Knox’s chin tilted slightly when he said, “Take. It. Off.”
A foreign stirring sensation started between my legs as his command processed. I should’ve been appalled by the way he was speaking to me, but based on my body’s reaction, it was safe to say I didn’t mind being bossed around by him.
“I … I…” Surely I could come up withsomeexcuse that wouldn’t sound stupid.
“What are you wearing beneath?” Knox asked. “Panties?”
I nodded, feeling my face heat from embarrassment.
“Just pretend they’re your bikini bottoms.”
“I’m not wearing a bra,” I bit out, my eyes rounding like saucers as soon as the words escaped. Why would I say something like that?What the hell is wrong with me?
“Do you ever sunbathe topless?”
I frowned. “Of course not.”
Knox chuckled, but then his countenance shifted from amusement to … I couldn’t describe it even if I wanted to because that was the moment Knox got to his feet again and moved toward me. I was momentarily distracted by his rippling muscles; otherwise, I would’ve realized I needed to flee. Before my brain could send the command to my legs, Knox was standing in front of me.
I inhaled a sharp breath when his palms skated up the outsides of my thighs, his fingertips dipping just beneath the edge of the gown.
“I want you in here with me,” Knox said, his tone smooth, his voice soft. “And I want you in here now.”
I nodded.
Why? Why was I agreeing to do this?
Well, wasn’t that the question.
~~~~
Knox
When I’d come out here, I honestlyhadn’t anticipated Emily joining me. I’d figured she was sleeping. That or hiding. Either way, it would’ve kept her safely away from me for the remainder of the night.
But then she’d appeared as though she’d been summoned directly out of my fantasies.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” she mumbled, staring at me with so much naivety in her eyes it hurt to look at her.
“You’re beautiful, Em. It only makes sense that I’d want to be with you.”
“Why do you say things like that?” she muttered, taking my hand as I offered to help her down the step into the water.
“Because it’s true.”
Once we were submerged hip deep, Emily pulled away from me, putting what she probably figured was a safe distance between us.
I didn’t chase after her. I wouldn’t. “You don’t have to be scared of me.”
It was a lie. If Emily was smart, she would always be scared of me. Even I wasn’t aware of what I was capable of anymore. Case in point, I was lusting after my stepsister, who happened to be eleven years my junior and no more equipped for this world than a fucking newborn. Not for the first time, I both detested and respected Kitty for keeping Emily so sheltered.
“I’m not,” she said, although there was a tremble in her voice.
I stepped up to her with purpose, wanting her to face me, to face what this was between us. She could run away as often as she wanted, but it wouldn’t change the fact there was something here, something that I intended to explore with her, despite my best efforts to stay away.
I had to give her credit, at least she didn’t run this time. Her narrow shoulders squared, as though she was facing a firing squad, not a mere man who simply wanted to show her things she’d never experienced before.
When she stood still, I reached up and freed the clip from her hair, letting the thick, dark strands fall over her shoulders.
