Page 82 of Knot Only For One Night

For that, Fleur gets to see another day.

Back in Esper’s dorm room, I open my laptop as she curls into my side with her phone propped up on my chest, one of her ASMR videos pulled up on low volume.

I read that omegas nearing their heats are more emotional, their hormones flaring and even minor things feeling that much more raw. Could be that was why Esper felt this interview so strongly. Why she need the extra comfort.

Either way, I’m more than happy to provide it.

“You can play it louder,” I say, opening my latest assignment, writing code for a simple keyboard game. It’s something I’ve been able to do since I was twelve, but that's alright. I’ll have to be patient when it comes to the university’s curriculum.

It’s nice not to have to work on something complex anyways so I can keep a closer eye on the omega next to me.

“It’s okay, I just—my ears hurt so I don’t want to wear headphones.”

I shake my head despite her not being able to see me. “I don't mind the tingly taps, go ahead and bump up the volume.”

“You’re sure?”

“I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t.” She shifts her head, her eyes peering into mine. Shining, glassed over with unshed tears. I nod again. She slowly looks back down to her phone, a video of a woman squishing slime covered in varying layers of wax, and hits the volume button once.

“Again,” I say and she obeys. I know it's the right volume when she snuggles in more, and my chest blooms with satisfaction.

We settle into a comfortable bubble. Me working on my laptop and her trying not to fall asleep to her ASMR video. I could stay like this forever.

It lasts about an hour, the calmest, most peaceful hour of my life, when a sharp knock comes to her door.

“Do you know anyone who knocks like that?” I mumble pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head.

“No,” she says, following behind me as I get up. None of the guys would knock like that, making me think it’s someone we don’t know or something serious. Either way, this is the last thing my omega needs right now.

I’m about to tell whoever it is just that when I see her RA standing behind the dorm’s Resident Director, who I recognize from my research when I learned this was where Esper stayed.

Knowledge is power and all.

“Esper Malent?” the director calls, and Esper steps around me, much to my dismay. Esper is in fuzzy pajama bottoms with little bows all over them and one of Soren’s t-shirts that hangs well past her hips and off her shoulder.

“Yes?” Esper answers. By the director’s stern brow and the RA’s frown, this isn’t going to be good.

The director sighs, her posture stiff as he launches into a clearly memorized speech. “You are being removed from the dorms. You have failed to follow the rules and therefore have been removed from the program⁠—”

“What? What do you mean?” Esper sputters. Her hand grips mine tight, her long nails digging in my hand, and I can’t tell if she’s trying to calm herself down or me. My anger wants to answer first. Wanting to slam the door in both of their faces while telling them to fuck off.

“Rules are important here at White Pine Crest, and you can’t seem to follow them.”

“What rules?” I ask, and that makes the director roll her eyes.

“Guests,” she answers, raising both her brows and nodding toward me. “And unauthorized decor.” I follow the director's eyeline, and the fairy lights around the room have the gall to flicker.

“It's visiting hours though,” Esper says and the director shakes her head.

“It wasn’t last night, and with the multiple complaints regarding guests being at this dorm, and the disturbance, we’ve decided⁠—”

“Complaints from who?” I ask.

Who the hell…

“You know I can’t say.”

“So one person?” I ask again, trying to get a read on her, and by the silence I can correctly assume it’s one person. But who?