Chapter 6
Lorelai
Dinner was interesting. We’d barely said a word to one another, and once we left the restaurant, I walked at a quick pace, knowing that Knox was right behind me. It would only be a moment before he caught up to me. Truth be told, I just wanted to be alone.
Ever since we’d left the room and throughout dinner, the only thing on my mind had been his apology. I didn’t even know what had made him think of that night, or why he was apologizing. I’d figured he’d forgotten all about that night—or rather hoped he had.
I’d been thankful we were at a table with Dylan and Aurora for dinner. The two of them had kept the conversation going. It helped that they knew all about the charade we were putting on. Now we had to mingle with people. I was already feeling good from the drinks at dinner, but the more I drank, the more I thought about that night so many years ago.
How dare he bring up that night up to me.
“Can you please slow down?” I heard Knox call out from behind.
We were the last two to leave the restaurant, and I was rushing so I didn’t have to be alone with him. I just wanted to be surrounded by people and laughter and to have my mind taken from my memories.
Instead of waiting for him, I sped up and ducked into the first public washroom I saw. I just needed to get away from him for one second. I needed to compose myself from the garbage he’d spewed at me back in the room.
What kind of crap was that? Was he trying to get me into bed? He was sorry for the way he treated me that night all those years ago. Right. Did he think I was only born yesterday? I remembered the look of disgust on his face that night.
I also remembered the words I’d heard him whisper to me right before my brother made his way back over to us. They certainly weren’t the words of someone who meant the opposite.
I placed my clutch down on the counter and looked at myself in the mirror. It had taken me months to rebuild my confidence after that rejection. It was the only reason I could attribute to the fact that I couldn’t hold on to a relationship and why each and every one of them failed. The memory of that night, the insecurity it had burned into my brain, had made me allow every guy I’d been involved with to walk all over me.
There was one man I wasn’t allowing that from, and he stood right outside the bathroom door. “Knox Evans will not walk all over me,” I mumbled to my reflection.
“We are going to be late for drinks!” Knox yelled.
I hung my head, then looked at my reflection, straightened my dress, re-applied my lip-gloss, and then pulled the door open and stepped out. Knox stood across the way, the sleeves of his white linen shirt rolled up and his arms crossed, giving me an amazing view of those powerful forearms. His eyes ran the length of my body and then met my eyes.
“Let’s go. We can’t be late,” I said, taking off toward the bar.
He grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“We can’t go in there with this type of tension between us. People will think we have been fighting.”
“That’s good, because we have.”
“Would you stop? We are supposed to be in a new relationship. All I wanted to do was let you know I was sorry. That’s it.”
One look into his eyes and I knew if I let my guard down, I’d be done. I’d be putty in his hands.
I took a deep breath, pasted a smile on my lips, and nodded. “Okay, fine, thank you for the apology. Now, can we?”
I pulled out of his grasp and headed toward the bar where I saw Candace. We’d hung out all afternoon, but I hadn’t said a word to her about Knox and I, and I knew the questions were coming since Phil had probably mentioned something. I took a second to compose myself.
“Hey!” I said, putting a fake smile on and praying no one could tell the difference.
“Oh, I am so glad you are here. Aurora said you were tired, and she wasn’t sure you’d be coming,” she said, wrapping her arms around me.
That was my girl, covering for me. I smiled as our hug ended. “I wouldn’t miss this. I might be tired, but I can sleep later.”
“I doubt that.” Candace laughed, giving me a knowing look as she glanced over my shoulder.
I was sure she was looking at Knox, and my stomach turned at her insinuation.
“Are Dylan and Aurora here already?” I questioned.
“Yep.” She pointed up to the balcony where I watched them kiss before he whispered something in her ear and pointed to something while they looked out over the ocean toward the sunset, drinks in hand.
“Great!” I said as Knox came over and placed his hand on the small of my back.
“Hey, Knox. You know, I was saying to Phil that this is quite the surprise,” Candace said, looking between the two of us. “The two of you really kept this on the down-low.”
“Well, you know me. I don’t like to jinx anything.” I smiled.
“My little secret keeper,” Knox said as he placed a kiss on my cheek. “We weren’t sure how or when to bring this public because I wasn’t sure how Phil would take it when he found out,” Knox added. “Would you like something to drink, princess?”
It was like nails on a chalkboard every time he called me that. Did I want a drink? Right now, I wanted anything with alcohol in it. Yet, I composed myself and looked up at him. “Why don’t you surprise me? You know what I like.”
“Sure do. Candace, what are you drinking?”
“Oh, I’m good with this.” She smiled and watched as Knox made his way over to the bar.
