“Don’t move.”
“Okay.”As he pushed off the bed and grabbed for his jeans to get his wallet, she said, “I’m on birth control, but yeah, one scare was enough, right?No need to take chances.”
Knox wasn’t thinking at all when he got out the condom and rolled it on.“I wasn’t scared.”He came back down over her but paused long enough to curve one hand over her cheek.“If you ever want a baby, I’m your guy.”
Her eyes flared wide, but he didn’t give her a chance to speak.He kissed her while he reached between their bodies, and seconds later neither of them was thinking of anything but pleasure.
Laylee barely stirred when Knox silently left the bed and headed to the bathroom.It sounded to her as if he was cleaning up.
The thought made her smile.If they were going to do this again—and they most definitely would—they’d need to make some arrangements.She wouldn’t mind if he left a change of clothes at her house, along with some toiletries.The idea of making long-term arrangements with him gave her a sense of contentment.
Now that she’d lost his body heat, her skin quickly cooled, but she was too lethargic, too sated, to move.Knox Nial excelled at more than mere kissing.Never had she experienced anything like their lovemaking.Maybe it was that they were so perfectly in sync.Or maybe he was just that good, that special.
“You’re smiling,” he murmured as he came back in, this time leaving the door partially open.
“I’m happy,” she replied as she lazily stretched.“And I feel amazing.”
Kissing a path up her thigh to her stomach to her left breast, he said, “Yes, you do.”His hands slid under her and then lifted her enough to readjust her in the bed.When he finished, her head was on a pillow and her feet no longer hung over the side.After freeing the lightweight quilt from beneath her, he spread it out, turned off the light, and snuggled in next to her.
It was the most natural thing in the world to get comfortable in his arms.Quietly, filled with emotion, she whispered, “It was a wild day, but I really like how it turned out.”
Knox kissed her forehead.“Yeah, but this, with you, was my favorite part.”
She smiled.“Thank you for staying with me.”
Several seconds passed without a reply, and she started to wonder if she’d pushed him too far.She’d never been very good at moderation, especially when it came to her own wants and needs and going after whatever made her happy.
Knox made her very happy.
Finally, he said, “I wanted to stay.Anytime you want company or someone to talk to, or sex, I’m here for it, okay?Here for you.I mean that, Laylee.You don’t have to explain, and I won’t have automatic expectations.”As he spoke, he trailed his fingers gently through her long hair.“But you should probably know, I care about you.More than I’ve ever cared for any woman.You’re funny and sincere.I love how close you are with your sister and how great you are with the dogs.”
Stunned by his words, Laylee didn’t reply for a second.“I wasn’t always good with them.”Great job, Laylee.Way to skirt the real issue.
She wasn’t sure how to respond to his declaration, so talking about her weaknesses seemed easier.God knew, she had plenty of them.
“Remember, I used to be a dismal failure with the pets—my fault, not theirs.”
“You’re quick to learn.”
Wincing, she admitted, “I’m afraid I wasn’t always great with my sister, either.”It hurt her to admit it, but here in the dark and quiet, it was easy to make confessions to Knox.“I used to be jealous of her because she’s so smart and levelheaded.”
“So are you.Plus, you have to know Skye felt the same way.Somehow, she thought you were the pretty one, and she was just the smart one.”
Laylee could hear the smile in his voice.“That’s how our parents differentiated us.I was the pretty, carefree party girl and Skye was the smart, studious girl.”
“Do twins get that a lot?”
She shrugged.“My dad is a twin.He grew up being the smart twin, like Skye, and my uncle was the athletic twin.But they’re both smart and pretty athletic, if you ask me.I guess he just carried on with what he was taught.”
“So you heard that nonsense from your folks and also your grandparents?”
If she didn’t agree that it was nonsense, Laylee might have taken offense.“From the entire family, all of them, really.”
Knox kissed her again, but this time it was different.Soft and reassuring, tender and caring.“You and Skye are both smart and you’re both beautiful.In different ways, sure.Even as twins you each have your own look.”
“Not that I didn’t try to get Skye to be more like me.”Sometimes she detested herself for that.“I used to tease her mercilesslyabout her boring clothing choices and the bland men she dated.That was before Ford, though.I heartily approve of him.”
“I’m sure Ford appreciates your faith in him.”
