Page 70 of Knox

Knox caught me around the waist and spun me, smiling as we turned. He set me down too soon but held me close. “I wanted to knock that guy’s head off. I don’t know how you defused the situation so quickly, but it was ten-out-of-ten work.”

“Thank you.”

“You think he’ll be back?” Knox asked.

“Possibly. But not tonight.” In truth, this might finally be the end of Tyler’s nonsense, because he wasn’t good at having his ego dismantled. He’d be slow to do that again.

Knox cupped my face gently, making me look at him. “He was right to say you’ve been through hell, though. And I’m living in your house, touching you like this, letting things get emotionally complicated.”

I pressed my hands to his, holding them in place, and meeting his worried gaze with determination. “Knox. Listen to me. We’ve had this conversation already. I know my own mind. Period. So either you trust that, or you don’t. But I’m not going to keep trying to convince you.” The firmness in my voice seemed to reach him.

His worry cracked, and something like relief flooded his features. “I trust you,” he said quietly. “I’ll try to stop second-guessing that.”

“Good. Because I’m tired of talking about whether we should be together.” I rose onto my toes. “I’d much rather just be together.” I edged my chin up. I moved my hand to his chest, the way I had outside the diner, and felt his heart pounding beneath my palm. “I want this, Knox. I want you. Because when I’m with you, I feel seen and valued and safe. Because you make me laugh and you challenge me and you don’t treat me like I’m fragile.”

“You’re not fragile,” he agreed, something in his expression softening. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

I kissed him softly, briefly. Then I pulled back and held my breath as I waited for his response. “Good.” I inhaled sharply and smiled. “Now kiss me like you mean it, Marine.”

Knox didn’t need to be told twice. He curved one hand at the nape of my neck, the other flattened across my back, and he pulled my body flush with his. Then, he brought his mouth to mine.

I made a sound of pleasure, and Knox deepened the kiss, a low growl of desire rumbling through his core.

We stumbled backward until my back hit the island. Knox caged me in with his arms, his body pressing against mine in a way that left no doubt about how much he wanted me. My hands slid under his shirt, palms flat against the hard muscle of his stomach, and Knox groaned.

In the next moment, I was off my feet and seated on the granite countertop, knees parting to make room for the mountain of a man sliding between them.

Knox pressed his lips to my jaw. Slid his tongue along the curve of my neck and spread hot kisses across my collarbone.

My head lolled to the side, dizzy with delight. My body squirmed against his, seeking the hard heat of him, desperate to be closer.

Knox anchored my back with one strong arm, the opposite hand exploring my curves and tugging me forward until my ankles locked around his middle.

I arched, and his mouth returned to mine.

His phone rang, and he ignored it.

Knox laid me back on the countertop. “So damn beautiful,” he murmured, pressing kisses to the flat of my stomach. The skin exposed by my new position. The heat of his breath and lap of his tongue made me squirm, needy and breathless. The grip of his hands on my ass when he yanked me back to the counter’s edge pushed me to my mental limit.

Then his phone rang again.

Chapter 23

Knox

I straightened, and Sloane’s arms dropped to her sides.

My phone continued to ring as I helped her sit up straight, then smoothed her clothes and hair. “I hate whoever is calling.”

“Me too,” Sloane said. “But it could be important.”

I fished the infuriating device from my back pocket and scowled at Archer’s name on the screen. “This better be life or death,” I answered.

Archer’s laugh was knowing. “Bad timing?”

I glanced at Sloane’s flushed skin and tousled hair. “What do you need?”

“We got a lead on the VW bus. Thought you’d want to know.”