Lion’s Crossing (Love Sync Mates Season Two)

Chapter Eighteen

Linc

Reluctantly, I peeled myself away from Knox’s sleeping form. I had no idea what day it was, or even the time, only knowing the sun was already up and shining in the window. The omega’s heat had lasted longer than I expected, and I needed something to eat if I was going to help him through his next craving. After using the washroom, I trudged into the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast. I hadn’t had time to go grocery shopping on my own, so I’d ordered all the necessities online and had them delivered. Finding time to work in between satisfying Knox had been tough. I was thankful the members of ONE kept busy practicing and recording their own versions of the demos I’d sent them.

Opening the fridge, I pulled out some eggs and a package of bacon. I needed protein for my tired muscles. After starting a few slices of bacon in the frying pan, I stirred together an omelet. Once I had them going, I glanced in the refrigerator again to contemplate what to make for Knox. I still had a lot of fruit, so I used a variety to make him a salad then prepared some oatmeal. At some point when I’d been fucking him, he’d told me that maple and brown sugar was his favorite, so I’d ordered that flavor for him.

When I had everything ready, I loaded the food onto plates then set them on the dining room table. We’d spent enough time in the guest room, and I wanted Knox to leave the bed for more than just a bathroom break. Besides, the next time I took him, I wanted it to be in my bed.

Throughout the blur of his heat, I’d been tempted many times to mark him, to claim Knox as my mate so no others would get to pleasure him as I had over the course of the hazy days that had passed. But I’d held in that urge, wanting him to be fully aware and give consent. Marking someone wasn’t an event I took lightly. Sure, I knew of some celebrity alphas who had several mates all over the world, depending on what city they visited. But I didn’t want to be an alpha like that. Plus, my lion had made it more and more clear that Knox was special. That when his heat passed, I couldn’t just let him leave. I had to find a way to make him stay. Like we were intended to be together. Yet, the idea of fated mates scared me. I didn’t know if I was ready to settle down with a family. I’d barely had time to settle into my position as one of the lead producers at Adan Records since returning to Saramto. I had so many other things to occupy my time besides a mate and a family. Not that I wanted to be with anyone else, but both of those things required a large time commitment. I didn’t know if I could pledge myself to that at such a time in my life. Not yet.

With a sigh, I walked over to the door and knocked. I still had a bit of time left with Knox, so I would enjoy things with him as they came.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” Knox replied, sounding anxious and aware instead of the sultry and heat-inebriated omega I’d spent the last few days with.

I tiptoed away from the door, my stomach twisting with the feeling that something had somehow changed. He hadn’t begged me to get in there and fuck him, hadn’t even asked me to come in.

Sitting at the table, I waited for Knox to come out. Had his heat ended? What did that mean for us?

Though I’d been hungry before, the sight of the food repulsed me. I didn’t want to eat, only to pull Knox into my arms and hold him there forever.

Shit, where had such thoughts come from? Other than physically, Knox and I still barely knew each other. I needed to get a grip.

In a flurry, Knox rushed out of the guest bedroom, trailing his suitcase behind him. “My train leaves in an hour. I need to go.”

Fuck! My lion thrashed around inside me, itching to get me to shift so he could pounce on Knox, drag him to my room, and keep him there.

I simply sat at the table, trying to process his words and that so much time had passed. “It’s Friday already?”

He nodded like a bobblehead. “Yep. I’m sorry I took up all your time. It wasn’t the vacation I’d planned, but I’ve got to go.”

I gestured toward the food I’d prepared for him. “Eat a little before you leave. I’ll drive you to the station.” Vices clenched my heart, but I didn’t know what else to say to him.

“You’ve already done so much for me.” He chewed on his bottom lip and stuffed his hands into his pockets, maintaining the distance between us. “I appreciate all of it, but I can’t ask for more from you. I’ve disrupted your life enough.”

Resisting the urge to slam my fist on the table, I stood up instead. “Knox, I insist on driving you. Everything I did for and with you, I did because I wanted to. Please let me see you onto the train, at least. All I wanted to do was keep you safe while you were in Saramto.”

With a tear trailing down his cheek, he gave me a quick nod. “Okay.” He turned away to wipe his cheek. “But I can’t eat right now. My stomach isn’t…”

I took the food over to the counter. “I’ll put it in a couple containers for you, then. You can eat it when you’re hungry.”

Another curt nod before he headed for the door.

Shit, had I done something wrong? Had I hurt him somehow? I’d only tried to help the entire time he’d stayed at my place, let him tell me what he wanted and when. Had I misheard him at some point?

With the containers in my hand, I headed for the foyer and grabbed my key fob before holding the door open for him. It was time to send him on his way, no matter how much my lion objected. Because Knox wasn’t mine. I doubted he ever would be.