Page 75 of Down Knot Out
As the boat glides the final few meters to the dock, Dominic vaults over the side without waiting for the vessel to be secured, landing on the wooden planks with practiced ease. The boat rocks in his wake, gentle waves lapping at the pilings.
“Line!” Kyle tosses a thick rope.
Dominic catches it with one hand, moving to secure the boat while nodding a greeting in my direction, and a current of silent communication passes between us. There’s important news to discuss with the pack.
I step forward as the boat makes contact with the dock’s rubber bumpers. Chloe stands at the rail, her makeup still perfect despite the wind and salty spray of the ocean. Up close, I see she wears a navy blazer over a silk blouse and tailored pants that accentuate her curves. She looks like she belongs in a corporate boardroom, not our cozy cabin.
I move to stand in front of her and hold a hand out to help her disembark.
“Welcome back,” I say, the words inadequate for the relief flowing through me at seeing her safe.
Chloe’s pink eyes find mine, and her lips curve upward as she places her small hand in mine. Her skin feels cool from the wind over the water, her fingers slender and delicate compared to my larger ones. I guide her over the side of the boat onto solid wood.
The moment her heeled shoes touch the dock, all my careful restraint shatters. I pull her into my arms, hands splaying across her back as I draw her close. She’s taller than usual, the top of her head brushing my chin, but when she melts against me, her body still fits mine as if designed for this purpose.
Beneath the lingering traces of department store perfume and the faint chemical tang of hairspray, she smells like home.
“I missed you,” she whispers, the words warm puffs on my chest.
My arms tighten around her, one hand cradling the back of her head, careful not to disturb the elegant updo. “It’s only been a day.”
She burrows closer. “Felt longer.”
“Yeah.” Felt longer for me, too.
With her pressed to me, the bond hum grows from a gentle vibration to a song that resonates through every cell in my body. No longer just an echo of what Dominic and Chloe share, but a direct connection, humming between us with increasing strength.
I close my eyes, savoring the sensation. This is what I’ve waited for, what I’ve wanted since the moment I scented her in our home.
Holding her now, I try to determine if her scent has grown stronger, sweeter, or if that’s just wishful thinking. The doctor had warned that the suppressant overdose might disrupt her natural cycle. Combined with the constant proximity to her true bondmates, she could be pushed into Heat sooner than normal biological timing would dictate.
The possibility sends a wave of protective desire coursing through my veins.
I lift my head to find Dominic watching us, his expression a mirror of what I feel. Relief, hunger, and beneath it all, a silent understanding between bonded Alphas.
She’s safe now. She’s home. And neither of us will let anything threaten her again.
I release Chloe with reluctance, my hands lingering at her waist. The wind picks up,whipping strands of pink hair loose from her elegant updo. A shiver passes through her frame, and my body responds to her discomfort before my mind processes it.
My fingers find the buttons of my jacket, unfastening them swiftly. The fine wool slides from my shoulders, still warm from my body, and I wrap it around her shoulders. The fabric engulfs her smaller frame, dwarfing her in a way that stirs possessiveness in my chest.
“You’re cold,” I rumble, adjusting the collar to shield her neck from the wind.
A soft blush spreads across her cheeks as her fingers curl into the lapels, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. She ducks her head, nose brushing the collar in a subtle movement that might look accidental to anyone watching. Anyone except an Alpha attuned to every nuance of his Omega’s behavior.
She’s scenting the jacket. Taking in my pheromones, surrounding herself with my scent.
Satisfaction purrs through me, a warm current beneath my skin. My hand rises to cup her cheek before I remember we have an audience.
Emily stands a few paces away, her expression neutral but knowing. Kyle busies himself with the boat, politely ignoring our display.
Dominic steps closer, his own scent mingling with mine around Chloe, our combined Alpha pheromones marking her as ours to anyone with a sensitive nose.
“You two look wiped out.” Emily taps her tablet against her thigh. “Maybe you should call it early today, Nathaniel. Get them settled back in.”
The suggestion sounds perfect. My schedule can wait.Everythingcan wait compared to the need to get Chloe somewhere safe, somewhere that belongs to our pack.
“Good idea,” I agree. “I’ll check in later about the?—”
