Page 27 of Knight With Benefits

Carl wasn’t wrong about the noise. It was quiet at first, but grew to a steady thumping before long, so loud the music from my phone was drowned out beneath it. The thuds and thumps were so regular it almost sounded like a heartbeat coming from the roof, and I grew numb to it after a while, focused on making sure I got a good layer of paint on the walls so I wouldn’t have to do extra passes.

Eerie silence pulled me from the daze I’d fallen into, my heart slowing as I strained to hear anything outside. I was halfway to panicking when the rumble of a motorcycle engine penetrated the walls and loosened the tightness around my lungs.

“Looks like we stopped at the perfect time.”

I screamed and whirled around, the roller slipping from my hands to clatter to the floor as I stared at Carl’s large form standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Holy shit, you have to stop doing that!”

Trembling with the rush of adrenaline, I pressed my hands to the sides of my face, sucking in a deep breath to steady myself. The man was entirely too quiet for someone his size.

His laugh filled the room as he leaned down to grab the roller, placing it in the tray. There was a little paint still in the well at the bottom, but he was right, he’d come in just as I’d finished up the last of the walls I could do.

“Sorry. I’ll knock next time.”

I blew the air out as I closed my eyes, rolling my shoulders back and stretching my neck.

“Let me.”

His rumble was quieter, closer, and my eyes were still closed when warm palms rubbed over the tops of my shoulders towards my neck. My lips parted to say something to stop him, but when his thumbs dug into my muscles, all that escaped was a groan.

My head dropped forward without any conscious direction, the tightness melting away under the firm pressure and the heat of his palms. I felt like I was turning into a puddle, warmth rolling through me even as my nipples peaked and the tension that had left my shoulders pooled between my hips.

I’d never had someone touch me like that. Anthony had demanded massages on occasion, then complained I was too weak to do it properly, and the one time he’d tried to show me theproperway, he’d left bruises all along my clavicle after ignoring my winces and cries of pain.

But Carl, his fingers were magic, the pressure firm but gentle.

I didn’t realize I was purring until he joined me, my entire body flushed from the heat of him so close to my back. For a split second I almost leaned back, wanting to feel if I affected him the way he did me, before my stomach decided to join in and added its own grumble to the duet.

Shaking my head, I came back to my senses and pulled away, ignoring the way my body craved to stay close to him. He was smirking when I turned around, but his eyes were dark and full of something other than mirth.

“Guess we should eat since it’s time for our lunch break.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, I snatched up my phone to check the time. Somehow hours had passed without me noticing, and it was already well after twelve.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t pay attention to the time. I’d planned to walk home and warm it up before now.”

His big shoulders lifted.

“It’s no problem. Jason went to grab something and will be back to help finish up. He can get started without me if we don’t make it back before him.”

Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I warred with the urge to tell him to stay at the café and wait for me. I still didn’t feel comfortable inviting him into my home, but it didn’t make sense to make him wait twice as long to be able to eat the lunch I was supposed to provide.

A small part of me was anxious over whether he’d even like it, which didn’t help the tumble of emotions inside me. The hunger of a moment before withered away under the acid wash of worry.

Carl stepped closer, using a finger under my chin to lift my head until I met his gaze.

“I can wait outside. We can have a picnic in the yard, that way you don’t have to tote everything here and back.”

It was amazing how he always seemed to know what was running through my mind, and how he went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable. My shoulders dropped from where they’d risen almost to my ears, my breath coming easier at the simple solution to my main concern.

“That sounds good.”

His smile brought back the warmth that had filled me before, my core throbbing with the reminder that even if I no longer had a mate, I still had an omega’s needs. Biology couldn’t be kind enough to take those away.

Carl talked about the roof as we walked to my house after I insisted there was no reason to take the truck. I had to admit I wasn’t really listening, other thoughts swirling through my head as I watched him. He could be a truly formidable alpha, his size was intimidating, but his personality made him seem more like a giant teddy bear.

“Is it rude of me to ask what animal you become?”

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