Page 32 of Conception
“I’ve got to be honest with you. Until about a few months ago, I’d only ever been with one girl in my entire life, and after her, well, I haven’t found the time to find anyone else.”
“Okay…” I’m not sure where this is coming from or why the conversation took this detour. Is now the time I tell him about my sexual history? Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like the right moment.
“I’m fucking this up. What I’m saying is that I’m new to this hooking-up stuff. I’ve never done it before,” he says, using his free hand to motion between the two of us. “I’ve never wanted to. But hell, Amelia, it’s been twenty-four hours and you’re all I can think about. So yeah, babe, if you’re up for it, we have the entire summer.”
I rise onto my tiptoes and brush my lips across his before sinking back down. “I think, Knox, that by the time the summer’s over, you’ll learn I’m up for just about anything.”
His answering groan is all the promise I need. He closes the distance between us and pushes my back up against the front door. One arm now rests on the door above me, the other holding tight to my waist.
“Now that we have that established, I think we should probably set some ground rules. That okay with you?”
I nod because, at this point, I’ll agree to practically anything.
“Good. I told you last night I’m not looking for anything long-term, nothing permanent. Now, I get how strong our attraction is, but I have to know that you get that this is for the summer and nothing more.”
I blink, and my silence causes him to continue.
“The only way I know how to communicate is by bein’ direct. Don’t fall for me, Amelia. I don’t have time for it. All I’ve got time for is sex and a good time. Now, if that’s cool with you, we can have plenty of fun this summer.”
“I get it, Knox,” I say, slightly perturbed he feels the need to emphasize this point. I set my chin and stare back into his eyes. “Before you came along, I was already telling Sunny how I just wanted to have fun this summer, no commitments, nothing. So this works perfectly for me. Just tell me the rules so we’re on the same page.”
His jaw tightens for a split second. Then he nods. “Right. Rules.” He clears his throat. “Don’t go fallin’ for me was my first one, but I think we have that established. That’s the main one.”
“It’s noted.”
He must hear the irritation in my tone. His eyes soften while he strokes my cheek. “I’m not comin’ in tonight, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.” He pushes against me, his straining erection caressing me in all the right places.
Yeah, he’s not lying. If that’s how it feels through clothes? Heaven help me.
“I want you, Amelia. So fucking bad. But I need you to let me go as slow as I fucking want, because I’m going to savor you. I also need you to tell me if I’m moving too fast. If you need something more from me, say it. If this is going to work, I need your honesty because I don’t want to do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. All I wanna do is make you feel so fucking good that you’ll remember this summer for the rest of your life and ache between your legs every time you think my name. Got it?”
Whew. I blow out a breath. “Got it.”
The two words are the barest whisper because, holy hell, I’ve never had a man speak to me this way. I never knew Iwanteda man to speak to me this way.
“Good. Glad we’re on the same page. Now, keys?” he asks, pushing back and holding his hand out to me.
I blink twice before my eyes focus and I realize what he’s doing. Knox unlocks the door then gently places a hand on the small of my back, slowly forcing me inside. Once we’re inside, he closes the door. Turning back, I raise an eyebrow in his direction.
“What kind of man would I be if I let you in the house and didn’t check to make sure there aren’t any monsters hiding in the dark?”
It’s silly, and I know he’s teasing, but like Sunny said, while I may love all things horror, I still get a little freaked out. And since this is my first night alone in this house, I’m grateful for the security and the extra few minutes with him his search may give us.
I flinch at the unexpected sensation of Knox’s thumb under my chin. Worried eyes shine down at me.
“Where’d you go in that pretty little head of yours?”
It’s uncanny the way he can read me after such a short time.
“It’s nothing,” I tell him with a slight shake of my head. It’s not that I don’t want to tell him about my parents. It’s just… It’s been whirlwind twenty-four hours with him. I’m not ready to ruin it.
“Hey, I know we just met, but you can tell me anything that’s on your mind.”
His eyes are so earnest that I want to break down right here in his arms. But I don’t. The last thing I want is to put a damper on our night. Or scare the guy off with my emotions.
“I promise, Knox. It’s nothing. It’s just… This is the first time I’ve been back to Crystal Cove in four years. And the first night I’ll be staying here alone.”
I nearly curse myself for telling him this, opening myself up to questioning. But it’s out there. It’s all I can give him for now, and I hope it’s enough. I pray he doesn’t ask for more.
