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I reached out this time and settled my hand on his forearm. “Thank you for telling me.”
He nodded.
For a moment, we were silent, all our truths hanging between us.
He broke the silence, saying, “I understand if you don’t want someone with my past around your kids. I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “I hope my kids will become as honest and caring as you are when they grow up.”
He let out a soft breath, an amazed smile on his lips. “So where does that leave us? I know you’re worried and that we’ve only known each other a little while, but I care about you. I want to give us a shot.”
Just the idea of an “us” had nervous, excited bubbles fizzing inside me. But I was scared too. Because dating me wasn’t like dating a single, childfree woman my age. “You know, it’s not just me. It’s my kids too. We’re a package deal.”
His lips slid into an easy smile. “Which is why I got us four tickets for the Dallas Diamonds game tomorrow. Right in the front row.”
I gawked at him, something in my brain not registering. “What?”
He grinned even bigger. “Since you’re all such big fans of my brother, I want to take you to a game. If you can take Monday off, Ford offered for us to stay the night at his house. There’s plenty of extra bedrooms, and he even has a trampoline room I’d love to show Emily.”
Now my eyes were stinging. “Knox Madigan, you’re too good to us.”
He shook his head, pressing out of the chair, and drew me to his chest. We stood by my table, hugging, and it felt so warm and safe to be cocooned in his arms. But there was a heat too, feeling the strength of his torso, the muscles of his chest against my cheek.
All my emotions I’d been holding back for him came bubbling to the surface, and I tilted my head up to look at him. Our gazes held, and slowly, he lowered his lips to mine. What started slow quickly turned into an unstoppable kiss. I kissed him desperately, wanting to taste all of him, and he met every move of mine with one of his own.
It wasn’t fireworks.
It was a flame, consuming every one of my senses. My core burned with heat; my nipples ached with desire. I wanted him to take me to the bedroom and make me forget about this day, make me forget about everything except for him. I broke from the kiss long enough to say, “Knox... I need you.”
He stilled, and my heart immediately fell.
A horrified expression took over my face, and I stepped back. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, eyes darting about the room. I covered my mouth with my hands. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry. I know it’s too soon. I shouldn’t have—”
He stepped closer, silencing me with his hand over my tender lips. “Stop,” he said.
I looked up at him, searching for an answer. Had I ruined everything by moving too fast?
He let his hand go from my mouth, bringing his arms around me so my body was flush to his. So I could feel his hard length pressing against me.
“You feel that?” he asked, speaking into my ear, his voice rough.
I felt every inch of his arousal, intensifying every bit of my own. I nodded, lips parted.
“I want you so fucking much.” He ground his hips against me like he too was desperate for some form of release. “But not like this.”
My eyes fell, but he put the crook of his index finger under my chin, forcing my attention. “When this finally happens, your ex will be the furthest thing from your mind. All you’ll be thinking of is me and how good I make you feel.”
My throat felt dry as I swallowed, and I stepped back, nodding. Trying to gather my senses. But Knox Madigan was hard to ignore, towering in my kitchen, hard cock pressing against his jeans.
“I should probably take some time to... cool down,” he said.
I nodded. “I should get ready for our trip.” I swallowed. “Em will be so excited to watch a game in person.”
His lips lifted into a gentle smile, and then he gave me another kiss, chaste, like even he, with his steel willpower, couldn’t handle fanning the flames. “Goodnight, Larkin.”
I breathlessly told him the same and watched as he walked away from my house, imagining what it would be like when he fulfilled his promise.
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