Page 8 of Knuckles

“Put me down!”

“Christ, Knuckles! What the fuck ’er you doin’?” Pain had a hold of Knuckles’s wrist, trying to pull his arm down.

“Not until she promises to sit down and behave.”

“Knuckles, she just had the shit beat outta her! Stop it right now!”

“All right.” He still didn’t put me down. That stubborn look on his face said he had a problem with me, and we were hashing it out right now. “How about this? Tell me you didn’t let that bastard hit you. As in, convince me, after how you just attacked me, why you didn’t lift a fuckin’ finger to protect yourself when he came at you. You do that, then I’ll fuckin’ leave and you’ll never hear another fuckin’ word from me.”

“And you’ll keep your mouth shut about this to Gunnar.” I had to look up at him from where I still dangled from his hand by my foot. And yeah, I hoped I was getting too heavy for him, but from the way he hadn’t even broken a sweat, I didn’t hold out much hope.

He snorted. “Nope. That’s not a promise I can make. I’m not keeping this from Gunnar because you’re his twin and he loves you.” When I didn’t respond, Knuckles grinned. “What? No snappy comeback?”

Pain scooped me up, taking my weight from Knuckles. If I thought he’d let Pain take me back to the couch or even to bed so I could rest, I’d have been wrong. Pain set me on my feet and Knuckles wrapped one big arm around me before lifting me to cradle me in his arms.

Knuckles settled me close to his chest and I had no way of not snuggling next to him. He smelled so fucking good! The steady beat of his heart under my ear, even for a brief moment, was almost lulling. I knew if I had a full minute to do nothing but snuggle against his wide chest while listening to his heartbeat and the breath moving in and out of his lungs, I’d be out like a light.

From the first time I ever saw him, Knuckles called to me. Tall, dark, and tortured, to say nothing of the thick muscle sculpting his body -- the very embodiment of strength in its most primal form. Colorful tattoos ran from shoulder to wrist, creeping up the side of his neck. Though he was older than me by over a decade, the added age only bolstered his appeal. It was because of how much larger than life Knuckles was that I knew I could never let him know how he affected me. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure I’d blown that pipe dream right out of the water.

Pain gave an exasperated grunt before picking up the ice pack I’d dropped and handing it to me again. “Put this back on your face, honey. You might be a badass, but you’re not indestructible.” He gave Knuckles a hard look. “Pull a stunt like that again, she won’t have to kill you.” He shut the door softly behind him as he left.

I thought Knuckles would put me down. Set me on the couch or something. Instead, very slowly, never taking his gaze from mine, he moved to a wide, overstuffed chair and sat with me now sitting on his lap. He maneuvered me so I was straddling his hips and rested his hands on my upper thighs as he gave me a level look that brooked no nonsense. “Now. Tell me what the fuck is goin’ on, Hannah.”

Chapter Five

Knuckles

When I saw that fucker hit Hannah at the club, leaving her on the floor barely conscious, all I could see was a tiny woman with a monster looming over her, trying to beat her into submission.Dead fucking wrong. Hannah was far from a helpless victim. No. So much fucking worse. I could haverescueda victim. I could wrap her up in Bubble Wrap and lock her away from the cruel world. I felt a migraine coming on, starting in my fuckin’ dick.Shewas the predator. I knew it in my fucking soul. And I’d be a son of a bitch if the thought of her exacting vengeance on a world of monsters didn’t make me hard as a motherfucker.

Hannah frowned at me, her eyes narrowing before going wide as realization hit her. She tried to get up, but I held her still. “Oh no, motherfucker! Put that thing away before you poke an eye out!”

I slid her a lascivious grin. “I mean, if you want to get close enough for me to poke your eye, I’ll happily accommodate you.”

“You’re a cad, Knuckles.” She still wiggled and squirmed, trying to get down, until my cock throbbed when she brushed over it with her pussy. She might have had on underwear and those stupid yoga pants all women seem so fond of now, but I was certain I could feel the heat coming off her. And, fuck, I desperately wanted to bury my cock so deep inside her she’d never be able to get me out.

I raised my eyebrows, a chuckle escaping my throat. “A cad, huh?”

“And a complete asshole. Bastard!”

“Admittedly, I’m probably a bastard.”

“You’re an asshole too.” I had to fight not to laugh at her stubborn mien. She reminded me of an angry toddler. With a definite bite.

“Probably. But you’re gonna tell me everything. Every. Fuckin’. Thing.”

She gave me a disgruntled sigh. “Can we not do this now, Knuckles? I’m fucking beat. Literally.”

I couldn’t help but wince. Even now, the bruise on her face was a darkening red. By tomorrow it’d be even darker. “Yeah, baby. You are.” I looked at her for a long time. She stared at me calmly, her gaze never wavering from mine. I could see the resolve in her face. I absolutely would not get anything of substance from her tonight. “Fine. Here’s the deal. You can put this off now. Get you a good night’s sleep. Take time to get straight whatever lie you’re going to tell me. If you do, I’m staying in your room with you. You are not leaving this place without me going with you.”

“You’re out of your mind!”

I shrugged. “You don’t like that option? Then you spill it all. Now.”

I let her look her fill, knowing she needed to push her boundaries. To know that I wasn’t going to give in on this. I saw the exact moment she decided she’d rather give me something now and run when my back was turned. It was hard to keep the smile off my face, because I knew the second she opened her mouth everything she was spilling was complete and utter bullshit.

“The reason I didn’t fight Dillon at the club was because I freeze up when I see him coming at me.” She shrugged. “I took a couple self-defense classes and I was pretty good.” She sounded reasonable. Even shivered as if remembering everything she’d gone through. “But when I see him, hear him, I can’t seem to make myself do much to defend myself. Certainly not attack him.”

“You did your research, I’ll give you that.”

---