Page 17 of Keep Me Safe: A Small Town Suspenseful Love Story

“You love my dirty mouth,” I shot back.

His teeth nipped at my neck and I hissed. “Do you have any idea what I’m going to do to you?” he asked, the low timbre of his voice going right through me. “It’s been five years, Abbs. Five years of thinking about you, thinking about your hands on me. Five years of thinking about you in my bed again, thinking about that pretty little mouth wrapped around my co-”

“Anyone home?” Robbie’s voice echoed up the stairs.

We both froze and I pressed a finger against his lips. My eyes never left his as I said, “Up here! Uh, Knox stopped by and we got caught out in the rain. I was just grabbing some towels.”

“That’s quite a throwback,” he responded, his voice sounding a bit guarded at the mention of my ex.

You have no idea, I thought wryly and slid down Knox’s body, my hands sliding down his chest as he lowered my feet to the ground. His chest was heaving and there was color in his pale cheeks as he stared down at me.

“There’s food if he feels like staying,” Robbie called up, his tone unchanging.

“Be right down, man,” Knox responded, sliding his thumb over my mouth. I puckered my lips and kissed the pad of his thumb, earning a small smile.

It was official. I had been sucked back into Hurricane Fitzgerald.

Chapter 7

“Well, you’re all smiles today.” Dr. Van Sant grinned at me from his place on the couch.

I gave a small smile and nodded. The windows were open and I could hear the waves and seagulls. “I took your advice.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve reconnected with some old friends.”

Truth be told, my week had been so busy. I spent a night watching movies with my brothers and spent all of Wednesday afternoon at a local seafood restaurant with Simone where we drank too much wine and caught each other up on the little things that had happened in our lives. I hadn’t spent any time with Knox since the day we got caught in the storm. At one point I saw him when I was walking to Simone’s. He was too focused on sparring with another man in the gym to notice me, which was fine because I was nearly drooling at the sight of him sweating and shirtless.

“That’s great.” He gave an enthusiastic nod and scratched his Superman-like chin. “Tell me about it.”

I told him everything sans kissing Knox. I was energetic and enthusiastic and every physical reminder of what happened in New York was gone. Of course, the emotional ones remained and I’d be lying if I said the nightmares stopped. But I could feel myself getting better, albeit slowly, and that had to mean something, right?

Coming back to Port James was exactly what I needed.

Our session went quickly and I found myself chatting away the time. “Wow, I haven’t shut up for an hour, I’m sorry.”

Dr. Van Sant laughed as he packed his belongings. “Don’t be sorry, I’m more than happy to sit here and listen. Also,” he looked at me and gave a bright smile, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you.”

The following night I was getting ready for bed when my phone chimed on my nightstand.

What are you wearing?

I laughed softly and tried to ignore the way my heart beat a little faster as I typed a reply.

A skimpy little black nightie.

Flirting with Knox was a drug, and fuck was I an addict.

Forcing myself not to stare pathetically at my phone while I waited for a response I went into the bathroom and washed my face. In reality, I was wearing an oversized t-shirt and fuzzy slippers. Totally unsexy and definitely not black lingerie. When I slid underneath the cool sheets and grabbed my phone I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had responded.

Liar. You’re wearing something baggy.

The biggest t-shirt I own

My phone chimed before I even put it down.

You’re sexy either way. I used to love feeling your bare legs underneath one of my old shirts.

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