Once he’s situated, I hit him with some truths.
“I’ve arranged to meet Dad tomorrow at a coffee shop near where he’s staying. I have to know why he’s here and what kind of shape he’s in. I’m not going to ignore him, Knox.”
He tries to speak but I shush him with a finger pressed firmly to his lips.
Grown up Knox has a dominant side. A take-charge attitude.
Maybe grown up Wren can have a little of that too.
“I want to hear him out, and you’ll respect my wishes, if nothing else.”
A sigh and nod are his only retort.
“If it turns out it’s all a ruse and nothing has changed. If I sense he’s lying or his intentions aren’t one hundred percent honorable, I’ll ask him to leave. I won’t have him jeopardize anything when it comes to us. Or your career, or my job with Casey’s foundation.”
He blinks again and then presses a kiss to the pad of my finger.
“And also, I’ve moved in,” I say as my nerves fizzle. I literally just moved in without having a real conversation about it.
I tentatively pull my hand away from his face to sit back against the tub, except he jerks my chin hard with his thumb and forefinger, and pulls my face back closer to his.
“Just like that?” His brow arches with his question.
I stare, not pulling away or shaking out of his grasp. I stand my proverbial ground and hold his caerulean gaze.
“Yep,” I say, popping the “P” with fake bravado. “Just like that. Unless of course, you said you wanted me to move in, in the heat of the moment.”
His grip is firm and his deep blue stare gives nothing away.
“You can’t see it,” I whisper, “But, I only ever choose you. Your view is that I lie and leave. I’ll show you I only ever wanted to stay. That you can trust me again. That I love you beyond measure.”
I close my eyes and then open them, hoping that all he can see is the depths of my love shining through from my very soul.
“Knox. I willalwayschoose you.” I tell him as I lean in the rest of the way and touch my lips to his.
I press once.
Twice.
By the third touch of our lips, he’s taking over. Sealing his mouth over mine, his tongue licking at the seam, begging for entrance. I open of course, giving myself over completely to him. His hands are in my hair, my head angled this way and that, as he fuses us together.
His hands trail down my arms and over my ribcage until he’s palming my ass and then without warning, he stands, hiking me out of the water.
I squeal and wrap my legs around his waist as he steps out onto the bathmat so he doesn’t slip.
He carries me across the room and into the shower, where he turns on the water, the initial stream freezing cold, making me yelp again. He fiddles with the tap and then pushes me flush against the tiled wall.
The water heats in mere seconds, and soon the steam is billowing around us in hot clouds, my hair plastered to my head, Knox kissing me reverently.
With one arm holding my butt up, the other traces the lines of my face until his fingers find my throat and squeeze. My core pulls tight and my hips jerk. He presses his pelvis into me hard, pinning me between him and the wall.
“You listen good.” His eyes blaze with fire as speaks, “The life that you deserve is right here for the taking. Love. Family. Friendship. A job you’re really good at and this apartment…” he squeezes again, and my eyes roll into the back of my head when his perfectly timed thumb slips roughly inside me.
“You’re exactly where you should be. In this city, in this apartment, in my arms. You’re mine and I will never,everlet you go again.”
I try to speak but can’t, so nod my agreement. He swirls his thumb against my inside walls, the sensation working me up until I’m clawing at his shoulders. His slick fingertip tapping at my other entrance until it gives way and he slips inside there too.
We both groan and I writhe against his hand.