Page 41 of Knotty Lessons

Heat travels through my body, weakening every inch of me. I gasp my affection in return. It consumes me, pushing out the world around us.

The sound of the door slamming shut snaps me from the moment. “Hello? Scarlett? I’m sorry for—”

A strange, uninviting scent wafts through the air, prodding at my fear. I can’t even move as someone enters Dominic’s studio without waiting for a response. Fear shocks my heart, and Dominic growls.

“Get out!” Dominic hollers, his knot stopping us from moving.

I don’t see the intruder, but I can smell him. His shadow stretches across the floor behind Dominic.

“Fuck.” The uninvited man shatters my perfect world and my perfect moment with Dominic. “I’m sorry.”

“Leave!” Dominic lifts me up and carries me toward a small office connected to his studio. He frowns and kisses me, doing his best to remain calm despite his racing heart and uncontrollable growl.

I wiggle and test his knot, the vulnerability and helplessness stealing away my ability to think clearly.

“You’re safe. We’re okay. I’m almost done.” Dominic hugs me close, smoothing his hand across my spine. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve locked the door,” he says, his voice hitching.

“We shouldn’t have had to.” I release a soft whine, my heart racing as his knot finally releases us. “Why did they just barge in?”

“I’ll figure it out. Stay here, Lettie. I need to go after him. I’m so sorry,” he repeats, kissing me softly.

I sit in shock, my body cooling as Dominic vanishes, leaving me alone after our moment of lovemaking.

What the hell just happened? Who was that?

A door slams, startling me, and I grab a smock and cover myself up, hearing footsteps run across the studio.

“Scarlett? Scarlett, Dominic said you were in here.” Jonah’s voice booms through the studio.

“In h-here,” I stutter, standing frozen.

Jonah rushes into the office, not even hesitating to pick me up. I cling onto him, my body shaking as I come down from the high of being knotted. “I’m going to take you back to my room, okay?”

I nod my head, my voice refusing to come.

“Dominic caught the bastard. He’s handling the situation now. You don’t have to worry.” Jonah pulls his jacket around my body, covering me. He jogs through the garden and heads toward the manor, not wasting a moment or risking my crashing in the studio, where I can’t shake the feeling that my privacy was purposefully invaded.

“Who was he? Is he a threat? I don’t even know how long he watched us. I feel sick.” I hide my face against Jonah’s chest, my mind whirling. Who fucking does that? Who watches someone have sex? Why was he even there?

“I’m so sorry you experienced that. It won’t happen again.” Jonah strokes his hand up and down my spine, smoothing out my trembles.

“How can you be so sure? Our house isn’t private.” I squeeze my eyes, trying to get my body in control.

“I have agreed to take over as director of my department. I no longer have the stipulation of keeping the manor open to the public year-round. It’ll be only in the summer months, and during that time, we’ll be traveling to our vacation home. It’s going to be amazing.” Jonah strides through the manor, quickly relocating me to his bathroom suite.

His comments distract my mind enough to save me from spiraling into a wave of darkness. “What? Really? I thought you didn’t want it?” I bounce on my feet, watching as Jonah turns on his shower.

Jonah finally turns to me, shrugging. “I thought about it for a while, and I think it’s the best decision for all of us.”

I step closer to him, resting my hands on his shoulders. “As long as you’re happy.”

Jonah’s face lights up with a smile. “Incredibly. I’ll be happier if you let me clean you off and take care of you, though. Your scent is driving me crazy.”

Heat flushes over my body, and I slowly slide off the smock and stand covered in clay before him. His eyes drink me in, his gaze smoldering over me, warming my body even more than the steam in the air.

A knock sounds on the door to his suite, drawing his attention away from me. I release a breath, shivering, craving his attention.

“Jonah? It’s Dom. You have Scarlett, right?” Dominic shouts, knocking on the door again.

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