Page 22 of Hard Knot

It’s madness, pure and wild, and I don’t want it to end.

Just feeling the touch of his hardness press tauntingly against my lower half has me gasping in desperation, and how he simply smiles against my lips before diving in for another sensational, toe-curling kiss that makes my world spin.

When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard, our foreheads resting together as we fight to catch our breath. His hazel eyes burn into mine, his gaze so intense it feels like he’s looking straight through me.

Right into the depths of my soul.

“Addicting,” I whisper, my voice breathless as I lick my lips, still tasting him. “This…whatever this is.”

His lips quirk into that infuriating smirk, but there’s a darker, more dangerous edge to it now.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

I force myself to pull back, putting an inch of space between us, though it feels like tearing myself apart.

“I need to shower,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “Unless you want to stick around and have an orgy with the Omegas from the auditions. Be my guest.”

His laugh is low, rolling through me like the growl of a predator.

“Tempting,” he admits, his eyes locked on mine. I try to ignore the way my heart clenches at the mere idea of any other female touching him.As if he’s already mine to claim.“But I’m not into justanyOmega.”

Fuck…

If that doesn’t just open a damn of arousal down under.

I arch a brow, a taunt on the tip of my tongue, but the playful glint in his eyes fades as his gaze trails down my body. It stops at my feet, and his expression darkens, his brows pulling together in a frown.

“What?” I ask, startled by the sudden shift. He doesn’t answer, his attention fixed on my feet. Before I can process it, Carter drops to one knee on the locker room floor, his large hands gently taking hold of my ankle.

My cheeks flush, a rush of heat spreading through me at the unexpected gesture.

“What are you doing?” I demand, trying to pull my leg away, but his grip tightens just enough to keep me still without hurting me.

“Hold still,” he orders, his voice firm but not unkind. His gaze flicks up to mine, and the intensity in his eyes makes my breath hitch. “It’s not just anything,” he says, his voice softer now but no less commanding.

“It’s just some blisters,” I mutter, my words weak even to my own ears.

“It’s not just anything,” he repeats, his eyes sharp as they hold mine. His hand lightly traces the edge of my foot, careful to avoid the worst of the damage. “A performance as passionate and spectacular as yours should never be dismissed by those who can’t even comprehend its brilliance. Those judges? They care more about politics and hierarchy than talent, and it shows.”

I stare at him, my blush deepening.

I’m not used to anyone noticing, let alone caring, about things like this.

“It’s not a big deal,” I say, my voice quieter now, though the defensive edge lingers.

“It is a big deal,” Carter says firmly. “Stay here. I’m getting a first aid kit.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he cuts me off with a raised brow.

“You need to shower, right? Go shower,” he says, his tone deceptively casual. Then his smirk returns and his hazel eyesglint with dark amusement. “But don’t be surprised if I join you. If I get even a whiff of the slick pooling between your legs, Omega…” He trails off, letting the words hang heavy in the charged air. “I can’t promise I’ll hold back.”

My breath catches, a lump forming in my throat as his words send a bolt of heat straight to my core.

Carter stands, towering over me once more, his gaze holding mine with unspoken promise.

“Your choice,” he murmurs, his voice softer now but no less dangerous. “Run, or let this happen.”

Then, without another word, he turns and strides out of the room, leaving me alone with the impossible weight of the decision.

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