Chapter 10 #2
Her eyes darted up from my chest, a guilty stain spreading over her cheeks.
It made me want to puff out my chest like a peacock.
I liked that she was staring at me like that.
Fuck knows I’d been watching her closely all night.
My thoughts had been a wild tangle of memories that were surfacing from the night we’d been together and fantasies that I wanted to make real with her.
I cleared my throat and moved my hands in front of my junk to hide the fact that my dick was getting hard just thinking about all the ways I wanted to fuck her.
“By the way, what’s your name? Like, your real name?”
“Knox Kincaid,” I replied.
“Good night, Knox.” She started to turn, then paused, meeting my eyes again. “Thank you so much. For letting me stay here. For…everything.”
Before I could respond, she went inside her room and shut the door. Heaving out a frustrated breath, I cupped my erection, squeezing a little as I too went inside my room.
Lying down on my back, I considered beating off before I went to sleep, but I was too damn wrung out for that.
It was too much of a hassle after the long day I’d had.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about Dani tomorrow, since we both had the day off together, but that was a problem for the morning.
* * *
The sound of a door clicking shut woke me up. I’d left my door ajar and years of sleeping in questionable places with the Army had taught me to be a light sleeper.
I glanced at my watch and cursed when I saw that it was six in the morning. It didn’t matter that I’d gone to bed earlier last night than I had in years, I wasn’t a morning person. Rolling out of bed, I didn’t bother to put on a shirt as I went and checked Dani’s room.
She wasn’t in there.
Muttering to myself, I flung open the apartment door and stalked downstairs. I was only a few minutes behind her, so I caught her, Jordan and Gwen by surprise as I showed up, half naked.
Their eyes widened in shock when they saw me. Dani half rose from her chair. “I’m so sorry if I woke you up.”
“You didn’t. What’re you doing?”
“Oh… I know these two from…” she seemed to consider what wording she wanted to use, and settled on, “the outside world. I just wanted to catch up with them. Maybe have them explain what I’ve gotten myself into.” The light hearted look slipped off her face as I glowered at her.
“That sounds like fun,” Kit said brightly, coming up from behind me. She’d materialized like a shadow by my side. “Can I talk to you?” she asked me. The pointed look she was giving me was going to make it impossible to say no.
“Sure.”
“Don’t worry about him,” Kit said, as she grabbed my arm and dragged me past the women, toward the door. “He’s always grumpy in the morning. Once noon hits he’s semi-tolerable to be around.”
I snarled in displeasure as the door was flung open and she walked me out into the morning sunlight.
It was too damn early for all of this. Shading my eyes with my hand, I glared over at my sister.
“What do you want?” I watched where I stepped since I was barefoot and there were cactus all over out here.
The last thing I needed was a cholla needle to the foot.
“How about you explain to me what happened?” She folded her arms over her chest and gave me a sharp look. “And why you didn’t tell me first?”
There was hurt in her tone, so I didn’t snap at her the way I wanted to. “It was a bit of a shock once I found out. I spent some time coming to grips with it and trying to find her again. She ran out so abruptly I didn’t have a chance to get her contact info.”
“Don’t think I don’t remember her. She was the woman who ran out of here the morning we had that meeting about what happened to Trent. I should have figured she was here with you. Only…she’s not your usual type.”
“Anymore,” I muttered, thinking back to the woman who’d walked out on me.
Kit snorted. It was an ugly sound and she paired it with a scowl. “Trust me, Rachel has nothing on Danica. She’s so far out of your league it’s almost comical.”
I didn’t need her to clarify to know she was talking about Dani. Flipping her off, I leaned back against the building.
She laughed, the sound light and happy. “I don’t really mean it. You’re a great guy, Knox. She’s exactly the kind of woman I always hoped you’d end up with.”
“Quit getting ahead of yourself. No one said we’re ending up together,” I muttered.
“She’s having your baby,” she pointed out in that annoying way that only a kid sister could have perfected.
“Doesn’t mean we have to get married.”
She slapped her hands on her hips and gave me a glare that would have made me back up if I wasn’t still half asleep. Kit’s temper was legendary and I didn’t feel like taking a knee to the balls this morning.
I held up my hands in surrender. She took pity on me and her face softened. “We’re seeing where this leads. She’s still married, for fuck’s sake.”
“It doesn’t sound like she wants to be.”
“I know. I’ll figure something out for that asshole husband of hers.” Even saying husband in connection with her and another man pissed me off. “Can I go back to sleep now?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
“Fine!” she hollered as I went back inside the clubhouse.
I chuckled as I walked past the women sitting there.
Kit always had to have the last damn word.
As much as I wanted to sit down next to Dani until she was ready to go back upstairs, I knew I needed to give her enough space to start feeling like this place was home.
It was comforting to know she already knew Jordan and Gwen. That would make her transition easier.
Something brushed against my leg as I walked back upstairs toward my apartment. It was Jecht. Looking around, I tried to spot Seek, Hush, or even Priest down the hall. Everyone’s doors were closed.
“What are you doing out wandering the halls?”
He whined and shoved the door out of my hand as I started to open it.
Helping himself, he trotted inside my apartment.
He was gracious enough to wait for me before strolling into my room and hopping up on my bed.
He sprawled out at the foot of it, giving me the stink eye as I grabbed my phone off the nightstand.
I texted Hush, letting him know where the dog was, then finally laid back down.
Closing my eyes, I listened to the dog’s huff of annoyance and grinned. Life sure was looking fucking different right now. I wasn’t sure if I could bring myself to complain about it.