Page 6 of Captured Love

With that permission, he lets go. His thrusts become desperate and forceful, and I find one of my hands gripping the headboard as his body slams into mine. The sound of skin against skin fills the room, mixed with his ragged breathing. With one low animalistic groan, he stiffens and buries himself deep inside me, his body shaking as he reaches his climax. I can feel the intensity of his release, and it sends a final shiver through my own body.

For a moment, the world is silent except for our heavy breathing. He collapses on top of me, careful not to crush me with his weight, and I wrap my arms around him, savoring the closeness for a moment. This isn’t what I expected. It’s more intimate than I ever imagined, and a part of me is scared by how much I’m enjoying it.

Knox rolls off me and lies on his back, staring at the ceiling. I turn onto my side to face him, propping my head up with one hand. He looks different in this moment, but I can’t exactly place why. I want to say something, but I'm not sure what. Thanks? That was amazing?

Before I can decide, he speaks. “You were... incredible,” he says, though there's an almost reluctant tone in his voice, as if admitting this costs him something.

I smile, stupidly pleased by the compliment, but I can hear a ‘but’ there that I’m trying to ignore. “You're not so bad yourself.”

We fall into another round of silence. This was supposed to be uncomplicated, no-strings-attached sex. But now that it's done, everything feels a lot more tangled.

“Don't get any ideas,” Knox says suddenly, turning his head to look at me. His eyes are hard again, the softness from earlier wiped away. “This doesn't change anything.”

And there it is—the gut punch I knew was coming but hoped would hurt less when it landed.

“I know,” I say, though my voice sounds small and distant to my own ears. “I wasn’t thinking anything else.”

He sits up and swings his legs over the side of the bed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Good. Because the last thing I need is drama.”

I watch as he stands and walks to his closet in all his naked glory. It doesn’t take much for me to figure out where this is going. Why did I think this would be a good idea? Because I'm an idiot, clearly.

I slide out of bed and search for my clothes. My clothes are a crumpled mess on the floor, but I pick them up and throw them on.

I have just enough time to pull my leggings over my hips before Knox turns to face me, having put on a fresh pair of boxers and a t-shirt. He pauses, as if he might say something to soften the blow he just delivered, but I don't give him the chance.

“I'm going to take off,” I say.

Knox shrugs. “Do what you need to.”

“You’re the biggest asshole I’ve ever met, you know that?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that.”

Part of me wants to stay and argue with him because he can fuck all the way off, but I know it’s a waste of my time. Instead, I grab his hoodie from the chair by his desk and slip it over my head. It's far too big on me, hanging down to my thighs and swamping my hands in fabric, but it smells like him and for some stupid reason, that comforts me. I throw him a look, almost daring him to say something about it. He doesn’t say aword, saving us both the trouble, and within seconds I leave his room, closing the door behind me.

I try to contain my emotions as I look up, but apparently that wasn’t in the cards. My heart skips a beat when I find Isla and Asher are standing there. I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks. Crap. This is exactly what I didn’t want. I’m sneaking out of Knox’s room, and of course, I run into them. I can see Isla’s eyes widen as she takes in the scene—my flushed face, my slightly messy hair, and the Crestwood Red Wolves hoodie that’s definitely not mine.

I freeze, trying to mask the anger bubbling up inside me. “Oh, um... Isla! Asher!” I stammer, feeling completely flustered. “How are you? How was the game?”

“Fine…but what are you doing here?” Isla asks, raising an eyebrow.

“I was just... helping Knox... with something. But I’m leaving now.” I try to sound casual, but it’s clear I’m not fooling anyone.

“Right. Helping. But why do you look pissed?” Isla’s skeptical look doesn’t help me at all.

Asher wraps an arm around Isla’s waist, and when I glance at him, his expression matches hers. They both know exactly what’s going on, and it makes me want to scream.

Before I can come up with any kind of response, Knox’s voice calls from inside the room, “Selene, did you forget something?”

My face flushes an even deeper shade of red. “Fuck you,” I mumble under my breath before giving Isla and Asher an awkward wave and practically bolting down the hallway.

“Wait—” Isla starts to say, but I cut her off.

“I need to calm down. I’ll call you later, okay?”

I don’t wait for her response. I just need to get out of here. This whole situation is fucking crazy, and I can’t handle it right now. I just need space from what feels like a massive car crash that has become my life.

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