Deal with the Devil

15. Chapter fourteen

Chapter fourteen:

Amelia

She slammed the bathroom door shut behind her and locked the single stall. Her heart tossed itself against her ribcage angrily as she stumbled back into the cool wood of the bathroom walls. Amelia clenched her eyes shut and put her palms over them. What am I doing? Her legs trembled as she tried to fight off her panic. Amelia was always a fighter. Yet, ever since she met him, she’d done nothing but run from him. Her brain was a scrambled mess.

He was really here and confessing he’d never stopped wanting her. It was everything she wanted and nothing at the same time. Amelia Armstrong knew if she went back out there and he asked her to come home with him, she’d say yes. It was weakness. It was desire. It was wrong. She’d just started to get her life back. Work was good, her writing was taking off…and here she was having a panic attack in the bathroom of her boss’s pub.

“What the fuck is wrong with me?” she hissed under her breath, pushing off the wall. Amelia twisted to the sink and mirror and stared into it. Was she really ready to just throw it away? If she followed Knox, she’d be throwing away her regular, safe life.

Before she had another moment to pick at her life choices and what she was doing with them, the door the bathroom clicked open. She gasped, stumbling back. “Occu—…Knox? I fucking locked that door.”

He smirked, holding up a paper clip that he tossed into the trash. Shutting the door with his boot, he smoothly locked it with a flick of his wrist. “You should know better…if you run, I’ll chase you.”

Amelia stepped back, her spine pressed to the frosty oak. The sound of her heels clicking against the tile and his boots crunching over the floor echoed in her head. He stood in front of her again. Backed against the wall, a flutter of nerves brewed in her chest and stomach. Knox set his cane against the sink before pressing his hands to the wall, caging her in.

Amelia swallowed the lump in her throat. “Does your rule still stand?”

“Which rule, pet?” he chuckled darkly. Back at his endless teasing, his lips brushed hers. She was putty, malleable and needy. Amelia pressed her body against his, soaking in the heat brewing beneath the fabric of his clothes. All thoughts of being sensible and getting her life back slipped through her fingers. She didn’t want to be sensible. She didn’t want her boring, living on a couch and working to write, life back. She didn’t want to be stuck full of regret. No…she wanted him and all the bad things he came with.

“That you’ll fuck me where you catch me?” She arched a brow, panting for air.

Knox straightened, looking to the small five by five space before inspecting her face. “Pet, not a lot of leg room in here.”

“Well, I mean, it was your rule. Not your fault I chose a small space to be caught in,” she retorted. “Are you saying The Knox Zrazduel is afraid of a little tight quarters?”

Something switched in his expression. It went from teasing to sharp in a moment. A feral hunger she’d only seen in his eyes when he chased her filled his gaze. Knox snapped his body against her, pressing her hard into the wall of the bathroom. “Very well, pet…but know I gave you the chance of walking out of here without a bruised pussy. You chose this.”

“Oh no, what ever am I going to do?” she teased, knowing full well the situation she was getting herself into…and fuck she wanted it badly. Knox ripped her away from the wall and twisted her in a flurry. Her legs nearly crumpled out from her. He didn’t let her get away with any of it. He kicked her heels apart and tugged at her hips. She was bent, hands slapped against the wall, her backside pressed against him. Gloved hands roughly shoved her dress up her legs and over her backside. He popped the elastic of her panties against her for good measure.

“Your fucking mouth,” he sighed dreamily, sloppily shoving her underwear down her legs to her ankles. Leather covered fingers brushed against her skin and she broke out in glorious goose bumps. Amelia groaned. Head dangling forward to where her hair curtained her vision. He pulled his palm back and spanked her hard across both cheeks. She yelped. His fingers soothed the harsh sting with soft, tender brushes across her hot skin. “I’ve missed it.”

The response and bite she had lined up on her tongue was swallowed as something was shoved in her mouth. She tried to spit it out, only to have a hand clamped over her lips. It was a silk handkerchief, and it tasted of laundry detergent. Amelia grumbled against the silk in her teeth and the glove over her lips.

