Page 41 of Knot That Serious

Jack’s cheeks flushed, reminiscent of last night, and Beckett sucked in a breath. It was filled with Eli.

“Eli wants to go to the Omega Center. Today.”

Beckett resisted his frown and glanced toward the back room. “I can see why. She’s perfuming.”

Jack huffed out a breath. “I know.”

“Like she was last night.”

“I know,” Jack groaned, covering his face. “She totally heard us. Told me this morning.”

Beckett kept his face perfectly blank. “Did she?”

“Yes. She was so embarrassed, her face was so red, and now I’m embarrassed, and—”

“Well,” Beckett began, clearing his throat. “You did say the walls were thin.”

Jack dropped his hands, looked up at him guiltily. “Yeah, but that was in the moment. Now, though, it just feels weird.”

“Weird why? Because you regret it?” Beckett leaned forward, challenging. “Or because you want it?”

Jack swallowed, eyes flaring dark.

He didn’t like this bar between them, and walked down the length of it before ducking under the bar flap.

He needed to be face to face if he wanted to make Jack understand.

“Jack,” Beckett said, gathering his attention again by placing his hands on his shoulders. “Eli is your roommate, right?”

Jack nodded, and Beckett soothed his thumbs over Jack’s tee.

“You make sure her favorite snacks are stocked, depending on her moods.”

Jack nodded again, less confident this time.

“You put her pajamas in the dryer so they’re warm when she gets out of the shower. And keep the flowers fresh on the breakfast bar. Right?”

“Sometimes,” he said, and Beckett shook him.

“She’s been stealing your shirts for her nest, Jack.”

Jack’s eyes were wide, but either he was just stupid, or too scared to face the truth right in front of him.

“Jack, she is your omega. You take care of her. She takes care of you. How could you let her go to the Omega center?”

“She—she wants to. Why shouldn’t she?”

Beckett blinked at him, his heart sinking. “For one, it’s lonely. I mean, have you ever seen a heat in action?”

Jack averted his gaze. “No. But Eli’s normally fine around her heats. She’s tough like that.”

Letting the silence rest, Beckett watched Jack fidget and panic the longer the quiet stretched out.

“Yes, and you’re also Mr. Tough Guy.” Beckett slid his palm over, cupping his throat, pressing the memory into his skin. Jack’s shoulders relaxed a touch. “But isn’t it nice when I take care of you?”

Color flushed brighter in Jack’s cheeks, his eyes intent to stare at Beckett’s lips. Then he shook himself. “Okay. Okay, fine, I see your point. So what you’re saying is…”

Beckett dropped his hand away, rolling it in a “carry on” gesture, begging him to get to the point. “You should…”

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