I wanted to kick myself. Knox knew absolutely nothing about me, so I could only imagine what he would bring back. Why didn’t I just tell him what I wanted? Ugh, and again with the kiss on the cheek, really.
Normally, the thought of him putting his lips on me would have made me want to be sick, never mind the real thing, but something strange had happened the first time he’d done it. I’d felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach, which was what had made me angry. The same had happened after he’d apologized when I’d brushed the crumbs off his shirt back in the room, and again only a few minutes ago. I had to keep reminding myself that all this outward display of affection was only for show. It wasn’t real.
“So, when did this happen?” Candace questioned.
“When did what happen?” I questioned, looking back at her.
She gave me a questioning look. “Uh, you and Knox? I never saw that coming in a million years.”
It was then I’d remembered divulging to her one night over drinks just how much I detested Knox. Now I needed to backtrack. We’d not really discussed the facts of how we’d gotten together, so I swallowed hard and prayed that she didn’t ask me too many questions.
“It just sort of happened.” I shrugged.
“I see. It wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that—”
“Here’s your creamy coconut margarita, princess!” Knox said, handing me something in a tall fancy glass, the rim coated in toasted coconut shavings. He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him.
I frowned as I studied the drink. How did he know coconut was my favorite? Was he somehow stalking me, and I was oblivious?
“Is something wrong? You love coconut anything.” Cadence added as Phil stepped up beside her, and then Dylan and Aurora joined us.
“No, not at all,” I said, taking a sip. “Not used to the rim coated in toasted coconut. Normally, it’s that sweet one.”
“So, what did I miss? What were you gals talking about?” Knox asked.
“Oh, I was just wondering how this came about between the two of you.” Cadence said. “It didn’t seem like that long ago Lorelai was—”
“Talking about how much I liked you,” I said, looking over at Knox and smiling.
Cadence frowned. “Yah, that’s it.”
I could tell from her expression she wasn’t buying this as I swallowed my mouthful of coconut heaven.
“Well, I was telling Phil earlier I always knew Lorelai had a crush on me, and when I found out how her ex fucked things up, I figured I’d give her time to process things before I swooped in and swept her right off her feet.” He pressed another kiss to my cheek while I sucked down the rest of my drink, emptying the glass.
“Want another one?” Dylan questioned while Aurora looked my way with a small smile.
I nodded as I handed the glass to Dylan and noticed the room was kind of on an angle.
“I’m just glad they finally came out with it,” Phil added.
“Me too!” Aurora chimed in as more people gathered up beside us.
“Me three!” I added. “It was hard enough keeping this secret. The man always wants to have his hands on me. It was almost impossible at work.” I giggled and then let out a tiny hiccup, which caused me to giggle more. “That and he is horny all the time,” I said in a low voice to Cadence.
Aurora gave an awkward laugh, then grabbed hold of my hand, giving me a funny look, which only caused me to laugh a little more.
“Could I speak with you over here,” Aurora said, nodding her head off to the side.
I looked at Aurora just as Knox wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned into me.
“What do you say we head upstairs and watch the sunset before it’s gone?” Knox asked me.
I looked around as more eyes fell on us and nodded. “See what I mean?” I added just as Dylan returned, handing me my drink.
“Go enjoy. It’s beautiful,” Dylan said.
Just as we were about to walk away, Aurora grabbed my hand and pulled me into her. “Watch how much you drink. You’re pretty roasted,” she whispered, giving me a squeeze, letting me know once again she wouldn’t blow our cover. “Be careful.”
I let out another hiccup and tapped her cheek with my hand. “It’s fine. You guys coming?” I questioned with begging eyes.
Aurora nodded, but Dylan shook his head.
“We will be up soon, just going to mingle with some people down here for a bit.”
Knox guided me over to the stairs and whispered, “Drink up,” as we made our way up to the upper level and over to the railing.
“Would you like another?” he questioned, nodding to my almost empty glass a few moments later.
Whatever was in these was strong, and it was apparently no secret that I was already feeling a little tipsy. I smiled. “Are you going to have another?” I questioned.
I might have felt a little drunk, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t partying all alone.
“I think I will.” He held up his almost empty glass.
“Okay then, make it a double.” I giggled.
He slipped the empty glass from my hand as he met my eyes.
“I think a single will be good for you.” He winked and then left me standing there, making his way over to the bar where he placed the two glasses down, then leaned against the bar, waiting his turn.
I could barely tear my eyes from him. As I stood there watching him, I realized just how good-looking he truly was and how somewhere deep inside of me I wished he could really be mine.
I now knew for real that I was drunk. I probably shouldn’t have any more alcohol, I thought to myself as I watched him talking with the bartender as he made our drinks, laughing and joking. I realized how confident he was with himself. He spoke to others at the bar as well, including them in the conversation and laughing with others.
