CHAPTER 14 #2
He chuckles and shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t know, and I never really cared how they felt about it. I went there to learn and that was it.”
“A lot of parents would rather you go to college and get a degree. Did yours have a problem with your choice?”
Knox shoots me a lopsided smile. “They were happy I found a way to make my art work for me,” he admits, “at least, eventually. Once I was allowed to work on skin, my dad was the first person in my chair.”
My eyes go wide as I consider if I would do the same if it were Wilde. I wouldn’t even hesitate, so I guess I can’t be too surprised.
“That’s amazing,” I gush.
“You’d do the same thing if it were Wilde,” he says it off the cuff like knowing that about me doesn’t mean everything.
“I would,” I whisper. I clear my throat and put my silverware on my plate neatly, suddenly feeling shy. “Thank you, dinner was delicious.”
“Thank you for joining me and trusting me with your time,” his words are soft, like a caress.
I know he means them with everything he is. When I glance over at him, I meet his mossy eyes filled with sincerity and an intensity which holds me captive.
“Do you want me to take you back, or did you save a little room for dessert? We could eat in the living room and relax?”
Fuck. He’s looking at me with so much hope. I don’t want to let him down. Honestly, I don’t want to let myself down either.
Even though he’s giving me an obvious out, I find I don’t want to take it. I’m not ready for the night to be over quite yet.
I cross my arms across my chest and make a face like I need to think about this very serious question. My tone is flirtatiously skeptical, “What did you make for dessert?”
Knox’s grin is wide, practically ear to ear, as amusement dances in his eyes. “Tiramisu,” he tells me. “It’s a favorite of mine. How about you?”
My mouth waters and I eye the man next to me. There’s no way I’m passing up tiramisu. How did he know one of my favorite desserts? It’s one of the few things he didn’t ask about when it came to food.
“I do love tiramisu,” I offer. While my words are simple, it feels as if there’s a lot unsaid beneath them.
“Perfect,” he rasps, his eyes flicking down to my lips.
For a moment, my entire body hums with the thought of him kissing me.
It would be so easy. All he would need to do is close the distance between us and press his lips against mine.
As our breathing deepens and synchs up, I find it’s the only thing I can think about. I desperately want him to kiss me.
I watch his face contort with effort for a moment as he tears his gaze away from me. His panting is on the verge of being erratic before he takes a few deep breaths to get himself under control.
His actions snap me out of the moment, and I’m shocked by my desire and need. Did I really want him to kiss me that badly? Would I have freaked out if he had tried? Or would I have melted into him?
I’m not sure if I want to know the answer. Or if I’ll ever find out.
Knox stands up, his movements are jerky this time as he moves through the kitchen. It doesn’t take long for him to set us up with plates of deliciousness. When he ushers me into the living room, I go willingly.
Even when we take up two opposite sides of his couch, the distance between us feels charged. Is this how it’ll always be between us? Can I survive it?
Everything feels heightened. My skin is almost too tight and the plate in my hands holding a delicious dessert is the only thing stopping me from burying my fingers in his auburn hair.
I shake off the feelings of lust which are too close to the surface and find Knox holding up his spoon towards me. After a moment of confusion, I laugh and clank my spoon against his.
“Bon appétit,” Knox declares and nods toward the tiramisu which looks delicious.
“I have to say,” I tell him after taking a bite that has me stifling a moan, “I’m very impressed by your skills in the kitchen.”
Knox smirks, the action telling me it’s not the first time he’s heard the sentiment. “It didn’t take long for me to figure out no one was going to feed me after I moved out on my own.”
I nod slowly and scrunch up my nose, “No little dinner gnomes helping you out, huh?”
“No,” he sighs, clearly affronted, “can you believe they didn’t show up? Not even once!”
I giggle as we eat our tiramisu while chatting about other desserts we love and hate. For the most part we’re on the same page, until we get to something he’s not letting go of.
“I just don’t like the way cheesecake tastes,” I defend myself.
The horror mixed with pity on Knox’s face is hilarious. “You don’t like the way it tastes,” he says absently as if it’s the wildest thing he’s ever heard.
“You don’t like chocolate,” I remind him. “It’s kind of weird, don’t you think? Who doesn’t like chocolate?”
“Usually it’s too sweet,” he insists. I shoot a pointed look at his plate where only a tiny smear of custard can be found. “That’s cocoa powder. It’s not super sweet.”
I make a humming sound and lean forward to put my equally empty plate on the coffee table. After folding my legs underneath me, I lean against the back of his couch and allow myself to sink into it. It’s comfortable; too comfortable.
I could easily see myself taking a nap on this couch. Which is a silly thought.
“If you say so,” I acquiesce. “But chocolate is life.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” he chuckles.
I can feel his eyes on me, but I allow my eyes to close without looking at him. The moment sinks into me, becoming part of me. And I let it.
Have I ever had a better night? A better date?
I can’t remember one.
When I open my eyes, I find him already looking at me. He studies me carefully. Even though his eyes are heated, I don’t feel like he expects anything from me. Most guys would after buying groceries and cooking dinner and making dessert for me.
“This is the best date I’ve ever had,” I murmur softly.
“Me too,” he agrees readily. Even though he doesn’t hesitate to agree, I believe him.
When he reaches for me, I don’t fight him as he pulls me across the couch cushions. Being close to him doesn’t scare me. No, it lights me up from the inside out.
“Haven,” his voice sounds like a prayer, “can I kiss you?”
I study his face where his moss green eyes are locked with mine and hiding nothing. He would let me say no and he wouldn’t hold it against me or try and convince me to change my mind. The realization has a feeling of power rushing through me.
This man.
He’s dangerous as hell.
“Yes,” I whisper.
I barely get the entire word past my lips before he’s there, his eyes intently taking me in like he’s memorizing every detail. His large hands cup my face, the warmth from him seeping into me and making me tingle from head to toe.
His lips brush against mine the first time he leans into me and our mouths touch. Even though it’s a barely there touch, it feels like fireworks and calm at the same time.
How does this man exist in the contradiction and bring me along for the ride?
With our lips barely touching, my eyes open to meet his. We breathe together, one deep breath before what is holding us apart shatters. The second kiss is all lips, tongue, and teeth. It’s not on the edge of losing control, it’s past the line and then some.
Knox kisses me with the taste of possession on his lips. I’ve never been kissed like this. And I never want it to stop.
My hands cling to him while he pulls me flush against him, his grip telling me just how much he wants to never let me go. I’m lost to the kiss, but I’ll have to come up for air eventually. We both will.
We just don’t need to right this moment. And not the next one either.
As we kiss, our hands explore gently but with purpose. I feel the muscles of his chest and the way his body expands when he takes a breath. He holds me against him, my curves molding against his body and fitting like it was always meant to be.
Soon I’ll have to go back to Safe Home, but right now, in this moment nothing matters except the two of us and the way our mouths meet over and over again.
I get lost in it and part of me never wants to be found.