Chapter 15
I wake to Knox's heartbeat under my ear and midnight shadows painting his face. For a moment, I just watch him sleep – the way his features soften, how young he looks without that constant guard up.
My movement must wake him because his arms tighten around me.
"Time is it?" he mumbles into my hair.
"Late." I trace the lines of his chest through his shirt. "Or early."
His breath catches when my hand wanders lower. "Kennedy."
"I want you." The darkness makes me brave. "All of you."
His whole body tenses. "Princess..."
"I'm ready." I push up on one elbow to look at him. "I've been ready."
"Not like this." But his voice is strained as my fingers find skin under his shirt. "Not when we just—"
I silence him with a kiss. Not our usual heated exchanges, but something slower. Deeper. His response is immediate, one hand tangling in my hair while the other slides under his jersey I'm wearing.
"Fuck," he breathes against my mouth. "You're trying to kill me."
"I'm trying to love you."
The words slip out before I can stop them. Knox goes still beneath me.
"Kennedy—"
"No, listen." I press my hand over his heart. "I know you're scared. I know there are a million reasons why this is complicated. But right now? It's just us. No campaign, no draft, no expectations. Just you and me."
His eyes are almost black in the darkness. "You deserve better than a dorm room quickie."
"I deserve what I want." I kiss him again, letting all my need pour into it. "And I want you."
He groans, flipping us so I'm under him. "Not all the way. Not yet."
"Knox—"
"But," his mouth finds my neck, "I can think of other ways to make you feel good."
What follows is a revelation.
Knox Thompson might not be ready to take my virginity, but he seems determined to teach me everything else. His hands and mouth map my body like he's learning a new play, finding spots that make me gasp and arch and beg.
When I try to touch him back, he pins my wrists above my head.
"Tonight is about you," he growls. "Let me take care of you."
So I do.
I let him strip me slowly, reverently. Let him worship every inch of newly exposed skin. Let him show me exactly what that wicked mouth can do when he's not holding back.
When I finally fall apart, his name is a prayer on my lips.
"Beautiful," he murmurs, kissing his way back up my body. "So fucking beautiful."
I reach for his jeans but he catches my hand.
"Knox," I plead.
"Baby," he kisses my palm.
"I really want to." I say, licking my lips. I push my luck again, reaching for him. "I want to feel how hard you are." I rub him through his jeans. The bulge ignites another desire in me. "Tell me what you want. I want to please you."
He kneels over me, rubbing his fingers on my lips. The gesture is turning me on. I suck in his thumb, biting him. A smile spreads across his face.
"Can I give you a blow job?"
He runs his thumb across my bottom lip while looking in my eyes. "You want to suck my dick?"
I nod shyly at those words. "I do."
"How badly?"
My pelvis is pulsing again as I grab him. "Are you going to make me beg?"
"That was what I said wasn’t it?"
I try to hide my smile as I sit up and position myself. "It’s only fair if it’s your turn now. Now stand up."
He does as I say.
"Take it off."
He glances at Sawyer’s bed.
I say, "Don’t worry about her. She’s not coming here tonight."
"I want you to take it off," he says, gesturing to his pants.
I unbutton them and pull them down. His black boxers outline his dick, and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. The mystery of what’s beneath the boxers makes me anxious, excited. I’m not sure what the butterflies in my stomach are telling me.
"Are you sure?" he asks, and when I glance up at him, the Knox I know–– the one that demanded my virginity is his and his heavy claims that I’m not ready for him yet –– disappear. This Knox is kind and scared about crossing a line with me. I appreciate the question, so I nod.
"Very sure."
I pull down his boxers and out springs his dick, pointing straight at me. I take a look at it and inhale at the length. The first thing I do is grab it. And I swear the hottest noise leaves his chest. I work my hand, glancing up at him. My hand gets a little wet from the tip.
"Pre-cum," he groans as I pump my hand. I lick his tip and his head rolls back. "Fuck."
My lips roll onto his dick, I suck as hard as I can and take him as deep as I can. My throat isn’t big enough, and I think I might gag. He doesn’t seem to notice as his fingers grip my hair and a moan escapes him.
"Kenny," he groans. "Fuck, baby. That’s good."
His words give me confidence, so I start going faster. His hands stay gentle on the back of my head.
"I’m about to come."
I feel happy that he’s admitted that so quickly. I thought I’d be doing this for hours. I go faster and then warmth fills my mouth as his heavy breathing fills the silence. He tastes sweet but salty as I swallow it.
He pulls me up to him and grabs my cheeks. "That was so fucking sexy. I don’t think I’ve ever – ever – come that fast."
He kisses me, and I melt into him.
We fall asleep tangled together, my head on his chest and his arms holding me like something precious.
Morning comes too soon, announced by sharp knocking.
"Room check!" The RA's voice carries through the door.
Knox is up instantly, already grabbing his shoes. "Fuck."
"Fire escape," I point to the window, trying not to laugh at his rushed exit.
He pauses halfway out to kiss me thoroughly. "Worth it."
I'm still grinning when the RA enters, finding nothing but a rumpled bed and the lingering scent of Knox's cologne.
My phone buzzes an hour later during class.
Knox: Got caught climbing down. Two weeks banned from the girl’s dorms.
I bite back a smile.
Kennedy: Guess you'll have to sneak me into your room instead
Knox: Ready for round two already, Princess?
The rest of the week passes in a happy blur. Knox is everywhere – walking me to class, stealing kisses between practices, showing up with coffee during my study sessions. It's like the gala fight never happened.
"Spring break plans?" he asks during team dinner, his hand warm on my thigh under the table.
"Family vacation house in Martha's Vineyard." I turn to face him. "Want to come?"
His eyebrows shoot up. "To your family vacation?"
"Just me and Ace this year. Parents are campaigning." I lean closer. "Big empty house... private beach... my bedroom far from everyone else's..."
"Jesus, Kennedy." His fingers dig into my leg. "Your brother's right there."
"Then stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're imagining all the things you want to do to me."
His eyes darken. "Careful, Princess."
"Or what?" I lean in, whispering in his face playfully.
Instead of answering, he stands abruptly. "We're going for a walk."
"We are?"
He practically drags me out of the restaurant, ignoring Ace's suspicious look. The moment we're alone in the parking lot, he presses me against his truck.
"You're playing with fire," he growls before kissing me senselessly.
I sink into it, loving how he surrounds me – the solid warmth of his chest, the way his hands span my waist, the familiar smell of leather and ice.
"Come to Martha’s Vineyard with me," I whisper against his mouth.
"Baby."
"Not for that." Though my body screams otherwise. "Just... be with me. Hold me. Let me fall asleep listening to your heartbeat again."
He pulls back enough to study my face.
"I think I'm falling in love with you." The words come easily now. "I’m sorry about the blackmail. I’m sorry about the fake dating thing."
"Kenny." His voice cracks.
"Yes?"
"I don’t want you to think I’m after your virginity like it’s a trophy."
"Knox," I counter, feeling a ping of regret. When he says it, I realized how fucked up that sounds.
He steps back, running a hand through his hair. "It's more than that, okay?"
Understanding hits like lightning. "You think that's how I see you? As someone who just wants my virginity?"
"Isn't it? Wasn't that our whole deal?"
"Knox." I catch his hands with mine. "I don't care about any of that anymore. Virgin, not virgin – none of it matters. What matters is you. Just you."
He stares at me for a long moment, something vulnerable in his eyes.
"Okay," he finally says.
"Okay?" I smile, relief floods through me.
"I’ll come to Martha’s Vineyard for Spring Break."
I smile, already mentally planning the outfits and bikinis I will wear to seduce him.