Page 38 of Red Rose Cupcake

“Are you okay with that?” he asks, his voice soft but filled with promise.

I nod, unable to find the words. All I know is that right here, right now, I want him more than I’ve wanted anything in a long time.

* * *

KNOX

Her eyes tell me everything I need to know. She’s on board. And that’s all I needed.

“Stand up, babe,” I say, my voice a little deeper, more commanding now. She follows my instructions, rising from the chair as I take the blindfold and wrap it gently around her eyes.

I guide her to the bed, easing her down onto the soft mattress. “Lie back. Just relax. Let me take care of you.”

I tie her wrists gently with the silk ropes, not too tight, but just enough to heighten her senses. Her breathing picks up, and I can see the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation in her body language.

I start with the feather, running it slowly along her arms, down her chest, and over her hips. Her body responds immediately, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Then I follow the feather with my fingers, tracing the same path but adding more pressure, more heat.

Her reactions spur me on, and I lean down to kiss her neck, whispering against her skin, “I missed this. Missed you.”

* * *

ROSIE

Every touch feels amplified. The blindfold, the ropes—they’re heightening everything. I can’t see him, but I can feel him everywhere. The feather, his hands, his lips… It’s like he’s waking up parts of me that have been dormant for too long.

I arch my back as his hands move lower, my breath catching in my throat. “Knox…”

“Shh, babe,” he murmurs against my skin. “Let me take care of you.”

And he does. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word is a reminder of the passion we’ve shared since the beginning. But this time, it feels even deeper. More intense.

Because this isn’t just about sex. This is about coming back to each other. About rebuilding what we almost lost.

By the time he unties the ropes and removes the blindfold, I’m trembling, but not just from pleasure—from the overwhelming love I feel for this man.

He leans over me, his eyes filled with that familiar intensity. “I love you, Rosie. I never want us to drift apart again.”

Tears sting my eyes as I pull him down into a kiss. “I love you too, Knox. Thank you… for this. For us.”

Seven Years Later

ROSIE

The house is quiet for once, the rare sound of silence that comes with the kids being away at Knox’s mom’s for the night. I lean against the kitchen counter, stirring a cup of tea and watching the sun dip lower into the horizon, casting soft pinks and oranges through the windows.

It’s been seven years. Seven incredible, beautiful, sometimes exhausting years with Knox. Seven years of marriage, laughter, children, and everything in between. It’s hard to believe how fast time has flown by.

I smile, remembering our wedding day—the way Knox looked at me, the way we promised forever with every ounce of love we had. And despite everything, despite the challenges of parenthood and the crazy schedules that come with our careers, that love is still there. Stronger, maybe, than ever.

I’m lost in thought when I hear the front door open, and the unmistakable sound of Knox’s footsteps echo through the hallway. I turn around just in time to see him walk in, a bouquet of roses in one hand and that irresistible smirk on his lips.

“Happy anniversary, Mrs. O’Malley,” he says, holding the flowers out to me.

I laugh, taking the bouquet and inhaling the sweet, familiar scent. “You still remember?”

Knox steps closer, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me against him. “Like I could forget. Seven years, Rosie. I wouldn’t trade a second of it.”

His lips brush against mine, soft and sweet at first, but there’s an underlying heat there that makes my pulse quicken. I can feel the intensity of his gaze, the hunger in his touch, and I know tonight is going to be about more than just flowers and reminiscing.

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