Page 60 of Knight With Benefits

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Carl

Every bit of me wished she’d stayed. Or that she’d invited me home with her again. But I’d come to realize Gwyn needed space to process, and while I was feeling impatient, it seemed to help when I backed off and gave her what she needed.

That didn’t mean I had to like the waiting.

I sat around with the guys at The Hangout, checking in with them to be sure nothing that needed our attention had happened while I was distracted. Danger let me know the lawyer would be giving me a call to get more information about what Gwyn was dealing with, and I arranged to have both Jackson and Knox go to the café on Sunday when I couldn’t be there. I’d told them to stay outside and paint the building since the two of them should be able to get that done in a day, and Gwyn would likely be more comfortable without them in her space. I would make sure they had the supplies they needed and have Gwyn pick the paint before then.

Despite being in the place that usually helped me settle my nerves, I found myself antsy once the business was out of the way and the guys devolved to bullshitting. I usually had no problem bantering with them, looked forward to it each day, but my bear was still focused on Gwyn and how she was home alone instead of here with us.

“That project still giving you trouble?”

My brows rose at Blake’s question, and I checked my nails to be sure I hadn’t let my bear leak through again, but I still appeared human. Letting out a snort, I took a swig of beer before responding.

“More than usual. Never found myself wanting to work so much, and yet dreading the completion of the project at the same time.”

Blake chuckled and shook his head, staring into his glass as he swirled the amber liquid around.

“You know, my bear knew before I did. That Cindy wasthe one. I resisted, but he knew exactly what he wanted, and it didn’t matter to him that she was over a decade younger. If anything, it excited him more, but it took a while to convince the rest of me that I wasn’t some dirty old perv. I’m not sure I’d have ever listened to him though, if she hadn’t finally cornered me and given me no other choice.”

I couldn’t help laughing at the sheepish look he shot me, and I could perfectly picture Cindy with her hands on her hips, telling him off the same way she did their teens when they were getting up to trouble.

“At least she is a fox and knew what she was asking for, chasing after a bear. There are so many complications.”

I ended on a sigh, not willing to dive too far into the tangle inside me. It wasn’t just her reluctance to be in a relationship, or her ties to the Purists, or her being a human. Or anything to do withher. I had just as many issues of my own, and if I hadn’t been able to solve them after the years I’d already spent trying, I doubted I’d manage soon enough not to worry about dragging someone else into my mess. I’d already slipped that morning.

“It’s always complicated. Easy isn’t worth it. The more you work for it, the more valuable it is.”

I huffed another laugh into my glass, the truth in his words striking a chord inside me. I might have avoided analyzing how I felt about Gwyn too closely, but I knew my bear was willing to chase her, and she had to be special to get that lazy thing’s attention. I just didn’t know if I could manage not to fuck things up with her before she realized how strong and capable she was.

My thoughts turned darker, reminding me there were other ways I could lose her. The fear I’d seen when she told me the Purists were going to come for her had been real, and while it might have seemed ridiculous to an outsider, we were well aware of how irrational the speciest gang could be. Gwyn might have claimed to be old, but there were omegas her age still having cycles and popping out babies. Some alphas wouldn’t hesitate.

The idea of her being nothing but a broodmare to some alpha who didn’t care for her had my vision turning red, my skin rippling as my bear surged forward.

Over my dead body.

Realization washed through me and my rage settled. I didn’t need to think about what was between Gwyn and I because deep down, I already knew.

She was mine.

Whether she accepted me and we progressed in our relationship, or I died protecting her from the alphas she thought would come for her, or I had to give her the space she wanted and watch her from afar… All of me belonged to her. My bear would never accept another omega.

She was it.

My one.

My mate.

I stood so fast my chair tipped and I barely caught it before it hit the floor, every pair of eyes at the table turning to focus on me. The heat in my neck and cheeks told me I was blushing, but it didn’t matter. My omega was sitting at home alone, and I wasn’t going to leave her unprotected overnight.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gwyn

Thursday night had been lonely after I’d forced myself not to invite Carl back to my place. I’d been aware that it bothered me before, but after waking up with him and knowing what it could be like, the cold blankets of my nest seemed less comforting. It was bad enough that I barely caught myself before asking him to come over once we were done working Friday, but a group of his buddies had pulled into The Hangout’s parking lot just as my lips parted.

The thought that I was trying to use him wormed its way into my brain, forcing me to hold my tongue again Saturday, despite the clear hope written across his face. I claimed exhaustion and bolted down the road before I could see it turn into disappointment.

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