Page 26 of Up In Flames
There’s that goddamn word again.
I know twenty-four is young, but I’mnota child. I’ve also dealt with more bullshit in my few years on this earth than most people face in their lifetime.
I push the last finger he raised back into his palm. “The first point is debatable because everyone wants to fuck me.” I push the next finger down, grinding out the words. “The second point isn’t a point at all because my parents are your clients, not me.” I push the final finger down and cover his closed fist with my palm. “And your third point is flat-out useless because I’m not afuckingkid.”
Now I have something to prove.
My mindset shifts tobattle modebecause all this little tantrum of Knox’s is proving is how much he wants to reach out and take this. The longer I spend in his presence, the more I can tell he wants to try this. That one kiss got him hooked.
You can’t hide true lust and desire.
It seeps from your pores, refusing to be contained when you want something badly enough. Your thoughts are on the person, and you create excuses to see them, be near them,touchthem.
Like now. Knox still has one hand braced on his truck, pinning me in place.
He wants me badly. He just doesn’twantto want me…and using my age as a cop-out just won’t fly with me.
I cock my head to the side, studying him. “Tell me what you aren’t sure about,” I command, thinking back to his text. I ache to reach out and touch him, but I don’t do it just yet.
“You remind me of my group of asshole friends, always bringing shit back up. Let it go. I shouldn’t have said anything. I was half asleep.”
Of course, I don’t let it go. In fact, I do the opposite and push a little harder.
“That’s when we tend to be the most honest. Well, that and when we’re drunk. Admit it. You’re attracted to me,” I point out, trying to get him to make an admission of his own even if he keeps it to himself.
“I’m…not,” he says weakly. “But I’m not homophobic, either. Two of my best friends are with guys,” he explains. He says it so quickly, I get the feeling he’s used this rationale before.
“Butyou’renot in to guys,” I clarify.
“Right.”
“You sure about that?” I taunt, inching slightly closer. Knox’s eyes drop to my lips again before a scowl paints his features.
“Pretty damn. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
I hold my hands up as a way of showing him I’m not keeping him here. I can tell when he grinds his molars together because it makes his square jaw flex, and I want to nip my way along it with my teeth.
He hesitates, still not taking a step back. As a small test, I run my thumbs along the inside of the waistband on my shorts as if I were adjusting them, and I can’t help my smile when Knox’s eyes follow the movement and he swallows audibly.
I can already taste my victory.
Chapter 11
Knox
The little shit just continues to look up at me, all beautiful, flawless, infuriatingly perfect features, and nothing but defiance emanating from his doe eyes.
I can’t win with him, and it’s getting harder to deny my intrigue the longer he pushes the subject.
It takes me far too long to realize I’ve still got him trapped against my truck wearing nothing but another pair of those fucking spandex shorts he lives in…and I’m mesmerized.
He doesn’t have my mass, but the lines of his abs are still carved into his body…and he’s perfect, nonetheless.
I’m cataloguing his features when he slowly reaches forward and grabs my hand in a bold move, placing it on his bare stomach. His skin is warm and pliant, even though the muscles underneath are taut and firm. As if his body summoned me and I have no power to deny him, I run my fingertips along the smooth skin before flipping my hand over so my blunt nails trace back across the same path. The rest of the world fades away as I stand in his parents’ driveway, caressing his abdomen, relishing the feel of someone else’s skin under my hand for the first time in a long time.
Time stands still until he chokes out a whisper as the back of his head hits the window of my truck. “That’s turning me the fuck on, Knox, and it’s about to becomeverynoticeable.”
My cock swells in my jeans at his admission.
