Page 44 of Knotted By the Demon

From the kitchen, Demon’s gruff voice called out, “Did you two choose a room?”

“Yes,” I yelled back without hesitation. “We’re sleeping in your room, big guy.”

The quiet that followed was louder than any response he could’ve given. Greek’s foot began tapping against the floor, his movements twitchy and uncertain. I reached over, resting my hand on his knee, hoping to help calm him. But the heat that flared in his eyes when he looked at me had my own pulse skipping a beat.

My skin prickled where we touched, and I thought about pulling my hand away. I thought better of it, wanting him to grow used to my touch while also wanting to grow used to touching him. But the heat in his gaze was scorching me. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck.

Demon’s voice broke through the tension. “Both of you are sleeping in there... together?” His question was simple, but I could hear the undertone, the unspoken thoughts hidden in his words. I’d always been good at reading between the lines.

“Yes, big guy,” I called out, my hand still resting on Greek’s knee, his intense gaze still locked on me. “Both rooms were nice. But yours held your scent, and how can we resist being close to your scent.”

Another pause. Another heavy silence. I squeezed Greek’s leg, feeling a slight tremor run through him. He shivered under my touch, and I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or something else entirely.

“Say something,” I murmured to him, keeping my voice low. “We’re seducing the alpha, remember?”

Greek gave a small nod, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. After a brief pause, he called out, “Your room smells safe, like you, alpha.”

The way he looked to me for approval afterward made my chest ache, and I couldn’t help but grin. I lifted my hand from his knee, giving him a thumbs-up like we were partners in crime. It wasn’t a sexy line – not the kind of thing designed to make Demon come stalking into the room and take us both against the nearest surface.

But those words were enticing in their own way, subtle and sweet, exactly the kind of thing to get under an alpha’s skin. Judging by the growl that rumbled from the kitchen, it had worked. Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and when I glanced at Greek, I saw he was just as flushed. Demon’s reaction had clearly affected us both.

I leaned closer to Greek, my lips quirking into a smirk. “You hear that?” I whispered, my voice teasing but soft enough that only he could hear. “That’s the sound of us winning.”

Greek bit his lip, his wide eyes darting to the kitchen like Demon might stomp into the room at any moment. “What now?” he murmured.

I rested my head on his shoulder, loving the way he melted against me, his tension easing just a little.

“Now, we wait. But trust me, Little Rabbit. Big Bear doesn’t stand a chance against the two of us.”

***

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DEMON

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The rain was coming down harder now, tapping against the roof like a drumbeat as I unloaded the bags. Sofia and Greek’s voices carried faintly from the living room, light and easy, like they’d known each other forever. I didn’t listen too closely. Whatever they were talking about wasn’t for me. Not yet, anyway.

I unpacked the bags methodically, my hands working while my thoughts kept circling back to them. The canned goods were now in the cabinet and lined up neatly. I put the box of snacks on the counter where they could see them. As for the fruit basket, I set it in the center of the kitchen table.

That table... I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sat down to eat there. It had always just been me. I’d either eaten while standing at the counter or while reading in the living room. Food had just been sustenance. There was nothing special about eating alone. Now, I wanted something different.

I wanted to see Sofia’s sly smile over a meal as she teased me and Greek. I wanted Greek to laugh at something stupid we said. I wanted to sit with them and share a meal like... like a family. I stared at the table, its scuffed surface and worn edges, and something in my chest twisted.

It wasn’t good enough. None of this was. Not for them. They needed better than this cabin, with its bare walls and mismatched furniture. It worked for me. But for them? It felt wrong. Dragging a hand through my hair, I looked around the kitchen. It would take more than a few trips to the general store to make this place what it should be for them.A home.

My cabin had never been that. It was a shelter, a place to hide out in long term, nothing more. Their voices drifted in again, soft and warm. They weren’t just getting along. They were happy together. And when they looked at me earlier, I hadn’t seen fear in their eyes. There’d been something else. Curiosity. Interest.

They weren’t afraid of me. How the hell did that happen? Everyone feared me. I pushed those thoughts away and picked up the bag with the trinkets. I didn’t want them to see those yet. It was stupid to buy something so small when there were more practical things they needed. But I’d wanted to get them something that wasn’t about survival.

Something that might make them smile. Before I could talk myself out of it, I carried the bag to the hallway and tucked it away in the closet, hiding it behind a stack of old supplies. They’d see them when the time was right. If I chickened out, maybe never. Back in the kitchen, I paused. The rain was picking up, the sound of it on the roof louder now.

The shutters were down, the locks secured. No one was getting in. I’d poured enough scent blockers earlier to mask us. They were safe. I grabbed the blankets and pillows and headed for my bedroom, the room they wanted to sleep in. My king-sized bed was bare of anything that might make it look inviting.

I stared at the bed, wondering if I should strip it down and put the new blankets on. But my scent was in those sheets, faint but there. They said it made them feel safe. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying not to get too excited over those words. Even so, I didn’t want to wash my scent away.

I wanted them to feel safe here, with me. I wanted my scent to stay with them, cling to them, so they’d never forget this cabin wasn’t just a place to ride out a storm, it could be theirs. I could be theirs. That thought sent a low growl rumbling through my chest.My scent. On them. Me scent marking them. I didn’t want to think about how badly I needed that.

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