Page 7 of A Smile Full of Lies
His relentless, focused attention burned through my carefully constructed walls like a slow-moving corrosive agent, eating away at every crack and weakness in me with devastating patience.
Then he smiled, like he’d just read me cover to cover, and goosebumps prickled down my arms. Without a word, he turned and started pulling things out of the grocery bag — bread, peanut butter, jelly. And marshmallow fluff.
My chest tightened. He knew. He remembered. After everything, he still remembered what I liked. I’d mentioned that I liked PB&J’s with marshmallow fluff one time, in passing, seven years ago.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Knox didn’t respond. He unscrewed the lid on the peanut butter and spread it over a slice of bread with practiced ease, then added the jelly, followed by the marshmallow fluff. Hismovements were calm and measured, no hesitation, no wasted effort.
He licked some marshmallow fluff off his thumb, his gaze meeting mine as his tongue swept over his skin. I tracked the movement, unable to help myself. It was slow and deliberate, like a promise wrapped in sin.
My mouth went dry. A sharp pulse of heat shot through my bloodstream, pooling low in my core and going molten as electricity crackled in the air between us.
My breath hitched.
“You can’t save me, Knox,” I whispered.
His mouth curved at the corner, wicked and knowing. He leaned down, setting the sandwich in front of me. Knox never asked what I needed. He just knew.
“That’s not going to stop me from trying, sweetheart.”
I stared at the sandwich. I wasn’t hungry, I swear I wasn’t, but suddenly, I kind of was.
He stared me down — a wall of stubborn, arrogant expectation — until I caved and took a bite of the sandwich for him. Peanut butter, jelly, marshmallow fluff, the combination stuck to the roof of my mouth, sweet and familiar. My favorite.
Knox stepped back, but his eyes never left my face. His gaze tracked the movement of my throat as I swallowed. I didn’t miss the pleased glint in his expression at my obedience. It made my skin burn.
“Call me if you need anything,” he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
My hand tightened on the edge of the counter, my knuckles blanching white. “Knox.”
He stopped at the door, one hand resting on the frame as he glanced back over his shoulder at me. That look — all ice and intent — pinned me in place, and my pulse spiked.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
His mouth curved into a wicked smile, slow and dark. Not sweet, not soft, and damn sure not neighborly. It was a fucking warning shot.
“Try to actually get some sleep tonight, Ros.”
My brows pulled together.
“How do you know I didn’t sleep last night?”
Had he been watching me? Another wave of molten heat shot through my bloodstream at the errant thought.
His mouth twitched and his blue eyes glittered with clear amusement.
“Your bedroom window faces mine, and your light was on all night.”
I swallowed hard.
“Maybe I was sleeping with the light on.”
Knox’s gaze darkened.
“Try again, sweetheart.” His gaze swept over my face, lingering on the shadows beneath my eyes. “Besides, the dark circles under your eyes are telling on you.”
I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair. I didn’t make any promises. He didn’t expect me to.