“I know, you want to say, ‘if you missed it so much, why’d you shut me up?’ And the answer is quite simple, pet. I’m not going to stop fucking you even if someone came to investigate the pretty sounds coming from your mouth. So, it’s best not to make a scene. It is… your party , after all. Wouldn’t want everyone to know the girl of the hour begged me to fuck her in the bathroom.”

Amelia snorted, using a hand to shove his away and rip the silk from her mouth. “I did not beg. ”

“Put the silk back, pet, or your pussy will be left to ache and I’ll give your mouth something to keep busy.” Amelia grunted and huffed but stuffed the silk back in her mouth. He cupped her mouth again, “Good pet.”

She realized at that moment, he’d spent the time arguing with her to pull his cock out. Her core buzzed at the touch of his tip against her slit. Eyes rolling back, she groaned heavily against the fabric muffling her sounds. He chuckled, slipping through her wetness. “So, fucking wet. For someone so hellbent on fighting me, you sure do want this bad enough.”

Amelia pressed back against him, moaning at the feeling of him sinking into her again. He was wrong about one thing…she wasn’t fighting him. This banter of theirs? It was foreplay. He knew it. She knew it. Their biting words and running and tussling was nothing but a plea… take me, have me, make love to me, please. It wasn’t a fight. It was a beg. He was right about that part ; she had begged him.

Knox let out a heavy breath behind her as he sunk fully into her. His hips, partially covered by his belt and pants, pressed into her cheeks. The glorious bite of the metal hardware with the smooth brush of his leather made her insides clench. Knox let go of her mouth to grab her hips. He started slow, grinding mostly. He used his cock to tease her until she slapped her hands against the wall. Then, he bucked sharply. Pulling back then slamming forward, their skin made wet, lewd smacking sounds as he gave her what she’d wanted.

Not just his cock or pleasure that made stars form in her eyes…he gave her him . Knox bent over her and kissed at any inch of her he could reach. One of his hands dropped around her and clumsily circled her clit. His thrusts weren’t uniform, but chaotic and needy. He whimpered incoherently before finally forming words. “That’s my girl, fuck, I missed how your cunt just milks me. How wet you are for me, how much you like my cock. You can run all you like, Amelia. You can try and escape me, but I will always catch you. Because I know you want me to catch you. You want me to press you into the grass and fuck you for all your worth, then have you sit in my lap while I work or you read. I don’t care, I’m not leaving without you. I should have never let you get out of that car.”

Amelia choked on the fabric as tears welled in her eyes. A stinging sensation bit into her chest while her body clenched down around him.

“You like that? Does my obedient pet want that? Of course, you do.” He senselessly overwhelmed her clit to the point of her world turning into a drunk whirlpool. Her legs trembled as warmth dribbled down the inside of her thighs. She was inches from collapsing. Amelia knew for a fact if she dropped, he’d simply fuck her against the tile floor. “Because you’re mine, Amelia. You’re mine and you know it and you like it.”

The confession was the only thing keeping her from shattering. She stumbled forward and he moved with her. He grabbed her by the stomach and the mouth, guiding her closer to the wall as her internal walls fluttered around him. Tears streaked down her cheeks as the pleasure and pain of being taken so sharply in a cramped space washed over her. He pressed her into the walls, fucking up into her. Her toes tingled as he relentlessly chased his own orgasm. Every inch of her was limp and pliable. He pulled the silk from her mouth before pressing the side of her face against the wall. Knox kissed her cheek hard.

The sound of him breathing heavily, grunting, and hissing her name made her insides tingle. She confessed with a hoarse throat. “Knox.”

“Yes, pet?” He croaked against the shell of her ear. Warmth spread through her as he spilled into her. Amelia panted, eyes fluttering closed. His lips were curled as he kissed down her ear, across her cheek, and to her jaw. “That’s a good pet, take every drop, I know you miss feeling your pussy full of me.”

She snickered, breathlessly. “I know you miss filling me.”

He groaned, hips rutting against her again as one last rope of his cum painted her walls. “I do.”

“Because you’re mine, Knox. You’re mine and you know you like how much I frustrate you.” The words fell out of her with little mercy.

