Page 32 of Awakening
His fingers traced an innocent-looking path over my hip, but the promise behind his touch was anything but innocent. "Who says we have to wait for the villa?"
A hot flush spread across my cheeks and chest, the sensual rhythm of the island seeping into my veins. Santorini was alive, pulsing, breathing, tempting, and so were we.
With every kilometer we drove, the view grew more breathtaking, and so did my understanding of why Knox didn’t pass up the opportunity to build a life and a career here. Sunlight glinted off the Aegean, its waves rolling andsparkling like a bed of sapphires, while white villas were stacked above us like Lego pieces.
"Look at this place," I breathed, "It feels like romance, seduction, love.”
Maverick's eyes darkened as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "And I plan to romance you, seduce, and love you, every single night we’re here and beyond.”
My thighs pressed together instinctively, the anticipation pooling low, heavy, and sweet.
The closer we got to our destination, the more nervous I got. I knew without a doubt: this wasn't just a vacation, this was the beginning of something wildly, deliciously new.
We barely had time to step out of the car before I saw him. Knox.
He stood at the front door of the beautiful villa, the fading sun bathing him in molten gold. The sharp lines of his jaw, the smooth cut of his beard, and the power in his broad shoulders were breathtaking. But it was his eyes that stole everything from me, their depth, their darkness, their magnetism pulling me into his gravity like I'd already belonged there.
Maverick squeezed my hand, his voice dropping into a low, amused purr, “You okay, baby? You look like you're about to melt.”
"I might be," I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from Knox as he headed to meet us. The open collar of his shirt exposed a hint of his chest, muscular, smooth, making my pulse quicken.
Knox's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile that sent heat curling through my belly. “Welcome to Santorini,” hesaid, his voice rich and smooth as aged bourbon.
Maverick stepped forward first, pulling Knox into a firm, intimate embrace. The way they kissed was erotic, sexy. I watched the way their bodies met, the familiarity between them sending an unexpected thrill down my spine.
Then Knox turned his full attention on me.
“And you must be Ajaih,” he said, his voice deep, the timber giving me goosebumps. He extended his hand, but when I placed mine in his, he didn't just shake it. He held it, as if he was transferring the warmth of his touch through my body. His thumb gliding over my knuckles in a gesture so simple yet profoundly intimate that my breath caught.
“It's so good to meet you finally,” I managed, my voice softer, breathier than I'd intended.
His gaze dipped, tracing the line of my neck, lingering at the quickening pulse in my throat before rising to meet my eyes again. “The pleasure is all mine, beautiful.”
Behind me, Maverick let out a low chuckle, “I told you pictures did her no justice.”
Knox's eyes traveled down the length of my body and back, openly making his attraction to me evident. “That’s putting it mildly,” he smiled.
The electricity between the three of us was undeniable, thick and charged like the air before a storm.
The faintest smirk played at the corner of his full lips, confident but not arrogant. His presence alone made my skin feel too tight, my pulse thrumming just beneath the surface like a melody only he could hear. I understood, second by second, what Maverick saw in this man, what he loved about him. His charisma and charm were unmatched.
Maverick’s hand on the small of my back reminded me to breathe, but even his touch couldn’t pull my attention entirely away from the man before us.
Knox was not simply handsome.
He was temptation.
And my body already knew it.
The villa was even more breathtaking inside; it was clear that it had been newly renovated. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the sweeping ocean view, while whitewashed walls reflected the fading sunlight in auburn hues. A cool breeze drifted through open doors, carrying the mingled scents of salt, jasmine, and citrus.
Knox led us out onto the terrace, where a bottle of wine and three crystal glasses waited on a low table.
“I thought we could toast your arrival properly,” he said, pouring a deep red liquid that glimmered like liquid rubies.
Maverick raised his glass first, his eyes flicking from me to Knox, “To new beginnings, erotics forevers, and love in between.”
“Cheers,” Knox echoed, his voice silky, eyes never leaving mine.
