17
I continued to lay, still panting, on the counter for several minutes as Knox cleaned me and set my bikini bottoms back into place.
I nearly whimpered at the contact of the cloth against my now extra sensitive skin.
He then helped me stand back up, my legs slightly unsteady beneath me as they still slightly shook - only making Knox smirk in satisfaction.
Liam and Sean shot knowing looks between them when Knox and I had walked out of that bathroom. I tried my best to stifle the rising embarrassment and played innocent - hoping to avoid addressing it at all costs. Thankfully, neither of them said anything when we joined them.
If I felt clingy before, it was only more pronounced now. I now sat perched on Knox's lap as he sat on the bar stool, his fingers lazily grazing my hip in small circles. I leaned my back against his chest, my body heavy and tired as I sunk against him.
Each blink gradually became more and more of a struggle, my eyes desiring nothing more than to stay closed. My breathing evened out and grew heavier as I snuggled even more into him. I was seconds away from unconsciousness when his chest rumbled against me as he spoke.
"Nah. I've been thinking about dropping out. Competing hasn't been worth it lately." He said, replying to whatever they were talking about.
My eyes blinked rapidly. I had been so zoned out, I was at a complete loss. I would have thought he was talking about school if he hadn't just mentioned something about competing. But I didn't give it much thought before letting my eyes flutter closed again.
"Some of us don't have that luxury." Sean grit out. My eyes shot open at the sound of his fist hitting the counter. Knox's fingers stopped their gentle stroking, now gripping my hip tightly.
"I didn't say I wouldn't help you out." Knox spat back, sitting up straighter and bringing me with him.
Sean scoffed, looking away as he sucked his teeth. "I thought you of all people would know how much I fucking need this."
I glanced back and forth between the counter top and Sean - not sure completely where to look.
Knox tensed beneath me, considering Sean's words. "One more - I'll do one more but then that's it. I can't keep risking my fucking neck for this shit." He dragged his hand down his face, letting out an irritated sigh.
Sean nodded his head, his jaw still tight with anger but he relented nonetheless.
I shifted against Knox, my mind working as I tried to figure out what they could possibly be talking about.
Whatever it was, it sounded dangerous and I didn't like the sound of it.
I was tempted to ask but I also wasn't sure it was something I would want to actually know.
Maybe I would ask Knox when it was just him and I again - when he wasn't just involved in a slightly heated discussion.
I shifted again, trying to look behind me towards the pool.
Knox abruptly brought his hand up to grip my face, forcing me look at him as he whispered, "Move against me one more time, Annie, and I'll take you back to that bathroom and fuck you with more than just my finger.
" He said lowly, his words dripping with promise.
I sucked in a sharply, fighting the urge to writhe in his hold.
"Can we go swim now?" I asked softly, biting my lip as I tried to ignore the warm sensation that spread through me at his words.
I collapsed on my bed a couple hours later, having just showered all the chlorine off of me after the pool. But not even the shower could wash away the feeling that Knox's hands left imprinted all over my body.
My thighs clenched as I thought back to the bathroom and forced myself to take a steadying breath.
I had never done anything like that before - never touched myself or let anyone else touch me like that before. My mind blocked out how far the boy who assaulted me had gotten but I knew for certain that it hadn't felt anything like this.
Knox's hands were soft and caressed me so gently, I could've melted there in his arms.
I itched for more every time my mind drew back to that moment. And Knox seemed to know it too. Every look he gave me caused a burning heat to pool in the pit of my stomach and had my body tensing with desire.
I felt insatiable and so so much more attached.
I pouted the whole way when Knox eventually drove me home. Maybe he was right to call me a brat when I acted like this.
I was already camped out on the couch, flipping through channels when Serena came home with a big smile on her face. After setting her stuff down on the counter and taking her shoes off, she plopped down next to me on the couch and let out a content sigh.
"Pizza?" She asked, turning her head to look at me with a grin.
"Pizza." I nodded, grinning right back.
It had been a long day - apparently for both of us.
"How was your meeting?" I asked after Serena finished ordering our food.
"It went well. I'm hoping everything continues to go smoothly - a promotion soon would be nice." She hummed before turning her attention on me, "And what did you do all day?" She asked.
I cleared my throat, thinking. I knew I had to tell her about Knox and now was as good a time as any - I couldn't continue avoiding it. If anybody deserved to know, it would be Serena.
"The friend I made invited me to go swimming." I said, slowly easing into parts of the truth.
"Oh?" Serena held back her grin but her twinkling eyes gave away her excitement.
"His name is Knox..." I tried to ignore Serena's eyebrows shooting up in shock as I continued, "He's been helping me through all of my classes and he is also who I've been hanging out with after school - him and his two friends." I gulped, glancing nervously between Serena and my fidgeting fingers.
"Wow, Annie. That's incredible." Serena breathed out.
"He's really kind to me. I feel how much he understands me - it's comforting." I muttered, suddenly feeling shy at how overwhelming my gratitude for him was becoming.
"I am so proud of you for coming out of your shell - for continuing to pushing yourself. But also for being authentic...If Knox has been so kind to you, then I'm glad that you have him as a friend." Serena smiled warmly.
My heart nearly burst in my chest as it swelled with so much love for Serena. Emotion lodged itself in my throat as tears stung at the back of my eyes, with me trying to force both of them down.
I drove back to Liam's after dropping Annie off. Her attitude in the car had started to piss me off and it was a struggle holding back from fixing it but she had already taken enough for the day - no matter how badly I wanted to pull her over my knee.
She was a lot more to handle than I had originally bargained for and for as frustrating as it was, I was also grateful for it.
Using Sean to make me jealous - I scoffed. The worst part was that it had worked. Beneath that innocent face and those doe-eyes was a sneaky, scheming girl. And the brat was all mine.
Really it was Sean's stupid smirk that had set me off. He knew it would too which had to be exactly why he did it. If he wasn't my friend and I didn't trust his true intentions, I wouldn't have been so forgiving.
I let out a puff of smoke as I passed the joint back to Liam - grateful Annie couldn't stick around for this part.
I couldn't, wouldn't, smoke around her. Her innocence and curiosity would make it impossible.
Regardless, I couldn't bring myself to be like that in her presence anyways - it didn't feel right.
I sunk further into the cushions of the couch - my body finally fully relaxing for the first time the entire day. I shut my eyes, humming in satisfaction.
"Annie's got claws after all, huh?" Liam laughed, nudging me as he took a hit.
"Shut up." I grumbled before allowing myself to nod off.