Captured Love (The Crestwood University #3)

1 SELENE

A loud yawn falls from my lips before I can bring my hands to my face to cover my mouth. I reach over to feel for Knox, but I come up empty-handed.

What the hell? Did he leave? Did something happen? But then I hear another string of creative curses coming from outside this room, and I can’t help but smirk.

I open my eyes and slide out of Knox’s bed. I feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I think about what we did last night. I know that I will never forget it. Instinctively, I grab one of Knox’s hoodies draped over the chair and pull it on to ward off the draft in the room.

As I walk down the stairs and enter the kitchen, I find a scene that can best be described as pure chaos. Knox is standing at the stove, a spatula in one hand and frustration on his face. There’s a burnt pancake in the pan, and the eggs... well, I’m not entirely sure what he was trying to do with those.

Blaise, Asher, and Wilder are all there, leaning against the counters and offering absolutely no help. Instead, they’re talking shit in between their laughter filling the kitchen. And my poor boyfriend is stuck, glaring at the stove.

“What are you doing?” I ask as I try to keep my voice leveled.

Knox looks up at me and narrows his gaze. “Making you breakfast, obviously.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re burning breakfast,” I correct him, trying to keep a straight face.

That’s all it takes for his roommates to completely lose it. Blaise is practically crying with laughter as he clutches his stomach. Wilder has his phone out, no doubt filming this entire trainwreck to share online. And Asher just shakes his head as he mutters, “Stick to hockey, man.”

But Knox, being Knox, refuses to be defeated. He attempts to flip another pancake... and it, too, is burnt.

I can’t watch this anymore. I make my way over to the stove, gently nudging Knox out of the way. “Alright, move over. Let me show you how it’s done.”

Within minutes, I have a stack of perfect, golden pancakes on a plate with a few more cooking in the pan. The smell of success (and actual edible food) fills the kitchen, and Knox isn’t amused, although I can tell that he isn’t actually angry.

“Okay, Gordon Ramsay,” he says. “Show-off.”

I flash him a grin as I flip another pancake. “Maybe if you weren’t trying to set the apartment on fire, you’d have better results.”

Knox rolls his eyes, but I can see he’s struggling to keep a smile off his lips. “Fine, you win this round. But next time, I’m gonna make you the best damn breakfast you’ve ever had because I’m going to practice.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I tease, poking his chest with the spatula. We both stare at the batter that is now stuck to his shirt.

Wilder snatches a pancake off the top of the stack and takes a huge bite. “Mmm, Selene, these are incredible,” he mumbles around a mouthful. “You sure you don’t want to wife her up right now, Knox?”

Knox’s eyes grow wide, and I nearly drop the spatula. Blaise chokes on his coffee.

Asher jumps in to save the moment. “What Wilder means is that Selene is a catch, and you should appreciate her.” He shoots a warning glare at Wilder

“I do appreciate her. I love her.” Knox says, and when his gaze meets mine, I know that is without a shadow of a doubt.

I feel my heart skip a beat at Knox’s words. He said it so easily, so confidently, and although we’ve professed our love to one another multiple times, it still blows me away.

Knox comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist before resting his chin on my shoulder. “You know I love you,” he says just before he kisses my neck, “Even if you are a show-off in the kitchen.”

I lean back into his embrace. “I love you too. Even if you are a disaster in the kitchen.”

“Get a room, you two!” Wilder groans.

“We have a room. You’re in it,” Knox throws back with a smirk. His fingers slip under the hem of my hoodie and softly touch my stomach.

Asher clears his throat. “Okay, how about we all sit down and enjoy this delicious breakfast Selene made before it gets cold? I’m starving.”

Reluctantly, Knox releases me, and I instantly miss his touch. But the rumble of my own stomach reminds me that food is a good idea. I finish the last of the pancakes and bring the plate to the table where the guys are already seated.

As I slide into the chair next to Knox, he immediately takes my hand under the table. He gives me my hand a little squeeze and I make sure to return it.

Asher and Wilder pile their plates high with pancakes and dive in. Blaise waits for me to serve myself before reaching for the pancakes.

“Thanks for saving breakfast, Selene,” he says with a warm smile. “You’re a lifesaver.”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal. Glad I could help.”

Knox leans over to whisper in my ear. “You’re amazing, you know that? I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I murmur back.

We share a private smile before returning to our breakfast and the conversation the guys have started while we were temporarily in our own world. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.