Page 19 of Salt and Knot

Dylan sighs and glances over at the screen. I’d been so caught up with him, I hadn’t even noticed it. I hadn’t thought about the outside world at all, in fact.

“It’s my financial advisor,” he says casually as he flips it to voicemail. “She can wait.” Dylan gives me a smile that causes a gush of slick between my legs. I’m pathetic for this man.

“Now, where were we?” He picks up the morsel, and leans over the table. “How about…”

The phone rings again, cutting him off.

Dylan lets out a frustrated growl, and he’s scowling as he offers me the fish, the phone still ringing.

“You can take that,” I say nervously. “She must really want to talk to you.” The words are bitter in my mouth, souring the fish as though it were off. A woman talking to him, who’s known him far longer than I have.

He clenches his jaw and doesn’t move. I silently open my mouth. It’s the response he wants, because he nods as his fingers touch my lips and I accept the food from him.

But as soon as I have, his back straightens, and he casts a dark look at his still ringing phone. “I should get this.”

“Of course!” I’m eager to be no trouble.

“I won’t be long,” he says more softly, then stands and walks away, snapping, “What is it?” into the phone.

It’s only a two-minute conversation, but it’s an ocean of distance. He’s talking to a financial advisor. I work in a small grocery store. This alpha is rich, important, and immortal, and I’m a girl whose most expensive possessions are on a beach right now. My cheeks heat with humiliation at how out of my depth I am.

“Sorry about that.” Dylan sits back down. “I told her only to contact me in case of a true emergency, and apparently she thinks a stupid world leader threatening war on the other side of the planet is that.” He shrugs. “I suppose for her, it is, but when you’ve seen as much time pass as I have, it really doesn’t register.”

“Yeah,” I croak. Small things like wars, money, and young omegas who are inconveniently in their first heat. We’re so different, it’s not even funny.

I should be leaving. I’m taking advantage. Eating all his food. Interfering with him taking important calls.

When Dylan offers me more, I shake my head. Discomfort drips down my spine. While Dylan isn’t worried about losing money, my stuff is all at the beach, where anyone could steal it.

We finish eating, but I’m uncomfortable, and somehow Dylan knows, his shoulders less relaxed and his mouth a flat line.

“Thank you.” I draw my chair from the table. “Breakfast was amazing. And I really appreciate your help.” My heart beats fast.

“You’re welcome.” His expression has gone serious, dropping the amusement of when he was feeding me fish like I’m a stray cat.

“I can see you’re a busy man, and I should be going.” I stand, intending to walk away.

“No.” His voice is iron and I instinctively freeze.

“But, my stuff at the beach…” I don’t finish that sentence, because pain rips down my legs, and I almost buckle.

“Omega.” The authority is low in his growl. “You’re not finished with your heat. You need to stay here until it’s over.”

Stupid hope surges over me at his tone. But I try to be strong. “How long will that be, do you think? I don’t have much experience with this,” I add when his brows snap together in confusion.

“Usually a few days,” he says tightly.

Oh.

My heart twists. Is that all?

“I’ll leave in a few days then,” I croak. “But I need to get my bag, otherwise I won’t be able to camp.”

Just the thought of leaving has that painful pulse going. Heat rises and spreads from between my legs and flushes right to my cheeks. Need along with it. Spearing pain at maybe never seeing Dylan again. And a single word. Mate.

I look away, out to sea, and my body grows hotter, as though the heat’s return has been prompted by my awareness that I have to go back to real life, sooner or later.

Sooner.