Page 39 of Knot For Keeps

“We need Archer to hack a cell phone on the move, so you’re here with Lavender.”

Even better!

“Yes!” I exclaimed gleefully. Standing from the sofa with a stretch. “You need anything from me?”

“No, just Archer.”

“I’ll send him your way!”

Bounding from the room, I took the steps two at a time, almost gleeful at the prospect that my day had just become so much more exciting.

I didn’t bother to knock, if Archer was doing something with the omega that he shouldn’t be, I wanted a front row seat…for totally innocent reasons of course.

Unfortunately, nothing indecent was happening. Archer was slouched in the armchair, eyes on the screen. Lavender was curled up in a ball in her little nest. She had piled her hair haphazardly atop her head in a bun, and it was falling out in every direction. She was clutching a pillow to her in a sleepy manner. It looked fucking comfortable, perfect for snuggles and fucking.

Then again, every time I saw her nest I had been overcome with the thought of how it would feel to be in that warm, soft, cuddly space.

At my entrance they both turned to me, Lavender sitting up. I couldn't help but grin at the pyjama set she was wearing. The lilac T-shirt and short set was covered in little coffee mugs and saidthanks a latteover the breast pocket. It was adorable.

“Everything okay?” Archer asked with a frown.

“Yep, I’m just here to take over. Daddy needs you.” Archer didn’t answer, looking at me like he was trying to process.

Has he had any sleep of late?

He was acting like he was the one who was recently concussed, even though I was the one who had that esteemed honour. I sighed dramatically. “Work calls, you’re needed to either track a cell phone or break into a database on the go. I honestly forget which. Either way you’re going out with the others, which leavesme,” I turned with a smirk to Lavender who was giving me a soft, sleepy smile, “with our little Lavender.”

“Are you sure?” Archer’s brow was raised.

“We won’t get into too much trouble, I promise! Now chop chop, you know our bossy man doesn’t like waiting.”

Instead of waiting for a reply from Archer, I just strode over to the bed and flung myself onto it. Fuck laying in that uncomfortable looking armchair. I much preferred the bed/nest hybrid and a sweet, floral smelling omega nearby.

It was like I had jumped onto a freaking cloud. No bed had the right to be this squishy and soft. It was pure luxury and I didn’t want to leave. Every inch of the nest was heavily coated in sweet lavender and vanilla.

Lavender let out a cute little yip of surprise and scuttled backwards a little to make room for my invasion. If she wasn’t so adorable and cute I would be calling her a spoilsport.

“You’ll be fine with me, won’t you?” I asked her, batting my eyelashes. I probably looked daft, but I didn’t care, because it made her giggle.

“I can talk to Gage about staying,” Archer told her, the crease between his eyebrows was going to become permanent if he didn’t stop frowning so much.

“We’ll be okay,” Lavender assured him in a soft voice. Even her voice was pretty and delicate. I considered asking her to give me head scratches and just talk to me in that melodic and calm voice until I fell asleep. But I didn’t want to scare her away. Yet.

I hadn’t slept on my own in a long time. Not since the accident that killed a considerable amount of my brain cells. The nightmares were just too vicious. Gage was usually by my side at night, but I would happily take a sleepy floral little omega.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” Archer reassured her. Did he think she wasn’t safe with me? Or did he assume he was her favourite and she would just wait for his return. Fuck that.Iwanted to be the favourite. The cogs in my brain started turning, but I kept quiet until Archer was gone.

“How’s your day going, sweet Lavender?” I asked with a smile. She looked down at me with a soft gaze, I liked it.

“I’m having an okay day, lots of good TV about serial killers and cults.”

“I’m down to watch something about cults!” I said enthusiastically. “I could totally see myself liking cults.”

“As the topic of a documentary, or as an actual entity?”

I scratched my chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “I think I would make a good cult leader. Heck, even a good cult follower. I’m easy to win over.”

She gave an adorable little snort. “I could see it, but you would suck at leading a cult if you had to interact with people too much. Cult members aren’t always the sharpest tools in the shed, do you really think you could put up with that day in and day out?”

---