The Den Of Desires

BLURB

"You taste like sin, something I shouldn't want," he groaned in between his torturous licks on my pussy. "Yet, I can't stop wanting more. I can't stop devouring you."

~

Sera McFadden is a successful woman with a thriving career and a prince charming as her fiancé. Her life was perfect, well, except for one thing. Her sex life was too plain and boring.

When her fiancé decided to arrange a family vacation, Sera crossed path with her wild, dangerously attractive brother-in-law, Knox.

How does Sera resist a man who's hellbent on destroying her guards? Will she give in to her unhinged desires?

CHAPTER ONE

PERFECT ON PAPER

SERA

Jared grunted once, twice, then thrust one final time before collapsing onto me with a heavy sigh.

His sweaty chest pressed against mine, his breath warm against my neck.

I just laid there, staring blankly at the ceiling while he shuddered and mumbled something about how good that felt.

God, what the hell just happened?

He kissed my shoulder lazily, his hand fumbling to pull me closer, like he hadn't just spent a grand total of five minutes inside me before finishing and leaving me untouched.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and he nuzzled into my neck.

"That was...amazing," Jared breathed, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

I plastered a smile onto my face, one I'd perfected over the months.

"Yeah," I whispered, forcing lightness into my tone. "It was amazing."

It wasn't.

It was nothing.

I hadn't even come close to feeling anything, not even excitement, not pleasure, and not even irritation anymore. Just a heavy, suffocating nothingness.

I'd gotten so good at lying that sometimes I almost believed myself.

Jared let out another satisfied sigh, tightening his hold on me like a child cuddling a worn-out stuffed toy.

"We have a big day tomorrow evening," he mumbled sleepily. "I have that meeting with the shareholders, and you have that thing with a client... you should get some rest, baby."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see it, his head already half-buried in my shoulder.

"Yeah," I said softly. "I just want to use the bathroom real quick."

He made a sleepy sound of agreement, already halfway to snoring. I gently peeled myself out of his arms, careful not to disturb him more than necessary.

The moment I closed the bathroom door behind me, I leaned against it and exhaled shakily.

God.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

My hair was messy, my lips swollen from forced kisses, and my brown eyes looked... empty. Dull. Like someone had turned out the lights inside me and forgot to flip them back on.

I moved towards the drawer beside the sink, the second one from the top, and pulled it open quietly.

Hidden beneath a pile of neatly folded hand towels was my small purple vibrator.

It was almost a ritual now.

Every time after Jared and I had sex, if you could call it that, I found myself in here, alone, seeking what he never managed to give me.

I sat down heavily on the closed toilet lid, pulling my knees apart before grabbing the vibrator, turning it on low, and pressing it between my legs.

The first buzz made me inhale sharply.

Finally... something.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back against the wall, letting the soft hum of pleasure slowly build where Jared's clumsy thrusts had left me hollow.

I moved the toy in slow, deliberate circles, teasing myself, dragging out the sensation because it was the only real intimacy I had anymore.

A soft whimper escaped my lips.

This was the only way I could feel anything. Not with Jared's hands. Not with his cock. Only like this alone, hiding in a bathroom with a piece of plastic humming against my clit.

I increased the vibration slightly, pressing harder.

Fuck, that felt so good.

Already, my toes were curling against the cool tile floor. My breath quickened, coming out in little gasps.

I imagined hands, not Jared's but hands that were rougher, and stronger. That knew exactly where to touch me, how to make me beg.

Someone who would pin me against the wall and fuck the frustration right out of me without all the sweet talking and missionary bullshit.

My hips bucked against the toy. My free hand shot up to cover my mouth, stifling a moan.

I couldn't get loud. Jared was right outside, dead to the world, but still, the thought of getting caught was terrifying.

Or maybe... thrilling.

My clit pulsed against the vibrator, my whole body tightening. I was so close.

I imagined someone grabbing my thighs, forcing them wider, growling filthy promises into my ear while fucking me senseless.

The tension snapped.

I came hard, my body shuddering, my thighs trembling against the edge of the toilet.

I bit down hard on my lip, trying to stay quiet as pleasure tore through me, relentless and sharp and fucking necessary.

When it was over, I slumped against the wall, panting softly, feeling the aftershocks in every nerve ending.

I turned off the vibrator and stared down at it in my hand.

God, what is wrong with me?

