Page 43 of Knot A Chance

He lifted my arms in the air, and I wiggled in anticipation as he pulled it over my head. I sighed in relief as the warmth and his scent surrounded me. “I love this. It’s even better than the one from the other day. I’m going to keep it forever.”

Bennett smiled. “It doesn’t fit me anyway. I haven’t worn it in years.”

I looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure? Because it smells a lot like you.”

He shrugged. “It’s been in the truck forever.”

“Mhm,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder. “You want me to just pretend I believe you so I don’t feel bad keeping it?”

“Please.” He nuzzled my neck. “You smell really good wearing my clothes.”

“You already liked the way I smell,” I said teasingly.

“Mmm,” he groaned. “Now I like it even more.”

I laughed and shoved his head off me. “Let’s go home. I need to get some sleep before my shift tomorrow and so do you. You work even earlier than me.”

“Fine. But if you think I’m just going to drop you off like a gentleman, you’re sorely mistaken.”

He turned the truck on and drove us back toward the entrance booth. “Sleep only, Bennett,” I said as sternly as I could muster.

He chuckled before hoping out of the truck to raise the barricade and then again to lower it. When he climbed back in, he kissed my nose before putting the car in drive. “I will respect whatever boundary you want, but you may want to have more conviction the next time you say that.”

“Shut up and let me back in,” I said, pushing on his arm.

He lifted it and I curled into him as we drove in silence, feeling more at peace than I’d ever felt before.

Is this what all healthy relationships feel like? I can’t believe this is what I’ve been missing. Now that I have him, I could never give him up. That can’t be normal after one date, can it?

The car stopped moving and I blinked my eyes open.

“Hey, sleepy,” Bennett said, grinning. “Let’s get you inside.”

He slid out of the truck, and I watched him through squinted eyes, the streetlights too bright after my short nap.

He chuckled as I scooted to the edge of the seat and pushed my way back under his arms. Gripping my waist tightly, he said, “How is it possible that sleepy Felix is even more endearing than all the other versions of you I’m already crazy about?”

I wrapped my legs around his waist and wound my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder so I could scent mark him as he carried me to my apartment. “Be careful, sleepy Felix can be a real pill sometimes.”

Bennett laughed and set me down in front of the door, facing away from him. I reached into my pocket for the keys, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, his chin on my shoulder as he whispered in my ear. “I like you feisty too, remember?”

I leaned into him as I pushed the door open and flicked on the light.

He shut the door behind us. “Are you really okay with me staying? Because I’ll leave if you want me to.”

I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. “I want you to stay.”

A warm body brushed against my shins, and I looked down to see Marley circling my feet. She looked up at Bennett and hissed loudly.

“Whoa, I forgot you had a cat.” Bennett squatted and held his hand out to Marley who looked at him with disdain before hissing again and rubbing against me. “Was she here the other day?”

“Yes, she was probably ignoring us.” I scooped Marley up and pet her head as I held her out toward Bennett. “Don’t be mean to Bennett, Marley,” I cooed. “You’re going to be seeing a lot more of him.”

“Is she?” Bennett asked with a grin as he held his hand out again. She sniffed him, a low growl in her belly vibrating my arms.

“Yes, she definitely is.” I set down my territorial cat. “She hates Clara’s mate too, so maybe she just doesn’t like alphas.”

“I’ll win her over,” Bennett said confidently as he took my hand and pulled me in front of him. “Bed, handsome. You’re exhausted.”