Page 104 of Off Pitch

His voice is husky and needy, so full of the desire that had him barge into my apartment in the middle of the night. He slips off his shorts and boxers as I pull the oversized T-shirt over my head, leaving us both bare.

Naked and ready, Knox settles between my legs, the head of his cock rubbing against the wetness pooling between them. He doesn’t say another word before he slowly slips himself inside, bottoming out and filling me so completely.

Every thrust of his hips now tells me how I’ll never be able to get enough.

Every kiss on my lips tells me how much I need him, and I need him like I need oxygen.

And every point of contact between our skin tells me how this will never be enough for me.

I want more,needmore. I want all of Knox.

I don’t just want the parts he’s sharing with me now.

I want him wholly and fully.

I want him to fall for me just as I’ve fallen for him.

And I don’t want to talk to him about this because I’m scared of what he’ll say, but I need to do it anyway.

No matter what happens, I have to talk to him.

Soon.

thirty-nine

Knox

Harlow is naked and cuddled up against me, hand splayed across my bare chest as she’s nuzzled into my side with my arm around her. It’s been just over a week since I came back from the All-Star Game.

Just over a week since I so desperately needed to see her that I went to her place in the middle of the goddamn night.

Just over a week since I broke my own rule—I had sex with Harlow at her place, not mine. I haven’t trusted anyone enough to do that in seven years.

So, how fake is this anymore?

When was the last time it evenfeltfake?

I honestly can’t remember.

She quickly worked her way into my life, and she’s already become such an integral part of it. We’ve been faking this relationship for three and a half months now, and I don’t want to ever go a single day without her.

It’s been seven years since I felt like this, and that’s causing all the memories I’ve repressed in that time to resurface.

I know Harlow isn’t Emily, but that doesn’t make this easier. I didn’t think Emily would be Emily either.

All this getting closer is bringing up the hurt from the past. I’m so out of my fucking element right now. I’ve been able to stay strong for seven years.

But then Harlow came along, and she tore out any remaining thread of sanity I had left.

I’m internally panicking. I know we’ll have to talk about this, but I’m not prepared to have that conversation because if it were to happen right now, I have no clue what I’d say or if either of us would be happy when it’s over.

“You okay, Knox?” she asks, looking at me with concern.

I give her a soft smile. “I’m okay, Lo. No need to worry.”

“What time do you need to leave for practice today?”

I check my phone. “About five minutes ago.”

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