Why couldn't I just be satisfied with what I had?

A good man. A perfect life.

And yet...

Here I was, sneaking off to make myself cum like some desperate, sex-starved housewife.

I wiped the toy clean with a tissue, tucking it back into its hiding place, and smoothed my hair in the mirror.

I forced another smile onto my face, the same lifeless smile I wore when reporters shoved microphones into it and asked me how "blessed" I felt to be marrying Jared Reeves, billionaire heir and literal poster boy for Good Men Everywhere.

Blessed.

Right.

What a fucking joke.

Beneath all the polish and curated photos and matching white smiles... I was starving.

Starving to be wanted. Touched. Claimed.

I didn't want missionary with the lights off and a kiss on the forehead. I wanted to be pinned down.

I wanted bruises on my hips and teeth on my neck. I wanted to be used like I was something to lose control over.

And I tried everything. Every. Fucking. Thing.

The maid outfit? Not the boring Halloween kind, the nasty one. Mesh black lace, a plunging neckline that showed off the tops of my nipples, and a skirt so short you could see my wax job.

No panties.

I served him dinner in it, heels clicking across the floor while I bent over the table, made sure he could see the curve of my ass, made sure he could smell how wet I was.

"Do you want dessert, Sir?" I whispered as I poured his wine.

He kissed my cheek.

"Cute," he said. "Rain check?"

I should've burned the damn costume.

Then came the sexy bunny, baby-pink, see-through mesh clinging to my curves, a fluffy white tail, and a zipper I could yank down with one finger.

I straddled him on the couch, grinding him, told him I wanted to be fucked against the glass doors so anyone walking by could see.

He smiled, kissed my cheek, and said, "Not now, babe. My parents are on their way."

I was soaking wet, and invisible.

I got desperate. I took charge. I dragged him into the hallway after dinner at his parents' house, no panties, silk dress, and shoved his hand between my thighs.

"Feel how wet I am for you?" I whispered.

His hand twitched. He looked tempted, briefly, but still pulled away.

"Later. I promise."

Later never came.

So I tried role play. I was the bad secretary. The bratty student. The spoiled housewife. I bought a blindfold and silk restraints.

"Use me. Don't be gentle tonight."

He laughed. Fucking laughed.

"Babe, let's start slow, okay?" He said. "One step at a time. I don't want to hurt you."

I wanted to scream.

For fuck's sake! That was the point!

Even when I tried to suck his cock under the dinner table at his parents' place, he pulled back, gave me a look like I was a pervert.

"Can we not do this here?" He whispered.

I ended up fingering myself in their marble guest bathroom while the sounds of cutlery and polite conversation echoed through the walls, his voice the loudest as he chatted about golf and stocks.

No matter how dirty I got, no matter how badly I begged, he never met me there. Not once.

At this point, I didn't need jewelry or five-star dinners anymore. I have had enough of that.

I just needed to be fucked. Like a woman. Like a fantasy. Like I was craved.

But instead, I was getting married to a man who made love like it was a business transaction. Clinical. Neat. Two pumps and a moan.

And that's why I was here now. Flushed, raw, and still twitching from an orgasm I gave myself, and lying.

Lying to the world.

Lying to myself.

Because I smiled in the mirror and whispered.

"It's fine."

But it wasn't.

It was killing me.

I flushed the toilet for effect and tiptoed back into the bedroom.

Jared was sprawled across the bed, one arm thrown dramatically over his head, and his mouth slightly open as he snored.

I slid under the covers carefully, turning my back to him.

He murmured something incoherent and reached for me in his sleep, his hand landing heavily on my hip.

I closed my eyes and tried to will myself to sleep.

By weekend, we would be boarding the plane for the family vacation Jared insisted on, a bonding trip with both our families.

A last hurrah before the wedding.

I should have been excited.

Instead, all I could think about was how many vibrators I'd need to pack to survive the week.

****

"So, how was it last night?" Lana asked, waggling her eyebrows like a nosy little demon that she was

My best friend, Lana, and I were sitting at a luxurious corner booth inside Hazel Bloom, the swankiest coffee shop downtown.

It smelled like roasted heaven mixed with faint vanilla, and I welcomed the distraction.

Lana had been my ride-or-die since college; tall, honey-blonde hair always twisted into some cute updo, and a mouth that didn't know the meaning of filter.

