Page 39 of Tied in Knots
I wait, but nothing happens. “Which is where?”
“Oh! Duh, yeah.” He turns and points to a door a way down the really imposing hallway.
“Thanks,” I murmur and duck around him, heading to the door he pointed at.
As I approach, I hear a burst of laughter and then several voices all talking at once, a can opening and a rustle of a crisp packet. Curious, I push open the door and see the four alphas hanging out around a humongous kitchen island with my brother, laughing at something he said.
I smile in surprise, glad that he isn’t under a bush and lean against the doorway. “This looks fun,” I say when they all turn towards me.
I’m shocked when the four alphas all race forward, eager to reach me first to draw me further into the kitchen.
“You need to eat,” Harvey says. “I’ll make you a sandwich.”
“I’m okay,” I say, shaking my head, not wanting him to go to any trouble for me.
“No, you need to eat now. Fill yourself up before…you know…” he says with a sidelong glance at my brother.
“My heat?” I say and watch his cheeks go a cute shade of pink.
“Yeah, that,” he splutters, avoiding Derek’s stare.
“Faith,” my brother says, “We need to talk about that.”
“I’m staying,” I say before he can add anything else, taking in the astounded, but happy gazes of the alphas around me.
“You are?” Sebastian says, almost cautiously.
I hear Xander’s slow inhalation and give him a smile.
Then, I nod and pick up an orange from the fruit bowl in the middle of the island. “As much as I appreciate your attempt to let me know I’m free to leave, I know as well as you do that I’m not going anywhere. But that’s okay. I don’t want to. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in a few days, there’s still a lot to learn about each other, but…” I shrug and start to peel the orange. “I like what I see so far. There is one thing that is bugging me though.”
“What’s that?” Sebastian asks, his eyes swimming with a desire that is flattering to see aimed at me.
I hold up my wrist. “This bite mark. I don’t like it. I’m not a possession.”
“No, you aren’t. I was wrong to do that to you. It was in the heat of the moment, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I will replace it with a proper bite when you tell me that’s what you want.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you. I will let you know,” I say and turn on my heel, throwing the orange up in the air and catching it as I leave them to their boys' night. I have plans with a massive hot bubble bath and not much is going to deter me from this. Smiling, I make my way back upstairs, happy with my decision to stay. Now all I need to figure out is what the hell I’m going to do when my heat hits in a couple of days.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Faith
Stretching, I stick my arms above my head and then shiver. I poke my head out of the wardrobe and remember that I opened the window last night after my bath. I was feeling a bit feverish and wanted some cool air in the room. I crawl a few feet and then get to my feet as there is a knock at the door.
“Uhm, yeah?” I call out awkwardly hovering in the middle of the huge, white bedroom.
The door opens and the four alphas troop inside. “Are you up?” Sebastian asks, his eyes on the cupboard, but then he sees me standing shivering near the bed. “Oh, it’s freezing in here.”
His gaze shoots to the open window and me standing here like an awkward lemon, a suspicious expression descending on his handsome features.
“Everything okay?” he growls.
I nod, momentarily speechless. “I was too hot last night, so I opened the window. I fell asleep before I could close it again.”
The suspicion immediately turns to concern, and he crosses over to me, taking my elbow and leading me to the bed. “You’re like ice,” he murmurs, and flicks his fingers to the window.
Harvey crosses over to close it and lock it. I instantly feel warmer.
