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“No? What kind of words would they use?”

“These days? I don’t know, cold? Maybe even a little cut-off?” Her eyebrow creases and I slow the truck down as we inch into my driveway.

“It appears you have a very skewed idea of how people perceive you, Browning.” She scoots across the bench, and her fingers drag through my hair with a comforting touch. “Or maybe you’re projecting your own feelings onto how you think others see you.”

I love that she sees the person I used to be. The person I didn’t know I missed being. The person I was before I stopped having fun and deep or meaningful relationships. There’s a reason Dax, Liam and I got along so well. Somewhere along the way, when rugby started to really take over and I became obsessed, I shifted from fun, good-times Browning to serious, no jokes, complete determination Browning.

Without that obsession now, I should have been able to fall back to my old self, but I almost forget who that man is, and I’m not helping that by being so consumed with how other people perceive me now.

“Maybe you know me better than either of us realized, Nova.”

“I see you, Knox.” The soft skin of her fingers lightly brush the hairs at the nape of my neck as she pulls herself in closer to me. “I see a devoted son who cares about his parents and the life they’ve built. You’re a caring brother, albeit a little overprotective at times, but caring nonetheless. The hottest rugby coach,” she smiles and pulls the hairs at my neck to get me to look at her. “But more than just a coach of the sport, those kids have gained a confidant.” I let my head rest on the seat back as I stare at her in complete awe. “You’re a devoted friend. You should see the way you, Liam, and Dax all light up around each other. It’s contagious. Goofy as fuck, really. But contagious.” My throat constricts, clogging with emotion. Usually, when people talk about my good qualities, they’re accompanied by stats. I reach for her hip and pull her across my lap until she’s straddling me. The soft curves of her lips are illuminated only by the moonlight, but it’s more than enough to see how beautiful she is. “Andyou’ve helped me realize that maybe I want more than what I’ve been telling myself to.”

“Meaning?”

She bites the corner of her lips and I run my finger along it, pulling it out.

“I don’t know, when I’m in the kitchen here with your mom, everything about it just feels right. I’ve never given a lot of thought to doing the thing I love most as a career. I’ve always just considered it my safe space, but I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Seeing you be so passionate about something makes me think I could give it a go, too.”

My chest feels like it’s either going to implode or explode, either way. I know Taylor says she hasn’t felt pride, but lucky for her, I feel it enough for the both of us now.

“I know you still get hung up on what this town thinks of you since being home, and yeah, maybe you’re right. Maybe some people do only see you as this rugby star.” I cup her cheeks as she drops her forehead to mine and her fingers dig into my chest.

“But I see you, Knox. I see all of you.” Her lips press to the corner of mine softly. “And I like everything I see.”

Taylor

I foldthe towel back over the rack, the black cotton blending in with my fresh manicure. I take one last look at myself in the mirror. My cut-off ‘Ride the Cowboy’ T-shirt paired with my black lace boyshorts don’t hide much, but they still feel like some kind of armor to me.

I open the bathroom door but don’t make it more than one step when I spot a shirtless Knox sitting on the edge of his bed. Knox, covered in clothes, still has the body of a superhero. Knox without a shirt on? He has the body that would put a Greek god to shame.

My body heats as his eyes take inventory, trailing from my lips, over my nipples, past my stomach, pausing briefly between my legs, and then continuing all the way down to my toes. The intensity of his gaze burns straight to my chest, setting fire to the thumping organ that resides there.

“Taylor—” My name slips from his lips, but that deep guttural noise came from a place far in the back of his throat.

My bare feet pad soundlessly and quickly across the floor until I stand between his legs, cup the sides of his face, and press my lips on his. His hands squeeze the backs of mythighs, pulling me in closer to him as I wrap my arms around his neck and do the same. There isn’t a single inch of space between us, and yet I can’t seem to get close enough to him. I open my mouth, inviting him in so there can be even less space, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. The rough hairs of his beard are at odds against the softness of my hands, and I feel a slight sting in the backs of my legs where his fingers dig into my skin—I’m focusing on anything tangible to remind myself this is as close as we can possibly get, that there isn’t anything left.

Knox pulls back gently, trailing his hand up my body. His long, fingers rest against my neck and the palm of his hand splays across the top of my chest where he must be able to feel my out-of-control pulse. I use the moment to suck down any oxygen I can get, but pause when the intensity of his stare settles on me.

“For the record, I like everything I see in you, too.”

I shudder on an inhale but fall into him with a relieved exhale and it wasthat.It was those simple words,I like everything I see in you, toothat I needed to close any remaining space between us. It wasn’t physical, but emotional space I was holding.

I lean down, kissing him again, but softer this time. There isn’t any part of me that feels frantic or wants to hurry this time. His mouth slants over mine, claiming me, fully.

We stay like this for a few minutes, his hold around me never wavering—always solid and firm. Just like Knox.

His lips caress my own, and I feel it all the way down to my core. A mild throbbing pulses between my legs, and I drop down to my knees in front of him. My hands trail over the ridges and valleys of his stomach, down to the top of his dark jeans. The button is warm beneath my fingers, though tight from the way he’s straining against the unforgivingfabric. I take my time, carefully sliding his zipper down, and he helps me by sliding his pants down past his hips. When I reach my hand into his black briefs, I relish in the hiss that escapes him. One of his hands grips the sheets beneath him tightly while the other brushes the hair out of my face, gripping lightly at the back of my head, giving him an unobstructed view.

I pause, drinking him in. Knox is all man. His body is pure, undiluted power. There’s no other way to describe him. It’s as if he’s invincible, like nothing in the world could take him down. So when my hand wraps around his length and I set him free from his briefs, finding that pool of precum at his tip and his eyelids drop slightly, I feel unstoppable. This man is at my mercy. I dip my chin, running my tongue along the underside of his shaft. He’s warm and thick and rigid, and goes utterly still when I finally reach the end and lap up the salty liquid at his tip.

“Fuck.” His deep voice sends a wave of pleasure between my legs and I squeeze my thighs together, shifting slightly, trying to ease some of the pressure building there. My fingers don’t quite touch as I wrap them around the base of his cock and circle my tongue over his head in long lazy sweeps.

The air feels warm and thick around us, despite the cracked window letting in the cold night air. It’s similar to how my chest and core are melting, yet my skin is still able to pebble under his touch. I lower my mouth, taking in as much of him as I can until he hits the back of my throat and my free hand is digging into the top of his thigh. I look up at him, expecting his head to be dropped back, but his eyes pierce straight through me and I feel my own wetness start to drip between my thighs.

I lift and lower my mouth, sucking him greedily now, opening my throat and taking him further each time until myeyes begin to water and I gag. I wouldn’t say that I’m a prude by any means, but I would say I’ve always been kind of a selfish lover. My past sexual experiences have been about me and getting my needs met. Most men could cum in their pants with a quick game of pocket pool, so I never felt the need to go above and beyond. But with Knox, I don’t just want to please him. I want to bring him to his knees until he’s begging me, until he’s praying to whoever will listen to him, until he forgets his goddamn name. I want him to feel something he’s never felt before. And I want to be the one to give it to him.

The muscles in his jaw flex at the same time his hold on my hair tightens and he struggles to suppress a deep moan. The pressure between my legs is now unbearable but I don’t stop, my one hand still squeezing his leg so tight that I’m sure it will bruise, and the other continues to work in tandem with my mouth. I suck, feeling my cheeks hollow out one second, and the next, his hands are gripping my shoulders, and he’s pulled me off. I release him with a loud pop and then I’m standing in front of him again. My breaths are heavy when his rough hands move up my thighs, causing my nipples to grow vastly tight through my shirt.