I groaned and collapsed against the velvet booth.

"Do you want the polite answer or the depressing truth?"

"Oh, baby," She grinned. "You know I live for the depressing truth."

"It was...bad," I leaned in, lowering my voice. "Like, clinically bad."

Lana snorted into her coffee. "Define 'bad.'"

I sighed.

"He mounted me for like one minute, thrusted a couple of times, groaned like he was dying, and rolled off me like a log," I cringed at the memory. "Meanwhile, I'm just lying there, staring at the ceiling, wondering if Amazon Prime delivered my vibrator."

Lana burst into laughter so loud the old man at the next table gave her a disapproving side-eye.

She didn't care.

"Well, come on, Sera," she began when her laughter subsided. "He's rich, gorgeous, sweet. You can't expect God to make him a sex god too. That would just be unfair. He had to chip his shoulders a little, you know? Spread the flaws around."

"You make it sound like I'm ungrateful." I cracked a reluctant smile.

"Maybe you are. Maybe you're not," She shrugged, mischievous. "Nobody gets the whole cake and eats it too. You got a good man who treats you like a queen. So what if he can't make you see stars in bed?"

"You're right," I twirled my straw absentmindedly. "I'm lucky. I need to stop complaining."

Lana sipped her drink, then set it down with a decisive clink.

"Still... sex is important," she chipped in. "Maybe this little family vacation Jared's planning can help. You know-relax the mood, spice things up." She winked. "Beach, cocktails, tiny bikinis. Perfect recipe for hot make-up sex."

I laughed softly. "You make it sound so easy."

"Because it is easy," She lifted her cup toward me like a toast. "Be bold. Live a little."

Just as I was about to reply, my phone buzzed against the table. I flipped it over and saw a text from my assistant.

"Client's here early! Waiting in your office."

I grimaced.

"Duty calls." I shoved my chair back reluctantly and stood up, smoothing down my skirt.

Lana stood too, giving me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Go build your empire, babe, and remember, pack the vibrator just in case."

I rolled my eyes, laughing as I grabbed my bag.

"You're impossible."

"Love you too!" she sang as I rushed toward the door, already dreading the work waiting for me... and secretly wondering if Lana was right.

Maybe the vacation could be a fresh start.

Maybe...

SERA

The low rumble of Jared's private jet was oddly soothing, like a soft purr against the velvet hush of the sky.

I tucked my legs beneath me on the wide leather seat, half-listening as Jared's mother described her vision for the wedding ceremony, something grand, dripping with crystal chandeliers and fresh roses flown in from Holland.

Jared's father chuckled, making a joke about the wedding bill needing its own trust fund, and everyone laughed. Even I forced out a polite laugh, though it felt brittle at the edges.

In truth, I loved being around them.

Jared's family had welcomed me with open arms, treating me like one of their own from the very beginning. It was everything I could have wanted.

So why did I feel like I couldn't breathe?

I stared out the window at the endless stretch of blue sky.

"You alright, honey?"

I turned to find my mom watching me closely from her seat nearby, her brow furrowed. She looked beautiful and relaxed in her linen slacks and soft pink blouse, a book resting forgotten in her lap.

"Yeah, of course," I said quickly, forcing a smile.

She didn't look convinced.

"You seem... a little off. Cold feet?"

God, if only it were that simple.

How could I tell her the truth?

That my fiancé, my sweet, handsome, utterly perfect fiancé couldn't make me cum to save his life?

"I'm just tired, Mom," I lied smoothly, smoothing my hand over my knee. "Jet lag, and stress. You know how it is."

"Of course," Her face softened immediately. "You've been under so much pressure lately, with the wedding and work. You're doing amazing, sweetheart."

I smiled gratefully at her, even as guilt gnawed at my chest.

After a few more reassurances, she returned to her book, and I quietly excused myself, moving to a quieter corner of the cabin.

I slid into an empty seat by one of the large oval windows and pressed my forehead lightly to the cool glass.

Maybe my mom was right. Maybe it was just the pressure. Maybe once the wedding was behind us, once Jared and I were officially husband and wife, everything would click into place.

Lost in thought, I didn't hear Jared approach until I felt the soft brush of his fingers along my arm.

"Hey," he said gently, his voice low so as not to disturb the others. "You okay, baby?"

I turned to look at him. His hair was slightly tousled, and there was a boyish sweetness to his smile that made my heart pinch.

