I glance up at the sky. The blanket of constellations is comforting and yet so unknowingly vast it’s hard to take it in.
“What are you doing out here?” Farrah’s big brown eyes pierce me with a longing so intense it makes my chest ache.
“I came to find you.”
Her eyebrows wing up her forehead. “Me?”
I nod. With slow movements, I palm her cheek, mentally preparing myself for her to back away from my touch. To my utter shock, she leans into my hand instead. I slide my thumb across her soft cheek, memorizing every inch of her sweet face.
“Tell me to stop.” The demand is almost a plea Farrah doesn’t seem to heed. She lifts her chin in a clear invitation, and I can’t hold myself back any longer. I dip down, pressing a hard kiss to her soft lips.
It’s angry and desperate. This woman has tied me up in so many knots that the only way I’ll ever unravel them will be to light a match to everything I’ve ever known before.
I spear my fingers into her silky hair in an effort to hold on to some form of control. It doesn’t work. She moans into my mouth, spurring me on. I slowly walk her backward until she’s pressed against her car. Fire burns through my veins with everytease and lick of her tongue against mine. I’m going to overheat out here, and it will be her fault.
She breaks the kiss, tilting her head back to breathe. I take advantage of the space, kissing across her jaw and down the long column of her neck. Fuck, she tastes good. I want to devour every fucking inch of her body.
I want to learn what makes her gasp and moan. Does she like it hard and fast or slow and deep?
“Knox,” she moans. It sends a shiver down my spine, and I pull away, needing to calm my pounding pulse. Farrah’s hands are fisted in my shirt. I can’t tell if she’s pulling me closer or trying to push me away.
We stare at each other for a long moment as we try to catch our breath.
“What was that for?” she whispers.
“Because I needed to know.”
“Know what?”
“If everything in my life has led me to this point for a reason. It’s been over seven years since I was this close to a woman, Farrah. I never want to go through what I went through with Finn’s mother again. I was determined to shove all those emotions to the back of my mind and pretend like I didn’t need anyone in my life.
“But then you showed up, with your gentle smiles and kind words, and reflected everything I thought I’d had before but was so wrong about. I wanted to hate you for holding a mirror up to my scars and showing me everything I lacked in my life. I spewed every hateful thing I could come up with because I didn’t want to acknowledge that you were everything I ever wanted.”
I palm her cheeks, swiping away the stray tear rolling down her face with my thumb. “I’m sorry I took my problems out on you, Farrah. You never deserved that.”
“I wasn’t very nice to you either.”
I smirk at her. “You were about as vicious as a kitten.”
Her eyes narrow. “Hey, my barbs were sharp.”
“Okay, Princess.” Leaning in, I press a light kiss to her plump lips. A quick jab to my solar plexus makes me bark out a laugh.
She grins, a spark of mischief in her eyes. But then her smile dims a little. “What happens now?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Whatever we want, I guess. It’s been a long time since I dated. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“So we’re dating now?”
“If you want.”
“How about you take me out first, and then I’ll decide.”
“You playing hard to get?”
She shakes her head. “I’m playing cautiously. Your apology went a long way with me, Knox, but I can’t do this hot and cold thing you’re so good at. I spent enough of my life dealing with men who made me feel crazy. I won’t do it anymore.”
I file that tidbit of information away, knowing now isn’t the time to ask who hurt her and where they live. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, I nod. “I’m still a grumpy bastard, but I can promise I won’t take that out on you anymore, okay?”