When the bartender placed the drinks in front of him, he slipped him a few dollars and then grabbed our drinks and turned my way, but not before I could turn and pretend like I hadn’t been ogling him the entire time he was over there.
“Here you are,” he said, handing me my glass and winking. “One double.”
He raised his glass to mine, clinking them together, and we both took a drink as his soft blue eyes met mine. How I wanted to get lost in them, I thought, then looked at his lips. How I wanted them to kiss me again. Heat passed through me as my mind took over.
“Look at that!” he whispered while he nodded toward the sunset.
I turned a bit, tearing my eyes from his, and looked out over the water as the sun dipped just below the water. The sky was many shades of pinks and purples, and it was then he placed his glass down on the edge of the railing and rested his hands on my hips, pulling me back against him.
I leaned back and looked out over the water, drinking more of the coconut goodness.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered again, his hand moving over the flat of my stomach, his thumb rubbing against my skin.
I nodded, breathing in the scent of his cologne and feeling the warmth of his body against my skin. My mind wandered, thinking of what it would be like to be with Knox. I loved the way my body responded to his touch, and I wanted him to touch me more.
I lowered my hand to my side, placing it on the side of his muscular thigh. God, I’d drank way too much, I thought to myself, as my hand rested on his leg. I needed to stop these thoughts now.
“Want to dance?” he quietly asked as the DJ finally started playing some music.
I hesitated for a second and then nodded as he tried to take the glass from my hand, but I shook my head and drank down the rest of the contents before placing it down. He then pulled me out to the dance floor where, almost immediately, the song changed to something slower.
He pulled me into his arms, and together we rocked to the music. I was feeling almost too relaxed in his arms and closed my eyes as I rested my head against his chest. Again, I felt that funny flutter in my stomach as we swayed to the music. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Aurora and Dylan next to us, swaying to the music as well. She smiled in my direction and that was when I felt Knox press a kiss to the top of my head before he let me go.
“Let’s get some more drinks,” he told Dylan while Aurora approached me.
“You two looked very comfortable,” she whispered as Dylan and Knox walked over to the bar.
I nodded. “It’s just for show, remember?” I said, moving over to the railing and looking over the water. “It’s not real.”
“Sure, of course, but the two of you are playing it well,” she said. “Even in front of Hugo and his new piece.” She nodded over to the side.
I looked over my shoulder to see Hugo sitting there watching me. When had he gotten up here? I’d been so lost in Knox that I hadn’t noticed him. He was watching me intently as we stood there.
“God, he makes me so angry,” I gritted. “He just thinks he’s entitled to everything.” I thought back to his text message about wanting to talk to me about getting back together while on this trip with his new girl.
“Just keep playing it up. I think it’s sweet that he is helping you with this.”
“You would think that,” I bit out. “However, you don’t need to walk down the aisle with him, locked arm-in-arm.”
“He’s a good guy, Lorelai. Maybe just give him a chance to redeem himself.”
“Whoa, who are we talking about here?” I said, spinning around to face her.
“Knox! Who were you talking about?”
“Hugo, the ass,” I replied, glancing over in his direction to see he was still watching me. “He’s been staring at me since we came up here, hasn’t been able to take his eyes off me.”
“Well, don’t look at him, drink your drink instead.” Aurora said, grabbing me and turning me to face her. “He’ll only think you are interested in him when you should only look at your boyfriend,” Aurora said through clenched teeth.
Aurora smiled as Dylan and Knox returned, handing us both our drinks. Knox didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even miss a beat; it was like he knew what was going on the entire time he’d been gone.
“I got you,” he whispered in my ear as he slid his arm around my waist. Without another moment wasted, he cupped my cheek with his hand and brought his lips to mine.
My breath hitched, and I felt my legs get weak as his tongue parted my lips, washing through my mouth. The entire world fell away as his lips danced against mine. My hands gripped his biceps, and I was thankful his arm was around me, holding me, because as the kiss continued my entire body became weak as he delivered the most mind-blowing kiss I’d ever experienced. Exactly what I had wanted.
The minute he pulled his lips from mine, the world came crashing back down and I realized we were in the same spot we’d been before, and even though all eyes were on us, it seemed like we were the only two there.
It was then he guided me out onto the dance floor for another slow song, leaving Dylan and Aurora to watch our drinks.
At the end of the third song, he delivered another one of those mind-numbing kisses as Hugo and his new piece danced beside us. When the next song started, we went over and joined Dylan and Aurora when Hugo approached us.
He looked at Knox and then at me and tried to take my hand. “Lorelai, can we talk for a moment—alone?” he questioned.
