“Like I wanted to own you, protect you…keepyou.”
I reach behind me to fondle him through his jeans. I want to tell him I’m his, but I’m unsure if it’s the whole truth. I’mhealingfrom my relationship with Patrick, but that doesn’t mean I’m totallyhealed.I don’t want to lie or promise something I can’t deliver.
I can’t deny that I’ve been attracted to Knox since I saw him in that karaoke bar, but I hadn’t really anticipatedhimbeing the one to get attached. Especially given his hesitancy to even give this a try.
“Not to totally kill the mood, but why don’t we go grab breakfast and figure out what the hell we’re doing?”
Knox spins me to face him, a skeptical look on his face.
“That feels like it’s supposed to be my line.”
Pulling in a lungful of air, I search for the words I want. This situation feels delicate because things between Knox and me are so fragile.
“Maybe you’re rubbing off on me,” I tease, trying to hold on to a playful attitude.
“I’d rather rub against you,” he fires back easily, making me laugh.
“Hell, with that quick and dirty wit, maybeI’mrubbing off onyou.” I give him a kiss and playfully push him off me. “But as you pointed out in the kitchen, I’ve hardly eaten in the last forty-eight hours and I’m starving, so I’ll need to eat before I can eventhinkabout fucking around again.”
At the mention of one of my basic needs not being met, Knox springs into action, telling me to finish getting dressed. “Do you want me to fry you an egg or anything as an appetizer?”
I chuckle. “No. I can wait twenty minutes, just not the hour and a half it would’ve taken if we’d decided to get naked again.”
He stands in the doorway watching me as I pull my T-shirt on and situate it so it falls how I want. I brush a light dusting of blush over my cheeks because my color is horrible after the last two days, pencil on some eye-liner, and swipe a tiny bit of mascara to finish it off.
I stare back at my reflection lovingly. I’ve missed myself, and I’m grateful to Knox for giving me a safe place to find myself again.
When we pull up to the restaurant, I get the usual amount of stares, and Knox shocks me by completely ignoring them. Well, okay, he doesn’t exactlyignorethem. He almost eggs them on by touching me constantly and leaning in closer than necessary when he talks.
Hewantspeople to know we’re together. He’s daring them to say something.
I love the attention and the possessiveness, so I touch him right back.
We place our order, and Knox dives into the conversation. “So, you leave Monday, but when do come home?”
“Thursday, but I fly out again Saturday morning.” I’m dying to get back in the sky, although the look of disappointment on Knox’s face makes my skin clammy.
“Do you share rooms with other flight attendants?” he asks, messing with his already-perfect silverware.
“No, we all have our own rooms,” I assure him. “Maybe if we’re still doing this in a couple months or so, you could come on a trip with me?” His eyes meet mine, and they’re wide with fear. “Knox? What’d I say?”Sheesh, he was the one who said he wanted to keep me. I didn’t think a couple months?—
My thoughts are interrupted when Knox says, “I’ve never been on an airplane.”
In full-on, high-pitched, gay-pride mode, I yell, “Excuuuuuse me?”
Knox looks around, and several patrons are staring back at us, but he doesn’t tell me to be quiet.
“Knox, you’re forty-five! How have you never been on an airplane?” I ask, still mildly shrieking.
He shrugs. “It’s not as easy to get away when you own a company. And when youdoget away, you’re still on call because any problems that arise directly affect you. Karen and I bought a place on the coast, but I sold it to Hudson a while back. That was our vacation twice a year. I never needed more.”
I think I’m supposed to run away now.
This man’s roots go so deep I’m surprised he’s able to leave thecounty, while my wings carry me on the wind to distantcountries…but all I see are flashes of Knox in the crystal waters of the Bahamas, curled up in a snowy cabin in Telluride, skiing in Montana.
“Well,” I start, giving him a sly smile as I point between us. “This thing is supposed to be about getting you outside your comfort zone, right? Outside of the literal box you’ve put yourself in, yeah?”
“I suppose,” he grumbles.
