Page 126 of The Perfect Spiral
“Knox, I’m good, everyone will think you got a concussion if you start doing that to me, and Kyle will kill you.”
“I’m not worried about Kyle, I could take him!” He boasts, puffing his chest out at me. “Besides, every woman should be complimented every day for the rest of their lives.”
“Okay, now that’s too much. I prefer not being noticed at all, it’s what I’m used to. I’m not the type who walks into a room and commands attention. Not like the ones you go out with!”
I teased him by poking his rib, making him jolt forward and grab my hands to stop me.
“You could never go unnoticed and ouch, baby doll. I never thought of them as serious, just something to have until I’m ready to make my move.”
“Make your move? Ohhhhh, that complicated girl? Or complicated situation? Whatever,” I wave off, not remembering what he said. “Tell me about her, do I know her?” I feel a slight twist in my stomach after the question.
“You know her, don’t you? I’m not sure what else to ask,” he chuckles, a hint of nervousness in his laughter. His gaze meets mine again. I don’t understand why I keep prying about this girl. I’m not sure I want to know the answers.
“Describe her to me. Tell me what you like about her. Why is it so complicated?” I can’t seem to stop the words from tumbling out. It’s like verbal diarrhea.
“Maybe another time. I need to figure things out with her first, then I’ll fill you in. How does that sound?”
I nod, acknowledging his discomfort in discussing his personal life and this enigmatic girl. We’ll get there. It’s just a matter of time.
Once again, we fall into a comfortable silence. I snuggle closer to him, seeking his warmth. My gaze drifts back to the beach, still shrouded in darkness.
“I like this,” he murmurs into my hair. His words catch me off guard, and I sit up slightly, bringing myself almost eye level with him. I offer him a smile, and he turns to face me, returning my smile.
He leans in closer, stopping when his lips are just inches from mine. We continue to hold each other’s gaze. God, this is so romantic.
Feeling our breaths mingle, he asks, “Can I kiss you?” It takes a moment for the shock to dissipate, a shock I’m sure was evident on my face. I nod, yes.
His lips meet mine, and the soft warmth they transfer sends a wave of sensation coursing through my body. His hand comes up to cradle my head, holding it in place.
What starts as a light peck quickly evolves into him tracing the bottom of my lower lip with his tongue, seeking entrance, which I readily grant.
I find myself pressing against his chest, his other arm winding around my waist, pulling me closer to his heated body. Our tongues dance together, not in a battle for dominance, but in a tender exploration.
As we tilt our heads to deepen the kiss, my hand finds its way to the back of his hair, tugging slightly. The throaty moan he releases sends a thrill through me. That was hot.
He pulls me on top of him, keeping the blanket wrapped securely around me. One hand remains at the side of my face, while the other ventures down to cup my ass.
His hand travels up my back, lifting my shirt slightly, and he lightly strokes my skin. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. I feel myself inadvertently grinding against his arousal. He releases another deep moan, and I revel in thesound. I repeat the motion, this time slower, harder, and entirely intentional. He breaks the kiss, and we rest our foreheads together, his eyes closed.
We’re both panting, the situation escalating rapidly.
“Hey, look at me,” I whisper, cupping his face. After a moment, he opens his eyes to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, I thought you liked it—”
“Baby doll, I did like it. I just don’t want to take advantage of you. Not after what we discussed earlier. I can’t do that to you. I won’t be able to control myself.”
“It’s okay, Knox, I understand,” I assure him, and I bravely lean in to kiss him again before settling back down next to him.
What am I doing? I chastise myself. I just dry-humped him, twice! And he stopped me. He definitely didn’t like it.
Why am I doing this to myself? He doesn’t like me! I don’t look like the girls he usually goes for, Alex! You’re not in the same league.
Ignoring my own thoughts for the rest of the night, I lay back down and feel him pull me closer to his side. As we get comfortable again, I don’t notice when we both drift off to sleep on the deck.
Chapter 42
The morning sun was a warm, golden kiss on my face, its orange glow seeping through my closed eyelids. The sound of a throat being cleared to my right was accompanied by the cool caress of the morning breeze on my skin.
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, squinting against the brightness, my hand acting as a makeshift visor. My mom and Delilah stoodbefore me, their arms crossed, weight shifted onto one hip, and a single eyebrow arched in amusement.
