Page 58 of Knight
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Gwen
“Wake up, baby.”
Knight’s sexy morning voice filled my ears causing my lips tip up in a smile. Every time he used the term of endearment my heart fluttered like crazy. Let me be real,everythingKnight did made my heart flutter. This man wrecked me. Not only now, but years ago too. Only I didn’t know what it all meant back then. Whathemeant. Because as I snuggled up closer to his side, I realized this was what I wanted to wake up to today, tomorrow, and forever. Life’s little obstacles be damned, I was going to make it happen.
“Baby,” he said again and I felt his warm lips graze my forehead.
“Five more minutes,” I mumbled against his chest.
His low, deep chuckle vibrated through his chest. The sound sent a shiver down my spine and I couldn’t fight another smile.
“You’re going to be late,” he said trying to reason with me.
Did I care? Nope, not one single bit right then.
Okay, so sometimes I was an avoider. Only sometimes, though. Usually with big things. For example, and I was aware that I did this, mind you, I would face the anniversary of my mother’s death like any other day. Maybe with a bit more force than just an average day. But every year, I’d wake up and not let the sadness in. I would do the things that I had to that day, whether it be cleaning the house, going to class, or studying. I treated it like a normal day. And as I pushed my way through that one day every year, I also knew that by the end of it I would crack and end up in a river of tears surrounded by every reminder I had of her.
With that said, I knew today was going to be similar. Today my dad was coming in. I would normally be thrilled and over the moon to see him but today was the day that would possibly make or break whatever delicate thing Knight and I had going on. I couldn’t tell you which way it would go and that had my insides all twisted up.
I loved my dad, but sometimes I got the feeling that he wanted something else for me or maybe it was that he thought I wanted something different. I wasn’t sure and since we’d never sat down and talked about it, the whole thing was this great big unknown.
I suppose that my choice to run far away from the club to go to college might have sent the wrong impression. He didn’t understand the real reason behind it. I had hoped that the change in my path and the breakdown would let him onto some of how I felt about the club being in my life.
I never wanted to make him think that I hated the club life, because it was the complete opposite. I never felt more at home than when I was there. And even here with this new chapter, though I wasn’t so embedded into this one like I was in Gray Fort.
In other words, I had no idea what was going through my dad’s head and I had absolutely no clue how he would react to the fact that I wanted to be with Knight.
Knight and I had talked about it the day before. He said he wanted to have words with my dad alone first. I wasn’t crazy about that idea, but when he explained that it felt like the more respectful thing to do, I gave in. Knight also said that it wouldn’t feel like we were ganging up on my dad and putting him on the spot. I wasn’t worried about my dad being able to hold his own against the two of us, and the thought of him cracking under pressure almost made me laugh. Almost.
My plan for the day was to go to class and work my shift at Royally Brewed, then I’d study there while I waited for Dad to finish up with club business. I knew that came first, so when I’d talked to him two days ago, we’d made a plan for him to call me when he was done and we’d go to dinner. At some point, Knight was going to pull him aside and talk to him. My guess was that he would wait until club stuff was handled and then he’d discreetly tell my dad he needed a moment. And I would be just waiting and trying not to freak out.
I told myself I could handle not being there, but as I opened my eyes to face the day, I wasn’t feeling so sure.
“Gwen, look at me,” Knight said as his arms tightened around me. I tilted my head so that I could meet his eyes. “It’s all going to be fine.” His words did nothing to uncoil the knot in my gut.
“Come on. Up. Shower. Then class.” He tapped my back with his command.
“But I’m so comfy,” I moaned as I refused to move.
The bed shifted violently around me as he flipped me on my back and covered my body with his. I loved the feeling of his weight on me. I resisted the urge to wrap my legs around him and pull him closer like I desperately want to do. He dipped his head and kissed me with everything he had, leaving me dizzy and breathless. I forgot about the anxiety that filled my head. I forgot about what day it was. I forgot the world existed around us. That was what it was like every time and I couldn’t ever get enough.
“Shower. Class,” he repeated.
“We could just stay here forever. Forget the outside world.” I smiled even knowing it wouldn’t do any good.
“I love you.” His declaration pulled all the air out of my lungs. “That won’t change. You need to trust in me that I can prove that to your dad and anyone else that might question it.”
Well, damn. I couldn’t come up with an argument against that if I wanted to.
He kissed me lazily, our tongues finding each other’s in a slow dance. I wrapped my arms around him trying to hold onto this moment forever. When he broke away, his blue eyes shined down into mine, filled with every feeling he had for me. If I ever doubted he was mine it was just shattered with that one look.
“You and me, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “Against the world, forever.”
And before I even had the chance to say anything back or tell him how much I loved him—had always loved him—he was rolling off the bed and pulling me up to stand. With a playful slap on the ass, he ushered me towards the door.
“Shower,” he said as I looked over my shoulder at him.
