Page 23 of Fright Night
He trails off with a sucking noise on his teeth, and being so distracted by his lips, I don’t notice the way he grabs my waist until he’s lifting me like I’m a ragdoll. In the same motion, he whirls me around until suddenly, I’m flat on my back on the bed.
Helpless—again. Pinned to the bed—again. Arms hauled above my head, he presses my wrists together and cuffs them into place with his unyielding grip.
“Let me go, Knox,” I demand between breaths.
I’m a submissive to his games. The bed wraps me up as Knox’s knees frame my hips, his hands coming down by my head. He reaches to the side and returns with the knife as his smile is slow and thought-out, eyes moving between the blade and me.
“Others…” he continues his earlier point like we haven’t moved on from that conversation. “Others respond with desire. Guess which way you do.”
ELEVEN
KNOX
How many nightswas she sleeping down the hall from me and I dreamed this exact scenario? Me crouched over her, Oakley flushed from desire and adrenaline, utterly at my mercy until she comprehends the truth behind her feelings.
She wants me. It’s not cocky to think when it’s a blatant fact.
It’s in the rosiness in her cheeks and her heavy breaths. In the way she’s not fighting, nor denying her desire. It’s in her bright eyes as she stares up at me; a bit wide with an appropriate amount of fright, but excited too. More like she’s scared by her reactions—or lack thereof.
I lower my head, smirking when she pushes herself deeper into the mattress. It can only let her go so far, and when my nose brushes hers, it breaks the barrier on her carefully wound restraint.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Testing how far we can make this go.”
Two years is a long time to go fantasizing about something and be kept away.
“This isn’t smart, Knox.”
This is my greatest idea yet.
“I don’tdesireyou.” Her argument doesn’t hold the amount of venom she intends it to have.
“You desire fear.” I lift my head, brushing my nose along her cheek while inhaling her scent. “And the freedom it brings.”
“Fear and desire don’t go together.”
“Did you not hear me when I just explained the different reactions it creates?” I move down her neck, biting down on my smile when her breath hikes and those perfect breasts of hers near, like she’s inviting me there. “If you need a reminder how they go together, I’ll be happy to give it.”
“What are you saying?”
She knows what I’m saying.
“What are you asking?” I counter.
I know what she’s asking but I want her to say it.
“Why are you being like this?”
“Because you were always meant to be shown a darker part of desire, Trickster. We’ve been on this ride for a while, you and I. Your little lie to the police pissed me off, but not for the reasons you’re thinking. Your actions took me away from you and that…that I will not forgive.”
My lips trail to the sliced part of her shirt, my breath blowing hot over her chest. Her nipples form hard buds that tempt me to bite them.
Soon. Not yet.
“Are you…are you saying youlikeme? You have a messed-up way of showing it, if so.”
I smile into her skin, letting my tongue slip out to dab between her breasts. “You’re the only person I’ve allowed to speak to me the way you do. Do the things you do. No one else is granted that allowance. Why’s that so hard to understand?”
