Page 67 of One Winter Knight
“Dusty, you’re naked.” Carlos came in and sat down next to me. “Hey, que paso?”
I sighed. “I fucked up, Lalo. I thought Saoirse liked me, but was a little reluctant. Turns out I was just a good fuck and she yelled at me.”
He put an arm around me. “Maybe she didn’t really mean it? She gets like that sometimes.”
Perhaps? It could be the fear talking. But still…
“I didn’t mean to push her…” I said softly. “I didn’t mean to cross a line. I thought she could be the one, you know?”
“Wow, really? I mean she’s something.”
“She is. But if she doesn’t feel the same, it doesn’t matter. I can’t believe I didn’t read her right.” My head bowed.
“It’ll be fine,” he assured me. “If you were talking about feelings and shit, I could understand how she might not be looking for that. I get the idea that she doesn’t really involve herself with people not in her line of work, because, well, we’re civilians. They don’t want us to get hurt and they have rules and shit. She’s not a hugefan of the fact that I know what she and Fiona do for a living.”
That made sense–and was the plot of plenty of movies.
“Did you know that they don’t work for the government or military? I mean, I’m okay with it, it’s just all this time I thought she was doing it for her country.” It was a lot to wrap my head around, but it was fine.
What hurt more was the look on her face when she yelled at me.
“Yeah, I know that. I’m sure she didn’t mean it–especially not the way you’re taking it.” He gave me a big squeeze, putting out what was basically airborne anxiety meds. It was a kappa ability and not unlike, but different from, soothing alpha pheromones or omegas calming their alphas with their purrs.
It was part of a kappa’s charm and how they were always able to disarm people. A synthesized version of it was used in a popular anxiety prescription medication.
Taking a few deep breaths, I let him calm me.
“You’re a good man,” Carlos added. “Your music and videos make people happy–and those who don’t like it, well, they’re not your audience. Your underwear company employs so many people and pushes for fair wages and sustainability. Your hockey team spreads joy.”
“I do my best,” I said softly. The Brooklyn Box Munchers did a lot of charity work.
“That’s all you can do. As for Fiona and Saoirse, I know they’re assassin mercenaries. They belong to guilds though, different ones, with rules and shit. You know Fiona’s is all-omegas?” Carlos asked.
I perked. “An all-omega assassin guild? What the fuck? I love it.”
“Right? That’s why she was at the wedding in Canada. One of her sisters-in-blades, or whatever they’re called, found her pack and was having a party. Seriously, that place was full of hot, dangerous omegas, hot dangerous alphas, and hot dangerous mafiosos. Fiona’s not mafia, but some of them are,” he added. “It was so funny to have their wedding sharing a venue with a hockey goaliewedding.”
“So fucking jealous. I should have been your plus one.” I’d been on tour. Same with the Knight’s dinner to celebrate their championship win.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
I’d fucked Saoirse while Carlos had been at the wedding. She’d found me after she had a job.
Wow.
My phone buzzed again.
He gave me another squeeze. “Let Saoirse calm down. Apologize. Maybe it’s not you at all. Maybe it is. If she’s not into you, then just back off. However, right now you should probably put on some clothes, because I’m pretty sure Kace is blowing up your phone.”
“The meet-and-greet.” I shot up, realizing I was still completely naked. I pulled on my boxer briefs, pants, and shirt. My phone buzzed again.
Carlos answered it. “He’ll be out in a few, Kace.”
Pulling on my shirt, I put on my nice glasses and my hat. What was I missing? I put my phone in my pocket and grabbed the long black furry coat Tyrell had put in the bag.
Shoes. Those would be good. I put on some black waterproof hiking boots that Tyrell had also included.
“You’ve got this.” Carlos hugged me to him. “Regardless of what everyone else decides, I’ll show up and then we can go to the festival, then have some beers, and get some food. Also, I brought my stash. If you want anything to take the edge off, I’ve got you. If you want anything harder, Hale probably has something.”
