Chapter 13 Knox
THIRTEEN
KNOX
I check my watch again, and it’s only been five minutes.
Fuck. I stand up, too agitated to sit still.
“I’m going to go make sure Savi didn’t get hung up. Sometimes the guys in here can be pricks.”
“Good call,” Travis says.
“Thanks, Knox.” Jake’s eyes meet mine in a silent appreciation before returning to his conversation with the others.
I head through the crowd with my eyes on the lookout for anyone with dark hair in case she got stopped on the way to the restrooms. When I finally get to the hallway, I don’t see any sign of her.
Deciding to wait it out, I shove my hands in my slacks and keep my eyes peeled on the women’s restroom door.
A raven-haired girl appears out of nowhere by my side, and for a second, I think it might be Savi, but she smells all wrong, and the energy is off.
“Knox Stone, right?” Her lips are painted bright red, but it doesn’t look half as good on her as it did on Savi. Her dark eyes skim down my body before stepping closer.
I immediately step away, but she’s got me trapped in the corner at the end of the hallway.
“Yeah, that’s me. I’m just waiting for someone. She should be out any second.” I glance around her to keep my eye on the ladies’ restroom. Two blonde girls walk by and see us before they walk into the bathroom, giggling.
“How about you ditch the girl in the bathroom, and you buy me a drink instead?” Her finger trails down the front of my shirt, and I grab her wrist to stop it from going further.
“How about you take your hands off of me and find someone else to fuck for the night?”
“Oooh, I like them feisty,” she purrs, flinging her arms around my neck before I can stop her.
“Unbelievable,” I hear a voice I know all too well filter out behind the woman I’m trying to escape. “Real fucking classy, Stone. Don’t think for one second she’s coming back to my place,” she says, turning and walking away.
“Get the fuck off of me,” I growl, finally breaking free. “Savi, wait!” I quickly catch up to her and place my hand on her elbow to stop her. “It’s not what you think.”
“It’s your life. You can fuck whoever the hell you want. Just don’t make me watch.” She turns to go, and I grab her hand, pulling her with me as I head to the exit door closest to me. We step out into the side alley that leads to the back parking lot.
“What are you doing? Just let me go back inside.” She moves to go around me, and I block her.
“Not until we talk and you let me explain myself.”
“Not much to explain,” she huffs out, crossing her arms over her chest. “The girls in the bathroom made it perfectly clear how cozy you guys were in the hallway. I just needed to see it for myself, which you didn’t disappoint by the way.
I just wish you had enough respect for me not to do it as soon as I leave, taking the first opportunity that comes your way. ”
“You’ve got it all wrong.” I shake my head slowly and walk toward her until she’s trapped against the side of the building. Once I’m this close to her, everything I try so hard to keep hidden wants to pour out.
“What part did I get wrong? The fact that you see me as a little sister? Or maybe it’s the fact that you couldn’t stand Jett flirting with me, but had no problem turning around and having some girl’s hands all over you?”
I stare at the beauty in front of me, and damn if her anger isn’t sexy as hell. “Are you finished?”
“Maybe. Give me a second, and I’m sure you will do something in the next five minutes to piss me off again.”
I bite back a smile at her ferocious stare and sassy mouth.
“Let’s start with the girl. I was waiting for you to come out of the bathroom, so I could walk you back to the table. She appeared out of nowhere and came onto me. If you had paid more attention, you would have seen me do my damndest to get her claws off of me.”
She bites her lip as my words sink in. I slowly release it with my thumb as I skim over her bottom lip, feeling myself slowly forget all the reasons why I told myself I shouldn’t touch her again.
“And then there’s the sister part.” I step closer until I’m flush against pure heaven before taking her face in my hands as my fingers sink into her hair.
“I said that to keep the guys away from you. I know it was a selfish bastard move, and I have no right to do that, but I can’t stand the idea of them touching you.
