Chapter 23 – Knox
twenty-three
Knox
“This is nice.” Her voice is soft and carefree, her cheeks pink from the wine, and most likely from the conversation we just had. My cock is harder than it’s ever been my whole life.
“It is,” I agree, nodding. “One of the best nights I’ve had in a while.”
She slices her meatball down the middle. “One of?” she teases me. “I guess I’ll take it.”
“You should.” I pick up my own fork. “Lately, the best nights have all had you involved in them.” She looks up at me, the brown hair behind her ear falling forward, and I want to reach over the table and put it back behind her ear. “Even the times you were mean to me.”
She tucks the hair I so want to touch behind her ear. “Why didn’t you tell Kirby?” I ask her and she shrugs.
“What was I going to say, your teammate, Knox, thought I wanted to suck his dick?” she asks me, and I want to cringe at the words that came out of my mouth.
“What would that have done? It would have led to the two of you having a heated conversation, and then it would have put a strain on your friendship.” She shrugs.
“It wasn’t worth it. I got my digs in, so I was happy with that. ”
“That you did.” I take a bite of my steak. “You called my dick small.”
“Minuscule,” she corrects me. “I was wrong on that too.”
I laugh. Fuck, this woman can make me laugh. “Good to know.”
We spend the rest of the evening asking each other questions and when the bill comes, I’m sad to see the night come to an end. She reaches for her purse. “Should we split the bill?”
“Get the fuck out of here,” I retort. “The man always pays on the date.”
“Technically, is this a date?” she asks me.
“It’s a fucking date.” I point at her. “I showed up, you showed up.”
“But you showed up not expecting me and vice versa.”
“We still sat and ate dinner together.” I grab the black card out of my wallet and put it down in the sleeve that holds the bill.
“So you are a traditionalist?” she asks and my eyebrows pinch together. “Like, you pay for dates.”
“I guess you can call me that,” I confirm. “If we go out for coffee, you can get that bill.”
“So if it’s more than twenty dollars, it’s your bill to take?”
“Yes.” I nod as the server comes over to grab the brown leather sleeve and returns a couple of seconds later with a pen and the bill for me to sign. I add the tip in there and sign before taking my card and putting it back in my wallet.
She pushes out from the table, turning and grabbing her black jacket and slipping it on. I pick up my own jacket, putting it on as she bends to grab her purse. Her hair covers her face while she does it. “I can’t believe we’ve been here for almost four hours.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.” I stand next to her and she laughs, and I want to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her to me. The restaurant that was full not too long ago is now slowly clearing out.
“I have to order my ride.” She starts to open her purse when I take her hand in mine.
“I’ll drive you home,” I tell her, not wanting the night to end.
“You don’t have to do that.” Our hands fall but neither of us lets the other one go.
“Let’s go.” I turn to head toward the door, her hand in mine.
“Thank you for coming,” the hostess says to us.
“Have a great night,” Kylie replies as I push the door open with my free hand and step out.
I have to let her hand go to grab the ticket in my pocket to hand it to the valet.
I turn around to see her standing there looking as gorgeous as ever, both of her hands holding her purse.
“It’s getting cold.” She shivers and I smirk.
“If you want me to hug you, all you have to do is ask.” She rolls her eyes and I’m about to finally get her in my arms when my SUV pulls up to the curb.
“Saved by the bell.” She walks to the SUV and I pull open the door for her.
I hold out my hand for her to take it to get inside, even though I know she doesn’t need it, but I want to touch her anyway.
“Where was this man when I first met you?” she asks me, holding onto my hand as she gets in.
I laugh. “I probably wouldn’t have slept with you if you were this nice.
” She laughs as I close the door and walk around to the front to the driver’s side door.
I get in as she is buckling her seat belt. “Do you need me to put my address in?” she asks me and I shake my head.
“I think I know where you live now.” I pull out and she looks out the window as I make my way to her house. Neither of us say anything, the tension in the cab is thick and my body feels like a firework being lit and burning to shoot off.
I pull into the visitor parking spot. “Do you want to come up?” she asks. I can see she’s nervous, which she’s never been before.
“I would love to, but the sitter is waiting for me.” I look at the clock and see it’s almost midnight. “I told her I would be home by ten.” She laughs as her hand reaches for the handle and I turn off the car. She looks at me confused. “I’ll walk you to your door though.”
“I can make it to my door,” she assures me. “I didn’t even finish the bottle of wine.” She actually stopped after her second glass and then stuck to water the rest of the night.
I don’t bother answering her. Instead, I just open my door and step out.
By the time I get to the back of the SUV, she’s walking to me.
“You really don’t have to come in,” she insists and I put my hand at the base of her back and usher her into her apartment building.
“You could have watched me walk in from outside.”
I press the up button on the elevator, and the door opens right away.
She steps in and presses her button. She watches me walk in and my whole body feels like it’s about to explode.
She looks over at me as the doors close and I move to her, grabbing her chin in my hand and pushing her back to the side.
