Page 44 of Knot The Only Onee
After I placed the first batch in the oven, I washed my hands and turned to face my two bond mates.
Sighing, I rolled my eyes and threw my hands in the air. “You want her right, James?” I leveled him with a knowing glare. “You want her like we do. As our omega and part of this mate bond?”
A flash of fear crossed his face before he hid it behind his mask of aloofness. “That’s not in question. You know that I want her.”
“Then what is in question?” Noah asked softly, his voice gentle.
Because we both knew what was coming.
“It’s because I’m not fucking worthy of an omega. I never have been.” He threw his hands in the air, and then they dropped back to his side with his hands clenched into fists. “I don’t know what the fuck I am. I’m not quite an alpha, but I’m not a beta, either. Bridget even noticed it. So how could she even want me for a mate? You two, yeah, but me? Hell no.” He scoffed as his lips twisted into a sneer.
“Why don’t you let her decide instead of making assumptions?” Noah’s eyebrows rose. Our alpha was calm, his expression caring as he looked at our bondmate.
We sat silently for several minutes as Noah’s statement hung heavy in the air around us.
The timer beeped, and I quickly silenced it and pulled the cookies out of the oven. I left them to cool for a moment before returning to James and Noah.
James had pulled a chair out from the table and sat with his elbows resting on his knees. His head bowed as his fingers tangled in his dark hair.
“James, how can you think you aren’t worthy just because you’re a little different?” I crossed the kitchen and knelt before him. I wrapped my hand around his wrist and squeezed, lending him any support I could. “I’m seriously fucking different.” I laughed. “I wear brightly colored cowboy hats and dance around the kitchen, and Bridget still cares about me. I think you’d be surprised how much she cares about you, too.”
He peered down at me. Those big dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “What if she rejects me? Thinks I’m a freak, just like my dad thought I was?”
Noah let out a fierce growl and knelt before James, right beside me. He tangled his fingers in James’ hair and forced him to look him in the eye. “Listen to me. That shit stain of a man wasn’t an alpha. He abused his omega and children. He was a scourge, andhewas the one who was a freak.”
He rose higher on his knees to press his forehead against James’. “You are perfect just the way you are. Flaws and all. We all care about you. Right, Bridget?”
James and I exhaled sharply as Bridget moved forward, out of the shadows of the entryway and into the light. She was wearing the adorable penguin pajamas I’d bought her. The shirt was blue, and a penguin was in the center with the words “I’m not short, I’m penguin size” around it in black letters. The pants were the same blue with tiny penguins scattered about.
“James,” she breathed out, and the tear stains on her cheeks reflected the overhead light. She looked brokenhearted as she came to stand before us. Noah and I scooted out of the way to allow her to have the moment with James.
“I’m sorry that you had to hear that Bridget.” He tried to turn his face away, but our beautiful omega stopped him with her hands framing his face.
“Please don’t turn away from me.” Her thumbs brushed back and forth over his skin, and James looked as if he were about to start purring at any moment. But he wasn’t an alpha, so that wouldn’t be physically possible.
“I don’t care if you have an ugly past, James,” Bridget began softly. Her accent was lyrical and soothing. “What matters is that you’re a good and honest person now. Which you are. You have a huge heart with so much love and compassion, it spills out of you. The way you are with the horses, with Noah and Lucas. With me.” She swallowed, and I noticed her nibbling on her bottom lip.
Just kiss him, Bridget, please, for the love of all that’s holy. Just kiss him.
My telepathic abilities might be lacking, but somehow, Bridget knew exactly what to do as she bent down and gently placed her lips on his.
CHAPTER21
James
All I could do for several seconds was blink in confusion as Bridget’s lips pressed against mine. They were soft—lush pillows on my own dry and cracked lips.
Once I was able to get my wits back, I groaned deeply as my eyes fluttered shut. Shifting my body, I widened my legs and brought Bridget between them with an arm banded around her middle. One hand splayed across her back while I used the other to wrap around her neck.
Her skin was soft, utterly luscious beneath my touch as our kiss heated. Soft little noises built as my tongue swept along hers. The sounds went straight to my cock, all the blood rushing south and leaving me barely able to think as I devoured her mouth.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” Lucas rasped, and the statement helped cool a bit of my desire.
My lips hovered over hers as my thumb traced along the edge of her jaw. “Fuck, little one. Your kisses are as sweet as cherries, and Ifuckinglove cherries.”
Bridget shuddered against me as a slight moan echoed between us.
“I want you, Bridget,” I began. “I’ve wanted you since your scent invaded my nostrils, imprinting on my brain. Something awoke inside of me when I saw you for the first time. A voice in my head kept saying ‘mine’ repeatedly. It hasn’t shut up ever since.”
