Page 166 of Knot That Serious

“You’re a big, strong alpha; you can handle a little cherry filling,” she encouraged him.

“Fine, fine,” he said, and lifted his donut gingerly before placing the piping tip inside it.

“You’ll be able to feel it get a little heavier by the time you’re done,” she said, watching him carefully. The veins on his hands stood out in stark relief as he squeezed the bag.

Achingly slowly, he filled it, stopping and starting a few times because he was afraid it wasn’t working. But eventually, the cherry filling was peeking out of the donut.

“You did it!” she cried. “Now just dunk him in.”

“Shit, shit, shit,” Raj said as he shook the donut off like Eli had, and then placed it on the plate next to hers.

The icing had already mostly slid off the top of her own donut, and Raj’s would be facing the same fate. “Okay, so maybe it’s ugly,” Raj finally said. “But I bet it’s still delicious.”

“Wanna try?” she asked, picking up the plate to offer him one. He took the one she’d done and she took his.

“Cheers,” he said, holding out his donut.

With a dorky, goofy, happy grin, Eli bumped her donut into his. “Cheers.”

Eli watched Raj’s teeth sink into the donut, watched the taste hit his senses, his eyes lighting up and icing smearing across his lips and dripping into his hand.

“I love you,” she thought, but felt the words pass her lips. Her cheeks flushed red, as red as the cherry filling that burst on her tongue when she took a bite of her own donut in order to stop herself from blurting out other thoughts.

As soon as Eli’s teeth sank into the donut, the cherry filling slightly warm and the icing sweet and bursting on her tongue, there was another knock at the back door.

She shared a look with Raj as he took his own bite, and his groan filled the kitchen. “Oh, Eli,” he said, eyes wide. “These are even better than I remember.”

Her cheeks flushed at the appreciation in his tone, and she sat her donut down on the plate, fingers sticky with melted icing. She felt it around her mouth, and after she swallowed she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth to scrape it off.

She brushed her thumb over her mouth, too, and took a step toward the door, intending to finally answer it. But Raj’s hand caught around her wrist and he gently pulled her forward.

Her breath caught as he lifted her hand to his lips, sucking her sugar covered thumb between his lips. The warmth of his mouth, the slide of his tongue against the pad of her finger. Time seemed to slow down, his gaze heavy and dark as it held hers.

Captivated.

Entranced.

Eli swayed toward him as he released her thumb. He dipped his head toward her index finger. She imagined he was intent on cleaning every drop of sugar from her hand, but the knock at the door was a little more impatient this time, and she blinked.

A slow smile curled his lips, and he tugged her even closer, dipping his head to taste her lips this time. She sighed into the kiss, mouths dragging together at the sweetness.

“I love you too,” he said, breathless in the same way she was when they parted.

Dazed, Eli turned and headed for the back door, knowing who it was before she ever answered it.

“Did we… interrupt?” Jack asked, hiding a laugh behind his hand. Beckett snickered too, and she grinned at the sight of them.

“As a matter of fact, you did,” she said, and stepped back, letting them inside anyway. Jack leaned in close, hand lifting to brush a thumb over the mark on her neck, and she practically melted against the wall.

She heard the door close. She didn’t care.

Jack dipped his head for a brief kiss hello, and then stepped back. He smiled at the devastation on her face and turned to follow after Beckett.

Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t believe this was her life.

A rustle caught her attention and she glanced over to see a folded paper bag gripped in Beckett’s hand as they made their way to Raj, who was leaning innocently against the prep station. Raj clapped Beckett on the back, smiling softly.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Raj told them.

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