16. Hayden
Knox slid out of the SUV with that effortless ease he always had. There was this comfortable confidence he wore like a second skin, and it was addicting. A moment later, he was opening my door.
“Such a gentleman.”
He grinned, taking my hand. “Well, this is our first real date.”
I blinked up at him. “Have we seriously not even been on a date?”
So much had happened over the past few weeks, but I wasn’t sure a real date was among them.
Knox tugged me toward a shop. “I’m not counting bringing you hot chocolate that got interrupted by Easton being an ass. Or sandwiches that got interrupted by Maddox freaking you out.”
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Your game really was constantly being ruined.”
“No fucking kidding. So, we’ve had near-death experiences, the reveal of a supernatural world’s existence, and the discovery that you’re our soulmate. But no first date.”
I couldn’t hold in the laugh this time, and damn, it felt good. Because when Knox listed it all out like that, it was ridiculous.
“So, I am finally taking my girl on a date.”
I stilled as he grabbed hold of the door. “I like the sound of that.”
Knox smiled at me. “A date?”
“My girl.”
His green-and-gold eyes heated. “Careful. I’ll forget all the date nonsense and just take us to a hotel instead.”
Warmth pooled low in my belly. “I wouldn’t be opposed?—”
Knox kissed me fast and hard. “No. I’m spoiling you, feeding you, and then I’ll fuck you seven ways from Sunday.”
This time, the laugh did bubble out of me. “So romantic.”
“Damn straight.” He opened the door, holding it for me.
As soon as we entered, a woman hurried toward us. “Mr. Gallagher, so wonderful to see you again.”
“Hi, Sharee.”
The middle-aged woman’s gaze flicked to me. “Are you and your brothers in need of a wardrobe update?”
Knox shook his head. “My girlfriend needs a dress for a cocktail party this weekend. Hayden, this is Sharee. Sharee, Hayden.”
That warmth that had flickered to life earlier, swirled and spread. Girlfriend was almost as good as my girl.
The woman’s expression lit with pure joy at the announcement. She clasped her hands together. “This is just wonderful news.” Her gaze swept to me. “I’m assuming Hayden is who we placed the earlier order for?”
Knox nodded.
“Good. Then we have all her sizes.” Sharee’s smile grew. “Can’t imagine anything that wouldn’t look stunning on you, dear. Do you want my help to pull some things, or would you like to browse first?”
For some reason, the woman’s kindness had me fighting back tears. Maybe because it seemed like most people weren’t thrilled with my involvement with Knox and the guys. Maybe because so many people had been downright mean today. But I found myself having to swallow down the emotion clogging my throat.
“Thank you so much. I think I’ll look around first.”
Sharee patted my shoulder. “I like a woman who knows what she wants. I’ll be at the register in the back if you need me.”
“Thanks, Sharee,” Knox said.
The woman left us to browse.
“She’s really nice,” I whispered.
“She orders everything clothes-wise for us. I think we keep her in business.”
I chuckled at that. “I can’t imagine there’s a ton of call for”—I picked up a tag—“Chanel in Ember Hollow.”
Knox shook his head. “Probably not.”
We wandered through the racks. I had to admit, the pieces were stunning. But all the price tags made me blanch.
“This might be too much,” I murmured.
Knox took my shoulders. “We have more money than we’ll ever be able to spend. Let us take care of you.” He lowered his voice. “Our dragons need it as much as we do.”
I bit my bottom lip, glancing back at a lavender silk creation.
Knox followed my line of sight and stalked toward it, pulling it off the rack. “It would look gorgeous on you with your eyes.”
The four-figure price tag made me nauseous.
He let out a low growl. “You’re trying it on.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “Bossy.”
“When it comes to your happiness, yes.”
Knox guided me toward the dressing rooms in the middle of the store and tugged me inside one, closing the door behind us.
“You can’t come in here with me.”
He arched a brow. “Interesting. Looks like I already am.”
