Page 59 of Devoted
“It happens to be cold in January every year, you know?” Twisting my body to get a better look at his face, I lift an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, yeah. At least give me a dry towel,” he says, pointing to the pile of towels on one of the side tables. I comply, grabbing one and tossing it to his face. He wraps it around himself, humming contentedly and cuddling into the couch.
“I think you guys are great for each other, you know?” He begins, not looking at me specifically, just drifting off somewhere in my general direction. “It was kinda weird at first,” he continues, his eyes meeting mine. “But the more I thought about it, and about how you’ve been acting lately, the more it makes sense.”
I listen closely, only nodding as he gets his thoughts out.
“All of us have always been unconventional in our own ways. I think Vivian’s specific brand of weird meshes perfectly with your grumpy ass.” Against my will, he draws a laugh from me. “You look happy, Knight.”
“I am, and in so many ways, it’s because of your sister,” I admit. I would like to think I’d make these betterments myself, but deep down, I know I needed Vivian in my life as a catalyst to heal.
“You’ll do right by her?” he asks, putting on an authoritative tone. He might as well puff out his chest and pound on it.“That girl,” he pauses, pointing over to where Vivian is braiding Emma’s hair in the hot tub. “She deserves the world.”
I couldn’t agree more.My worlddeserves the world, and I’ll devote the rest of my days providing it for her.
EPILOGUE
Is this place a mansion or an estate?
VIVIAN
Raindrops seep into Knight’s shirt, spotting his shoulders in dark gray little spots. Although the last of my stuff arrived in a moving van five minutes ago, my impatient boyfriend rolled up his sleeves and ran down the steps to help the two movers quickly get my stuff out of the rain.
If it were up to him, I would have been moved in as soon as Emma and I gave the landlord our one-month notice. He also said he would have been happy if she had moved in with us, but she decided to move in with Rhett and T after they mentioned their spare room at dinner last week. It’s exciting to know I can visit all three of them at the same time now, but poor Em will need to get used to living with two bachelors.
“We managed to keep your books dry,” Knight announces, closing the front doors with his feet after waving goodbye to the movers. With two heavy boxes easily held in his arms, hetakes a few squeaky steps before he takes off his wet shoes in frustration.
I still love seeing his grumpy side. I love it even more now that I know there’s an underlying happiness to that serious look on his face. Living with Knight has been blissful, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I live in ahomeand not just a house.
“Do you still want these in our bedroom, my love?” he asks, peaking around the cardboard boxes in his arms.
“Yes, please,” I answer, smiling eagerly. The books are going to look gorgeous on the built-in shelves framing either side of the fireplace. Shelves that Knight hand-carved himself in intricate vines and flowers.
Following Knight to his—well, nowour—bedroom, I watch as he sets the boxes onto the coffee table in the sitting area in front of the fireplace. Removing the plastic cover, he begins to open up the box and turns to me once the books are in view.
“Is there any book you’d like to read as I unpack these boxes?” he asks me, and I swear, I’m about to swoon.
I have a man who runs through the rain to keep my books dry and offers to unpack them while I read and relax in his bed. And he dares to look likethatright now too: his dress shirt almost transparent and clinging to his meaty arms and chest, his peppered dark hair curling and glistening in the gloomy light coming in through the windows. I’m tempted to jump him right now and forget about his offer, but… There is one book I amdyingto get to.
I can always jump him after a few chapters.
“Yeah, there is.” Walking to stand beside him, I lift a few books out of the box to find the one I’ve been wanting to read. Still facing away from him, I feel Knight press his body closer to mine, his arms bracing either side of the box and trapping me against it. Turning in the small amount of space, I smile as I facehim, leaning up to press a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. “I love you,” I whisper against him.
“I love you too, darling.” With his large hand, he pats my ass twice in dismissal. “Now, go rest and read. I’ll take care of your books.”
Lying on what I’ve claimed as my side of the bed, I open up my latest Mafia romance and begin to read about these unhinged men and the love for their partners. My snort echoes through the room when I realize just how on the nose my latest read is.
Twenty minutes go by, and I see Knight finish unpacking my books and accessories. I’m thankful he left them on the coffee table or the ledge of the built-in shelves so I can go and organize everything later.
I’m still immersed in my book, but I sneakily watch him peel off his damp shirt. Then, his belt and pants until he’s off, leaving him in nothing but maroon boxer briefs.
I think I’ve read the same sentence five times now; whatever’s going on in the book can’t compare to what I’ve got in front of me now. My heart also bursts every time he undresses in front of me so freely. I love all his body and everything that comes with it.
“Distracted?” Knight smirks, rounding the corner to the en suite, hands free of wet clothing andthankfullystill in nothing but those boxer briefs.
“Well,someonedecided to give me a little show.” I go to close my book, only to be stopped by Knight’s fingers curling around the pages. Drawing my eyes away from words, I look up at him, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“I want you to keep reading.” Letting go of my book, Knight pushes my legs open, laying himself between my thighs. He rests his head on my lower stomach, his breath hovering right beside my pussy. “I’ll be right here.”
