Page 47 of Unmasked

“Knox...”

“Stay with me,” he murmured. He kissed her neck, and she melted into him. “Please. Let me take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself.” Her words held no heat, and she felt him smile against her throat.

“You like the way I do it better.”

She shook her head, determined not to let him steamroll her. “No.”

The infuriating man just chuckled. Before she could process what was happening, he bent low and drove his shoulder into her midsection, then tossed her over his shoulder. Knox moved through the house, then flung her onto the bed. She didn't even have a chance to draw in a breath before he was on her, his mouth slanting over hers. The fight left her, replaced instead by the fierce need to have him.

“We’re not done talking about this,” she managed to say as she pulled her shirt over her head and wiggled out of her jeans.

Knox moved over her and kissed her hard. “Yeah, baby, we are.”

He was right; they were done talking.

“I've got some recon to do tonight,” Knox said. “I don't want you to be alone here, so I asked Vivi if she was free. Will you go to her place until I'm done?”

His request surprised her. Vivi had been more than a little unreceptive to her, and she wasn't quite sure how to answer. “I wouldn't want to put her out...”

“You won't be,” Knox said when she trailed off, sliding his hands up the outside of her arms until he cupped her elbows. “I thought you two could catch up a little. You were so close once.”

Oh, God. That was exactly what she dreaded. Vivi seemed to hate her, and she didn't want to make things worse between them. “I'm not sure,” she said slowly. “I think she might need a little time to… process everything.”

“Please?” Knox kissed her forehead. “I want my girls to get along.”

He knew she couldn’t say no to him when he asked like that. “If you're sure she won't mind.”

“She won't,” he promised. “And thank you.”

“You're welcome.” She looped her arms around his neck as he dipped his head for a kiss. “How long will you be?”

“No more than a couple hours,” he said between kisses.

“Hurry back to me,” she said.

“You know I will.” He brushed his lips over hers again. “You know I wouldn’t leave you unless I absolutely had to.”

“Fine.” She let her fingers trail over his chest as she reluctantly pulled away. “Let me go change and we can go.”

Less than a half hour later, they piled into the car and headed toward Vivi's place that she had inherited from her guardian, Violet. It was a long drive from Knox’s place since he lived so far out in the country, and it took nearly an hour to get there. She had no idea how he made the drive to work every day, and she voiced her question.

He lifted one shoulder with a smile. “It's worth it. I love the peace and quiet. And besides…” He reached over and took her hand in his, gently squeezing her fingers. “I’m closer to you. That place was always home for me. Now it’s even better since you’re back.”

Her nervousness increased with each mile, and she found herself crossing and recrossing her legs restlessly.

“Hey.” Knox released her fingers and settled his hand on her thigh. She met his gaze for a brief moment before he turned to stare out the windshield again. “Everything's going to be fine.”

She doubted that. “Did you...” She licked her lips and fought the urge to squirm beneath his touch. “Did you tell her? About… before?”

“No.” He shook his head. “That's your story to tell.”

Knox slowed the SUV, then turned into a long driveway and parked in front of Vivi's house. She had been there only a couple of weeks ago, but so much had happened since then. As she opened the car door, a curtain moved in the window, and she bit her lip. Before she could say a word, Knox was beside her, his hand settled on her lower back as he guided her toward the front door.

It opened before they’d even stepped under the portico, and Vivi stood outlined in the space, a tight smile on her face. “Hi.”

“Hey.” She offered her a smile too, though it felt as tense as Vivi's looked.