Trust me when I tell you, the thoughts I have about you—the things I want to do to you…
” I breathe. “They aren’t even remotely in the vicinity of being brotherly. ”
We are so close now our noses are touching as I inhale her sweet vanilla and coconut scent. When her lips part on a soft sigh, I break another rule as I dive into what could ultimately destroy me.
“Fuck,” I growl, crushing my lips to hers and taking what I’m not strong enough to resist.
As soon as our lips meet, it’s like two electrified currents that finally meet, blending into one as the energy intensifies. Her lips are soft and full as they move over mine, tasting so damn good that I don’t ever think I’ll be sated.
When her tongue seeks mine, a low groan escapes me as I press her up against the wall. My hand slides down to cup her ass before gripping her thigh and raising it slightly as she molds against me like the perfect fit of a puzzle.
Her soft moan sets my body into a frenzy as it craves the one thing it’s wanted for years.
“Fuck, sunshine. What are you doing to me?” I whisper painfully as I tug her bottom lip before releasing it.
Our breaths intertwine as I put my forehead to hers.
“That was…” She struggles to search for the words as we both try to grasp what just happened. “I can see why the girls maul you in hallways. Kisses like that should be illegal.”
“They wouldn’t know. That’s another thing I don’t do.”
“What? Kiss?” She pulls back in shock, staring at me in disbelief. “You don’t kiss? Like ever?”
“It’s not something I do often. It’s too personal, and emotions get involved. Gives them the wrong idea.”
Which is exactly what I’m doing right now to her—again. All because I’m a selfish fuck who can’t stay away.
My fingers come up and touch her soft hair, letting a piece slide through my hand before I drop it to my side and back away.
“I need to get you back to your brothers before they come looking for you.” I avoid her eyes, and she must sense my change in mood.
“Oh no, you don’t, Knox Stone.” She storms over and gets in my face.
“You’re not about to shut me out again,” she says, poking me in the chest with her finger.
“Whatever it is that you think you’re doing to protect me…
you can shove it up your ass. You need to dig real deep and take a look at yourself because maybe…
just maybe, it’s you that you’re protecting.
You are so afraid of feeling anything good in your life that it’s easier to be an asshole and push me away than to admit you might actually need someone. ”
She turns and yanks the door open, walking back inside.
Her words hit me hard and are too close to home as I try to come to blows with what I’m feeling. She’s got me so twisted right now in the head, I don’t know wrong from right.
Frustrated and suddenly feeling like I have no control over my life anymore, I do what I do best and stuff down the emotions to deal with at another time or if ever, before walking back inside.
When I get back to the table, there is no sign of Savi as my eyes dart over her family, expecting to see her sitting here.
“Where did Savi go now? She was headed this way,” I frown, looking around.
“Relax, Knox,” Olivia smiles over the rim of her glass. “She’s right over there talking with your friends. You guys really need to let her breathe a bit. She’s a grown-ass woman.”
“Hey, I’ve been better lately,” Miles cuts in. “Ask Knox. He was there that night when Savi was talking to some guy, and I didn’t butt in or anything. Knox can vouch for me.”
I don’t hear a word of what Miles is yapping about because all my focus is on Savi as she sits at the booth with Hayes and Foxx. A few girls are in the mix, but I can tell from their faces that Savi is putting a dent in their plans as all eyes are on her.
Can you blame them?
Not one single girl here holds a candle to Savi.
“Sit down, Knox,” Sophia giggles, breaking me out of my trance. “Let her have some fun for a change.”
“You’re worse than we are,” Jake chuckles.
“That’s because I know how those two are.” The words squeeze by my painfully locked jaw as I force myself to sit down.
“I’m with the girls on this one,” Ryder says. “She looks like she’s having fun, and it’s not like they can do anything while we are all sitting here.”
She does look like she’s having fun.
Her smile widens as she laughs at something Foxx says.
This is my karma for touching her.
I get to sit here and watch other guys make her happy while I still have the taste of her on my lips and am nowhere near satisfied from the hunger I still feel for her.
