Page 133 of Knight

“Sometimes. It’s more irritating than anything else.” His lips quirk up. “An unwelcome reminder.”

“Of what?”

“That I should have kept my head down and my mouth shut.” His smirk doesn’t quite land this time. “Or at least invested in better body armor.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.”

“You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it.” His fingers brush against mine, his smile fading as he holds my gaze. “This wasn’t exactly part of the plan.”

“Do you even have a plan?” I manage between breaths as his mouth finds the curve of my neck.

“Not really.” He kisses a path up to my jaw. “But winging it seems to be working.”

“Knight—” My breath hitches as his fingers dip beneath my top to stroke over my stomach. “You’re infuriating.”

“And you’re beautiful.”

My hands move to his chest, pushing him back slightly so I can meet his gaze. His hair is a mess, his shirt rumpled, and his eyes are completely unguarded for once. The faintest smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, but there’s something softer underneath it.

“I’m not letting you go again.”

“Good.” I lift my arms to loop around his neck. “Because I don’t think I’d let you.”

His head tilts, eyes gleaming, that insufferable smirk dancing around his lips. “That settles it, then.”

I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “You’re impossible.”

“You keep saying that like it’s a bad thing.” His expression shifts, his voice dropping. “I’m not walking away. Not this time.”

I stare at him, then slowly, holding his gaze with mine, I press my lips to his.

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“Not a chance.”

EPILOGUE

Knight

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Havingpeople in my space isn't getting any easier. The urge to activate security locks still hits every time the elevator announces visitors. Three months of Eva living here hasn't changed that. Neither has the fact that today's invasion consists of my brothers and their partners … again … bypassing the alarms with the access codes Eva insisted I give them.

I watch through the feed as they exit the elevator. Eden's carrying takeout bags from that place downtown Eva likes, while Magdalena follows with a bottle of wine. My brothers bring up the rear.

"Stop lurking and come into the other room." Eva appears beside me, close enough that her scent reminds me why I let her past my defenses in the first place. "And try not to look like you're planning escape routes."

"I always plan escape routes. It's part of my charm."

"Be nice. They're family."

"That’s debatable." But I let her pull me up without too much resistance. I lock the door behind us, then follow her into thekitchen, where the smell of takeout fills the air, mixing with the more familiar, comforting smells of our apartment. It’s not the same as before she moved in—before, it was just me. Now, there’s a clutter of things. A bag here, a book there, clothes on the back of a chair. It’s not perfect, but it’sours. The apartment feels like a real home now, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more okay with it.

"So this is what domestication looks like." Rook takes a seat on the couch, his casual posture at odds with the way his gaze sweeps the room.

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