Knox softened within her, slipping from between her drenched lips. There they were, two completely exhausted people, fully aware of who they were to each other. Knox wanted her, missed her, needed her. It wasn’t sensible or reasonable or good. This would end badly. She knew more than anything that being with Knox Zrazduel was going to ruin her…and how fucking glorious it would be in the meantime.

Slowly, as if testing the water of both their leg strengths, Knox guided them away from the wall. He helped her back into her panties. Not before he affectionately brushed his fingertips against her glossy cunt he’d so lovingly painted for her. Then, he pulled her panties back up onto her hips and flattened her dress back down against her legs.

“Tonight, after the party, we’re going back to your sister’s and everyone is packing a bag.” He wrung out the silk before stuffing it into a pocket.

“What? Why?” She furrowed her brow.

“I’ll explain later, I’d rather not ruin your party.” He took ahold of her chin once more and kissed her fully. A real kiss. One that seared her insides and left her wanting more. She grabbed him by the shirt and walked him against the door. He grinned into her kiss, happily holding her sides.

A loud knock broke them up from the other side of the door. “Can you hurry up? Some of us have the bladder of a pregnant chicken!”

Amelia squawked, apologizing through the door and scrambling to grab his cane from the sink. Knox took it from her with a smirk. A cold, unfortunate chill ran down Amelia’s spine. She knew who was on the other side of the door. As he pulled open the door, Penny Calhoon sighed, punching her sister in the arm…then froze. She locked gazes with him with abject horror. He bowed his head to her, “Mrs. Calhoon.”

He ducked out into the pub, Amelia in tow, knowing full well that Penny was going to have words for her when this was over.

“Are. You. Out. Of. Your. Mind! Amelia Armstrong, I ought to beat you upside the head with a beer bottle! Why the fuck was Knox, the guy who kidnapped you, leaving the bathroom with you? Clearing having ravished you!”

Amelia rushed to check her hair in the small mirror she kept in her purse and her sister knocked the compact back into the bag. Amelia huffed, “Rude.”

“ Answer the fucking question !” Penny asked in that high pitch yet whispered frenzy, tossing her hands out to the side.

“He didn’t kidnap me,” Amelia warned, closing the clutch.

“He almost kidnapped me then, fine, either way, the very bad, cartoonishly villainous fiend who held you hostage for twenty-four hours was having sex with you in the pub bathroom! Have you lost all your marbles? Because last I checked, you’re not supposed to fuck the guy who chased us through the fucking forest.” Penny jabbed a long, accusatory finger at Amelia’s collar. “I swear on Mom and Dad’s grave, Amelia. I thought this book was supposed to help you work through what happened?”

“I did. It was. Partially,” Amelia flushed, brushing her hair back off her shoulder.

“This is why you needed to go to therapy!” Penny hissed lowly.

“I know! And you’re right, I do. But that’s a separate issue.” Amelia pulled her sister further away from everyone into the back booth.

“Amelia, please tell me that was just a whoopsie thing and you’re not doing something you’ll regret.” Penny crossed her arms, leaning against the glossy wood of the booth. Amelia had been on Knox’s arm, sipping water and speaking with Maevin when Penny came out like a bull on a war path. She was ripped away from the purple fiend and dragged across the floor by her taller twin. Amelia could have stopped her if she wanted but… she knew she deserved the lecture. It wouldn’t do her any good, but she’d earned it fair and square.

“Penny, I know you’re going to hate it.”

“Then why are you doing it!” Penny dropped her hands, smacking them against her thighs. “You saw what happened to me. You watched what he put me through. You know what going for the bad guys does to you. So why are you actively trying to hurt yourself?”

Amelia sighed, hanging her head. “Penny, I know this is a bad idea. You have to understand that I know I’m being ridiculous and putting myself in harms way. Knox is bad news…but I want him. And I didn’t stop you from learning your lesson with Rick. You have the life you want, a kid you love, a good house and job. You like your life, it’s a safe life, and I love that for you.”

Penny reached out taking her hands. Their entangled palms swung together between them. “Amelia, you can have a safe life too. It’s okay to choose that.”

