Page 24 of Knot Your Sunshine
"You smell incredible," he growls against my skin, and my omega purrs in satisfaction, knowing she's not the only one affected by pheromones today."
His hands are everywhere, tangled in my hair, skimming my sides, pulling me impossibly closer. I'm drowning in sensation,in his scent that's growing stronger, in the sound of his breathing getting ragged—
But then, two brain cells of self-preservation flicker to life and I pull back, chest heaving. "I should go."
His hands immediately gentle but don't release me entirely. "Did I—?"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong." I extract myself from his embrace on shaking legs. "I just... I can't do this. I'm sorry."
Understanding dawns in those midnight eyes. He's an alpha. I'm an omega. This story has been written a thousand times, and it never ends well for the omega who gives in too fast, who mistakes desire for something more.
"I'm here on business," I babble, backing away. "There's a meeting, and I need to focus, and I don't—I can't get tangled up in something that's just going to end when I leave."
He nods once in quiet acceptance, which somehow makes it even harder to leave.
"Thank you for the music," I manage.
"Anytime, Mia."
I turn and walk away on unsteady legs, my body screaming at me to go back.
Behind me, the ukulele starts up again, a different melody, sadder, like regret set to music. It follows me down the beach, mixing with the sound of waves and the glow of pulsing blue lights.
Chapter nine
Noa
One kiss, and my world tilts off its axis.
The door to my suite clicks shut behind me, and I lean against it, chest still heaving like I've run a marathon. The cool wood against my back does nothing to calm the fire racing through my veins. I can still feel her, her petite, yet curved body pressed against mine, the silk of her hair tangled in my fingers, that soft gasp she made when I found that spot below her ear.
My hands clench and unclench at my sides, fingers still tingling from where they touched her skin. I push off from the door and pace to the window, then back.
The image burns behind my eyelids, Mia pulling herself away, her eyes wide and conflicted, backing away from me. Every muscle in my body locked in place, and it took every ounce of my self-control not to pull her back into my arms where she belongs.
Instead, I managed to just nod while my alpha clawed at my ribs from the inside.
Mine. Mine.
Staying frozen on that log while she walked away was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I have to respect herboundaries, that's the least our scent match deserves. Respect, boundaries, choice, everything. Besides, spooked omegas run. Push too hard, and they disappear forever.
I stride to the minibar and pull out another one of the small amber bottles we've been obsessing over for days. My fingers shake as I unscrew the cap. Just one hit. Just enough to—
Mango and lavender floods my senses, and my knees buckle. I catch myself on the bar's edge, breathing hard. The oil that started this whole insane journey smells divine, but after having the real thing? After drowning in her actual scent?
It's like comparing a photograph of the ocean to standing in front of it.
Still, my pants grow painfully tight, body responding to even this pale echo of her. I shift, trying to adjust, but the friction only makes it worse. Every cell in my body knows what it wants. Who it wants.
But does she want me back? Us? Why did she pull away?
I start pacing again, back and forth across the suite's living room. The Persian rug muffles my footsteps as I wear a path between the windows.
Was it the scent blockers? The thought makes me want to punch something. What if I hadn't taken that half dose? Would she have recognized what we are to each other? Would she have melted into me instead of running?
My reflection catches in the dark window: my hair is wild, my eyes slightly bloodshot… I look unhinged. Like I've been in a fight. Or maybe like I'm about to start one.
But what if she's just not interested? What if the kiss was curiosity, nothing more?
