Chapter Eight #2
“Come on, G. Let’s get you in bed,” Knox whispers against my ear.
“I need to go home,” I croak, snuggling deeper into his chest.
“You can sleep here tonight, baby.” I nod against his chest as he tightens his arm around my shoulders and legs and climbs off the couch.
“Night, Dad. Night G,” the boys chorus.
“Goodnight, sweethearts,” I say sleepily.
“In bed as soon as this is over, boys.” My eyes slide close as they wave Knox off.
“I can walk, ya know.”
“I know.”
When Knox sets me on my feet at the foot of his bed and grabs the bottom of my tee, I jerk backward before he can tug it off. “What are you doing?”
“Getting us ready for bed,” he says carefully.
“Right.” I shake my head. “Sorry. Can I borrow a shirt to sleep in? I didn’t bring anything with me.” He knows this, though.
“Sleeping naked, babe.” My eyes flash to his. He can’t be serious.
“Wh—what?” I stammer as my eyes drift to his bed and then back to him. “I can’t sleep in here naked.”
“I told you yesterday, woman. You’re mine. You agreed, but if you’re backing out, you need to tell me now,” he growls, taking a chilling step away from me.
Swallowing the ball of nerves in my throat, I tell him the truth. “I am yours.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathes, closing the distance he put between us and slamming his lips onto mine.
Without thinking, I rise up on my toes and wrap my arms around his neck, needing him closer.
His hands slither down my back, over my bottom, and tighten on my thighs as he lifts me off my feet.
My legs lock around his hips, and instinctively, my hips roll against the hard planes of his abs.
In the blink of an eye, he rips his mouth from mine and tosses me onto his bed.
I jump to my knees and shove my hair out of my eyes.
Moving to kneel on the mattress in front of me, he grips the hem of my tee and watches my face carefully as he smooths the fabric up my torso and over my head.
“Baby?” I steel my spine and let him look his fill. I hate what he’s seeing, but I can’t undo my past.
“Who?” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Now yours.” I want this — want him, but I need to even the playing field.
“Okay, G. You win for now.” Reaching behind his neck, he grips the collar and removes his faded tee, revealing inch after inch of muscled perfection.
Damn.
Biting my lip, I take in every chiseled inch.
Knox, fully clothed, is a sight to see. But this… shirtless… he deserves a spot in Playgirl magazine’s Bad Boy edition. The fact his massive chest is covered in tattoos only adds to the appeal, and — oh holy shit… my eyes flit from the tattoo on his chest to the nervous look on his face.
“Knox… is that… me?” My fingers trace the Queen of Hearts with my face. This man, this beautiful man, has permanently inked me over his heart.
“Yeah,” he answers firmly, not at all bothered by what I’m seeing. “I told you. I knew three years ago that you were mine.”
On my knees, half naked and vulnerable, it dawns on me that the man staring down at me doesn’t have a single doubt about us.
“It’s beautiful.” He’s beautiful.
“Climb in bed, babe.” Guess he’s done doling out confessions for the night.
Nodding, I take off my bra and toss it over the side of the bed, then lean back and wiggle out of my shorts and panties, no longer concerned about my modesty.
Knox watches my every move as I slip under his covers, and once I’m settled, he slides in behind me.
When he wraps his body around me, surrounding me with his warmth, I’m filled with a sense of protection I haven’t felt in years.
I love you is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it back. It’s crazy and definitely too soon, but damn if it doesn’t feel true.
“Night, baby.”
“Night, honey.”
Chin resting in my palm, my eyes ping-pong between Knox, Thorn, Kidd, and the open bay door that I’m contemplating making a run for. To be fair, I don’t think they’d notice since they’ve basically forgotten I’m even here.
Knox shoots me a glance every so often, but he’s completely distracted. Not that I mind; watching him in his element is sexy as hell. The man loves motorcycles and clearly has a thorough knowledge about anything to do with them.
Brawn and brains — so hot.
But… I’m bored out of my damn mind, and for some reason, Knox hasn’t let me out of his sights.
I’m not sure if it has something to do with the phone call he got from Dex this morning or if seeing the scars on my body has shaken him in some way.
Whatever the reason, he’s being tight-lipped about it, other than to tell me that he wants me close today.
Stupidly, I agreed without asking questions.
“Add pop-up tents to the list.” I look over at Thorn, who’s nodding at Knox’s request. I don’t know a thing about Daytona Beach Bike Week other than I’ve been instructed that I’m going.
“You guys! Give me something to do. I’m bored out of my mind,” I whine, eyeing the open door again. Again, nobody hears a word I’ve said. I’ve offered to help if one of them wants to delegate, but nobody’s acknowledged that I’ve said a word in... I glance at my phone; over an hour.
Harley: Where are you
Me: Saints Customs
Harley: On my way
Thorn's booming laugh draws my attention back to their conversation. I listen for a few minutes as they go over more stuff they want to take with them and what needs to be done to the bike they’re working on so it’s ready.
Apparently, this rally is important for growing their business, and as enlightening as it is, I need some girl time.
I glance out the door again and see Harley pulling up in front of the scrapyard.
Yep. That’s my queue to blow this popsicle stand.
Glancing at the guys, I slide off the bike lift onto my feet. "I’ll be back," I say, avoiding eye contact as I skirt around the three of them.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Across the parking lot.” I shrug, heading for the door.
“G?”
“I’ll be back in twenty minutes. You won’t even know I’m gone,” I call over my shoulder as I hightail it out the door.
“I’m going to spank your ass, woman.” I know without looking back that Knox is hot on my heels.
"I don't need a chaperone!" I shout, picking up the pace.
"G! Get back here!" Knox yells, but it’s Thorn and Kidd’s laughter that has me breaking out into a sprint.
Asses. They aren’t doing a damn thing to help the situation.
I make it across the parking lot and fumble with the scrapyard’s front door when it sticks. Pulling harder, I dash inside once I finally get it open.
“Oh shit!” I can see Knox through the window, and for such a big guy, he’s quicker than I gave him credit for.
“Who are you running from?”
“Ack!” I jump back, pressing my hand to my heart when it threatens to beat out of my chest. “Shit, Wrath!”
Ignoring me, he leans to the side to see for himself. His shoulders start to shake when he realizes who’s after me.
“Better run, girl.”
He ain’t wrong.
“Keep him busy, Wrath!” I giggle, moving quickly through the lobby and straight into Sierra’s office. I kick the door closed and breathe a sigh of relief when I find only Sierra, Harley, and the babies inside.
You can’t be too careful when it comes to what might be going on in this office. I learned my lesson after walking in on Sierra and her ol’ man going at it hot and heavy a time or two.
Sierra looks from me to the door and laughs. “Who are you running from?”
“You don’t want to know,” I say in a cooing voice as I scoop Nikki out of Harley’s arms.