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“Those,” he says, with an amused grin, “are outstanding. No, just… I totally bought that you were a guy. Never crossed my mind.”

“It’s not like we were around each other much,” I say. “Not like Royer. He seems clueless.”

God, I hope he is or this whole thing is for nothing.

“He’s got a one-track mind right now. Well, maybe two. The gauntlet and shoving his cock into warm pussy. That’s it.” I make a face and he shrugs. “I know he hurt you and obviously it was enough for you to come up with this crazy scheme. But if you thought you ever saw a good guy in Royer, you were fooling yourself. That guy is a supreme prick. One of my best friends, but when he gets focused on something destructive, there’s no stopping him.”

“And that’s why you’ve agreed to work with Miller to take him down?”

He stands and moves to the edge of the tub. My heartrate had finally slowed with the warm bath, but it kicks back into gear with him so close. He reaches over my head and grabs a bottle of shampoo.

“I love Royer, but Miller’s right. He’s out of control and he’s going to bring down this frat.” I hear the sound of him squeezing shampoo from the bottle and then the press of his fingertips as he starts massaging my scalp. “That stunt today with the paddle? He’s lucky it was you. Anyone else would have gone running to the council and burned us to the ground. We’re already on thin ice, but he doesn’t give a shit. He’s more focused on his vendettas than anything else.”

His hands are big and feel so good. The tension in my shoulders and neck slowly unwinds.

“So what happens next?” I ask. “Royer gets kicked out and you and Miller take over?”

I haven’t asked for a lot of details. It would only make me look suspicious. Also, it doesn’t matter to me. My plan isn’t to save Miller or anyone else. It’s to bring down the whole house.

“I’m not sure, but Miller is the smartest son of a bitch I’ve ever met.” His hands move down my neck, rubbing circles with his thumbs. “Whatever you think you have on him? He’s got double.”

A chill runs up my spin. It could be from Knox’s firm touch or the cooling of the water, but I know better. No one knows about Miller’s involvement but me, and now Knox. I never told Grayson. For some insane reason, I protected him, which means that he possibly has the upper hand.Why? Why did I do that?

Knox’s hands travel down to my shoulders, fingers pushing into the upper part of my chest. The movement causes my breasts to bob in the water, nipples cresting the surface of the water before dipping back under again. The peaks are pebbled, hard and erect from the cool air and Knox’s strong touch. His wet fingers trail under my chin, tilting my face upward. I open my eyes, looking into his bold green ones. He thumbs my bottom lip, parting my mouth before bending and brushing his lips across mine.

“Jesus,” he says, “you’re sexy as fuck, you know that?”

There’s no response to that, and he doesn’t seem to expect one, kissing me again and dipping his hand under the water to cup my breast. His fingers discover my nipples, tugging and twisting the firm flesh. My back arches, heat building in my belly. I shouldn’t want this—or him—but my body never does what my mind wants.

Knox pulls away with a sigh, dragging his hand out of the water. “As much as I want to, I need to stop.”

I try to calm my breathing. “Why?”

“I didn’t clear it with Miller.”

I blink. “That was for real?”

“I promised him. He told me to take care of you. He didn’t tell me to kiss you.” His eyes dart to my tits. “Or touch you like that.”

“Oh.” I slide back to a sitting position. “Okay.”

He leans over, dropping his hand into the water at the end of the tub. The drain gurgles and bubbles under the surface. “Once this is empty, take a rinse off shower. I’ll send a goat to get your things from the barn.”

“Right.” My skin burns and not just from the water. I feel it inside and out. “Thank you.”

He stands. “This will be over soon. Tonight’s the last night. From there, we’ll figure out what we’re going to do with you.”

He exits the bathroom, leaving me in the draining water. I pull my knees to my chest, feeling lost and confused. I thought I was in control of this, that I was the one with the power, but what Knox said about Miller is terrifying.

What if he has one up on me and Grayson? What if all of this has been for nothing?

One thing is for sure, after tonight we’ll know. I just don’t know who will come out on top.

26

Reagan

Clean and in fresh clothes, I curl up on Knox’s bed while he works on his laptop. I feel better since my bath, my muscles loose and the sensation in my backside less raw. I shouldn’t feel comfortable with this man—not after what transpired earlier in the day, but I’m too worn out to fight anymore. After tonight everything will be over, and I can move on with my life. I pull the blanket over my shoulders and drift off to the steady tapping of Knox’s fingers on the keyboard.