Chapter Twenty-Six
LILY
Charlie and Lucas excused themselves after helping with the dishes. I used their departure to sell Adam on the idea that it was bedtime. It was a little early, but he needed the sleep.
I tucked him into bed in his own room, hoping he'd stay there. It had been a few years since I used it, but I pulled out his baby monitor and plugged it in. After the last few days, I wanted an ear on him.
He chattered as I tucked him in, mostly about our guests and Knox saving Charlie from the tree. Once he was done talking and I started reading, he fell asleep like he normally did—right in the middle of the story.
I came back down to find Knox and Griffen talking quietly over a beer. Trying to think of what we could do with the rest of the evening, I said, “Do you want to watch a movie?”
“No, he doesn't,” Knox said, just as Griffen agreed, “A movie sounds great, thanks, Lily.”
The smile he sent in Knox's direction was smug and amused. The side of Knox's jaw flexed as if he were grinding his teeth together.
“I'll make popcorn,” I said, “you guys can pick the movie.”
I felt Knox's eyes on me as I escaped to the kitchen. It's not that I wanted to watch a movie with Griffen. He seemed like a nice guy, and I was glad he was here, but the only person I wanted to watch a movie with was Knox.
Alone.
Naked.
Forget about the movie, all I wanted was Knox.
That wasn't going to happen. Not yet.
I wanted Knox all to myself, but not enough to be openly rude to a houseguest, even one who'd shown up uninvited.
When I came back with two bowls of popcorn, Knox was stretched out on the couch, Griffen in the armchair. They'd settled on an 80's action movie I'd seen a million times. I handed Griffen his bowl of popcorn and looked at Knox, suddenly unsure how to sit.
I didn't want to be too obvious in front of Griffen. Knox had been affectionate with me in front of his friends, but that wasn't the same as me sitting in his lap.
Knox took the bowl of popcorn from my hand and pulled me onto the couch, settling me against him. He tugged the coffee table closer and put up his feet. I did the same, snuggling happily into his side.
Problem solved.
The movie started, but I don't remember a minute of it. All I could think about was Knox. The heat of him beside me. The hard length of his thigh under my hand. His strong arm wrapped around my back.
A few minutes into the movie, his lips brushed my ear. “Adam go to sleep okay?”
I let out a little sigh as I fell harder. “He did, but I brought the monitor down just in case.”
“Good thinking,” Knox agreed.
We fell silent, watching for a little longer. Knox's arm dropped, nudging me forward so his fingers could wrap around my hip, his thumb tracing circles, branding me through my shorts.
It was an innocent touch. He had his hand on my hip, not between my legs, but the firm swirl of his thumb echoed all over my body, leaving me flushed and restless.
I was beginning to regret being polite to Griffen. I should have pointed him to the television and dragged Knox upstairs.
Knox's lips brushed my ear lobe. I waited for him to say something. His teeth closed over the soft flesh, his nose nuzzling my cheek. I pressed my knees together, trying to stem the growing heat between my legs.
If Griffen weren't here, Knox could stretch out with me on top of him. I could slide my hands under his shirt, put my mouth all over his chest. Taste those hard muscles. Lick his warm skin. Feel the rasp of his chest hair on my cheek. Unbuckle his belt and push his jeans down—
Knox bit into my earlobe again and sucked, soothing the sting from his teeth and sending a bolt of need straight to my clit.
If he kept this up, I wouldn't make it through the movie.
“Everything okay over there?” Griffen asked. The smirk in his voice came through loud and clear.
“Fine,” I croaked.
“Why don't you go to bed, Griffen,” Knox suggested.
“I'm not tired yet. I'd rather watch the show,” Griffen said evenly. I realized he hadn't said movie.
He said show.
Meaning us.
The heat of embarrassment joined lust until I was boiling over. Any more of this and I might combust and evaporate.
“I'm your boss,” Knox shot out, “and I say go to bed.”
