Page 101 of Knot So Sweet
I catch her before she hits the floor. Arms coming around her automatically. Supporting her weight. She's burning up. Fever radiating through the thin t-shirt. Sweat dampens the fabric. Makes it cling to her curves.
"I've got you."
"I know." She buries her face in my chest. Breathing deep. "You always do. Always taking care of everyone."
The words hit harder than they should. Because that's what I do. Bake. Provide. Take care. All I know how to do.
All I'm good for.
Rebecca's voice again. "I need more than fresh bread and someone who'll always be there. I need excitement. Adventure. Not a baker who never leaves this town."
"Garrick." Violet pulls back enough to look at me. "Where'd you go? You got this look on your face like you're somewhere else."
I adjust my grip. Hold her more securely. "Nowhere. You should eat something. Then drink water. Heat cycles will dehydrate you."
"Don't want food." Her fingers find the hem of my t-shirt. Twisting in flour-dusty fabric. "Want you."
"You should eat first."
"After." She pulls at my shirt now. Trying to drag me toward her nest. "Please. I can smell you and it's making everything worse. Need you. So much I can't think about anything else."
Behind us, Xaden and Liam move. Giving us space. Letting this happen.
"Violet." I stop moving. Make her look at me. "You sure about this? Because Xaden's already bonded you. You have one alpha. Don't need two."
Her expression shifts. Confusion bleeds into something that might be hurt. "Don't need two? You think I'd ask for you if I didn't need you?"
"Need and want are different things. Heat makes you need any alpha. Doesn't mean you actually want me specifically." The words taste bitter.
"Are you serious right now?" She pulls away. Standing on shaky legs. Hands plant on her hips despite how she sways. "Youthink I'd ask for you, beg for you, if I didn't actually want you? Think my omega is that easy?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean? Because it sounds like you're looking for reasons why I shouldn't want you." She's worked up now. Scent spiking with agitation under the sweetness.
The accusation hits too close.
"Maybe I am. Because look at me, Violet. I'm a baker. Wake up at four AM to make bread. Reek of flour and yeast. Never been anywhere interesting. Never done anything worth mentioning."
"You run your own business. Feed this entire town. Created something from nothing."
"Rebecca didn't think it was enough." The name slips out. "Thought I was boring. Predictable. Not enough to keep around."
Understanding flashes across Violet's face. Then anger. "Rebecca was an idiot."
"Was she?" I gesture at myself. Flour-dusted jeans. T-shirt stretched out from too many washings."I'm exactly what she said. Nothing special. Just a baker who'll always be here because I don't know how to be anywhere else."
Violet takes a step closer. Then another. Until she's right in front of me. Close enough I can see the determination in her eyes. ""Good. Cause I don't want special or exciting. I want steady. Reliable. Someone who shows up."
"That's just because your ex was..."
"Don't." She cuts me off. Finger pointing at my chest. "Don't tell me what I want. Don't tell me my choices are reactions to Mark's bullshit. I want you, Garrick. Not because you're safe. Not because my heat demands it. Because you're you."
"I'm nothing."
"You're everything." Her hands find my face. Force me to look at her. Violet's palms burn hot against my flour-dusted cheeks. Fever-warm and insistent. Brown eyes bore into mine. Pupils blown wide but focused. Determined. "You made me brownies when I was broke. Gave me free coffee every morning. Let me work here when I had nowhere else to go. Made sure I ate when I forgot. Protected me without making me feel weak."
She takes a shaky breath. Eyes bright with something that might be tears. Thumbs stroke my cheekbones. The touch reverent despite her fierce expression.
