Page 30 of Knot For A Moment

CHAPTER TEN

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ASHER

Iopened my eyes and had to hold back my purr. The dim light told me it was morning, though our alarm hadn’t gone off yet. Good. I didn’t want to move with Sloane tucked against my body, a tempting blend of curves and silk, and that scent I couldn’t get enough of.

At first I thought a sound had woken me, but I didn’t hear anything now. Fine with me. I tightened my arms aroundmyOmega.

Pounding broke through the quiet. Insistent and intense. That must be what woke me. It sounded like someone was banging on the door to her apartment.

Looking down at Sloane, she hadn’t moved. I couldn’t stop myself from pressing a kiss to her forehead. She was so tired, and though there was nothing I wanted more than to take her home and fuck her into my mattress and have the others join, I would happily hold her until we got through these rehearsals.

I slowly extricated myself from her and made sure the blankets were around her before I left the bedroom.

The pounding started again as I neared the front door. An angry voice came with it. “Sloane.”

He stopped banging when I undid the chain and deadbolt. I opened the door without bothering to put on more clothes. The Alpha in me wanted this man to know I’d been in bed with my Omega. Her scent was all over me, and it was going to stay that way.

“Who the fuck are you?” He asked.

About my height, sandy hair, and a beard, I couldn’t deny he was good looking, but I didn’t feel even a shred of jealousy toward the man showing up at Sloane’s door this early. That was how inevitable we were. She was mine.Ours. End of story.

I tilted my head. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

“Funny,” I said. “Considering I’m one of her scent-sympathetic Alphas, I doubt that’s true.”

Rage entered his eyes. “I don’t care who you are.SLOANE,get the hell out here.” He raised his voice and took a step forward.

I matched that step. “If you think I’m letting you in here right now, you’re mistaken.”

“What’s going on?” Sloane appeared in the hallway, still in that purple nightgown which made her look fucking edible. Her voice was soft with sleep, but as soon as she saw who was standing at the door, she paled.

Anger that rivaled this man’s burned low in my gut. She was afraid of him. And if he hurt her, past, present, or future, he would have to deal with me.

“Craig? What are you doing here?”

He sneered. “You haven’t answered any of my calls or messages. Now I know why.” It was aimed at me, and I didn’t care. “Thought I’d come get the money you owe me and find out why the fuck you’re avoiding me.”

Sloane crossed her arms and came to stand next to me. For the moment I refrained from touching her. She needed to stand on her own for this. “Not everything is about you, Craig. First, I just entered rehearsal season, and you would know that if you listened to anything I told you on ourfinaldate. Second, we’re done. Why the hell would I answer you? And third, I don’t want to talk to you. Thought my silence would make that clear. I’ll send you the money for the ticket today.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Craig tried again to take a step forward, and I angled my body in front of Sloane. I didn’t like the energy he had. “I don’t even know what I did to make you walk away.”

Just yesterday I asked myself the same thing. But I didn’t think Sloane’s answer would be the same.

“That’s easy,” she said. “You failed to show me the least bit of respect, Craig. You didn’t evennoticeI wasn’t walking behind you. I didn’t move from where I almost tripped on the sidewalk. Thanks for not helping me, by the way, and you got all the way to the theater before you even looked. I’m not perfect, but I’m worth more than that.”

Damn right.

His lip curled. “So you act like a bitch becauseyoumade us late andyouchose to wear impractical shoes and I was trying to hurry because of a surprise I arrangedfor you? Really?”

The way Sloane’s shoulders sagged made me itch to pull her into my arms. “I wanted to see the concert, Craig. You know I did. But I want to be worth more than a show.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

It was clear he didn’t accept her answer, but he didn’t say it. His eyes did. I didn’t like that look. “Fine. I want the money.”

“I told you I’d send it later.”

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