Page 160 of Knot What I Expected

Gabby looks up at me, and for one suspended second I forget how to breathe.

There’s desire in those amber eyes, but there’s something else too. Trust. Fragile as hell, but there, and knowing she’s giving even that much of herself to me makes my chest pull tight.

She chose this.

Chose me.

Fuck, if that doesn’t mean more than it should.

“Please, Rowan,” she begs.

Rowan.

My real name on her lips nearly brings me to my fucking knees.

Nobody says it like that.

Nobody has ever made it sound like it belongs to them.

Monster surges forward, greedy and possessive, but for once I understand exactly what the bastard wants because I want it too.

Her.

Not for a night.

Not because she smells good, or challenges me, or makes my blood run hot.

Her.

“Easy, I got you,” I growl and dip my head, claiming her mouth with mine.

I kiss her until everything outside this room disappears.

The fire.

The pain still lingering beneath my healing skin.

Every ugly fucking memory that taught me getting close to someone was dangerous.

Gabby’s fingers tighten against me, and that small, instinctive touch anchors me harder than any Alpha command ever could.

I’m here.

She’s here.

And whatever the hell Fate is building between us is getting stronger.

Fuck, she’s hot.

And I mean hot.

Her skin must be a hundred and five degrees to the touch. But I can take it. The heat. The pressure. All of it.

Something about that registers in the back of my mind.

Something I should probably question.

Later.