Page 59 of Knot So Social

Both the scent and his friendly good humor puts me at ease. I pictured having sex with a guy but not laughing while he made snacks in my kitchen.

Now, his mouth, flavored with beef and hummus, presses to mine, sucking gently on my lips between kisses. A soft whimper escapes me. Mr Shares leans against my thigh, letting me know he’s close. Jeremy takes hold of my waist and pulls me closer, until my shoulder curls into his chest. He runs his tongue across the seam of my lips, teasing.

Warmth flushes through me, burning away my inhibitions. I open, sealing our lips tighter and touching my tongue to his. His other hand cradles my neck, keeping my face turned toward him. His big fingers gently graze my skin, and his alpha scent flows around me, deeper and spicier than before.

I pull back, panting for air.

He looks down at me, eyes sparkling. His brown irises carry beautiful green mica points inside that seem to catch and hold the daylight. For a moment he says nothing, just strokes my cheek, as if he’s examining a work of art.

“What do you want to do?” he murmurs, releasing me.

I look down at my plate, blinking to clear the swoon. My body sings for him, but I guess I’m still a little nervous.

“I . . . I don’t want this food to go to waste.”

His smile widens, revealing a brilliant, playboy grin. Jeremy doesn’t feel like a stranger; more like a cheeky neighborhood boy who likes to tease but always has your back when the shit goes down. Not that I ever had a friend like that. Always wanted one, though.

I clear my throat and straighten up on the stool.

He follows my lead and calmly goes back to eating. I miss his touch already, so I slide my hand over on the counter, palm up.

Jeremy puts his hand into mine and links our fingers, a smile tugging at his mouth as he chews. So natural, it’s startling.

My fingers tingle where they touch his warm skin. Every now and then he gently squeezes or runs his thumb over mine, as if we’ve always done this. The rigid sensation that formed in my chest the moment I first felt heat symptoms melts away.

When I finish eating, Jeremy takes my plate and washes it, wiping the bench and sink over as he finishes.

“I have some questions for you, if that’s okay?” He studies me with a thoughtful gaze.

I nod and walk to the couch, doing my best not to limp. Jeremy slides in close enough for our knees to touch and takes my hand, not even raising an eyebrow when Mr Shares climbs up on my other side.

“How to you want to do things? Do you have any rules?”

I scrunch up my nose. “Didn’t you read my profile?”

“There was paperwork, sure,” he confirms. “But I want to hear it from you.”

He lifts our joined hands to his lips.

My heart flutters. “Um, well. Let the dog out into the front yard a few times a day. Not the back; he can escape from there.”

His mouth quirks. I stare at the turn of his lips, wondering what’s amused him.

“And where’s the dog food?”

“Laundry. One container of the food is in the fridge there, but let it come to room temperature first, plus a scoop of biscuits in the evening. I left a printout on the wall.”

“Of course you did.”

I snap upright to see if he’s mocking, but he’s tilted his head to one side, leaning it on his arm hooked on the back of the lounge. Nothing in his expression appears cynical.

“That’s Mr Shares’ needs taken care of.” He strokes the back of my hand. “Now what about yours?”

Oh, so that’s why he was smiling. I chuckle under my breath. His pronounced knuckles rub through my fingers. I unlink our hands to run my finger over one, mapping the size. How would he even get a ring over one of these?

It feels foreign for an alpha to ask me what I want. “Um, don’t ask me to go outside. Don’t ask about my scars.”

His gaze flicks to my body, but he keeps his curiosity locked down. “Anything else?”