Page 45 of Her Knotty Alphas

The next moment, his lips are on mine, a gentle, yet possessive kiss that communicates all of his feelings. His hand stays loosely on my neck, a soft claiming.

There's no grinding or groping this time, just a man and a woman connecting on a most primal level. And his intent is crystal clear.

He's mine.

And I'm his.

All too soon, he pulls away, punctuating our silent proclamation with a little nip to my lip, making me gasp into his mouth. A feral grin lights up his face, and his hand is still braced on my neck. "Now, do you want to tell me what has you upset?"

Emboldened by his affection, the words come out easier than I had thought they would. "You didn't tell me you lived with Austin."

"I've always lived with Austin," he says easily, moving his hand from my neck and wrapping his arms around me. His t-shirt is soft against my cheek and I find myself nuzzling into it. "First, when his parents took me in as a foster kid, then, when he moved out here with me so I could go to Cal-Tech."

"You've lived here this whole time?" I pull back, arching a brow at him. "Are you also some kind of tech mogul on the side when you're not doing Titus' dirty work?"

"Ah, yeah, not exactly." Noah looks suddenly sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "We just moved in with the rest of the pack this last weekend."

"Well you might've told me I was coming to pack house when I asked if I could come over!" I'm seething. I signed up for Noah. Singular alpha. Not a whole-ass mansion where the rest of my scent-matches reside.

"Baby, you obviously wanted to come over for a reason, and I knew if I told you, you wouldn't come." The smug ass doesn't even look repentant about the whole thing, just infuriatingly satisfied. I can't even bring myself to be mad though, because every moment I'm in this house, saturated in their scents, my head feels clearer. In fact, I feel better than I have in months.

"Hey guys? Um, Hannah?" I look around Noah to see Austin standing in the entryway, a nervous expression on his face. He threw a t-shirt on, and his apron that reads "Real Alphas Bake Cookies", is nowhere to be seen.

"Yes?" Damn, my voice sounds so much breathier than I meant for it to.

His Southern accent is thick like honey, smoothing over my skin. "I just…I just finished some pumpkin muffins, if you…if you want."

He baked…muffins? And he's offering me some? This guy is giving me whiplash. First, he insists on driving me home, then he leaves me at my front door like his ass is on fire, then he acts scandalized that I saw him shirtless, and now he's offering me muffins?

Maybe he's just as confused as I am.

"Not cookies?" The teasing comment is out of my mouth with a smile faster than I can think better of it, and Noah chokes on a snort.

I half expect Austin to get embarrassed or to blush again, but instead a little grin quirks at the corner of his lips. "Darlin', ifcookies are what makes you smile like that, I'll bake as many as you want."

It's my turn to flush pink this time, Austin's flirty response taking me by surprise. "Let's um…" an awkward laugh leaves me. Shit, I ambadat this. "Let's try the muffins first, shall we?"

Noah chuckles and heads to the kitchen, and I swear I hear him say something like, "So fucking cute".

Austin and I give each other tentative smiles and he accompanies me to the kitchen. Noah seems to be attempting to give us some space to get to know each other, but neither one of us really know what to do with it, and the space is filled with awkward, empty silence. Are my instincts roaring at me to climb him like a damn tree? Absolutely. But, I'm trying to have some dignity and save the alpha-climbing for one that I'm sure absolutely does want me to. Luckily, the kitchen is relatively close to the living room, and I'm greeted with the mouthwatering smell of pumpkin, along with something a little more sweet.

"Fuck,pumpkin cream cheese muffins?" Noah groans around a mouthful of food, causing me to giggle. The kitchen is all stainless steel appliances, and I don't know a lot about cooking, but this looks pretty state-of-the-art. How did they afford all of this?

"Ya call yourself a gentleman, Noah?" Austin chastises, coming around the counter where he has a plate of pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling in the middle. "Ladies first, brother. 'Specially when it's our omega."

"I never called myself a gentleman." Noah shoots me a wink over Austin's shoulder, causing me to bite my lip. "But you're right, next time I'll wait forouromega." His enunciation is for my benefit I'm sure, that whether or not I decide to take it slow, he's all in.

"Here ya go, darlin'." Austin brings a muffin on a plate and sets it in front of one of the barstools at the kitchen island. "Would you like anything to drink? Iced tea? Coffee? Water?"

"Coffee would be wonderful," I tell him, moving to sit at the island. The little pocket of cream cheese is slightly caramelized on top, and when I take that first bite, it's like a mini-orgasm. Seriously. There's a hint of cinnamon in the bready part of the muffin, and the cream cheese fillings complements it perfectly. "Oh my gods," I moan, closing my eyes. "This is the best fucking thing I've ever tasted in my life."

Austin, whose back is turned at the coffee maker, straightens his shoulders a bit at that, and then brings me over a piping hot cup of coffee and a bottle of creamer from the fridge.

"Where did you learn to bake?" I ask, taking the mug and pouring some of the vanilla creamer in.

"My Mama noticed me takin' an interest in her bakin' when I was around seven," Austin says, taking a muffin and putting one on a plate for himself. "She taught me everythin' I know, and made sure I had the opportunity to learn whatever I wanted."

"That's amazing," I tell him truthfully, sipping on my coffee. "She sounds like a great woman. You must miss her. Noah told me how you moved out here with him."

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