God, he was perfect.

And he loved me.

"Yeah," I nodded, letting my lips curve up into a real smile this time. "Just needed a minute to breathe."

He slid into the seat beside me without hesitation, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into him. I tucked my head against his chest, breathing in the familiar, clean scent of his cologne.

"You've been doing so much," he murmured into my hair. "I just want you to relax and enjoy this trip, okay? You deserve it."

I swallowed hard. How could I complain?

How could I even think about anything else when he was so good to me?

"Thank you for planning all of this," I smiled against his chest. "It means a lot."

"I'd do anything for you." He kissed the top of my head.

A lump formed in my throat, and I pushed it down quickly, squeezing his hand. I could fix this. We could fix this. I just had to focus on everything he was instead of what he wasn't.

"We'll have fun," I said brightly, pulling back to look at him. "Maybe even find some ways to... reconnect."

His eyes lit up with that familiar warmth, and relief flooded his features.

"Speaking of reconnecting," he said after a beat, his tone more careful now, "I asked my brother to join us."

I blinked.

"Your brother?"

"Knox," Jared clarified, his voice a little tighter. "We haven't exactly been close, but... I don't know. I thought maybe this could be a new start."

I nodded slowly, sensing there was more to the story but knowing better than to push. Jared rarely talked about Knox, and when he did, there was always a wall that came up behind his words.

"That's nice," I said, offering another smile. "Family's important."

He seemed relieved at my easy acceptance.

Before he could say more, the pilot's voice crackled through the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be beginning our descent shortly. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."

The cabin buzzed with movement as everyone gathered their things. Jared kissed me again, a quick, tender press of lips against my forehead, before standing to help his mom with her bag.

I stayed seated by the window a moment longer, staring out at the island slowly coming into view below us.

Turquoise waters. Golden sands. Palm trees waving lazily in the breeze.

A dream.

This trip was going to be everything we needed.

I was sure of it.

The wind hit me the moment I stepped off the jet.

A soft, salty breeze lifted my hair, carrying the scent of the ocean and fresh island blooms. A sleek black convoy of luxury SUVs was already waiting on the tarmac, drivers standing at attention in crisp uniforms.

Beyond them, a concierge team dressed in polished white linen stood beside silver trays of champagne flutes, ready to welcome us.

Jared's hand slid around mine the moment we touched ground, threading our fingers together before leaning down to press a soft kiss to my temple.

We were escorted with the kind of seamless efficiency only obscene amounts of money could buy. Fuck it, someone placed a chilled glass of champagne into my free hand before I could even ask.

Jared held me close to his side, his palm pressed possessively against the small of my back as we moved toward the convoy.

I sipped the champagne, feeling the bubbles tickle my throat as I smiled and made small talk with his parents and my mum.

The drive to the villa was short but stunning, winding coastal roads, lush tropical forests, glimpses of the glittering blue sea between the trees.

And then we pulled up to the property.

It wasn't a villa. It was a private fucking paradise.

White stone walls soared high above manicured gardens, the house sprawling out in elegant, modern lines. Balconies jutted out toward the ocean.

A stone path led directly to a private stretch of white-sand beach where the waves lazily kissed the shore.

"This place is unreal," I breathed.

Jared smiled, tightening his hold on my waist.

"Only the best for you, baby."

Inside, the house was even more breathtaking, cool marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and wide-open spaces filled with sunlight. Glass walls slid away to reveal a massive infinity pool that seemed to spill right into the ocean.

Each family member claimed their private wing. Jared's parents took the east wing. My mom took the west. Jared led me to a stunning suite in the center, complete with a private plunge pool and a balcony facing the sea.

Only one wing remained empty, a slightly more secluded one near the back, with a private entrance.

"For Knox," Jared said casually as he placed our bags on the bed. "If he shows up."

I raised a brow. "You're not sure?"

"We're... complicated," He shrugged, smiling a little sadly. "But I figured it was time to try."

I didn't press. It wasn't my place.

Besides, I was too eager to explore.

"Go on," Jared said, noticing the excitement dancing in my eyes. He grinned and tugged me close for a quick kiss. "Take a look around. I'll unpack our things."

I didn't argue.

I slipped off my shoes and padded barefoot across the cool floors, exploring the house's twists and turns. Everything was luxurious yet relaxed, the kind of wealth that didn't need to shout about itself.

