“How are you feeling?”
I turn over to face him. “Like I drank an entire vat of vodka.”
Knox snorts, wrapping his arm tighter around my waist to pull me into his bare chest. I snuggle in, happy he’s not making this any weirder than it already is for me. He’s so toasty. “That’s because you made your best effort to do just that. How much do you remember?”
I scrunch my face, thinking back to my last memory. “You carried me out to the truck and…” I trail off as the memory of moving the console and spilling the contents everywhere comes back. “I’m sorry.”
“What exactly are you sorry for?” His soft question holds no judgment.
There are so many things that run through my head. I could apologize for spilling the contents of his console, for freaking out afterward, for falling asleep on him, for likely making him stay the night. But none of them feel right, so I say, “For making you take care of me last night. I can’t imagine I made it easy on you.”
His soft smile sends butterflies fluttering in my belly. “You know, I actually enjoyed it. I felt honored that you trusted me enough to do it.”
I tilt my head back. “I do. Trust you that is. I haven’t had that much to drink in a very long time. I didn’t feel safe enough to.”
“I’m glad I could do that for you.” Knox leans in to kiss me, and I pull away with a grimace.
“My mouth tastes like a dirty sock. Can I brush my teeth first?”
“Princess, I’m a cowboy. There ain’t much that grosses me out.” The smirk on his face makes me roll my eyes, so I lean in to kiss it off him.
He wasn’t ready for it, and I’m able to pull away before he can kiss me back. I start to get out of bed, but Knox yanks me back with an easy flex of his arm. It shocks a laugh outof me, and I find myself grinning up at the handsome cowboy. He’s pinned my hips down with his own, while the rest of his weight is on his elbows, by my head.
He still has his jeans on, which I find endearing.
“Now let’s try that kiss again.” Knox drops his head, kissing me with passion. I lift my hands to his hair, needing something to keep me grounded. It’s overwhelming how quickly this man can send my body into overdrive. If I’m not careful, I could get addicted to this feeling.
I think I already am.
Knox makes me feel as if my pleasure is the only thing that matters. He gets pleasure out of ensuring that I feel good. I’m not just a body to be used however it pleases him. I’m a vital piece of the puzzle, and without my full participation, it would be pointless for him.
I never imagined a man would ever act that way toward me.
I can fantasize about my book boyfriends all day long, but at the end of the day, they’re fictional. Gia gave me hope that those men are out there. She made it clear that Holt makes herveryhappy in that department.
I just couldn’t believe that I would be brave enough to find a man like that of my own.
“Come back to me, Princess,” Knox murmurs against my neck. He presses kisses up to my ear and down my jaw until he reaches my mouth again.
“I’m here. I promise.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“How lucky I am to have found a man like you.”
Knox lifts his head. A crease forms between his eyebrows. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me, Princess.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a grumpy bastard. I always will be, even if you makeme happier than I’ve ever been. I just don’t see the world the way you do.”
I snort at his description of himself. “I’m aware of that, Knox. I don’t expect you to turn into Grayson now that we’re…doing whatever we’re doing.”
He gives me a flat look that makes me laugh harder. “I sure as hell will never be like Gray. The man’s a menace.”
“Speaking of, remind me to ask about him and Kylie later. But the point I’m getting at is I don’t want you to be anyone but you because you’re a good man, an amazing dad, and someone I truly want to have in my life.”
“Are you sure? I was such an asshole to you. What if I do something stupid again?”
