Page 31 of Knotted their Beauty

If Ves March doesn’t continue kissing me, I’ll die.

Chapter

Nine

VES

This goes against every rule I have ever had for every nanny I have ever hired, but I don’t care.

I don’t give one flying fuck because Arlo isn’t just the nanny, and he never really has been.

Arlo is mine and I’m done denying both of us.

The second my omega whines, I crush my mouth to his and I swear to god it’s like sparks ignite in my veins.

I grunt as I pull him closer, sliding my hand from his shirt to his throat, my free one moving to the small of his back, my fingers slipping under the cotton fabric to splay against his warm skin.

He smells so fucking good.

I push my tongue between his lips as Arlo gasps, fisting the front of my shirt to steady himself before he moans low in his throat.

“Do you really think that?” I ask softly as I nip at his throat. “That I don’t give a shit about you or what you do?”

Arlo whines as I suck on the side of his neck but he nods. “I’m just the nanny.”

With a growl, I grab his throat again, forcing him to look me in the eyes so he knows I’m serious. “You have never been just the nanny, Arlo. Not to Cali, and not to me.”

He blinks a few times, his eyes welling with tears, and I swear something inside me cracks wide open.

“You are ours,” I say as I start backing him toward the bed. “You’re mine. My fucking omega.”

“Wh-what?” he stammers as I push him down onto the mattress.

I nod, “You’re fucking mine, Arlo, and not because I hired you.” I sink to my knees in front of him. “Not because you live in my penthouse.” I reach up and cup his cheek, smoothing my thumb under his eye and wiping away the stray tear. “Not because I let you use my things, or because I pay you.”

“But… but…”

I shake my head and bring him toward me for another kiss. A sweeter one, one that hopefully conveys what I’m trying to say. “You’re mine because you’re beautiful and perfect.

“You’re caring and sweet, you’re thoughtful and compassionate.” I take his lower lip between my teeth and tug, grinning when he whimpers. “Arlo, you’re mine because that’s how the universe works, and I…” I search his face and give him a soft smile. “I fucking love you, I fell before I even realized I was doing it, and I’m not about to let you keep thinking you don’t mean anything to me when you mean everything.”

“Ves…” Arlo sniffles, and for a split second, I feel a stab of doubt.

I know I run cold most of the time, that I guard my feelings and wear a mask to keep people away, but it doesn’t mean I’m heartless. I don’t doubt it’s hard for Arlo to hear all of this when, like he said, it seems like I’ve only been tolerating him, and that could be enough for him to reject me.

Why would he want to be with someone he views as an icy bastard?

The thing is, for as cold as I can be, it also doesn’t mean I can’t read people, and while he might not even realize it, I know Arlo has feelings for me. Feelings I’m about to pull from him and make him admit to one way or another, because I’m not fucking around anymore.

Worst case scenario, he quits and files a sexual harassment charge.

Best case? This is the beginning of something that could change all of our lives, and that is worth the risk in my opinion.

Which is why I kiss him one more time then let my hands wander to the top of his pajama pants.

“You don’t have to say anything at all if you can’t find the words.” I pull the drawstring and loosen them. “Or aren’t ready to say any of them, but if you want me to stop, if you don’t want anything to happen between us, I need you to say that because once I get started, I won’t be able to stop if you don’t tell me to.”

I look up as I grip his waistband, and Arlo nods, “I want this.”