Page 40 of I Am Lioness

I knew he was right. I had to eat, not only for my health but also because I had to maintain my weight in order to fight. I couldn’t help not having an appetite though. Food was just not appealing and I hadn’t been eating much of anything these days. I’d nibble on random snacks here and there but that’s as much as my stomach could handle.

“I’ll try to eat, I promise.” I said, genuinely meaning every word. “It smells too delicious not to.”

Knox grinned and pecked my lips again before turning back to the stove to flip the bacon. I took it upon myself to fix a mug of coffee and uncover where he kept the plates and silverware to set the table as well.

“Table or bar top?” I questioned.

“Your choice, sweets.” He called from over his shoulder as he pulled something out of the oven.

The sight stopped me in my tracks and I took a moment to admire the view. The image of him moving so comfortably around the kitchen, plating a meal he’d made for us was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. Throw in the fact that he was shirtless with all that damn ink on display and those gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips, and I was gawking, hard, like a teenage girl who just discovered the opposite sex for the first time.

He turned in time to catch me mid-droolfest and smirked, flashing me a wink that almost knocked me on my ass.

“What exactly has you so enraptured, Miss Perry?” He asked, grabbing two forks from the silverware drawer.

“You.”

One word, completely unabashed and one hundred percent true. I couldn't lie if I tried. Knox grinned again, this time more sly, maybe even a little cocky. Nonetheless, I loved it.

“Welcome to my world.”

I padded over to the bar. “What is that supposed to mean?”

As I was setting the placemats in front of the two stools, he went on to say, “You've had me enraptured since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Thud.

I felt myself flush a brilliant shade of pink and despite my wobbly knees, I found myself walking around the island to where he stood, sandwiching myself between the actual granite and the granite that was his body. Immediately his arms caged me in and his head came down to eye level.

“What can I do for you?”

It seemed impossible but his voice had dropped lower to this smoky timbre that fluttered my stomach and ignited my blood.

Feeling quite brazen, I ran a finger from the curve of his throat up to his chin. “You can kiss me.”

He inched closer, brushing his lips along mine. “That can be arranged.”

“Preferably now.” I whispered as my eyes fell shut, my head spinning furiously from being drugged by his scent.

“Your wish is my command.”

And then his lips were on mine. He pressed me so far back against the counter that I had to cup his cheeks to keep myself steady. Large hands flew to my back, running down to my waist and lifting me onto the counter. They continued their descent along my thighs, prying my legs apart where he nestled himself between them, squeezing them roughly as his tongue invaded my mouth.

A profound rumble erupted from deep within his chest when I threaded my fingers through his hair and tugged them in my grasp.

“Can I serve you on a plate and have you for breakfast instead?” His question was mumbled against my lips.

Oh my God.

My entire core clenched at the image those words elicited. I could have melted into a puddle from how overheated I felt. Temptation to give in was right there but I shooed it away before I could cave and convince myself otherwise.

I caught his lower lip between my teeth and shook my head, pulling away to see those baby blues snap open.

“We don't have time for fine dining right now, Mr. Carr.” I said in a voice I didn't recognize. “But I'll feed you breakfast as long as we can stay right here.”

Knox glanced down to inspect our bodies pressed together and then back at me, licking his lips. Clearly my compromise was to his liking. “Deal, but only because you're right. I’ll need plenty of time to devour you proper, the way I want.”

I squeezed him between my legs, feeling the heat in my belly begin to coil.

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