Eventually, I found myself drawn to the large balcony overlooking the ocean.

I stepped out into the golden late-afternoon sun. The breeze tangled my hair around my face as I leaned against the railing, breathing in the salt and flowers, feeling the tension begin to bleed from my shoulders.

Finally... peace. I sighed, shaking the stress off my shoulders with a little wiggle.

For the first time in what felt like days, I allowed myself to close my eyes and just be.

"Beautiful view," a voice rumbled behind me, deep and masculine and rough in a way that scraped deliciously over my skin.

I whirled around, a gasp catching in my throat.

Standing in the doorway... was a man.

Not Jared.

SERA

No, this man was the opposite of Jared.

The opposite of polished and composed.

Rugged. Yes, that was the word.

He was shirtless, and I couldn't stop my eyes from roaming.

Broad chest, anf uscles that didn't come from hours with a trainer but from real work, thick arms, veined forearms, dusted with just enough dark hair to make my thighs clench.

His skin was sun-warmed bronze, his jaw square and stubbled, like he hadn't bothered shaving for anyone.

His dark eyes hooded and lazy dragged over me, slow and deliberate, lingering far too long like he was deciding what he wanted to do with me... and imagining it in detail.

I stood frozen in place, the air suddenly thick and too hot, my body responding before my mind could catch up.

My nipples tightened beneath the thin fabric of my tank top, the breeze catching the hem of my barely-there shorts.

His gaze dipped lower.

Fuck.

Say something, Sera.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My throat was dry, and my tongue suddenly a useless weight.

He didn't speak. Just watched like a wolf that had spotted prey and knew it had nowhere to run.

I finally found my voice, though it came out breathless.

"Who... who are you?"

He smiled. Not sweet. Not friendly.

It was a smirk. A slow, smug curl of his lips that sent a bolt of heat straight between my legs.

And then-

"Sera, baby, there you are," Jared's voice came from behind me.

I jumped like I'd been electrocuted, instinctively taking a step back.

Shit.

Jared walked up beside me, looking between me and the man, oblivious to the electricity crackling in the air.

The man, this stranger turned his attention to Jared. The smirk stayed.

"Knox," Jared said, grinning wide.

My stomach dropped.

No fucking way.

This was Knox?

The elusive, estranged brother Jared barely spoke of? The one he hadn't seen in years?

Knox turned fully toward him and they clasped hands, pulling each other in for a hug.

"Been a while," Knox said, voice still that rough gravel, laced with heat even now.

"Way too long," Jared agreed. "I'm glad you made it."

I couldn't stop staring.

I should have looked away. Should have fixed my face, but I couldn't. My gaze trailed down the muscles of Knox's back, the way his jeans sat low on his hips, hinting at a V-line carved by the gods.

He turned back to me slowly like he knew I'd been watching.

I blinked, trying to play it cool. My cheeks were burning.

Jared slipped his arm around my waist.

"Sera, this is my brother, Knox. Knox, this is my fiancée."

Fiancée.

That word landed differently now.

Knox's eyes dragged over me again, slow and unhurried, like he was trying to commit me to memory. He didn't bother to hide it. His gaze paused at my mouth, dropped to my bare legs, then made its way back up again.

"I've heard a lot about you," he said, his voice low and rough with a kind of amusement curling under it. "Though Jared didn't mention you were this..."

A pause, just long enough to make it deliberate.

"...striking."

"She is, right?" Jared chuckled beside me, not reading anything into it. "I got lucky." He added, pressing a kiss to my temple. I forced a smile.

Knox's lips curved, and he reached out a hand.

"Pleasure to finally meet you, Sera."

I slid my palm into his. Big mistake.

The moment our hands touched, something jolted through me.

A spark. No, an actual shock like the first roll of thunder before a storm.

I felt it in my palm, in my spine... and in my core.

His grip was warm, firm... but it was the way his thumb brushed over the inside of my wrist, just barely, that had my breath catching.

It was subtle, easily passed off as nothing. But it wasn't nothing.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face neutral.

"The pleasure's mine," I managed, voice a little too airy.

We stood there like that, holding hands too long to be appropriate. Finally, I eased mine free, but it felt like I left a part of myself in his grasp.

"You're... taller than I imagined," I said, desperate to say something, anything to cut the tension.

Knox's lips twitched like he was holding back a laugh.

