“Say it.” We stand face to face, Knox’s breaths coming in quick, rough bursts, “Say it, darlin’.”
“I didn’t — it wasn’t —”
“Go on,” He taunts, “Lie.”
My molars grind together. “We can’t take this on.”
A deep, rasping chuckle rumbles from his chest, the sound of it vibrating down my spine. My skin pebbles and my thighs ache, but I don’t back down.
“Don’t be a coward here, Hellion,” He pushes. “Say it.”
It’s a battle in this little bubble we have created.
But I remain silent and steadfast, matching him. The words were never meant to slip out. Love is a weakness that is used against you. Love gets you killed. Love makes you vulnerable.
“What?” He pushes even harder, “Are you afraid, Elena?”
I suck in air through my nose, staring him down, but I have nothing to say. I can’t say I didn’t mean it, Ican’teven if I should.
I open my mouth to say just that, to tell him itwas heat of the moment, that I didn’t mean a single word, but he steps forward, closing the gap between us until my spine hits the side of the house and his body is pressing me into it. I tilt my head back to keep my eyes on his, fingers curled into the fabric of his blue shirt.
“You are,” He rasps, running the tip of his nose down the length of mine, “You are terrified. It’s quick, and it’s unexpected, and you never saw it coming, am I right?”
I shiver.
“And now you’re scared. You’re not scared of your uncle or the men coming after you; you’re not afraid of a two thousand pound bull, or a man who could destroy this whole town without even blinking, but this? You’re fucking terrified of this. Why?”
“Knox,” I beg.
“No,” He snaps. “No, there’s no escape here, Hellion, tell me.”
“This isn’t what we need to worry about right now, Knox.”
“No,” He chuckles, “This is exactly what I need right now.”
“What do you want from me!?” I snap.
“Everything!” He booms. “I want everything!”
His hands grip the back of my neck, not hard, not painful but firm, demanding, “Give me everything!”
“You don’t want everything,” I whisper.
“I want it all,” His lips touch the corner of mine, “I wantyou.”
His eyes bounce between mine, waiting for me to answer, to tell him, but I can’t. Physically, I can’t.
“Elena,” He sighs, “I’ll beg if I need to. I will fuckingbeg.Mean it.Give it to me, De Luca, I can fucking take it. But I want it all.”
“I can’t,” My voice cracks.
He laughs lightly. “You can.”
“Kiss me, Knox. Kiss me. Please.”
“Say it,” He demands.
My head shakes as a tremor works through me.
