Page 132 of Knot That Serious

“I don’t,” Eli said with a smirk. His eyes widened. “I enjoy the quiet. Get some more sleep.”

“M’kay,” he mumbled. “See you tonight?”

“See you tonight,” she echoed, a flutter of affection in her chest at his sleepy expression.

He met her halfway for a kiss and then Eli was sliding from bed and creeping through the room, finding her clothes and tiptoeing back to the front door. She fought a smile and let her gaze sweep over the room once more as she stuffed her feet in her boots, locking and shutting the door behind her.

Her own apartment was dead silent as she entered, and she toed off her shoes once more before sneaking silently to her room. She showered quickly and dressed, feeling the ache of Raj in every movement. It made her shiver, the memory of him inside her, his voice in her ear. Eli bit her lip and tried to will the thoughts away, at least for now. She had a feeling she’d be revisiting them. Often.

With a shake of her head, she trailed out of her room, eager to get out to the kitchen and find out if—

Jack had made her a coffee, she realized as she pulled open the fridge door.

Jack is an idiot for not facing his feelings, for not doing everything in his power to keep you.

Raj’s words echoed in her head, and her smile widened. Giggling a little to herself in the quiet of the early morning—or late night—she held the travel cup to her chest.

Her bike started with no issue, and she made it to the bakery without spilling a drop, shoving her way in through the back door and getting settled.

The morning passed in a whirl of measuring and baking, and Eli had her good-mood playlist serenading her well into the sunrise. Not even the customers dared break whatever spirit had possessed her.

Jack even arrived early, and whatever awkwardness persisted between them was a little less tense, too.

After finishing the last batch of cookies early, thanks to Jack covering the front, she even teased him about it, leaning against the doorway into the kitchen. She watched him polish the glass counter, then straighten up the pens and receipt paper.

“I haven’t seen you work this hard since we opened this place,” she drawled. Jack startled, turning to face her. “Maybe I should date alphas more often.”

He narrowed his gaze at her, biting his smile. “Is that so?”

Eli pulled her apron over her head and folded it over her arm. “I just mean, you’re making me coffee and coming in early. I appreciate it, is all.”

Jack propped his hands on the counter, leaning back against them and looking suave and sexy, all stretched out before her in one of their silly little branded tees and a pair of painted-on jeans.

His smile had quirked into a smirk by the time her gaze made it back to his eyes, and she flushed, realizing she’d just been caught checking him out.

“How was last night?” Jack asked, and Eli arched a brow.

“Is that any of your business?”

Jack frowned, and it made Eli want to smooth the lines around his eyes. Eli didn’t know why she kept talking.

“Feeling protective,” Jack teased. “Raj is that good, then?” he asked.

Eli smoothed her thumb over a stain on her apron. Shrugged.

“Oh, come on, gimme the deets,” Jack questioned.

She’d given him some details on their ride together, but she hadn’t gone into anything explicit. Not like the dressing room blow job.

What she’d done with Raj the night before felt more private. Just for them.

“I think I wanna keep it to myself,” she said, cheeks flushing.

For a long moment, Jack didn’t respond. He audibly swallowed, but by the time she looked up at him, his expression was carefully neutral. “That’s cool, no pressure. Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

Eli didn’t know why his easy acceptance left a tickle in her chest, a little itch she wanted to scratch at. In a good way.

“I just wanna say…”

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