Page 14 of The Traitor

Knox put his glass back on the table. “With the scars he left on your self-confidence and peace of mind, I wouldn’t say he isn’t dangerous.”

Gage’s friendly face turned sour at Knox’s words, and Josie sighed. “Can you just let it go?”

Knox’s face grew darker as she spoke, and Gage was definitely not letting anything go. “Weasels like that should be put in the ring even if it’s for a minute. They would soon see what real men think of men who abuse a woman.”

“I wasn’t abused, Gage.”

But Knox didn’t seem convinced. “Not all forms of abuse are physical, Josie.”

Tired of the conversation, she picked up her plate and glass and went to the sink. “Let’s change the subject. Was there a lot of work at the shop today? Did everything go well?”

The two men behind her stayed silent so she turned to find them looking at her. “What? It’s a perfectly normal question.”

Gage picked up his plate and came up behind her. “I’m starting to see how this has impacted her, Knox. Dismissing it, not wanting to talk about it. Still submitting to her asshole husband.”

Josie almost dropped her dish in frustration. “I am not submitting to him!”

Gage put his plate down and leaned against the counter. “Of course you are. You’re sacrificing your health, your money, your time for him. You still believe whatever he told you. Whatever lies he said.”

She pushed past Gage only to be stopped by Knox. The fire in his eyes was difficult to interpret. “You may not say much, but picking up the little tidbits of information, the picture gets clearer. How selfless you are, how you dismiss attention, how you put yourself down. How even after a year alone, you don’t see how men look at you.”

“No one is looking at me.”

Josie took a step to the side to go around him, but Knox did the same. “The men in this town aren’t blind, Josie. But the fact you don’t see that proves what I’m saying. That asshole of an ex is still taking up space in your mind.”

The conversation was messing with her brain on another level. “That’s none of your concern. Helping me is enough. The rest is none of your business. I don’t need your help in that area so stop being so stubborn about it.”

Gage was like a furnace at her back, even from a distance. Or was it the man in front of her that made her feel so warm?It’s probably the wine.

Knox smiled. “The more I get to know you, the more I want to dig. At least you don’t shy away from me. Or from Gage.”

At his words, Gage took a step closer, brushing his torso against her back.

“You said I was too young. That you wouldn’t touch me.”

Regret flashed on his handsome face. “You are.” Then he turned his back on her.

Gage scoffed behind her but didn’t say a word. Instead, he turned her to face him and winked. He looked up at Knox, then back at her before dipping his head to kiss her.

It was sweet, and he was clearly holding himself back. Was his purpose to taunt his friend? Gage thought Knox wanted her, but she doubted it and was tired of pretending. Just as she was about to push Gage away, strong arms grabbed her hips and teeth scratched her neck.Knox.

Her head spinning, Gage’s mouth became harder, more demanding and her questions vanished when Knox pushed his hips against her ass. His erection was undeniable, and the situation was messing with her mind.

This didn’t happen in real life. Not to women like her.

Gage pressed forward and she gasped when she felt his arousal. She could doubt their words, but other signs didn’t deceive. All that was left to decide was what she was going to do about it.

Chapter 8

While Gage cupped her cheeks,deepening the kiss even more, Knox’s hands started to run up her ribcage making her shiver and try to turn around. Gage wouldn’t allow it though.

“Where you’re concerned, I can’t be trusted, Josie. I’m breaking my word to you, baby. I think I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist you the first time I saw you.”

Knox’s hands ticked her belly before rising. After her shower, she hadn’t put on a bra, and the realization made her tense.

Gage licked his lips after allowing her up for air. “My friend, from the way she’s reacting, I think you’re doing something right.”

Josie opened her mouth forgetting what she was about to say when Gage possessed her lips again and Knox cupped her heavy breasts under her sweater.

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