My fingers tangle in his hair as I pull him closer, matching his intensity with my own. The kiss is fiery, consuming, and itfeels like the air around us is getting hotter, as if the forge itself is stoking the flames between us.
He breaks away just long enough to press his forehead against mine, his breath ragged. “You don’t know what you do to me, Petal,” he growls. The sound he makes causes my heart to stutter—soft and affectionate, a stark contrast to the rough man who’s spent so long trying to keep his distance.
I smile, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw, feeling the tension there. “Then show me,” I whisper, daring him to give in completely.
The shift in his eyes is instant. The restraint he’s been holding onto for so long vanishes as he presses me against the rough stone wall of the forge. His hands roam down my body, tracing every curve with a hunger that makes my breath catch. When his lips find the sensitive skin of my neck, I let out a soft moan, arching against him as sparks of pleasure shoot through me.
I’ve wanted this—wanted him—for so long. And now that it’s happening, I feel like I’m on fire.
Knox’s hands fumble with the buttons of my dress, his touch frantic but determined. My fingers slide under his shirt, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath, and when I finally get it off him, I can’t stop myself from running my hands over every inch of his chest. He’s everything I’ve dreamed of, every rough edge and hardened muscle making my pulse race faster.
He groans at the feel of my hands on him, his lips finding mine again in a kiss that’s rougher this time, more desperate. His hands grip my hips, lifting me effortlessly as he presses me harder against the wall. My legs wrap around his waist, and I gasp as I feel him, hard and ready, pressing against me.
The heat in the room is stifling now, a mix of the forge fire and the blaze between us. But I don’t care. All I can think aboutis Knox, the way he’s holding me, the way he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in the world that matters.
Our clothes come off in a blur of movement, discarded without a second thought, and then it’s just skin on skin. The first touch of his fingers against my pussy is slow, deliberate, but it’s enough to make me gasp, my nails digging into his back as I cling to him.
“Knox,” I breathe, my voice trembling with pleasure. “Don’t stop.”
He growls low in his throat, his grip on my hips tightening as he starts to move his palm faster, harder. The energy between us is frantic, our bodies moving in sync as we give in to the passion that’s been building for weeks.
“Petal,” he whispers, his voice hoarse with emotion. The nickname sends a rush of warmth through me, and I know it means more than just a word. It’s his way of telling me that I matter, that I’m different.
That I’m his.
The thought makes my heart swell, and I pull him closer, my lips finding his again in a kiss that’s softer this time, more tender. The passion between us is still there, burning bright, but now it’s mixed with something deeper—something that feels like the beginning of something real.
“I love every sexy, curvy inch of you. Anyone who’s ever made you feel different is a blind asshole.”
“You’re too sweet.” I gasp into the air between us.
"And I plan on showering you with all the compliments until you agree to be mine." His cocky grin wraps like barbed wire around my hopeful heart. Is he serious? I've never known a man as straightforward with his intentions as Knox is. The usual back and forth game that most men seem to enjoy doesn't even register with him. The warmth in his eyes is so open and caring, he’s the most incredible man I've ever met.
"You’re such a charmer.”
"Keep looking at me like that and I'll kiss that cocky smile right off your lips.”
"You wouldn't–”
"Make no mistake," he leans across the table, "I plan on kissing more than just the smile off your lips." And then he presses his lips to mine, soft and tender at first before pulling away. "All the weeks without you have been like walking around in hell and trying to act normal about it."
"Knox, I..."
"Tell me." He tips my chin to meet his.
"I–" Insecurity ripples through my voice.
"Petal." He holds me closer. "Never, ever will there be a day when my head isn't consumed with you. I want to know how you’re feeling about anything and everything. Don’t ever hold back with me." He kisses me again, his hands crawling up my torso and snaking around my curves until I am pressed firmly against him. "You keep me up at night thinking about all the ways I can make you breathless and begging for me, how I can please you and make you laugh and you don't even realize it."
"B-begging?"
He comes around the table, pulling me up as his grin widens. "Hell yes, begging."
His hand drops to my waist then. "Do you need me to show you how much I think about you?"
I ache and moan, desperate for his touch everywhere.
"That's it, sweet girl, begging already." He works his fingers quicker against my hot core. I clutch at his shoulders, grinding deeper into his palm as my body grows more frenzied for the impending release.