"So are you," he replied, his voice dipping to something almost velvet. "In heels, I imagine."

There it was.

A flicker of something dangerous behind the tease. His eyes dipped once more to my legs and the stretch of skin between the hem of my shorts and the top of my thighs.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. Jared didn't catch the undertone, too busy grinning proudly at both of us.

"Knox has been off-grid forever. I wasn't sure he'd even show," Jared said, throwing an arm around my waist.

"Guess I couldn't stay away," Knox replied smoothly, his gaze still fixed on me. "Not after hearing so much about your bride-to-be."

His eyes lingered a second too long.

I felt the tension coil low in my belly, that strange, restless ache starting again.

It was probably nothing. I was probably overthinking it.

Right?

Still... it didn't feel like nothing.

Not the way his eyes moved over me, or the way his voice wrapped itself around his words like they were dipped in heat.

Not the way my body responded to it, traitorous and sharp and alive.

Then I realized that I was staring at Knox's mouth.

God.

Full, firm, with a perfectly cut bottom lip that looked like sin carved from flesh. The kind of mouth that didn't just kiss but it ruined. It devoured.

It whispered filth in the dark and bit down when you begged it not to. That mouth didn't belong to a man who played it safe. It belonged to someone who knew exactly how to use it... slow, deliberate, merciless.

Heat flickered low in my belly, and my thighs clenched on instinct.

I should've looked away. I meant to look away.

But I didn't until his tongue slid slowly along the bottom lip like he knew exactly where my mind had gone.

Shit.

My eyes snapped back up to meet his, and the look he gave me was lazy and loaded like he'd caught me mid-fantasy and didn't mind one bit.

Worse... he seemed to enjoy it.

I coughed, dragging my gaze to the side, pretending like I hadn't just undressed the man with my eyes and mentally climbed into his lap.

What the hell was wrong with me?

"Knox!" came a voice from behind. Jared's mom.

Knox broke his gaze from mine, turned slightly to look behind him.

"I should say hi before she gets dramatic," he said to Jared, but his eyes were still on me.

One last sweep down my body, slow and possessive and then he turned and walked away, his back muscles flexing with every step.

Only then did I breathe again.

Jared looked out at the view, totally at ease.

"I'm glad we're all here. This was a good idea."

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile, my head still spinning. "It was."

But deep down, I knew.

The reason my body was on fire... my skin humming, my chest tight and hot?

Wasn't the weather.

It was Knox.

Fuck!

Dinner was... fine.

That was the lie I kept telling myself, even as I barely tasted the roasted sea bass and herb couscous on my plate.

Everyone else seemed genuinely at ease, the parents chatting animatedly about the wedding, Jared smiling, his hand resting on my thigh like we were just any couple in love.

But all I could think about was Knox.

I'd spent the entire meal avoiding looking at him.

Failing spectacularly.

He was seated directly across from me, and every time I dared glance up, his eyes were already there watching me.

Studying me, and undressing me with a slow, shameless sort of intensity that made my nipples harden beneath the thin fabric of my sundress.

I'm sure he could even see it.

Apparently, he was an artist.

That came up somewhere between wine refills and bread baskets. He spoke easily with both our parents, charming, casual, but there was a smirk always ghosting his mouth.

And maybe that was ridiculous, but every time our eyes met, it was like a finger trailing down my spine, heading lower, lower...

You're imagining things. You're overthinking it. I tried to scold myself.

But when someone looks at you like he could bend you over the nearest surface and ruin you with his mouth, it's hard to focus on table manners.

After dinner, the parents retired to their wings, jet lag finally catching up with them. Jared kissed my cheek and told me he had to jump on a business call, five minutes, tops before disappearing upstairs.

I stood up quickly, desperate to clear the table, to do something with my hands, my body, anything to distract from the heat pooling between my thighs.

"I'll take care of these," I offered, already stacking plates.

I didn't look to see who followed me into the kitchen. I didn't need to.

I could feel him.

The air shifted the moment Knox stepped in. Heavy and charged like lightning about to strike.

I faced the sink, rinsing off a plate, pretending I wasn't hyper-aware of every step he took closer behind me. Of the way my skin prickled, of the heartbeat now pulsing between my legs.

I set the plate down slowly.

And then...

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have been running from me all night," Knox's voice came, low and rough behind me.

I froze.