Page 99 of In the Long Run
‘Get him out of here, would you?’Eugene asks her.‘Take him home and look after him for me, please.’
Gen looks over at me.‘I’d be very happy to do that for you.’
‘See, mate.It’s all sorted.I’ll be home tomorrow.’Eug smiles weakly.
I let Gen take my hand and lead me away.
34
GEN
‘What are you doing?’Knox asks when he finds me kneeling next to the bath, checking the water temperature.With Eugene’s shower seat tucked behind the door, afternoon sunshine streaming through the window and the scent of mint and eucalyptus swirling through the air, it’s nice and relaxing in here.
‘I’m drawing you a bath.’
‘Like I’m in a regency novel?’His mouth hitches to the side, a little smile flirting with his lips.
‘Read a lot of those?’I volley back, grateful to see sparks of Knox’s personality returning.He was super quiet on the drive home from the hospital.
‘Eug went through aBridgertonstage.’
‘And?’I stand and step into his arms when he opens them.
‘They weren’t part of our book club.You planning on getting in with me?’Knox releases me from our hug and tips my chin towards his face.
I wish, but there isn’t enough room, and this is all about comfort and relaxation.
‘Not this time.’I press a quick kiss against his lips and twist around so I can dump some more Epsom salts into the water.‘I’m going to walk Madeleine and Chouquette while you have a good soak.’
‘I can take them out.’He squeezes the back of his neck.
‘I know you can.But I want to lighten your load.Please let me help with your load.’
A different smile graces his handsome features.It’s almost boyish.
‘Don’t say it.’I groan and point at the bath.‘Get in.I’ll be back soon.What do you want for dinner?’
‘I don’t mind.’Knox pulls his jumper over his head and the shirt underneath it gets dragged up his chest as well.His pecs flex and bunch as he drops the clothes to the ground and kicks them towards a corner.There’s so much golden skin on display right now.
Knox slides his thumbs inside the waistband of his running shorts, his eyes heavy with challenge.I spin around, banging my shoulder on the doorframe.If he gets naked, I’m liable to lose my mind and ask if I can orgasm all his stress away.‘I’ll be back soon with happy dogs and dinner!’
I’m clipping on the dogs’ leads when Knox calls my name.His deep voice rumbles down the hall, filling the space between us, doing absolutely nothing to help the image I have of him in my mind right now: naked and sinking into the bath.
‘Yeah?’I am hoarse with a capital H.
‘Can I take care of you later too?’
Making out on the couch is exactly what I wanted for dessert.Well, maybe notexactly, because that would involve Knox and whipped cream, but I’ve got no complaints.Knox coasts a hand up my side, under the fleece of my jumper, pushing his hips into mine.He kisses my neck, my ear, his hand travelling higher, sliding over my breast.Our empty dinner plates sit on the coffee table with what’s left of the open bottle of Sangiovese breathing in between them.
I arch when Knox pushes the lacy cup of my bra down.The scratch of his calloused fingers makes my sensitive skin sizzle.
‘Is this what you had in mind when you said you’d take care of me?’I gasp when he pulls at my nipple, his eyes heating as he watches his hand move under my clothes.
‘Pretty much.’He leans forward as he speaks, pressing the words into my skin and trailing them with his teeth, his tongue.It’s an intoxicating combination, the way he touches me, alternating between hard and soft, how he’s got me pinned beneath him.It’s another way to learn the shape of him.His hard cock presses against my hip, and I attempt to shimmy underneath him, get him exactly where I want him.
‘Soon,’ he promises.
I thought he’d be all over me once we started, which, yeah, okay, he kind of is.But the urgency I was expecting – which would certainly reflect how eager I am to take this next step together – isn’t here.Instead, Knox moves slowly.His hand switches to my other breast.Rolling, plucking, squeezing, until I’m a puddle underneath him.I huff; he laughs.
