls back to look at me, pupils still dilated but breathing finally evening out, frantic panic melting from her expression like ice in warm water.
“Reed, I can’t think straight. Everything feels too intense, too much, but also not enough, and I realize that makes zero sense, but it’s like my brain is running on twelve different frequencies and they’re all playing different songs, and I can’t turn any of them off—does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense. Your body knows it’s going to need intensive support soon, so it’s making sure you find safe people toprovide it. Think of it as your brain’s very enthusiastic way of running a background check on potential pack members.”
“And you passed?”
The question punches through my chest, trust and need and wild hope making my breath catch.
“I passed. I understand what’s happening, I know what you need, and I want to take care of you. All of it.” The words come out rougher than intended. “And Karma? Right now all I want is to claim every soft sound you make, every way your body responds to my touch.”
Her hands fist in my shirt with hungry strength, pulling me closer until no space remains between us, heat radiating from her skin like fever.
“Then take care of me. Please, Reed. I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin if someone doesn’t—if I don’t—God, I can’t even finish that sentence because I don’t know what I need, I just know I need it from you?—”
I silence her with a kiss that tastes like need and vanilla and coming home. The moment our lips meet, she makes a sound of pure satisfaction, melting against me with boneless relief.
“Better?” I murmur against her mouth, and she nods frantically.
“More.” She gasps against my lips, nails digging into my shoulders with urgent need. “I need more, Reed. I need—I don’t know what I need, but it’s more than this, and I know that sounds greedy, but I can’t help it?—”
“Not greedy. Biology.” I guide her toward the nest she’s built, and she follows eagerly. “And this nest is perfect, by the way. You built exactly what you needed.”
“It didn’t feel right until you got here.” She curls against me like she’s finally found the missing piece that makes everything complete. “Like, I kept adjusting and readjusting, and nothing worked, and I was starting to think maybe Ireally am just losing my mind, but then you walked in and suddenly it all made sense?—”
“Because you were trying to nest alone. Your body knew something was missing.”
“You.” Certainty in her voice makes my chest tight with possessive satisfaction. “You, and Declan, and Adrian. All of you, right? That’s what this is about? My brain finally figured out what it wants and decided to stage a hormonal intervention?”
“Smart brain.” I tip her chin up so she’s looking at me, and the trust in her expression makes something crack open in my chest. “Karma, what do you need right now? In this moment?”
“I need you to touch me like you mean it.” No hesitation, heat flooding her cheeks even as raw need makes her bold. “I need you to make the restless feeling stop. I need—God, Reed, I need you to want me as much as I need you, which is probably way too much for someone I’ve known for like five minutes, but there it is?—”
“I do want you. Your scent is driving me crazy, you’re beautiful and wild and trusting me with this, and I never expected to feel this possessive about someone.” My hands find the hem of her oversized sweater, and she lifts her arms immediately, urgent to eliminate barriers between us. “This isn’t mediation—this is pure selfish need disguised as care.”
Underneath she’s wearing nothing but lace panties, and the sight of her—flushed and raw with need and absolutely perfect—makes my mouth go dry and my hands shake with the need to memorize every detail.
“You’re incredible.” My hands trace the line of her ribs, and I brush the soft curve of her breasts.
She arches into my touch with a broken cry, back bowing like my hands are electric. Pre-heat has made her hypersensitive—every brush of my fingers makes her gasp, every kissmakes her writhe against me like she’s trying to get closer than physically possible.
“Please,” she whispers, the word broken with need, fingers clutching the quilt beneath her like she’s trying to anchor herself to something solid. “Please, Reed, whatever you’re going to do, just—don’t make me wait. I can’t wait. I’ve been waiting all day for something to feel right, and this feels right, and I need?—”
I lay her back among the pillows, taking a moment to appreciate the picture she makes—auburn hair spread across soft fabric, skin flushed pink with arousal, looking at me with complete trust and raw need.
“I’m going to take care of you. Every need, every craving, everything your body’s asking for.” I press kisses to her throat that make her breath hitch, her collarbone where her pulse hammers against my lips, the sensitive skin just above her heart that makes her arch beneath me.
I work my way down her body with deliberate care, learning what makes her gasp and arch and make those soft sounds of pleasure. When I take one pink nipple into my mouth, she cries out like I’ve touched a live wire, back arching clear off the pillows while her hands tangle in my hair with urgent, almost painful strength.
