Then she frees my hands and guides them to her hips. “Nothing sexual, Dimitri.”
I breathe out and enjoy feeling her skin under my touch. She swallows when I brush my fingertips over her thighs, but then I touch her arms. She takes careful breaths, but then gently pats my hands.
She leans forward and kisses my cheek, her breath fanning over my mouth. “Thank you, Dimitri.”
I almost groan.
She flips Jaxon over after undoing his wrists and he immediately runs his fingers through her hair, touches her nape, takes her hands, and puts them back on him. “It’s new having you be sweet instead of clawing me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah. Yeah. It’s a special moment until you ruin it.”
He chuckles and kisses her neck. She doesn’t flinch, but I can see her mouthing something. She lasts about the same time, but I have a feeling she’s pushing herself.
Finally, she unties Knox’s wrists. His fingertips are purple. She gasps and rubs them. “Knox, you need these!”
“And neither of us are great at being touched. Don’t worry. They’re numb. I can’t feel anything,” he says before stroking her back. He massages her shoulders and pulls her closer to kiss her forehead. She rubs her nose against his.
“I’m trying,” she whispers and I can see the tears filling her eyes.
Yeah. It’s real fucking obvious that she’s trying and working hard. It’s humbling. A little more of the anger I’ve been holding onto when it comes to Knox calms. If she can forgive him for letting her be taken, I can too.
Obviously, she was okay with having sex with him and still is or she’d flinch every time he touches her. Maybe we can all try a bit more. Jax on whatever he’s dealing with and trying to avoid, Knox on being less of an ass in general, and me… with forgiving him and myself.
All for Hope.
KNOX
I keep glancing at Hope as we work on unpacking. She’s focused, determined to get things done because she wants us to enjoy our first weekend here without having to do a ton. She made it sound logical, like it’s to keep us from being tired Monday, but I think she has other things in mind.
“Um… guys,” Dimitri says.
“Food here?” Hope asks, eyes lighting up.
“Yes, baby!” Jax says, but his voice isn’t upbeat by any stretch.
I stand up and walk out first, noticing how Jax and Dimitri are focused on the TV. The second I hear “pillar of the community,” I want to turn Hope around, but she moves to the couch, then goes pale.
Moving behind her, I wrap my arms around her shoulders, reminding her that she’s here with us.
“It’s hard to say exactly how long Coach Harbaugh has been missing. There are several disagreements about his last location, but he’s not the type to miss practice,” the female host says.
She turns the mic over to Dimitri’s dad. His eyes are dark, guarded. “We’re looking into the matter. Coach Harbaugh has done so much for the community. He’s turned boys into men, taught discipline, and he’s done all that despite what he’s suffered.”
“Have you heard anything from family or close friends?” the host asks.
Dimitri’s dad looks right at the camera. Hope lets out a squeak and Dimitri takes her hand. “I should have hit him harder.”
“No,” he finally says before adjusting his police badge. “Unfortunately, we haven’t. Last I heard, he was estranged from his daughter. His team was his family and the community his friends. We’re all worried. If you have any tips, call…”
Jaxon mutes the TV and rubs his jaw. “Hope… does anyone else know about the cabin?”
“I don’t know,” she wheezes. “Oh, god. They’re going to find him. They’ll find everything. They’ll find me. They’ll…”
“They won’t find you. Dimitri’s good at what he does.” I kiss the top of her head and rub her arms. “You’re safe.”
I share a look with Dimitri, then with Jaxon. If anyone does find the body, I’m taking the fall. I should have done it from the start. I’ll make sure everyone knows he was abusive. I can say it was to me. I can say that I did it to protect someone. I’ll say plenty and make sure it’s on camera. What I say is up to Hope, but she doesn’t get to suffer more because of him.
“His name is in the news, not his body,” Jaxon says before nodding to me. “Doesn’t mean a thing.”