“I don’t want that .” Amelia glanced up and saw the recognition settling into Penny’s eyes. “Look, it might be foolish, and I’m probably going to get hurt. But since I got back, I’ve wanted nothing more than to go back to him. And sure, I might get over him if I take the safe road. I can go back to being the author who lives on your couch and works in a bookstore who never puts a toe out of line…but that’s not my life. You know it. I’ve got something that’s constantly wanting to be let out. Before, writing helped me get it out, but it’s not enough anymore.”

Penny stared at her twin with a sad look that grew sadder with every moment. Her lower lip trembled, “I’m not going to be able to convince you, am I?”

Amelia shook her head. “I love you, Penny, and I do appreciate your concern, but no.”

“He’s going to get you killed.” She lowered her voice to a grave tone, “Rick nearly got me kidnapped or worse…Knox? He’s much, much worse, you know that right?”

Amelia shrugged softly, “Won’t know till I try.”

Penny ripped her hands away, cupping her palms to her mouth. This reaction wasn’t about Amelia. It was about Penny. Her sister had confessed, time and time again, if she could take it all back, she wouldn’t do it again. She loved Brayden with all her heart. He was the reason she dealt with Rick for years. Penny wouldn’t trade her son for anything…except for a redo. She would give him up if she could go back and ignore Rick. They’d spent so many nights, after Brayden was sick or cleaning after Rick, talking about it. Penny regretted her husband.

Even if Knox ripped out her heart and they ended up in a gulf of flames…Amelia was sure she wouldn’t regret it like Penny did Rick. There was something in her chest that told her that she’d only regret it if she didn’t try.

“Ladies, I do apologize, but…we’ve got to leave.”

Knox appeared to her side, offering her and Penny water bottles. Amelia glared at him, snatching her bottle. “You said after the party.”

“I apologize, but the timetable has significantly moved up.” He showed her a text message. Her heart stopped as she looked at a screenshot of her, Brayden, and Penny walking through the park. It was a paparazzi image, like it was taken by a bird in a tree. He flipped to another image and showed a picture of Brayden going to school.

Amelia stumbled to his side, letting him show her a few others. All images from a bird’s view, all of them living their lives. Then it stopped on an image of her in front of the sandwich shop, staring off at the casino. “Wha—where did you get these?”

“I can explain more at home. But we’re going to go grab the child now, pack bags, and you’ll spend the weekend with me at a minimum.” His tone said there was likely an extension in her future.

“I have work on Sunday, I can’t just…disappear with you into the woods.”

Knox glanced up at her, tucking his phone into his jacket. “Time to put in some vacation hours, Ms. Armstrong. Because you’ll be working on nothing but writing for the time being from the safety of my office.”

“But—”

“End of discussion,” he barked.

“Whoa! Don’t talk to her like that!” Penny snapped.

“You too, Ms. Calhoon. Best inform your boss you’ll be out for the next few days. Brayden will be missing school.” Knox stared Penny down with a sharp expression.

“What does this have to do with Brayden?” Penny paled.

“Penny, I’m so sorry,” Amelia blurted out.

“What did you do!” Penny hissed, glaring at her own twin.

“She didn’t,” Knox sighed, motioning at someone behind them. Maevin saddled up beside Penny, linking an arm with her. “Rick did. As I said, I’ll explain in the car. Let us go before I have to take you kicking and screaming.”

Amelia glared at him, “You wouldn’t.”

He slid up close, nose to nose with her. “Out of everyone, pet, you should know what little shame I have when it comes to you. Now. Get. In. The. Car.”

She huffed, taking the water bottle meant for Penny and stomped past him. “Let me at least let Franny and Eloise know we’re leaving.”

Maevin seemed to convince Penny to leave her station by the booth while Knox followed Amelia to meet up with her boss and agent. He was at her hip when she thanked Eloise and Franny for the after party. There was only another thirty minutes anyway. Eloise sent her home with snacks for the road and Brayden, and they were out into the night. His extended town car sat at the curb with the ever-expressionless John at the door. Penny and Maevin were inside.

Amelia waited till the door was shut before ripping to Knox. “Now, what is all this about?”