Page 66 of His Wild Storm
“No,” I insist, “Wilde is having too much fun.”
He tilts his head slightly as he studies me, his mossy green eyes intense as he looks me over. “What about you, little storm, are you having fun?”
“I am,” I chirp even though it feels a little wrong.
Maybe it’s time to embrace the wrong. Knox is right. I can be glad abouthisdeath because it frees me of my past and means I don’t have to worry for the rest of my life.
“Everyone is so nice and kind,” I gush.
“Just make sure to tell me if anyone is too nice or kind,” he grumbles in such a way that I can’t help but giggle. The little green-eyed monster peeking out of him is hilarious. Like I have room in my heart for someone else. It’s just not possible.
When he shifts me slightly like he’s about to stand up, I reach up and cup his jaw in my hands, my thumbs rubbing over the rough hair of his beard. He freezes, his eyelids dropping to half-mast as his eyes darken.
“Your family is not going to try and steal me from you,” I huff out and try not to smile at how ridiculous he’s being. “And everyone is already paired up,” I point out, clearly admonishing him. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m not taking any chances,” he grumbles mulishly.
I bite my lower lip before releasing it and blurting, “You have nothing to worry about, Knox. I’ve already fallen in love with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Knox freezes, his eyes going so wide that they look like they’re going to pop out of his head for a second. His hands flex where he’s holding me, his grip tightening.
He rasps, “What?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you,” I repeat myself, feeling emboldened by his reaction instead of unsure.
This man has shown up over and over again. He’s held strong and is always ready to prove his feelings with actions. I think he’s earned me repeating myself at least once.
“You love me?” The question is filled with disbelief. I giggle softly and nod, the smile on my face wide and bright. “I love you,” he says like it’s a revelation and not obvious as hell.
He’s never hidden how he’s felt about me. Sure, he didn’t say the words, and he tempered himself, but he never tried to be aloof or play games.
“Good,” I nod and jump off his lap and offer him my hand.
Even though he slips his hand in mine, he stands up completely under his own power. He winks at me and all I can do is roll my eyes. With his free hand, he wipes away the few tears still left on my cheeks.
“They weren’t because I’m sad,” I whisper.
“It would be okay if they are, Haven,” he insists. “You shared time with that person, and they’re gone. Outside of everything else, he was, at least biologically, part of bringing your amazing son into this world. You grieve however you need to.”
“See,” I grouse and blink a few times, “that’s the kind of thing that will make me cry. Stop being so sweet.”
A wicked grin overtakes Knox’s face as his hand slides down the side of my neck before his fingers wrap around and squeeze gently. “Would you rather me tell you all the ways I’ll have you moaning my name once we get home and put Wilde to bed?”
Two things happen at once with his words which contradict themselves. My chest warms with how easily and casually he mentions going home and putting my boy to bed. It’s a beautiful thing and it feels natural. My body also heats with the idea of spending time in bed with him again.
When I woke up this morning, my nightgown was back on, thankfully, and I was alone in an unfamiliar bed. The only reason I knew shuffling into Knox’s room wasn’t a dream was because of the way his cedar and smoke scent wrapped around me. Honestly, I didn’t like waking up alone, which was shocking to me.
But then I heard Wilde’s giggles in the distance. For a few moments, I reveled in the sound as I laid in bed and thought about Knox and how he simply showed up and was solid.
The thought of being back in Knox’s bed is pure fucking temptation.
“Not if you want me to be able to walk into the party and not look extra needy,” I inform him coyly while looking up at him from underneath my lashes.
“We better get moving,” his voice is extra husky as he ushers me out of the room and back toward the main living room area.
I can’t even think about the house. The thing is massive. While the size of it isn’t surprising since Cole is the lead singer for Suburban Outcasts, I was a little surprised when we arrived and I found it to be one of a few houses on land on the outskirts of Denver. Knox informed me that the running joke is that Cole is trying to create a commune. If he is, I hope to get on the waiting list.
It’s beautiful out on their land and the house is gorgeous. What’s not to love?
