Page 114 of Down Knot Out
“Of course it’s all right.” I reach out to tug a blanket over her and tuck in her toes. “Do you want anything from downstairs?”
“Maybe tea with honey later.”
“Okay.”
She drifts, eyes half-closed, and I leave her curled in the center of the nest she built from us.
By the time the others roll in, the sky outside the windows has darkened, and the counters in the kitchen are covered in snack foods.
I wipe down the counter for the third time and keep an ear on the front steps, waiting for the thud of boots hitting the wooden boards. Right on cue, the door swings open, letting in a cold draft and the chorus of voices from my bondmates.
I grab the basket I brought out and hurry to intercept them. “Give me your shirts.”
Blake’s eyebrows shoot up. “Well, good evening to you, too.”
Nathaniel’s expression turns considering as his fingers move to the buttons on his dress shirt. “Care to share what’s happening with the rest of us?”
“You’ll see.” It’s not an answer, but I want everyone present.
Nathaniel shrugs out of his shirt and drops it into the basket. “Want the undershirt, too?”
Sweat darkens his tank top, so it will hold even more of his pheromones. “Yeah.”
I pass him a fresh shirt to put on.
Dominic’s nostrils flare as he turns toward the stairs. “Where’s Chloe?”
“In her room.”
That gets everyone’s attention.
Quinn comes in with Sprinkles by her side and Grady trailing behind her. Ever since the little girl found out Grady was Chloe’s book agent, she’d been showing him all of her books about her Detective Stardust and his magical magnifying glass horn.
Quinn catches the end of our conversation, and her little face scrunches with worry. “Is Aunt Chloe sick?”
“She’s fine,” I reassure her. “She’s nesting.”
Blake laughs, but quiets when he notices theseriousness of my expression. “As in,nesting-nesting?”
“She’s started one, but it can use some improvements.” I gesture at the basket. “If you want to donate, that is.”
“Wait for me. I have the perfect thing.” Dominic zips up the stairs, two at a time.
While he’s gone, Blake strips off his shirt and adds it to the basket.
Quinn clutches Sprinkles’ collar. “What’s nesting?”
“It’s when Omegas want to be closer to their pack,” Blake explains.
She frowns. “Why is everyone taking off their shirts?”
Blake accepts the fresh T-shirt I hold out to him and slips it on. “Because they hold our pheromones, which will make our Omega happy.”
“Okay.” Quinn tugs on the hem of her shirt. “Does it have to be this one? It’s my favorite, but if Aunt Chloe needs it...”
She’s not even old enough to produce pheromones, but her willingness to participate in something she doesn’t understand warms my heart.
Grady bends to catch her hand. “I t-think she’llbe f-fine with a different contribution. Want to go pick something f-from your room?”
