Page 19 of Hard Knox

The car fell silent as we both retreated into our own thoughts, the stress of our words settling around us. Doubt crept into my mind, not just about how much Knox understood my situation, but about the raw intensity he seemed capable of. Talking about siccing his brothers on Mark—It was protective, yes, but there was an edge to it that scared me—a glimpse of the darker side of the man who lived in a completely unfamiliar world.

His declaration hung in the air, a protective promise, but also a reminder of the complexity of blending our worlds. I appreciated his willingness to defend me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that his reaction might one day go beyond what I was comfortable with. As we continued the drive in silence, the doubt seeded by today’s events began to grow, shadowing the relationship that had felt so promising just hours before.

As we reached my house, the sight of its empty driveway reminded me that tonight, Emma would be with her father. The knowledge that she was safe with her grandmother until Mark picked her up was a small comfort, but it did little to ease the tension between Knox and me.

“Why ain’t I been inside yet?” Knox asked, breaking the silence as he turned off the engine. He looked over at me, his dark eyes searching for an answer.

“We’ve just been spending time elsewhere,” I replied, feeling defensive yet again.

Knox nodded slowly, then, after a pause, asked, “So, what are we doing, Eliza? What are we?”

“We’re dating, Knox,” I said, the words sounding more like a confirmation to myself than to him. I wasn’t ready to give up yet.

“That makes you more than happy,” he repeated softly, his voice laced with relief. But there was something else—something deeper. He opened his car door, then walked around to open mine, his actions gentlemanly yet charged with an unspoken strain.

As we stood at my front door, like we had so many times, I hesitated. But I unlocked it and stepped inside, allowing Knox to follow, so we could make amends before he left. The quiet of the house enveloped us, a far cry from the emotional noise that had filled the car just minutes before.

Knox closed the door behind us and turned to face me, his expression intense. “Eliza,” he started, his voice deeper. “I know you ain’t like them other women I’ve known. And that’s damn good, ‘cause I don’t want them. I want you.”

Chapter 9

Eliza

Knox’s words smoothed the sting of our earlier fight. He stepped closer, his presence so loud in the silence of my living room.

His warm hands ran up my arms. “I love your body,” he murmured, his lips suddenly trailing kisses from my ear down my neck, sending shivers across my skin. “And your mind… your strength, your resilience. It’s all incredible to me.”

The sweet affirmations erased the doubts that had crept up earlier as I leaned into him. “Knox,” I breathed out, my hands finding his muscular back, pulling him even closer to me.

“I just want to be with you, Eliza,” he whispered between the kisses landing closer and closer to my subtle cleavage, his hands tracing the curves of my sides that he had spoken of so lovingly. “I want all of you. All of this, your body. And I want it now.”

His words, his touch, the way he was looking at me—at my body—his demand. It all fueled a fire within me, one that had been simmering since our first kiss. The passion from our argument transformed, becoming a driving force that pushed me to act on the passion I had been restraining.

Tearing back slightly, I met his gaze, seeing the raw need reflected in his eyes that echoed my own. Without a word, I took his hand and led him to my bedroom. The world outside—the doubts about Mark, the complexities of our lives—faded away as we crossed that threshold.

The soft glow of my bedside lamp cast shadows that danced quietly across the walls as Knox and I stood there, barely inches apart. The tension from our earlier conversation, the emotional rollercoaster we had been on, had been like foreplay. As Knox looked at me with those intense dark eyes full of desire, all my reservations began to melt away.

“Eliza,” he whispered, his voice husky, breaking the silence. “I’m gonna fuck you tonight. You’re mine, and it’s high time I show you.” His words were simple, yet they seemed to draw out all my butterflies.

Reaching up, my fingers traced the line of his bearded jaw, feeling the rough stubble beneath my fingertips. “Knox,” I replied, my voice a mere breath, as I was filled with so much anticipation. So much nervousness, as it had been years since I was with any man.

Without needing more encouragement, Knox leaned down and captured my lips with his. The kiss instantly deepened as pent-up longing overflowed. His hands roamed over my behind, tugging my middle closer until there was no space left between us. I could feel how aroused he was as his stiff erection strained in his jeans against my thigh.

His lips locked with mine, he shrugged off his cut, deftly slinging it to my corner chair. My own hands found their way to the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside to the floor. Seeing him there, in my bedroom without his shirt, felt so strange yet intensely right. And I realized that soon neither of us would have any clothes left.

While we headed towards the bed, our movements were unhurried. There was a profound significance in each piece of clothing we removed, not just undressing, but also unveiling layers of vulnerabilities and trust. With every barrier we shed, the closer and more connected we felt. Soon, he had me in nothing but my underwear and him in boxer briefs.

The bed sheets were cool against my skin as Knox laid me down gently, his body covering mine with a protective warmth. His lips found mine again, kissing me with a passion that spoke of deep emotions and raw need. His touch was reverent as he explored, learning every curve and contour of my body, as if he was gliding down a back road. Every touch, every kiss, was like I was on a motorcycle ride with him, a conversation without words. My body vibrated from his control as I went wherever he led.

Knox was attentive, his hands and lips worshiping every part of me, affirming his earlier words. The way he stared at me, with such admiration and care, stirred yearnings deep within me. He took his time removing the rest of my coverings like he was unwrapping a gift. I worried for a moment that he’d need help with my large bra as it gave me enough trouble, but Knox was a pro, taking down the straps with one hand, his mouth trailing down while the other hand slipped to the back to release my breasts from their prison.

Knox’s lips found their way to my nipples, his tongue swirling around the sensitive buds, sending shivers down my spine. He took so much time with my breasts, I was already drenched when his hands roamed further down. Suddenly my panties were gone. I was now completely exposed, vulnerable, ready, and waiting for what he was about to do.

The rhythm of his fingers was perfect, taking me to a place I had been before with him. A familiar appetizer. I could feel myself letting go, surrendering to his touch, but he stopped short. In the soft light, Knox’s eyes feasted on every inch of me. He spread my legs, grunting while he took a long look, and I turned bright red. Then his head slipped down between my thighs, his breath hitting my clit first.

His tongue followed, tracing a path along my inner thighs, sending shivers through me. Knox knew exactly what he was doing, teasing, and building the anticipation until I couldn’t take it anymore. Finally, he reached my core, tasting every inch with his skilled tongue.

Arching back, I clutched at the sheets beneath me as waves of pleasure washed over me. Knox’s fingers joined the action, adding to the sensation, sending me soaring higher with each stroke. I felt as if I was floating, suspended in a world of pure ecstasy, as he wasn’t letting me finish.

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