Page 127 of Knot So Social

“I didn’t do much,” I mumble, stroking my thumb along his hand. “I’m just glad you're okay.”

He nods and lifts my chin. “Willow, I need you to know, I did not sleep with a woman. She tried to drug me, but I fled. I will accept no embrace but yours, on my life I swear.”

I pull him into a tight hug. Vulnerability streams off the alpha, his scent turning sour with his memories. It’s reassuring, because I’ve never known a man to be so open and vulnerable. He’s not laughing at me or asking what I’d do if he did fuck another woman.

“I know,” I reassure him, diving my fingers into his dark curls.

The alpha squeezes me tight, his strength fully returned.

I hated seeing him like that, so weak and out of his mind, which means it must be a dozen times worse for him, as an alpha.

I pull back and grab his cheeks. “Hey, it’s not like you’ve seen me as a shivering mess on the floor or anything, right?”

That startles a broken laugh out of him. We stand there, nose to nose, and his gaze flicks to my mouth. We both lean in at the same time, brimming with desire and vulnerability.

Jeremy covers an exaggerated yawn.

“Um. You know, I’m beat. I think I better catch up on some sleep.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna go find me a spare bedroom allllllll the way down the end of the hall. Like, far away, where I can’t hear anything.” He spins, using his crutches to swing his body in long strides. “Yep. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

The moment he vanishes around a corner, Alessandro and I trade looks, which ends with us both breaking out in strangled laughs.

“Signor Jeremy has a good heart,” he offers.

I nod. “Yes, I think so too.”

I lean on his chest for a minute, listening to his steady heartbeat. His scent mixes with Jeremy’s in the cloth, a surprisingly beautiful combination of salt and rosemary that feels strangely homey. Yesterday, when they brought Alessandro in looking so limp and pale, I had to confront a future that didn’t have this man in it.

“I didn’t like it,” I mutter.

“Say what, cara mia?”

I clutch his shirt and look up. “I didn’t like it . . . seeing you injured.”

He smiles sweetly and leans down to nibble on my lips. “I won’t let it happen again.”

That doesn’t change the fact it happened, though. “Do you want a lawyer? I know some good ones.”

He shakes his head.

“Thank you, but it is not worth the trouble. I am safe and well, thanks to you.” He huffs softly, a faraway look in his eyes. “Although, apparently homeless now.”

I straighten, grip tightening. “Wait. It happened where you lived?”

The alpha’s gaze softens.

“Sì.” He points through the window to the yard. “Just over that fence, as Mr Shares discovered. I had a small shed in the back of the property. Not much, but I’m only one man.”

The way he lightly spreads his hands makes me think he doesn’t know his own worth.

“You can stay here.” The words spill out of my mouth before I’ve thought about it, but I wouldn’t take them back anyway.

Alessandro smiles and strokes my cheek. “You have a generous heart.”

“Why do I feel like there is a “but” coming?”

“Because you are clever,” he jokes.

I shake my head and pout. “What’s the problem? I have eleven spare bedrooms.”