Page 8 of Knot Their Reality

"You're quite the naughty boy, aren't you?" I ask as we start up the path to follow the others.

Jace snorts. "I haven't been a boy in a long time, Sophia, but I'll be as naughty as you want me to."

His tone is so suggestive that my body flushes from head to toe, and you guessed it, my slick is flowing a plenty. I duck my head to try to hide at least some of the effect he's having on me.

"Am I making you uncomfortable, little omega?"

My head whips up. "No. Well, not really. It's just a lot, and I'm not used to anyone flirting with me so blatantly."

"Really?" He frowns. "I would've expected you to be used to getting hit on. You're gorgeous, you have an amazing job, and you're an omega. Why wouldn't everyone be hitting on you?"

I roll my eyes. "Because apparently, my job is off-putting. I'm intimidating to men—which isn't something an omega should ever be. They don't want a strong, independent omega. They want someone softer, more dependent, I guess. Whatever it is, it's not me."

"Then they're all idiots because you're the full package, and I plan on proving that to you over and over again during these eight weeks—even after you choose me."

"So cocky." I laugh. "What makes you think I'm going to choose you?"

Jace reaches down and takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers. "Because you shiver when I touch you and you think I'm funny. I'm obviously easy to talk to, and I see what a treasure I have before me. By the time you hit my age, you've often given up on thinking you'll find someone to accept you for who you are and not who they want you to be. I thought I would never find an omega who made me feel like a real alpha—I never had before. But you, my little omega, do just that. And while I can't be sure you'll choose me, I can hope and pray that you'll make my dreams come true by wooing you."

"Wooing me?" I snicker. "I remember when Tessa said that on the first season. It's such an old-fashioned word, but I think I'll enjoy having you woo me, Jace. Do your worst."

"I think you mean my best, but that's okay. I forgive you." He lifts our hands and presses a kiss to the back of my hand. "I'm a patient man. You'll see that you're meant for me, little omega."

I don't get to respond as we step into the dining room, obviously the last two to arrive. Jace drops my hand, and I make my way to the head of the table. The two seats closest to me are filled by Jackson and Ezra while Alejandro has chosen to sit halfway down the table—seriously, what the fuck is his deal?

Jace shakes his head as he walks past Alejandro, choosing to sit beside Jackson.

Bree moves over to stand next to my chair, looking over the five of us. "The kitchen has your preferences and allergies. Alejandro, you will receive a different meal than the others to make sure there's no contamination. But all the foods will be within your requested parameters. The rest of you will be having a nice steak dinner. The staff will be arriving with your meals shortly. I'm going to head back out, but we'll be back in thirty minutes to show you to your rooms."

Before anyone can say anything, Bree is ducking out the door as servers step inside. There are five of them, one for each of us, I guess, but two carts. I'm curious about Alejandro's special diet, but he doesn't seem to care to pay any attention to me.

Rolling my eyes at Alejandro's behavior. And they say omegas are moody. Whatever. It's his loss if he wants to ignore me when we have the time to get to know one another. I just hope he knows that he's certainly not endearing himself to me.

As my plate is set before me, the lid lifted off to reveal a thick steak, mushrooms, and a twice baked potato.

Score.

I cut into the steak, finding it the perfect medium rare, before lifting it to my lips.

"How can you eat a steak cooked so done?" Ezra asks, brow furrowed as he stares at the steak Jackson has just cut into.

I almost choke on the bite I've just taken, eyes flashing between the two men.

Jackson just shrugs. "I prefer that my meat doesn't walk off the table while I'm eating it."

I don't mean to laugh—I really don't. I even try to hold it back, but it ends up coming out as a chortle instead, and then I snort before completely losing it and dissolving into laughter. Jace quickly joined me, shooting me a wink when I glance at him.

Meanwhile, Alejandro is staring at the four of us with his nose wrinkled. He rolls his eyes and returns to his plate of food. Ezra is frowning at me, and Jackson has a grin on his face, though he hasn't joined in the laughter.

"I'm sorry, I really am. I shouldn't be laughing, I know, but I can't seem to stop." I try to rein it in, but as soon as my eyes lock on Jace again, I lose it all over again. It takes a solid five minutes for me to get my shit back together.

"I'm really sorry. You just looked so offended, Ezra, and then Jackson started talking about his meat getting up and walking away. It was too funny of a visual for me, apparently." I shrug, mostly apologetic. I guess it's good that they're getting to see my personality right away. I like to laugh and enjoy life as much as possible. With the amount of time I put into work, I've always wanted to find the happiness where I can.

Even if it means laughing at myself or others. It's not like I do it to be cruel... I just can't help myself sometimes. Jackson nods his head, and I know I haven't pissed him off. When I turn my attention back to Ezra to find him still frowning at me, I can't help but worry about the first impression I've made on him—nor the one he's made on me.

"I'm not sure that I understand the joke," he says slowly, hands clenching and unclenching where they lay on the table. It's enough to sober me completely, as I'm once again reminded that speaking with him is different from speaking with others. "But that's often the case. I assume since they gave you little to no information on us that they didn't tell you I'm on the spectrum?"

Oh. Well, that makes a lot of sense, actually. I shake my head.

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