Knox immediately stepped in behind me and wrapped his arms around me in a protective embrace. “You can say whatever needs to be said right here, buddy. No need to take her over there.”
I did not know what was happening. My head was fuzzy from the alcohol, my body was on fire from that kiss, and here I stood in Knox’s arms, my body feeling at home against his, as my ex-boyfriend begged to talk to me. I was so confused.
When Hugo didn’t answer, Knox placed a kiss on the top of my head, then murmured something I couldn’t make out to Dylan and Aurora.
I watched as Hugo and his new girl walked over to the seating area and took a seat. Immediately, his eyes were on us, watching our every move. I needed out of here.
Dylan and Knox let out a laugh at something Dylan had said, and then they announced they were heading back to their room for the night. They both waved good night, leaving us there on the rooftop patio.
I closed my eyes, resting my head back on his chest. His hands gripped my hips as he gently kissed my cheek.
“Why don’t we go back to our room?” he whispered, placing another tender kiss on my neck. “I think you might need some rest.”
I met Hugo’s eyes across the room. I felt like I was doing something wrong, but instead of letting it get to me, I turned in Knox’s arms, raised up on my toes, kissed his lips, murmured a yes, and let him guide me over to the stairs and back to our room.
* * *
The moment we were out of eyesight from anyone at the wedding, our hands fell away from one another, and I trailed slightly behind Knox, back to the room. We were both quiet, which I was thankful for. My mind, however, was anything but quiet.
The kiss from earlier ran through my mind. Easily it was the best kiss I’d ever had, and I wanted to feel it again so badly, but this was only for show. This wasn’t supposed to be anything, yet my body betrayed me.
We approached our room, and I waited while Knox used his key to open the door. He held it while I stepped inside, and the second my shoes were off and the door closed, he grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me into him, delivering another one of those earth-shattering kisses he’d delivered earlier.
My body and brain betrayed me as my fingers fiddled with the buttons on his shirt, opening each one of them until I’d pushed his shirt from his strong shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. I relished the feel of his warm skin against mine.
His lips not leaving mine, his fingers found the zipper on the back of my dress. Cool air brushed my skin as he unzipped it, his large warm hands gently removing my dress from my shoulders, his fingers tracing my arms as he slid the fabric off my body.
Wrapping his arms around me, he guided me to the bed and pulled me down with him. I looked up at him as he looked down at me, his hand cupping my cheek again as he brought his lips to mine.
I closed my eyes as he kissed down my neck, pushing the cup of my bra off me, his tongue running around my nipple before he sucked it into his mouth. He continued kissing his way down my body, running his tongue around my belly button as his fingers danced along the band of my panties.
My body had been on fire all night. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but from the moment he apologized, I’d wanted to kiss him, and here we were for real. He placed a kiss on the flat of my stomach, and I let out a gentle moan, loud enough that he heard it, and he repeated that kiss.
“I want you out of these,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
My eyes closed, my body humming with anticipation. I wanted nothing more. “Just rip them off me,” I murmured.
It was then I heard his deep chuckle. “Do I see a bit of a dirty girl in you?”
I felt my cheeks heat as I looked down and met his eyes.
“It’s okay, I like it.” He grinned, then I felt his powerful hands grip the edge of my red lace panties, and with a couple quick rips, they were off me. He took hold of my leg and placed it on his shoulder, his head diving right between my legs.
I closed my eyes and ran my fingers through his thick hair. Within moments, I was shaking as his large hands gripped my ass while he lapped and sucked at my centre relentlessly.
I couldn’t control myself, and seconds later, all I could hear were the sounds of my moans bouncing off the walls of the room.
“That’s it, baby,” he whispered before running his tongue through my centre again.
I opened my eyes a little and saw him get up on his knees, quickly shedding his pants.
“You ready for more?” he murmured, meeting my lips with his as he reached over and opened the nightstand on his side of the bed.
The tremors of my first orgasm were still running through my body as I watched him rip open the condom wrapper and sheath himself before placing my legs over his large thighs.
Placing a hand on either side of my head, he bent down and kissed me again. He reached between us, lining himself up at my entrance, and gently pushed himself a little inside me, breaking our kiss.
Inhaling deeply at his intrusion, I gripped his wrist, biting my bottom lip and closing my eyes.
He backed out a little, then inched forward a little more.
“Relax,” he urged, kissing me again as he slipped inside a little deeper. He clasped his hand with mine and kissed me again, slow and deep. The instant our lips connected, my body relaxed, and he slid in a little farther, almost to the hilt.
He stretched me and filled me in ways I’d never been before, and once he was fully seated inside of me, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the feeling of being held in his arms as he buried himself deep inside of me.