Page 85 of Torment Me Knot
We untangle. Cool air hits my skin and I shiver, crossing to the dresser. I pull on a shirt and sweat pants. Espie does the same before we head downstairs.
A week ago, leaving this room would've been a negotiation. Bracing. Calculating exits, counting alphas, preparing for threat. Now it's getting up, going downstairs, finding food.
Espie takes my hand. We walk the two floors down together, and the warmth of the kitchen reaches us as we take those last few steps.
Sera sees us first. Her whole face changes, worry melting into relief, then something raw flickering underneath before she can mask it.
She sets down her coffee cup with a slight clink and stands up, shifting on her feet. “How are you feeling? Are you okay? I didn't know if I should stay last night or if that would make it worse, and then I kept thinking what if you woke up and needed something and I wasn't there, but then I thought maybe you'd want space, and I just — I've been going back and forth all morning about whether I made the right call leaving, and—”
She's gushing, words tumbling out faster than she can organize them. Nervous in a way I've never seen her. This alpha who took me so gently in her mouth is terrified that she broke me.
“I’m okay, Alpha.” She winces and I follow up. “Sera.”
I swallow hard. I need to embody my words. “What you did yesterday. It was...” I force myself to keep going, even though I want to be different. I wish I was that young, naive omega I once was. I wish Axel Turns had never been born too, but that’s just wishful thinking and it will only bury us both in a very deep hole. “You helped me and—”
Say it. She deserves the truth. You deserve to say it.
“I liked it.”
Sera inhales, scenting me. Her shoulders drop as she catches the truth in my words. No sour note of shame. No bitter edge of regret. Cedar and chamomile, settled and calm.
And underneath the truth, something else. My scent blooming rich and sweet, the way it does when I want something.Her. I want her.
“Okay.” Her voice cracks. “That's — I didn't know if — okay. That's really good to hear. I was so worried I'd pushed too far or moved too fast or—” She stops herself, takes a breath. “Thank you. For telling me.”
Sera turns to Espie, more careful now. “And you? I should have asked before I — when I kissed you, I didn't plan that, it just happened, and I should have checked first whether—”
“I kissed you first!” Espie says. “And I liked that too. We both liked what you did.”
Sera’s gaze pings from me to Espie and back again. She’s more relaxed now, but she’s still guarded and I think I may be missing something, but then Ezra’s pulling plates out of the cupboard and sets them on the counter.
“Now that’s sorted, there’s breakfast. Sit down. Both of you.”
Lex guides us to the bench, his hand light on Espie's back, her other hand brushing my arm. Small touches. Grounding. My omega brain purrs softly at the contact.
Ezra slides plates in front of us. Eggs, toast, fruit, bacon. More than we can eat. Kev pours coffee for Espie, chamomile tea for me.
Kev sets a jar of honey on the table and pushes it toward me. “For your tea. I noticed you take it with honey. If you want.”
It's such a small thing. A jar of honey on a breakfast table. But Kev remembered. He was paying attention the whole time. Even when I couldn't look at him, he was watching. Learning. Waiting.
My throat goes tight. My eyes sting. “Thank you.” I say.
I stir the honey into my tea and watch it dissolve, golden swirls disappearing into amber. My hands are still shaking. The spoon clinks against the ceramic.
We eat. Actually eat. Not mechanical survival eating, but tasting, enjoying. My body is hungry in a good way. The eggs are good. The toast is buttery. The bacon is crisp.
Espie steals a piece of my bacon. Her scent goes playful, clover brightening.
I steal a strawberry from her plate. She makes an outraged sound that's almost a laugh.
This is what normal feels like. Pack around us, food on the table, someone's shoulder brushing mine. I'm not sure I trust it yet. I'm not running from it either.
Sera's phone buzzes against the counter. She glances at it. Her scent shifts, blood orange going sharp for a second before she clamps down. She puts the phone face-down, doesn't answer, keeps her hand near it. She flicks her eyes to it twice in the next minute.
Kev notices too. He rests his eyes on her face. “Everything okay?”
“Fine.” Sera picks up her coffee, doesn't drink. “Work stuff. Nothing to worry about.”
