Page 20 of Knotty Lessons

Another body slides up behind me, and Leo rests his hands on my hips, sandwiching me to Ezra. He leans in and sniffs my hair, nuzzling it out of the way with his nose. “Damn, dirty girl,” he whispers. “Keep swaying those hips—”

I bump him with my ass, cutting him off.

Ezra spins me away, and Adrian cuts off Leo, laughing as he traps him in a two-step, forcing Leo to dance with him.

“You’re going to need some practice to keep up with her,” Adrian says, winking at me as he makes Leo spin.

Leo growls playfully, but instead of trying to break away, he takes the lead and dips Adrian. Dominic and Jonah laugh, getting to their feet. The five of them take turns twirling me around and dancing with me, and I find myself in Dominic’s arms, close to him for the first time.

His dark gaze bores into mine as he holds me against him. “You are—”

The music lowers with the sound of a doorbell, and Dominic looks toward the others. They obviously aren’t expecting a visitor.

“Mr. Raynard, please. Misters Hart have strict orders.” The voice of one of the staff members shouts from down the hallway.

Adrian turns off the music completely. “Dominic, take her to her room.”

Dominic doesn’t hesitate, obeying Adrian’s command. He pulls me toward the doorway to the kitchen, and we move past the staff and toward another stairwell used by their servants.

My heart races as he guides me in silence. I’m a bit nervous being alone with him, considering he isn’t a man of many words. At least, not when the others are around. Or maybe they just are more vocal.

“Peter Raynard is head of Joe’s department,” Dominic says, slowing down as we reach the door to my suite in the dimly lit hallway. “He definitely doesn’t have any business being here at this hour. There is nothing that important that couldn’t be relayed by a phone call.”

Now I’m nervous. A dozen thoughts cross my mind. What if someone saw me besides Chaz leaving Jonah’s office? What if someone saw Ezra pick me up and carry me into his office? Fuck.

“Do you think it has to do with me?” I ask, waiting for Dominic to enter my room.

It’s the first time he’s been in here, and he doesn’t move away from his spot by the door, but he does close it.

“I hope not, but if it is, it’s not the end of the world. We will be okay.” Dominic finally moves from his spot, closing the space.

I sit on the edge of my bed while he finds a spot a safe distance away, pulling the chair out from my desk. It feels as if the moment of carefree fun is over between us. I think he was caught up in his pack’s excitement and affection toward me that he was more comfortable participating. But now that we’re alone? He once again builds a wall around himself. Jonah made it clear from the first moment he realized I was his soon-to-be wife that he wouldn’t explore a relationship with me. Dominic never mentioned it. I know he was as concerned as his pack mate, but now I want to know exactly what his boundaries are. I want to get to know him, but I don’t want to push him.

Silence fills the room, and I think of a dozen things to say. It’s not like I can ask him how his day was, because I already asked at dinner, and I don’t want to sound dumb by bringing up the weather or some shit.

“You’re nervous around me.” It’s not a question. Dominic swivels in the chair, looking around my room before focusing on me. “Is there anything I can do to help? I’ve never really been good at...socializing. Forgive me if I make you uncomfortable with my silence.”

“You don’t make me feel uncomfortable, Dominic. I’m nervous because of the visitor. Not because of you.” I bounce my feet on the floor, keeping my gaze locked on his. “I keep thinking that maybe dropping out might be best. It’s not like I have a ton of friends here. It was mostly just me and my sisters growing up, and my best friend moved away right before I came here.”

The chair creaks as Dominic gets to his feet, finally closing the space. I scoot up on my bed, offering him more room to join me. He doesn’t hesitate climbing on, stretching out his long legs and crossing his socked feet beside me.

“At first, I thought dropping out would be best, but then I realized how selfish that would be to demand such a thing. The only reason you’ll drop out is if that’s what you truly want and not because you’re afraid.” Dominic rests his hand on my knee, showing me affection. The simple gesture helps ease my worry, and I sink against him, happy we have this chance alone despite the circumstances.

“I don’t want to. Not really. I’m so close to finishing. I kind of want to do it to prove that omegas can do it all. I can accomplish more than just graduating from Omega Prep, finding a pack, and breeding. I feel like my mom obsesses over our lives because she’s now bored with hers, since she’s no longer having children. My dads are constantly busy too.” I rest my head on his shoulder, inhaling a soft breath of his scent, earthy like a forest mixed with the lingering fragrance of clay.

“Perhaps you could recommend a hobby to her. Do any of your dads paint? Is that where you found your interest in the arts?” Dominic rolls his shoulder and reaches behind him, pulling something out from underneath the pillow.

I realize I left my sketchbook on my bed, and now he’s found my secret one. And holy shit. The last figure I drew was Leo in all his naked glory, his cock piercings sparkling.

I reach out to grab it too quickly, and I accidentally pull one of the loose pages free. As if he touches fire, Dominic drops my sketchbook on the bed, reacting to my sudden movement. I whip my attention to him, watching him look down, and heat burns across my neck and cheeks as a full-frontal self-portrait of me rests on his knee. I should really quit sketching myself. I’ve always done it because I’m my best and pretty much only model unless I accidentally catch sight of someone else, which is rare. There are a couple of drawings from some porn Emma sent me, but that’s about it. It’s mostly me and my fantasies.

“Scarlett, you’re extremely talented. I don’t think I’ve seen an artist able to capture an image so vividly. I thought it was a photograph.” Dominic touches the edge of the paper but doesn’t move to grab anything else.

I scoop up my sketchbook and close it. “I’m sorry. I have a thing for...nude figures. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m so embarrassed.”

I dip my chin, using my brownish-auburn hair to veil my face. Dominic shifts and combs the strands away, tucking them behind my ear.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch your sketchbook. I thought it might’ve been a textbook or something, and it was digging into my back.” Dominic leans closer, the warmth of his breath tickling my cheek. “Your interests are nothing to be ashamed of. I’ve crafted many statues over the years. I can show you my work sometime. I find the human body just as fascinating and exquisite.”

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