Page 14 of Knot Her Beta

“I can sleep in the guest room,” I offer, afraid I’m pressuring her now that we’re home. “If you want some space to think about it.”

Emily shakes her head, her silver hair catching the dim light from the dashboard. “I’m not kicking you out of our bed.”

The teasing tone untangles a knot of worry beneath my ribs. “Well, I didn’t expect you to, but I needed to offer.”

She snorts as she reaches for the door handle. “You don’t ever have to offer that. I always want you by my side.”

She climbs out before I can answer, her boots crunching on the gravel as she heads for the front door. I take a deep breath and follow.

The cottage welcomes us with the familiar aroma of the bread she baked yesterday and the clean fragrance of the herbs drying in the kitchen. Mixie leaps down from her perch as soon as the door opens, winding figure-eights around Emily’s ankles with an indignant meow.

“Sorry. Yes, I understand you’re starving,” Emily murmurs, crouching to scratch behind the cat’s ears. “Late night. I’ll get your dinner now.”

I hang back, taking her coat and hanging it on the hook by the door before adding mine next to it. Our shoes go next to the welcome mat, and Emily heads into the kitchen without turning on the lights. A moment later, the sound of kibbles striking the ceramic cat bowl drifts back.

As I join her, Emily’s head lifts at the sound of my footsteps, an unreadable emotion flickering across her face.

“You okay?” I ask, still keeping my hands to myself.

She straightens, one hand braced on the counter. Mixie dives into her dinner with single-minded focus, oblivious to the tension thickening the air.

“I’m thinking about what you said,” Emily says, “about the pup.”

My heart kicks hard. “Yeah?”

“I never thought I’d get another chance at that.” She faces me squarely. “After Auren… after everything… I thought that door was closed.”

I take a careful step toward her. “It’s not.”

Her smile is small but real. “I know that now.”

Another step. “It’s a big decision.”

“The biggest.”

We stand close enough now that her body heat reaches out to me, even through my layers.

“What are you thinking?” I rasp out.

Emily reaches for me, her hand settling on my chest, fingers spread wide, right over my heart. “I’m thinking I want to try.”

A rumble starts up. “Yeah?”

She swallows hard. “Yeah.”

I cup her cheeks in my hands, giving her one last chance to step back. Her skin is warm under my palms, a little flushed from the cold. Her breath catches, and she leans in, her mouth finding mine.

Her lips part, and the faint sweetness of the dessert she had at the Homestead lingers on my tongue, mixed with Emily’s unique flannel and crushed clover pheromones. Her hands slide up my chest to my shoulders, gripping hard, as if afraid I’ll disappear if she doesn’t hold on.

I won’t. I’m right here.

Her body molds to mine, all strong lines and defined muscles. I’ve kissed her a hundred times, but never with the new possibility now hanging between us, with everything laid out and waiting.

She breaks the kiss first, her forehead pressed to mine, both of us breathing hard.

“We can go slow,” I say, even as my hands slide down to cup her ass, tugging her closer. “Think things through.”

Emily laughs. “We’ve been going slow for months. I’m done with slow.”