Page 11 of Pucking Knox
"Better." His fingers trace patterns on my bare shoulder. "Now laugh like I just said something funny."
I do, letting my head fall back against his arm. The position puts my throat on display, and I feel more than hear his sharp intake of breath.
"Good girl," he murmurs, and something hot unfurls in my stomach.
I hear the distinct click of a camera phone.
"He's getting all this, isn't he?"
Knox's laugh rumbles through his chest. "Oh yeah. But if you really want to give daddy's campaign a heart attack..."
His free hand catches my chin, turning my face to his. For a moment, he just looks at me – something dark and hungry in his gaze that makes my pulse spike.
"Last chance to back out, Princess."
In answer, I fist my hand in his shirt and pull him down to me.
The kiss starts almost gentle – a soft press of lips that could almost be sweet. Then Knox growls, low in his throat, and everything ignites.
His hand slides into my hair, gripping just hard enough to sting as he changes the angle. When I gasp, his tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming it with the same devastating focus he brings to everything else.
I give as good as I get.
My teeth scrape his bottom lip and he jerks, surprised. I take advantage of his momentary shock to deepen the kiss, tasting him properly – coffee and mint and something darker that makes me want to crawl into his lap right here in the coffee shop.
His grip tightens almost painfully in my hair. I respond by biting his lip again, harder this time.
"Fuck," he breathes against my mouth. Then he's kissing me like he wants to devour me, all pretense of propriety forgotten.
I dimly register more camera clicks, shocked whispers, someone dropping a cup. None of it matters. All that exists is Knox's mouth on mine, his hands in my hair, the way he groans when I press closer—
"Okay, lovebirds!" Sawyer's voice cuts through the haze. "That's enough of a show."
Knox pulls back slowly, his pupils blown wide. For a moment, he just stares at me like he's never seen me before.
"Didn't know you had that in you, Princess," he finally says, voice rough.
I'm saved from responding by my phone buzzing.
Dad: My office. Now.
"Mission accomplished." I try to sound smug instead of breathless. "Thomas probably took some pictures with his phone and sent them to my dad."
"Probably." Knox's eyes drop to my mouth again. "You've got a little..." His thumb swipes across my lower lip, coming away slightly red. "Might want to fix your lipstick before facing the firing squad."
Right. The firing squad. My father. The campaign. The whole reason we're doing this.
I absolutely wasn't just kissing Knox because I wanted to.
"I should go." I start gathering my things, very aware of how many people are still staring. "That was… good."
"Sure, Kennedy." His smirk is back, but something else flickers in his eyes. "Acting."
Sawyer waits until we're outside to pounce.
"Holy. Shit." She grabs my arm. "What happened to keeping things fake?"
"It had to look real."
