Page 118 of Knot So Social

He jerks forward like I’ve pulled on an invisible leash.

I turn back to the bed. “Alessandro, this is Joel. He found you on the side of the road and brought you to my house.”

Alesandro peers over my shoulder but his eyes can’t seem to focus. He gives up and slumps back. “Grazie, amico.”

“Yeah,” Joel replies. “No big deal.”

Alessandro snorts but keeps the joke to himself. He forces one eye open and reaches for me. I cup his offered hand to my cheek.

“This is your house?” he slurs out.

“Yeah.”

“Nice house.”

I chuckle. Just how high is he? “It is, isn’t it?”

He nods, tousling his black curls on the pillow. “I’m so sleepy, cara mia.”

“Drink some water before you sleep.”

When I offer him a cup, he thrashes out wildly, flailing at my face. “No! No acqua!”

Joel swoops down and pins the alpha’s hands to the sheets.

“You okay?” he asks me, voice burring.

His powerful scent this close to my nose makes my senses swoon. I want to drag him onto the bed beside Alessandro and—

“Willow?”

I jump. “Yes. Fine, all fine.” My cheeks flame and I hope to heaven he has no idea what just flitted through my thoughts.

“Maybe keep some distance," Joel says, tightening his grip. "He’s not himself right now.”

A loud snore bursts out and we look down to find Alessandro’s passed out.

“Well, probably doesn’t matter now.” Joel releases the sleeping alpha and arranges his hands across his abdomen. With a flick of his wrist, he whisks the comforter from the far side of the bed over Alessandro’s waist, covering him. Then he glances at me, and his gaze feels like lasers, heated, full of intensity, and boring through me.

Abruptly he turns and strides out of the room.

I lurch after him. “Where are you going?”

He stops but doesn’t turn around. “To get my van.”

“Right now?”

“There’s over twenty grand of gear in the back and we left it on the sidewalk.”

“Oh.” I fiddle with my shirt hem. “Um, thank you.”

He glances back at me, jaw flexed and teeth clenched. “No problem. I’ll be back.”

When he takes another step, I grab the back of his shirt. Is he angry with me? Did I truly offend him earlier?

Joel goes rigid and I drop his clothing immediately. “Ah, how are you getting there?”

“I’ll walk. Was only a few miles away.”