Page 97 of Knot That Serious

Maybe that’s why he was doing it. Just the thought made Beckett’s rhythm stutter, and he felt Jack squeeze tight around him.

“Not yet,” Beckett warned, slowing his thrusts down. God, he was close, too, the pleasure just out of reach, but he wanted Jack to give up this silly game with Eli first. “Not until you tell me what you want.”

“I—I…I don’t want things to change,” Jack repeated softly.

Beckett leaned over his back, their sweat-slick skin slipping together. “What don’t you want to change?” Beckett asked.

“Everything!” Jack half-spat, half-sobbed.

Beckett stroked his hair and sat back up, stirring himself inside Jack, knot swelling and nudging against his entrance. “Tell me.”

“I don’t know! I want her to stop hiding in her room,” he panted, arching his back for Beckett without even a press of his hand.

“Go on,” Beckett encouraged, pulling his hips back before pressing in again.

“I want to get high and—and watch stupid movies together again,” he said. “I want her to tell me about her stupid date.”

“Wanna make sure he’s treating her right?”

“I’ll kill him, if not,” Jack panted.

Beckett snapped his hips in a harsh thrust, and Jack jostled beneath him.

“That’s pretty alpha behavior, Jack, wouldn’t you say?”

Jack attempted to shake his head. “No, no. It’s what… even before, before her heat—hnn, Beckett—”

He forced himself to slow down, give Jack a chance to think.

“That’s—my—point,” Beckett growled, drilling the words into Jack with his cock. “She’s always been yours.”

Jack whined but didn’t respond.

“You know it’s true,” Beckett said. “You’re already her alpha. Helping her through the heat just made it harder for you to pretend.”

“Pretend… what?” Jack asked, voice low. Like he was scared of the answer.

“Pretend that you’re just friends.”

“No,” Jack said, voice wet. When Beckett glanced down, there was a tear tracking over the bridge of Jack’s nose.

“Oh, baby boy,” Beckett breathed, hips smacking into Jack, holding, holding, as he stroked down his back. “I know you want her. You know you want her. Why can’t you let yourself admit it?”

Jack’s breath was shaky when he released it. “I don’t know,” he said so softly it broke Beckett’s heart.

“Don’t stop,” Jack said, and Beckett was torn between soothing and listening. He listened, but withdrew his hips with the gentlest ease, gritting his teeth against the urge to chase his own pleasure.

“Jack, things have already changed,” he said, easing back inside. “If you keep focusing on the past, you’re going to miss what’s right in front of you.”

“And what’s… what’s that?” Jack asked, breathless.

“You tell me,” Beckett said, pace quickening as his pulse raced and pleasure neared.

“Eli,” Jack finally admitted with a whine.

Beckett’s heart fucking stilled at the sound of her name on his lips.

Finally.

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