“Nice. Have you threatened any of herboyfriendsyet?”
A gleeful grin spreads ear-to-ear as he leans in. The heat from his body emanates to mine and my stomach dips to my feet. “That’s exactly why Trix doesn’t have anyboyfriends.”
“You’re a real couple ofbookends.”
He points across the hall. “Guestbathroom.”
“Guest bathroom? As in you have two all toyourself?”
“Don’tforgetFish.”
“Oh my God.” I step inside my newfound nirvana, but it’s not the gorgeous marble countertop that has me unable to catch my breath. It’s the freestanding clawfoot tub that I hear singing out my name. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus.” I fall to my knees in front of it in a blatant act of worship. “Oh, the bath bombs I could launchinyou!”
“The what?” he honks, affronted as ifbath bombwere code for a bodilymalfunction.
“A bubble bath, you moron.” I give the tub a hearty embrace and groan as I envision all of the lovely books I could read while snuggled in its sturdyironarms.
“I’m not the one having a religious experiment with abathtub.”
“Fine.” I let him help me to my feet, and his warm hand sends a quick jolt right up my arm, down my ribcage, and straight to those wild rivers that seem to be rushingforhim.
Ugh! I hate that I’m wound tighter than a two-dollar watch. I need to unleash, and quick. I’m back to eyeing the tub. “You wouldn’t mind if I took a bath sometime, would you? I mean, I am letting you suck face whenever you feel the need.” I leer at him, hoping he might suddenly feeltheneed.
Gah! What the hell am I saying? Do not let Knox Toberman suck your face! Not without the proper audience, of course. I’ll have to kick my own ass if I fall victim to those perfect bowtie lips. For a moment, theymesmerizeme.
“Follow me before this gets weird.” He leads me out and to another spare bedroom—this one laden with a desk and printer, a bookshelf with actual books lining the racks, and I’m more than impressed. “And then there’s my room.” He leads me to the last room, the master with its huge expansive wingspan, its en suitebathroom.
“Wow, you are really living high on the luxury hog. I think you lucked out ending up withthecat.”
A dark laugh strums from him. “I happen toagree.”
I step over to the enormous bed sitting right on the floor, the way God intended, and lie over it, spreading my arms wide as I swing them back and forth. “So, this is where the magichappens?”
“Nope. Not yet anyway.” He makes a face and looks cuttingly gorgeous. I swear, scowling just makes him look that much hotter. “Jen and I never. I mean, I just moved in lastweek,so—”
“Oh.” I hop off, suddenly fearing for the fact I could have been lounging around on her ho drippings. “I’m glad. Or I’d have to help youburnit.”
He pushes out a quiet smile, but that pained look in his eyes says it all. “Do you really think they?” He lets the question hang there without finishing it. But he doesn’t have to. I wouldn’t want toeither.
“Who cares?” I shudder at the thought as if maybe I do. “Hey! I know what we can do. Let’s raid that behemoth fridge of yours. I’mstarved.”
He grimaces at the thought. “We can raid it all we want, but it will still be empty. I’ve yet to hit thestore.”
“Then let’s do it.” I give a weak shrug. “I mean, that’s what couples do, right? And at least that way we’ll be seen in public. It’s a start. I know for a fact Justin still follows all of my social media accounts—not to mention the fact he’s been psychotically updating his.” I don’t bother telling Knox about the fireside selfie with the two of them obnoxiously cuddled in one another’s arms. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was the real deal. But after hearing Jen’s little step-off-my-man speech, I’m pretty sureit’snot.
“I got it.” Knox pulls me to the bed and rumples the comforter before patting a spot nexttohim.
“You really are a genius.” I lie next to him and mess my hair up with my fingers a bit before laying my head over the warmth of this bare-naked chest. My insides pinch with a heat of their own as the heady scent of his spiced cologne infiltrates my senses. My ear touches his flesh, skin-to-skin, and my body drinks down the wild, pulsating sensation. And then, as if someone flipped on a switch, his heart gives a heavy wallop. One after the other, like some dark gong echoing in rhythm, it beats throughout his body. I hold up my phone in front of us. “Sayrevenge!”
“Revenge,” he growls it out low and primal, and that tender spot between my thighs quivers uncontrollably with something just this side ofecstasy.
It looks like Knox waswrong.
There is still plenty of magic happening onhisbed.
* * *
Knox drivesus down to Hollow Brook Farms, an upscale market less than a mile from his home. No sooner do we get inside than I check my status—all the likes are up, and several of my sisters have publicly declared they’re happy I’ve moved on. Both Ava and Lucky give a thumbs-up before sending a group text that says nothing morethanWTF?