As much as it pains me, I keep my distance. I don’t, however, hide the fact that I’m watching every move those two make as I keep a close eye on them.
Somehow, by the grace of God and another bourbon, I make it through the rest of the evening, joining in on the conversations around me when I’m not too distracted by Savi’s laughter a few tables over.
When the guys start reserving Ubers, I take care of the tab and finally walk over to get her.
“Your family is about to leave, and our Uber will be here in ten minutes,” I say, walking up to their table and completely ignoring the two idiots next to her. She meets my eyes briefly before looking away.
“Maybe I want to stay longer.” She takes another sip of her drink and makes it clear she’s still pissed at me.
Hayes and Foxx snicker into the drinks, and I shoot them a look that shuts them up.
“It’s one in the morning. I’m not letting you Uber home alone, and neither are your brothers. I could always throw you over my shoulder,” I say with a quiet threat, knowing it will get her attention.
She whips her head to meet my stare. Her eyes are ablaze with fury as she starts to speak.
“I could take her home?” Hayes says, cutting Savi off and doing his damnedest not to smile. He knows he’s pushing my buttons and is completely enjoying himself in the process.
“That’s okay,” Savi laughs softly, losing the tension in her body as she smiles at Hayes. She knows damn well what he is up to. All three of them are having way too much fun messing with my fucking head. “I should probably go. It’s way later than I thought it was, and I work tomorrow afternoon.”
“See you at the next game, lucky charm,” Hayes winks at her, and I want to punch him.
“You really want to get yourself killed, don’t you?” Foxx chuckles into his drink.
“Apparently,” I mutter just as her family appears at the table.
They say their goodbyes to my teammates, thanking us for a good time, before we walk outside to where our Ubers are waiting.
Taking a deep breath, I slide into the backseat with Savi, unsure what I’m going to be met with.
We pull away, and the silence is deafening. I can tell by her body language and avoidance of my presence that I’m her least favorite person right now.
And can you blame her?
One minute I have my hands all over her, and the next I’m pushing her away because I’m terrified of getting in too deep and not being able to pull myself out.
The drive home is so full of tension that I’m surprised the windows in the car haven’t cracked. Since the driver recognized me, I decided to keep quiet on the ride. The last thing I need is him telling the press what he heard in the back seat of his car.
Pulling out my phone to stay distracted, I text my personal assistant, letting her know I need someone to return my car by tomorrow morning. She has a spare key for matters like this and will see to it that it’s delivered.
She’s worked for me since I signed onto the Devils and is good at keeping things private and organizing my life. All I have to do is show up when she tells me to and play hockey.
When I signed with the Bolts, I made her pay worthwhile, and I wasn't surprised in the slightest when she agreed to move.
Savi glances at my phone and frowns. I can only imagine what she’s thinking.
“I was letting my assistant know I needed my car tomorrow morning,” I say, answering her unspoken questions as I pocket my phone again in my suit jacket.
“You’re free to hook up whenever you want. No one’s stopping you,” she says quietly, so we won’t be heard over the music playing through the front speakers.
A few months ago, I probably would have been setting something up for later just to blow off some steam and try to forget about the girl sitting next to me. But ever since I moved in with Savi, I’ve had no desire to look elsewhere.
“Haven’t felt the need to lately,” I say, feeling the need to tell her.
“Well, that’s unfortunate for you. Your dick may fall off from lack of action.”
My lips quirk at her feisty mouth.
“Worried about my dick, Savi?” I arch my eyebrow at her and wait for her smart retort.
“That would require caring about it in the first place,” she responds with a dig at me as we pull up into her driveway. She’s out the door the minute the car stops, as I watch her quickly take the stairs up to the front porch.
I thank the driver and hand him a hundred-dollar tip for probably the most uncomfortable ride he’s ever had before following Savi inside to face whatever is waiting for me.
I know I’ll never be able to sleep if I don’t get a few things off my chest. She may never talk to me again after this, but she deserves to know some truth about me.