Griffen didn't try to hide his amusement. “Technically, Cooper's my boss, and he told me to keep an eye on you, so I guess I'm just doing my job. Why, am I bothering you?”
Knox came to his feet, scooping me up as he moved, snagging the monitor off of the coffee table with one hand and dropping it on my chest.
“Enjoy the movie,” he announced flatly.
My cheeks caught fire at Griffen's laugh. I tucked my face into Knox's chest, sure I'd die of embarrassment if I met Griffen's eyes.
“Put me down,” I said as soon as I thought we were out of earshot.
“No way. Griffen's going to regret messing with me.”
“He was messing with you?”
“Oh, hell yeah. He didn't want to watch that movie. I mean, who doesn't want to watch John McClane? But he'd be just as happy going to bed early for once or reading a book. No, he knew I wanted to be alone with you, and he thought it'd be fun to fuck with me. I'll get him back later.”
“Wait, he thinks we came up here to, uh—”
The words stuck in my throat.
What was wrong with me?
You are a grown woman, I lectured myself. You were married. Why can't you talk about sex with Knox?
Because it wasn't just sex with Knox.
It was so much more than two bodies coming together. My heart was tangled with all that lust. It felt so big. Important. More. So much more than just sex.
My lack of experience and innate shyness only left me more self-conscious.
Knox didn't seem to mind any of it. My lack of experience, or my shyness. He dropped me in the middle of my bed, propped his hands on his hips and looked down at me like a conquering warlord.
“I don't care what he thinks we came up here to do,” he said. “I only care about you and me.”
“Okay,” I whispered, my throat dry with nerves and desire. Knox crossed the room to shut and lock the door. He placed the monitor on my dresser, turning the volume all the way up, filling the room with static and the faint strains of the lullaby playing in Adam's room.
Coming back to the end of the bed, he grabbed my ankle, dragging me close enough to reach the waistband of my shorts.
“The house is secure,” he said matter-of-factly, unsnapping my shorts and pulling them down my legs, taking my panties with them.
“Griffen is downstairs, and Lucas will hear the perimeter alarm if it goes off. Which it won't.”
Taking my hand, he pulled me to a sitting position. As soon as I was up, he whipped my shirt over my head, my arms flying into the air automatically.
“Adam's asleep. We'll hear him if he needs us.”
This time, I didn't need a prompt. Reaching behind me, I unsnapped my bra and tossed it to the floor.
Knox's eyes went black, narrowing on my tight nipples. Rising to my knees, I crooked a finger, beckoning him closer. I couldn't seem to talk about sex without fumbling like a teenager, but I could do this.
I'd been imagining doing this all day.
The second he was in arm's reach my hands went to his belt. “Take off your shirt,” I ordered, busy getting his pants off.
“I like you bossy,” he said in a growl, complying immediately. He kicked off his pants as he threw his shirt over his head.
Knox stood before me completely naked.
That body. Oh my God.
He was perfect. Every part of him was perfect. Strong and big, with tanned skin and hard muscles, a sprinkle of dark hair on his chest.
I knelt on the edge of the bed and reached for him, my hands on his hips, sliding back to close over his tight, perfect ass.
Squeezing, pulling him closer, I ducked my head and finally did what I'd been thinking about all day. I parted my lips and took the head of his cock in my mouth.
I heard a groan from above me. “Oh, fuck, Lily. Lily, baby.”
I'd never wanted to do this before, had never imagined how it would be to make a man like Knox feel so much, to know it was me—my mouth, my lips, my tongue—doing this to him.
I could have stayed there all day, but he brought his fingertips to the sides of my face and nudged me backwards. His cock popped from my lips and sprung back. I gripped him, his hard length pulsing beneath my fingers.
Before I could ask why, Knox said, “I need you, Lily. I needed you before I even met you.”
I knew what he was asking. I slid back on the bed, leaning against the pillows, and spread my legs in welcome.