Soraya's eyes are burning holes through Knox's, more from disbelief than hurt. Then she turns to grab her purse from the couch and rummages inside, pulls out the key ring, and tosses it toward the table. The metal clatters against the wood. “You know where to find me when you’ve come to your senses,” she says, stalking toward the door. “Don’t forget the papers,” Knox calls after her. She doesn’t answer. The door slams so hard behind her that the walls shake. Knox finally releases me, and once the pressure of his arms fades, I turn around, brushing my shirt back into place. I don’t meet his eyes at first. I’m too busy reining myself in. Eventually, I head to a couch and sit. “Didn’t know you were that strong,” he says after a moment. “Where have you been hiding those muscles?” I shoot him a look. “Not funny, Knox. You need to take care of her.” “I will. I’ve given her a deadline.” “You know damn well she won’t sign those papers by then.” He walks over and sits beside me, elbo
My breath catches. Not from shock, but from disbelief that she really said that out loud. Who does this woman think she is? Knox steps in front of me now. “Okay, that’s it. You need to leave. And drop your keys on the table while you’re at it.” “Why do I need to leave?” she says. “She should be the one leaving.” “You just admitted that you paid a PI to investigate her, and then you accused her of plotting with my brother to manipulate me. I’ve heard enough. You’re probably having a hard time processing this, so I’ll give you until the end of the week to sort your shit out. And then you’ll sign those papers. I know you still have them.” “No, Knox. I’m not signing them. Her stupid best friend set me up for shoplifting. And I feel like someone’s following me around lately. You’re not the only one affected by whatever’s going on here. And since you’re not seeing the pattern, then I’ll be your eyes. They are up to something.” I almost laugh. She must’ve hurt her back stretching this h
Acting civil when you’re mad is a skill I swore I’d mastered after putting up with Delilah and Finn for years. But Soraya is testing that skill, and I slowly count the minutes until the last guest walks out the door. Knox might be private and antisocial, but his people aren’t. They linger, they chat, they slap his back, and they toast with whatever alcohol is left. Eventually, they start trickling out one by one, and I force a tight smile for every handshake, every half-drunk hug, every murmured “nice to meet you.” Knox and I stand side by side like a pair of Victorian hosts—me in his oversized shirt and borrowed boxers, him in lounge clothes and a smile that’s wearing thinner by the second. We say thank you. We nod. I even get kissed on the hand by some guy with a buzz cut and an attitude that screams ex-con turned executive. I smile anyway, wondering how Knox found all these hard-faced men and severe-looking women and convinced them to work for him. One of the last to leave is Le
When I finally head down, I hover in the stairway, trying to count familiar faces. Yep—some of these people I remember from that cursed matchmaking barbecue. But one face in particular is glaring at me like I’m a roach on the floor.Jade.I forgot my stepfather works for Knox.“Over here,” Knox calls, already seated with a plate of cake in hand.I walk toward him, spotting the only available wide space on the couch—right between him and Jade. Hell. No. I make a quick decision and aim for the tighter space beside a guy I vaguely recognize. But before I can slip in, Knox hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me down, right into his lap.I barely regain my balance before he's addressing the crowd.“Hey, everyone,” he says, “meet my girlfriend, Sloane.”I freeze.Every head turns. One guy, cake stuffed in his mouth, blurts, “Your girlfriend’s cute, boss, and I can swear she looks familiar.”The guy beside him kicks him in the leg.“Aww,” he says. “I was just saying he played a fast one,
Waking up to someone watching you, someone who doesn’t live in the house, is by far the creepiest thing on Earth. Soraya’s hands are folded in her lap. Legs crossed. Perfectly poised and casual, as if this were normal behavior, to watch your ex-husband and his girlfriend sleep. I can feel the rage start to rise up my throat. “You have a key?” I say. “Is that supposed to be an excuse? You're in Knox’s bedroom while we’re both naked.” “You’re under the sheets. I’m only sitting here because I figured it’s a bad idea to wake Knox spontaneously, him being ex-military and paranoid. Don’t want to get tackled down.” Her tone is light, indifferent. Like I’m the one being dramatic for questioning her. I push myself higher up the bed, sheet still clutched to my chest. I don’t know what annoys me more—the fact that she’s still sitting there when she's been caught or the fact that she doesn’t sound the least bit guilty about it. “You need to leave,” I say, trying to keep my voice from rising.
He doesn't reply. Instead, he drizzles more lube onto me and rubs against my heat. He starts slow, pushing one finger in, the lube making wet, squelching sounds as he eases in. I moan, finally getting that itch scratched. One finger becomes two, and then three, and then four, until I’m clenching around him."Breathe, Sloane," he says. "Let me in." I try to relax, to do as he says, but my body is tight, my muscles clenched with both need and fright now that I realize what he intends to do.“You're doing great. Just let go a little more.”I take a deep breath, and he uses the opportunity to push in further, his five fingers breaking through.He starts to move, pushing and pushing.I feel myself stretching, feel myself giving way to him, and it's intense, the pleasure, the pain, the fullness, all overwhelming, all consuming. "Knox," I moan, not sure if I want more or want him to stop. He kisses me on the cheek. "You can take it. Just open up. Let go. Feel." I do until it feels like a