“Sharee is out there,” I hissed.
A bell jingled, and I heard Sharee greeting another customer.
“Knox!”
He simply leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Yes?”
“Are all dragons this stubborn?”
His lips twitched. “Not sure if that’s a genetic trait or not.”
“I think it is,” I groused as I tugged my sweater and shirt over my head and tossed it at him.
He laughed as it smacked him in the face.
I shimmied out of my jeans and hurried to slip into the dress before Knox could really get us into trouble. The fabric felt like heaven against my skin. Like the softest glove. I pulled it up and over my shoulders. Reaching behind me, I tried to zip it?—
“Let me.” Knox’s voice was deeper as he stepped behind me.
Goose bumps rose on my arms as he swept my hair out of the way. Painfully slowly, he zipped me into the garment. Then his eyes met mine in the mirror.
It was as if I saw myself through his gaze before I even took in my own reflection. I saw the heat, the lust, the reverence. Pulling my focus away from Knox, I took myself in.
My lips parted on a whispered inhale. The dress was perfect. It hugged my curves with a ruched pattern to the fabric. The skirt hit at my knees, and the neckline only gave the smallest peek at the swells of my cleavage, but the material hinted at everything below. It made me feel sexy and powerful, but someone to be respected, too.
“I feel beautiful,” I whispered.
Knox’s eyes blazed as he bent to kiss my neck. “Most stunning creature I’ve ever laid eyes on. It was made for you.”
“It’s too much?—”
“No. It’s just enough.”
Knox’s fingers came back to the zipper, and they slid it down.
He knelt.
“Step out.” His voice was gruff, coated in sandpaper.
I did as he asked.
Knox laid the dress carefully on a tufted ottoman and gazed up at me. “I need to taste you.”
Wetness pooled between my thighs.
Knox’s eyes flared, and he groaned. “You smell like heaven.”
“You can smell that?”
He grinned. “Heightened senses, remember?”
I cursed.
Knox’s hands came to my hips. “Still.”
I couldn’t help but obey.
“That’s my girl.”
More heat. More wetness.
Knox’s fingers latched on to the sides of my thong, and he slowly slid them down my legs. Then he leaned forward and inhaled. “Pure heaven.”
My thighs trembled.
He lifted one leg, placing it farther apart from the other. Then his hands went to my ass, squeezing, kneading. His hooded gaze met mine. “I can’t wait to take you here.”
My mouth fell open.
“Love that innocent shock.”
And then he devoured. There was no warning with Knox. He ate me like a man starved. His tongue drove inside, making me nearly fall straight over.
I grabbed on to Knox’s shoulders as his tongue curled inside me. I couldn’t help the soft whimper that escaped me.
Knox squeezed my ass harder.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from making more sounds.
One hand slid between my legs as his tongue circled my clit. Knox thrust two fingers inside me, and my mouth fell open on a pant.
As they curled, my breaths came faster. Knox teased that bundle of nerves, coaxing it out to stand at attention. My heart hammered, and my fingers were sure to leave bruises on his shoulders.
The tip of Knox’s tongue flicked my clit, and I shattered.
Knox held me behind my legs, his face still buried between my thighs, as his fingers worked me through every wave of my orgasm.
I struggled to catch my breath as I came down, my body twitching with aftershocks.
Knox slowly pulled his fingers from my body. His eyes locked with mine, and then he licked those fingers clean.
My lips parted.
He looked up at me. “I was wrong. You’ve never been more beautiful than you are right now.”
A throat cleared outside the dressing room. “Everything okay in there? My other customer thought someone might be hurt. Heard a little moaning.”
There was pure amusement in Sharee’s voice, but I wanted to die. I jumped, trying to find my underwear. “We’re good,” I squeaked.
“Better than good, Sharee,” Knox called.
She giggled. “That’s what I thought.”
I glared at Knox. “I’m going to murder you.”