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“That works for me.”
He turns, putting that biteable ass of his on display, and flips on the water. After adjusting the temperature, he pulls me in with him and we kiss beneath the spray. So languid and deep. Fog steams up the glass doors and I can’t stop running my hands over his wet, muscled body, so hot beneath my touch. I’m aboutto combust with need and desire suffuses me, making every nerve ending tingle. It’s electric.
Being with Knox is beyond exhilarating, and when he lifts me up, sliding his hands under my ass and pressing my back to the cool tiles, I feel the last bit of the wall around my heart crumble and collapse.
And I’m free.
Free to be myself, free to love this beautiful man and soar into the future with him.
My head drops back as he licks along my collarbone then trails his mouth downward to worship my breasts. I arch, offering more as he sucks and laves my taut nipples.
“I need you,” I rasp, nails digging into his muscled shoulders, circling my hips, trying to draw his cock inside my dripping pussy. I’ve never felt this kind of overwhelming need. One so powerful, so all-consuming, that I’m shaking.
Knox grips my hips, lifts me up and notches the head of his cock at my entrance. Our gazes lock—no condom—and he hesitates.
“I don’t want anything between us,” I say, urging him to do it. To fill me completely with no barrier.
It doesn’t take much convincing.
I slam down as he surges up, and our bodies connect fully. Nothing ever felt so right. The plan to go slow is short-lived as a wildness takes over, as we claim each other and exchange silent promises.
When he reaches between our bodies and begins rubbing my clit, I lose whatever control I’ve managed to hold. With a cry,I bite down on his shoulder and my inner muscles squeeze hard, rippling around his cock. His thrusts grow harder, faster, and then a groan rips from his throat as he spills his release.
“Damn, Sparrow,” he rasps, still lightly pumping. “So much for slow.”
He pulls back, grinning wickedly. Always so handsome and charming.
“I didn’t know you were a biter,” he teases, and I flush, lightly touching the red mark I left on his shoulder.
“I guess you bring out my wild side.” I press a soft kiss over the love bite.
“I like it. This is just the beginning,” he tells me. “I’m going to learn everything about you. The basic stuff like your birthday and middle name. Every one of your favorite things—favorite color, food, movie, song, book. Every. Single. Detail.”
“Every detail, huh? Like how many beauty marks I have?”
“So far, I’ve counted fifteen.” He starts dropping kisses on each one, and I laugh.
“What else do you want to know?” I love this side of him. Ernest, honest, boyish.
“Everything. Your dreams, desires, wishes, fears. The way you walk, talk, laugh, cry. I want it all. I want every little piece of you from top to bottom, inside and out.” He traces his thumb along my jaw, over my bottom lip. “What about you? What do you want?”
As I consider his question, I realize it’s been a long time since someone asked me what I want. “Ever since my dad died, I haven’t had a best friend,” I tell him softly. “We used to doeverything together, and I miss that. So, I’d like a man who can be my lover, but also my best friend.”
“I would love to be your best friend,” he says, and I’m not sure if it’s tears or the spray from the shower, but my eyes get misty.
Okay, so I’m crying.Big deal.
Knox tightens his embrace. “I love you, Hunter.”
I sniff and blink hard, scared my voice is going to crack when I answer back, “I love you, too.”
It comes out more like a choked whisper, though, and then Knox is kissing me, and I know I’m never letting this man go. And, best of all, I know he isn’t ever letting me go either.
Epilogue: Hunter
The following afternoon, we say goodbye to Ryland, Harper, Saint and Mia who are heading back to Cádiz. I’m going to miss Spain, but before we return to Denver, I fly the team to the French Riviera where Addie has set up a meeting to return the emerald to its rightful owner.
I’m not sure what to expect, but it certainly isn’t a real-life princess and her family’s stunning royal estate. It’s practically a castle and puts Torres’ mansion to shame. Princess Rosalie is a small, curvy blonde and insists we call her Rose. She exudes gratitude when Addie hands her the ginormous emerald and tells us it’s been in her family for generations.