Page 53 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

My stomach lurches at the memory of those photos, at what was done to an innocent girl. “No,” I say, hoarsely. “No, I don’t need the reminder.” I already see them in my head every time I close my eyes. Well, not every time, not recently. Now images of Haven take precedence. Much more pleasant, more forgiving on my psyche, even if it fills me with guilt.

“But I don’t know how you can’t see the similarities… Haven is like Janie, Hale. She’s innocent.” I try to shake his hand off, but he doesn’t let me go.

“Her father fucking isn’t. And that’s what this is about. Not Haven. Not about what she deserves. Frederick Bell. He’s who all this is for.” He leans closer to me, his hand tightening on the back of my neck to hold me steady as he delivers his final blow. “Janie would be so fucking disappointed in you, Creed.” His fingers tighten to the point of pain and then he releases me, slaps my back and jogs after Haven, Tic and Jude.

The worst part is, he’s right.

Chapter 14: Tonight, we’re showing off our girl

“Damn, button! Look at you,” Jude says just before his hand slides over my stomach, pulling me tight against him. He drops his mouth to my shoulder and gives it a long sucking kiss before nipping my ear. “You look so fucking good.”

I can’t help the flush of pleasure at the compliment. This outfit, one that Ren helped me pick out earlier, is all me. My choices from head to toe. What I would pick for myself if given the chance.

Tight dark jeans, a silky cream colored cami with lace along the neckline, a soft brown leather jacket and maroon sky high heels.

“Jesus, fuck. Those shoes make your legs look a mile long.”

I laugh and turn in his arms, smiling up at him.

“That’s an exaggeration.” Even in the heels, I just barely reach his chin.

He slides both his hands down to grab my ass and tug me tighter against him. “Not an exaggeration that you look so good, I want to say, ‘fuck it’ and keep you here all night.”

“No,” comes Tic’s voice from the stairs, drawing our attention as he joins us in the foyer. “Not tonight. Tonight we’re celebrating our girl.”

Jude huffs. “We can celebrate her just fine here. In fact, I think we could do a better job of it. What if instead of dinner and dancing, we laid you out on the table, spread your legs wide and-”

“No, Jude,” Hale growls from the living room. “We talked about this. Tonight, we’re showing off our girl.”

Another huff from the alpha pressed up against me, making me laugh and pat his chest. “I like your idea, too. Maybe next year, hmm?”

There’s a flicker of some emotion over his face, there and then quickly buried behind the brilliant smile he gives me. “Why wait? We can do it next time you’re here.”

I hum and lean up to kiss him. “Definitely.”

He growls and swoops down to kiss me again, harder and filthier.

He groans and rolls his forehead against mine. “Damn, button. I wanna bend you over and fuck you right here.”

My cheeks flush and my breathing picks up.

We’ve done a lot of things in the last few days, a lot of touching and heavy petting, but we haven’t gone all the way. I want to, but I also don’t. It feels too rushed, like maybe if we take that step, it means something none of us are ready for.

My vagina disagrees, though.The hussy.

It’s been years since my one and only penetrative sexual encounter, and I have a feeling anything with them is going to be a million times better than that was. And I’m dying to find out.

Jude’s eyes widen as he’s yanked back. I reach for him, a surprised sound coming from my mouth. “Not now,” Creed growls at him, hand clasped tight around the other alpha’s neck. “She deserves a celebration.”

Jude shrugs him off and glares, which is really very weird on his normally jovial face. “I keep saying a celebration here would be just as good.”

Sensing they’re about to throw down for some reason I can’t fathom, I step forward and place a hand gently on both of their stomachs. Creed flinches, stepping back quickly, while Jude slides his hand over mine, pressing me tighter against him.

There couldn’t be two more different reactions.

Creed stares at my hand still hanging in the air between us, and I let it drop, pretending like I don’t care that he can’t stand for me to touch him, even something as small as that. I look up at Jude. “I told you next year. This year, Ren is waiting for us, and I really want to see her. I haven’t spent a birthday without her since- well, since we met. It’s tradition.”

Jude’s fingers tighten around mine, and then he joins them together. Dropping them between us. “Well, since it’s tradition, I guess I’ll give it up. But when we get home, all bets are off.”

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