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“I’m going!” I shot back through gritted teeth as I pushed myself harder than ever before.

With every repetition, each suicide burned more than the last; my legs screamed for mercy while my breath came in ragged gasps. But beneath all that pain lay a thrill—a wild rush—that pushed me forward into uncharted territory where nothing else mattered except proving myself to him… and maybe to me too.

I pushed through the last lap, my legs burning like they were on fire. Every stride felt heavier, each breath came in ragged gasps. Knox stood there, watching me with that cold intensity, silent and unmoving—like a goddamn executioner. It was brutal and relentless, but beneath the punishment, I could feel it. The desire. The control.

With every step I took, he was claiming me—reminding me that no matter what the team saw? I belonged to him. I wasn’t just another player; I was his focus, his obsession. And there was something electric about it that made my heart race faster than the drills.

As I finally collapsed onto the boards, sweat drenching my skin and exhaustion wrapping around me like a heavy blanket, I closed my eyes for a moment to catch my breath. But before I could find any semblance of relief, his shadow loomed over me.

I opened my eyes to see Knox towering above me, his expression fierce and unreadable. My heart pounded in response to his presence—his voice low and rough sent a shiver down my spine.

“You’re not going to that fucking bonfire,” he said, each word weighted with an authority that left no room for argument.

“What?” The word slipped from my lips before I could think better of it. Confusion mixed with indignation as I pushed myself up on one elbow, looking up at him.

Knox’s gaze narrowed, dark and unwavering. “You heard me.”

His posture was predatory—almost possessive—as if he was preparing to strike or maybe even devour me whole. The intensity of it stirred something deep within me.

“It’s just a bonfire,” I protested weakly, but even as I said it, doubt crept into my mind. Would being around Chris and the rest of the team really be worth the risk of losing this connection with Knox?

He stepped closer, invading my space as he leaned down slightly so we were eye-to-eye. “I said you're not going.”

His words hung in the air between us like an accusation—a reminder of everything at stake if I let myself slip away from him.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” I snapped, the words bursting from me like a dam breaking.

Knox leaned in, teeth gritted, his expression fierce. “The fuck I don’t.”

Fury bubbled up inside me, mixing with frustration and something else—something darker that made my pulse race. I pushed back against his intensity, trying to reclaim some of the control he seemed to steal away with every word. “It’s a cover. That’s what you wanted, right? No one suspects because I have Chris. Because I’m normal.”

His eyes narrowed, and the air between us thickened with tension. “Or would you rather everyone know I’m getting fucked on your desk?”

The heat of my own anger fueled my response, but as soon as I spoke those words, I could see the flicker of something in his gaze—possessiveness and a primal desire that sent shivers racing down my spine.

Knox grabbed my wrist, his grip tight but not rough—just enough to make me feel it. My breath caught as he leaned closer, his voice dropping low and dangerously intimate. “I don’t want you near him.”

His words hung heavy in the air, resonating deep within me as if he had pulled at an unseen thread tying together all my conflicting emotions. The fear of losing him battled with the guilt of lying to Chris, but beneath it all lay an undeniable need that left me raw and exposed.

I softened just a little under his gaze, my heart racing as the fight drained from me. “It protects you,” I murmured, almost against my will. “It protects us. You said you didn’t want to ruin me… This is how we keep it quiet.”

But even as I said those words, doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind—what kind of future was this? A hidden relationship built on deception? Would it always be like this? The thought twisted in my gut like a knife.

I looked into Knox's eyes and saw everything swirling within them—desire, anger, confusion—and wondered if he could see how desperately I wanted him even when everything about this felt wrong.

He exhaled, his breath a low growl that rumbled through the space between us. I could see the battle playing out in his eyes, the flicker of frustration and something darker simmering beneath the surface. He hated that I was right—about the protection, about everything. But I could feel it; this wasn’t just about keeping me safe anymore.

It was about possession.

As the tension hung in the air like an electric charge, our argument twisted and morphed into something rawer, more primal. The anger that had fueled our fight faded, leaving behind a heated awareness that crackled between us. Knox’s gaze dropped to my lips, and a thrill ran through me at the realization. He wanted me—just as badly as I wanted him.

This was what we did.

We destroyed each other with words, with heated exchanges that ignited fires within us. And then we took—took whatever we needed from one another, surrendering to a hunger that never seemed to fade. I watched as he moved closer, his breath brushing against my skin like a whisper of temptation.

My heart raced, every nerve ending alight with anticipation. This was dangerous territory—both of us on the edge of an abyss where nothing else mattered but each other. The way he loomed over me made me feel small and fierce all at once; I was trapped in a storm of desire and fear.

I licked my lips nervously, aware of how Knox’s eyes darkened at the movement. A shiver ran down my spine as his fingers curled around my wrist—a possessive grip that sent waves of heat flooding through me. He leaned in closer still, his voice dropping to a husky murmur.