Page 38 of Knot Only For One Night

My omega likes this man very much. I’m so glad I waited. Put myself out there. Even one more whiff of this man is enough reward for my patience. My omega practically purrs in his presence and despite his previous rejections, I can’t … not try.

His eyes don’t leave mine. His hard look doesn’t break either, and the inkling that I really bother this man settles under my skin. I look down at my hands in my lap for a split second, trying to muster my courage to… I don’t know… flirt? God, when did I get so damn persistent? My mom would be so proud.

“Soren.”

My omega lights up at the revelation. He sighs like he’s just lost an integral part of himself.

“Soren,” I repeat. He doesn’t confirm or deny. Just stares. “I… I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“So you decided to stalk me?”

“I mean, I didn’t actually stalk⁠—”

“What will it take for you to leave me alone?”

His question rolls around in my brain like a ball with spikes. My omega wants to burst into tears at the rejection, but I wait.

“Do you have an omega?” The question tastes like vile on my tongue, but I can’t just lay down and give up without knowing for sure.

After a pause, when I’d guess he was debating how many more pieces of himself he was willing to lose, he shakes his head no.

Good answer.

I reach for my bag, unzipping and reaching inside with jittery nervous hands. “In a relationship? I don’t want to be that kind of omega⁠—”

“What do you want, Trouble?”

I pull my attention from my bag. He’s still glaring at me, but also glancing around like he’s looking for something else. Someone else.

Not a good answer.

“I want…” The words clog my throat, and I catch sight of myself in the laundromat window. An oversized hoodie and leggings. Wow, I really dressed like quite the catch. I should have thought this through. “You know how men will sometimes bring flowers to a first date?”

“You brought me flowers?”

“No, you don’t seem like the flower type. I brought a gift though. A courting gift, if you will⁠—”

“Betas can’t be courted.”

“Since when?” I shake my head and frown. “Stop interrupting me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He cracks a small smile, the first sign that he doesn’t wish I’d poof out of existence, and my nerves finally die just the tiniest bit as I reach my hand in my bag and grab my gift, handing it over and straightening my shoulders in anticipation. The black bow I tied around it covers a lot of the gift. I blush as he unwraps it and weighs it in his tattooed hands.

“A coaster?” He inspects it as if he’s never seen a coaster before. It’s not the typical gift. My family didn’t use coasters when I was growing up, but I love them. They add bits of life to a table.

“Yes. It reminded me of you.” The black and gray marble design seemed like it might fit his aesthetic and maybe, whenever he saw it out on his counter or at his table, he’d think of me for just a minute and smile. “Will you… would you want to see me again?”

The words rush out of me as my nerves spike again. My cranberry scent is getting sour in the air, I’m sure. His nostrils widen for a moment and his eyes dart to mine.

“Sorry,” I mutter, pulling my hood on in hopes of taming my scent. “I’m not on blockers anymore.” With my heat so close, blockers made me too itchy.

“No. It’s fine.” He coughs as his brows scrunch, maybe in thought. “I, uh, don’t think us seeing each other is a good idea.”

I open my mouth, but any possible argument dies on my tongue. I can’t be the omega to beg someone to go on a date with her. I swallow my disappointment, trying and failing to slap a smile on my face.

“I get it. I, uh…well, keep the gift,” I say, getting up from the bench and sliding my backpack on.

“Wait.” His voice is sharp as he grabs my arm and pulls me into him. My knees slam into the bench and I don’t even care that it hurts a little because being enveloped by his scent with his arms around me makes it worth it. I take a deep inhale, waiting for him to change his mind again.