Page 99 of Knot So Social

I point and he carries me down the hall. I left my pajamas messy on the bed but somehow that doesn’t bother me today. This alpha’s already seen a far greater mess.

Alessandro turns back the covers and slides me in. He sucks on his bottom lip as he stares down at me. “May I . . . hold you for some time?”

In answer I lift the covers for him to get in. His arms come around me, spooning from behind. I push back into his chest, his warmth emanating through my back and his scent wrapping around me like a cloud. My eyes drift closed.

“Will you be here when I wake up?” I murmur.

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes. I don’t like . . . not knowing.”

His lips press against my scalp. “Then I’ll be here. Rest easy, cara mia.”

As I drift off, a faint purr vibrates through my back.

Chapter thirty-one

Jeremy

Having a sprained groin is a lot worse than a person could imagine. For one, it’s hard to explain without people giving me weird looks, and for two, regular sprained limbs can be immobilized. The groin, I discover, gets involved with every fucking move of the body, from turning over in bed to shitting.

My crutch slips as I try to lock it under my armpit in preparation to stand. I sink toward my bad side, sending pain blazing through my leg. “Fuck!”

The door to my hospital room swings open.

“You look like happy camper,” Joel announces much too cheerily. “Ready to go home?”

“You try sticking a fireball deep under your hip and see how you like it.”

His shoulders shake with silent laughter. “Can’t be that bad. You’ve had worse.”

I stare at him, balanced awkwardly on the edge of the bed. “Tell me. Are you secretly a sadist? Did I miss the signs all this time?”

This time his laugh rings out loudly. “No, no. Sorry, bro.” He’s grinning too widely for that apology to count. “How can I help?”

“Just get me out of here,” I grumble.

“Righto.” He busies himself getting my phone and charger packed up, along with the handful of clothes he brought yesterday.

I study my brother as he moves around. “Thanks for the new hat.”

“It’s nothing.” He twitches but doesn’t face me. “Not like you could keep wearing the old one.”

He doesn’t say it, but we’re both thinking of how the battered old thing symbolizes my brush with death. Maybe he’s acting partly out of guilt, but at the same time, it’s so nice to have my twin back in my life.

When I pop the new hat on, it fits my head perfectly, the firm touch on my hair soothing and familiar. Then I get the crutch under my armpit and ease myself upright.

“How’s your business?” I ask to distract from the pain coursing deep beside my dick.

“They’ll survive.” He sneaks an assessing look my way. “Got a few things tidied up and sorted.”

“Good.” Sweat tickles my forehead as I take a few experimental limps toward the entrance. Not my favorite mode of transport, but at least I’m moving.

Joel skirts around me and holds the door open, my backpack dangling off one shoulder. “I told them I’ll be away for a few more days. Gotta take care of my invalid brother and all that.”

I glare at him and he smiles innocently. “What? Can you even piss by yourself?”

“I can manage that much,” I growl out.