Page 75 of Knot Your Sunshine
"It was..." Noa pauses, searching for words. "Magical."
"Holy shit." Keanu runs both hands through his hair. "That's... that's huge. We've never taken anyone there. I didn't even know that was on the table."
"She's not just anyone anymore though." Noa meets my eyes. "Is she?"
My throat tightens. "Definitely not. She's one of us now."
"Amen to that," Keanu says quietly. "Our omega."
The phrase hits me like a shot of pure caffeine straight to the veins, the possessive surge that follows surprising me.Mine. Ours.
"Josh?" Keanu's watching me, mouth quirked. "You okay there?"
"Yeah." My voice comes out rougher than expected. I clear my throat. "I'm going to find her. Tell her about the results."
I'm already moving toward the door.
"Josh?" Noa's voice stops me at the threshold.
I look back.
"She's going to be so happy," he says simply.
My chest expands with purpose. Making her happy. That's the only thing my alpha tells me matters now.
Our omega.
* * *
My lungs burn as I burst through the rooftop door. The humid air hits me first, then the view steals what little breath I have left.
She's submerged to her shoulders in the jacuzzi, eyes closed, face tilted toward the sky. Steam rises around her like incense. Behind her, the infinity pool bleeds into the horizon. Mountains cascade into jungle on one side, ocean stretches endlessly on the other. And Mia sits at the center of it all, glowing like the sun in her own solar system.
Her lashes flutter at the sound of my footstep. When she sees me, her whole face lights up in a way that makes my chest feel too small.
"Well, hello there." Her voice carries that sleepy, satisfied quality that makes me think of lazy Sunday mornings. "Don't tell me my day is about to get even better."
"Actually..." I can't stop grinning. "It is."
Her smile widens, and she pats the water beside her. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in. The water's incredible."
My brain stalls. She wants me to—? I glance down at my clothes. I'm not wearing swim trunks, I—
Oh come on, Josh. Your omega is waiting for you, with those eyes...
Before I can overthink it, I'm kicking off my shoes and yanking my polo over my head. My belt hits the floor with a clatter. She watches me strip down to my boxer briefs, her gaze trailing over my chest, my stomach, lower. Heat that has nothing to do with the weather colors my cheeks as I slide into the bubbling water.
"So tell me, tell me." She shifts closer, water lapping at her collarbones. Her hand finds my thigh underwater, squeezing.
"Day two results are in." I try to keep my voice steady despite her touch. "The attribution data per location still isn't available, so we can't tell whether your franchises or his are outperforming, but..." I pause for effect. "Total revenue exceeded projections across all locations by so much that it doesn't really matter. Your brand is thriving, Mia."
Her eyes go wide, lighting up with excitement. "How far are we over projections?"
I lean in until my lips brush her ear, then whisper the number.
She gasps, jerking back to stare at me. "What? My salon, my—my processes are generating that?"
"Every penny. You created something extraordinary, Mia."
