Page 31 of Knot Forever

“Driving,” he says when he catches me watching him. “Have to be careful with precious cargo.”

“Smooth.” But my cheeks still crease in a smile as he brings my glass over, as our fingers brush. As he settles next to me, the huge alpha in the sharp suit sat on the floor patiently listening as I talk at length about styles, materials and colors.

He doesn’t bat an eyelid. Doesn’t yawn, doesn’t roll his eyes, doesn’t look at his watch.

Instead, he watches every move I make like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to unravel.

And with every hour, I fall a little more for Asher King.

By the time we leave, my cheeks are hurting from grinning so much. I’m clutching my purple blanket, unwilling to part with it despite Asher’s promises that everything we’ve ordered will arrive at the house this evening.

And Asher’s arm has somehow wound itself around my waist, his hand spanning my entire hip, branding my skin through the thin material of my navy silk dress.

Sneaky, sneaky alpha.

Evening has settled in, the streetlights overhead blinking on as we cross the car park. Asher’s arm tightens around me and he pauses, his head swiveling around.

“Nova,” he murmurs, lifting his keys and unlocking his car. “Get in the car, love, and don’t come out.”

Unease prickles at the back of my neck as he steps away from me. “What is it?”

“We have some unwelcome visitors.”

My body locks up as I see them, two shadows melting away from the darkness and coming towards us. My breathing speeds up.

“I’m not leaving you.”

Asher swings his head towards me. “Nova.”

His voice is a whip, the barest edge of a bark making my knees tremble, but I stand my ground as Julian and Adam move closer, even as fear crawls up my throat.

But I’m not leaving Asher out here alone.

“God damn it,” he hisses. “We’re going to talk about this later.”

I jolt as he tosses me his keys. “When I tell you, you will get into the car. Nobody will be able to get to you. There’s a phone in the glovebox you can use to call Seth, and he’ll come. Do you understand?”

“Asher,” I whisper, but my voice dries up as Julian and Adam stroll across to us. Their faces are placid enough, but there’s an undercurrent of tension in the air as they stop a few paces away.

“King.” Adam nods at Asher before his eyes swing to mine. “Nova girl.”

“I told you not to call me that.” I can’t help but take a step backwards, and Asher shifts, moving his body in front of mine. Julian grins, his mouth twisting into a weirdly wide slash with too many teeth.

“Still waiting on you, Nova,” he almost sings. “And I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

My pulse speeds up, but I lift up my chin. “Wait all you want, Julian. You’re never coming near me again.”

He lunges forward and I dart back, the whimper slipping out purely involuntary.

“Step back.” Asher’s voice is dark. “Before I make you.”

Julian laughs, but my heartbeat settles a little as his eyes slide away from Asher’s and he moves back, next to Adam.

“State your business,” Asher says to Adam coolly, “and then kindly fuck off.”

Adam doesn’t look at me. “We want to know your terms for an exchange. This is clearly a power play, King, and we’re willing to play. What do you want?”

My breathing speeds up as I look at Asher. He’s not looking at me, he and Adam in a silent face-off. They told me they wouldn’t exchange me.

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