Page 106 of Knot What She Seems
I stare out at the stars and briefly wish he’d taken me to a drive-thru instead. Then, we could be sitting inside his car, cracking jokes about that silly podcast. He’d feed me some greasy fries, and I’d feed him some before swiping an imaginary dab of ketchup off the corner of his lips and letting him lick it off my fingertip…
“Penny for your thoughts?” Luka inquires as he places his napkin on his lap.
“Didn’t know my thoughts were worth so little.” I try to joke but my tone is flat and a bit sour. I’m sure he can tell, but what am I going to say? That I hate this place that probably will charge you a cancellation fee if we just walk out? He’s a professor. It’s not like he’s a millionaire…is he? That car says he’s gotten money stashed somewhere. But asking to leave the second we’ve arrived would be rude—bratty—after all the effort he clearly expended.
Ugh, am I being bratty? Is that what’s going on?
Annoyed with myself, I take a deep breath and straighten up. “Sorry. I just was kind of fantasizing about us staying in the car and going somewhere more relaxed.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but then his expression morphs as he leans forward and says, “I did wonder if this was the right spot. But then, you’re a princess. You know how they always say that it’s better to over-prepare? Or to dress better than the occasion merits? I applied that theory to this date.”
He’s completely serious, and his thought process is so cluelessly meticulous that it’s kind of adorable. I find it fascinating that he’s such a combination of formal, nerdy, and occasionally possessive—he’s a study in delightful contradictions.
“It’s a good theory. I just…” My eyes travel to the window, and I gaze out at the sparkling view of the city for a minute. “I have bad memories here. I’m sorry.” I know I’m apologizing too much, but what else can I say? It’s going to be hard to get through an entire evening in this space when I can already scent another omega perfuming in the corner. Her scent is so thick it’s like frosting… Bet she thinks tonight is proposal night.
Luka stands, extending his hand to me, and when I peer into his deep brown eyes, there’s a solemn understanding there. “Well, let’s go make better memories somewhere else.” When I take his hand, he yanks me close until I’m pressed against him, and I swoon a little—at his dominance but also at the easy way he’s accepting my desire to leave.
“Sounds good.”
He clutches me close for a moment, and yearning floats up inside my stomach as I inhale his scent. I nearly trip over my next thought…
He could be good for me.
Fuck. That’s utterly terrifying and I try to retreat, but he won’t let go of my hand. Instead, Luka turns and starts walking, tugging me along after him in a completely self-assured way that should be off-putting but isn’t. He ignores a waiter—a beta who hurries toward us with a worried expression—and breezes past the man, past the hostess stand, all the way to the elevator. I don’t make eye contact with anyone, don’t explain, just trot after him in my heels, completely unconcerned with where we’re going because it’s away from here and I trust him.
Only after he’s pressed the button for the elevator and pulled me in close, so that his hands can gently grip my hips, does he speak. “Were the flowers a disaster too? Be honest.”
I smile, my chest warming at how much he seems to care. “The flowers were amazing.”
“Okay, good. I’m absolutely not allowed to fail tonight, you know?” He brings a hand up to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear, and I have to fight against the desire to lean my cheek into his palm.
“How could you possibly fail with that podcast guiding you?” I tease, relieved that he’s reacting so well to the fact that this venue isn’t my favorite. The knot behind my shoulders is already receding. I just need to focus on Luka and everything will be alright.
He narrows his eyes, but there’s a twinkle in them as he leans down. I can feel his whisper ghost across my ear as he asks, “Are you feeling sassy tonight, Brylee?”
I bite my lip and try to think up a retort, but then…the world falls out from under me.
The elevator doors open, and out step three demons.
Tall, lanky, all dressed to the nines—my throat dries out and my gaze instantly drops to the marble floor. All the reasons I didn’t want to be here in the first place have manifested right in front of me. My heart takes off in wild panic as I squeeze Luka’s hand.
“Brylee?” A familiar baritone voice grates against my ear like sandpaper, the horrific sensation reverberating down my neck and sinking into my chest.
My eyes widen, and I’m stupefied—immobilized like a deer that stepped onto any icy river and just heard it crack. I dart a pleading stare toward Luka, but then there’s a hand on my shoulder and the ice cracks, sending me plunging into glacial waves of terror.
“You’re back.” Dion’s deep set eyes roam over me, and an indecipherable emotion crosses his face.
In an automatic defensive denial of this reality, I slide my gaze to the ground, and I notice polished black shoes step closer.
“Who are you?” Luka asks calmly as he wraps an arm possessively around me.
“Are you on a date?” Dion doesn’t bother to answer the question, just parries with one of his own.
There’s no air as the two alphas square off against one another. Meanwhile, I’m trapped between them as Dion’s aggressive scent pollutes the hallway, and memories clutter my head until I’m trembling. Behind him, I hear Torrence and Brian mutter greetings, but I don’t respond. I can’t.
Images flash behind my eyes.
Handcuffs.