Her hand comes up and holds the back of my neck as I tilt my head to the side, and our mouths open for each other.
The kiss is frantic, and I can taste the sweetness of the dessert she had on her lips.
My hand drops from her chin and my other hand comes up to hold her neck, feeling her pulse under my finger soaring as much as mine.
Her hand moves from the back of my neck to the back of my head.
I move her to the corner of the elevator, my hand still on her neck.
Her eyes open when my mouth leaves hers.
“All night long.” I say, right before I step into her open legs, pushing her against the corner.
Her hand is now holding onto the railing on the elevator wall.
“Fucking torture.” My spare hand comes out to grab her ass and pull her to me, my knees bending so my cock is right on her pussy.
“All I wanted was to fucking taste you.” I bend to kiss her neck and her hand comes up beside her head.
I slip my hand in hers as I take her mouth for another kiss.
My hand moves from her ass, up to her side, and inside her jacket, cupping her breast. I feel her nipple pebbled under the material.
The ping of the elevator doesn’t stop us from devouring each other. The doors open and she finally lets me go. “Are you sure you can’t stay?” she asks as the doors close and the elevator moves, going down again.
“Yeah,” I confirm, my hand coming up to hold her face as I kiss her, more gently this time.
The door opens again, and I look to see that we went back to the lobby.
I move away from her, going over to press the button to her floor.
She moves to stand beside me, and I feel her fingers near mine.
My pinky grabs onto hers, just to hold it.
When the doors open, she steps out and I follow her.
“You really don’t have to walk me all the way.”
“I really do,” I reply as she takes out her key and opens her door.
“There, you have officially walked me to my door.” She looks up at me.
I move my hand up and I tuck the hair I wanted to touch before behind her ear.
“I did,” I say softly and bend my head to kiss her lips, letting her go, even though I don’t want to.
I walk back to the elevator and it’s still there.
I hold up my hand, smile at her, and get in.
I press the lobby button and back up, leaning against the back of the elevator and look up.
I wait for the doors to close, but her arm shoots out to stop it.
She comes in and jumps up, just like Nora does, and I catch her.
“One more kiss.” She wraps her arms around my neck, and I turn to push her back to the elevator.
I kiss her like I don’t think I’ve ever kissed anyone before, our tongues fighting with each other.
The doors open and she unwraps her legs from around me and slides down, her hands going to my chest. “You have to go,” she says and pushes me, and I just smirk at her, walking out of the elevator and into the lobby.
“Drive safe.” She smiles as her whole face lights up, holding up her hand as the doors close.
I look up to see the number stop on her floor before I turn to walk back to my car.
I shake my head as I get behind the wheel and head home. I pull up and walk in, Tessa is sitting on the couch, her phone in her hand. “Sorry I’m late,” I apologize.
“No worries.” She gets up. “Nora said it was okay for her to sleep in your bed,” she informs me, and I nod my head at her as she leaves. I close up the house and walk up to my bedroom.
Nora is in the middle of the bed and I see Tessa put pillows beside her so she doesn’t fall off.
I change into pajamas and get into bed, the whole time all I can do is think of Kylie.
Think of her smile, think of that fucking kiss.
For the first time in a long fucking time, I feel fucking good about things.
I drift off to sleep and wake up the next day when Nora pokes my back. I turn my head to her and open my eyes. “You’re snoring,” she complains, my phone in her hand, “and I’m hungry.” My head falls back on the pillow. “Can we have breakfast?”
“Yeah,” I say, getting up.
I’m leaning against the counter downstairs in the kitchen when I pick up my phone and pull up her text thread. All I’ve thought about all morning fucking long was the date. It was one of the best dates I’ve had. Hands down. Even better than when I was younger.
Me:
Thank you for last night.
I press send and I wonder if she is even going to answer.
480-502-7755:
You paid for dinner. It should be me thanking you for last night.
Me:
I really had the best time.
480-502-7755:
Did you? I am pretty amazing.
I laugh because I can hear her voice in my head.
Me:
That you are. That you fucking are.
I press send and then pick up the game we played last night.
Me:
Favorite food of all time?
I take a sip of my coffee, waiting for her to answer.
480-502-7755:
Something that is edible or not? ;)
I chuckle as I look over at the couch and see the kids just lounging around.
Me:
You have to chew… and swallow.
480-502-7755:
Probably burgers, but I also love Italian food. You?
I’m about to answer her when she types back.
480-502-7755:
You have to chew and swallow it.
I shake my head as I type my answer.
Me:
Burgers are a great choice. But probably a good steak with a loaded potato.
“Dad,” I hear Vincent call my name and look up at him, “what’s for dinner?”
I laugh. “Buddy, we haven’t even eaten breakfast or lunch yet,” I tell him, putting my phone down.
“I know,” he says, “but I was wondering.”
“Not sure.” I turn and put my cup in the sink. “I’m going to go shower and then we can head out to the park,” I say and then rush up the stairs, the whole time wondering what it would be like if she was here.