Page 36 of Ready or Knot

He cocks an eyebrow, smirking, and I giggle, a blush making my cheeks heat. He sets the next pouch of gift cards into a tote and then pulls me into him, his hand splaying across my hip, the heat of his palm searing me through the thin tank I wear.

My breath catches, and my gaze snags on his mouth, the small laugh lines bracketing his full lips and the stubble lining his jaw.

“We picked him up like a stray, and he followed us home,” Carter says, amusement making his voice dip. “We figured after the second year that he was probably going to stick around for a while.”

I shake my head and roll my eyes.

“That’s how Jude puts it,” Carter explains, taking a step into me, the distance between us disappearing as my breasts brush his chest with each unsteady breath I take. My hands splay across his stomach, and I bite my lip.

They’ve been less forward than I thought they’d be once I was here with them. I’d told them I didn’t want to knot until I was moved in, but I’d half-expected one of them to pursue me since landing two days ago. That small voice in the back of my mind tells me it’s something I’m doing, but I shut it up the best way I’ve found: with action.

Carter doesn’t hesitate once my lips are pressed to his, cupping my cheek and tipping my head as he deepens the kiss. A bolt of arousal shoots through me, and I clench my thighs, running my hands up his chest and wrapping them around his neck. The smell of pine envelops us, and for some reason, that makes my arousal double.

The door to the condo clicks closed, and I jump, breaking the kiss and looking over my shoulder. Carter presses his forehead against my temple, and I feel him swallow as he adjusts his hold on me, loosening his grip and dropping his hand from my face.

“Sorry that took a bit, Red,” Logan says, and I offer him a smile. He doesn’t even hesitate at seeing me wrapped around Carter. “Jude’s on his way back from his meeting. Did you want to go out for lunch?”

Carter sighs, his breath brushing my ear and making me shiver.

My voice is breathless when I answer. “That sounds fun.”

* * *

Jude guides me into a seat at the table the hostess signals as ours and then settles next to me, unbuttoning his suit jacket and draping it over the back of the chair while Logan and Carter sit across from us. The waiter comes by before I have a chance to look at the menu, so we order drinks, and Carter adds an appetizer.

“So you’ve narrowed down the programs, Faedra?” Jude asks, setting aside his menu and resting his arm along the back of my chair. His thumb traces shapes on my arm, and I lean into the touch.

“I think so,” I say, turning towards him. “There’s a few here that are in person, but the rest would be online. I’m not sure yet which would be better, so I’ll apply to both styles and figure it out before the semester starts in a few months.”

Logan nods. “You have everything you need for the applications?”

“I started putting together a portfolio yesterday,” I say, grabbing the iced tea the waiter sets beside me and squeezing the lemon into it. “Most of the schools have specialty guidelines for Omegas that are newly matched. I need to submit the notice from the Council with the application, and they’ll evaluate me even though it’s past the deadline.”

Jude nods. “Typically that means you’ll receive an answer sooner, too. If you apply by Monday, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have offers by the end of the week.”

Surprise has me putting down the drink. “Really?”

When Jude nods, I sigh, a level of stress leaving my body and helping me relax. “That’s way more manageable than I figured. Certainly better than after the gala.”

Carter laughs. A woman walks up to their side of the table, a tablet in hand. Her dark brown hair is twisted back from her face in a claw clip, and her blue eyes seem tired.

“They didn’t tell me you were here,” she says, flustered. “Did they get what you needed?”

“Of course, Gina,” Logan says. Her body relaxes, and she types something into the tablet.

“Everything alright?” Jude asks.

She shrugs. “Hallie is cutting her first teeth, and Ashlynn has a big project due at work now that she’s back, so I’ve been the one up with her the last few nights.”

Jude grunts. “Sounds rough. Anything we can do to help, let us know.”

Gina laughs but waves away his concern. “Just a busy week. It’ll even out. It did with Darius.” She blows out a breath and sets the tablet on the table between Carter and Logan. “Your usuals, then? Though Fridays are not your typical,” she says, giving Logan an impressive side eye.

She reminds me of Violet. A pang of homesickness twists in my chest, but I take a drink to ignore it.

“What do you want, Red?” Logan asks, and I glance at him.

The woman’s gaze grows curious as she focuses on me. I give her my order, she taps it into the tablet, and then she turns to Carter.

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