Page 34 of Sunrise

Then his nose.

His chin.

And finally… his mouth.

Knox’s arm is still wrapped around my back. His fingers dig into me like I’m a life raft to hold on to. He gives Vault time and patience and respect to moveat his own pace, in his own way. I’m sure he’s desperate to kiss back. I know I would be.

Knox, of all people, knows how important this step is for Vault. Even more than I do. He stays still and only clings to me, while Vault reacquaints himself with Knox’s lips.

A cracked noise slips from Vault’s throat. His mouth lingers on Knox’s lips and he’s shaking. They both are.

My heart hammers, and I look up at the camera. Ryker’s watching. He and I had a talk already, and he was in full support of tonight, but it came with worry and fear for all of us.

If I fuck this up, they won’t survive another second chance.

Neither will I.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the men in this club. Ryker and Dmitri are like brothers to me. Knox and Vault are the prizes of the war I’ve fought for the better part of seven years. I deserve this level of love and devotion.

So do they.

Vault suddenly lifts up and looks away. “Yellow.” He slides off the bed. “Yellow. Yellow. Yellow.”

Knox bolts off me faster than lightning. “Vault.”

I step into action. “It’s okay. Let’s talk about what worked and what didn’t.”

Vault shakes his head. “Yellow, yellow, yellow!” Panic rises in his voice. He shrinks back.

Knox grabs his shoulders. “Vault!”

“RED!” he screams.

Chapter 11

Knox

The flip happens so fast. One minute I’m kissing the love of my life, the next, he’s in a downward spiral panic attack that has me gripping his shoulders to keep him from bolting.

“RED!” he screams and shoves me away.

“The scene’s over,” Sophie says quickly while he gets worse. “Vault, it’s done.”

He’s not hearing us.

Jesus, I don’t know what I did wrong. I stayed still. I didn’t kiss back. I did exactly what he wanted. “What did I do wrong?”

Vault’s legs give out, his knees slamming to the floor.

The suite door opens, and Ryker rushes in.

“Don’t!” I bark, thrusting my hand out. “I can take care of him.”

“He’s beyond you,” Ry says, and it’s such a kick in my fucking balls.

“No, he’s not.”

Sophie’s cooing sweet words into his ear, talking him through his panic attack. I should be grateful for her stepping up like this, but I’m not. “Back away from him, Soph.”

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