Page 38 of Beautiful Lies

“But it’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t have to share a bed with you. I’m not one of your women.”

“You’re not supposed to be.” His expression hardens, menace flickering across his face. “This is about what works. So, that’s what we’re doing.”

“But—”

He cuts me off by pressing a finger to my lips. The look he gives me is firm and searing, enough to drain the fight right out of me. In that moment, I remember exactly who holds the power here and how easily I could lose everything if I don’t shut the hell up.

Knox studies me for a long moment, his finger still lingering just enough to make my pulse stumble. Then he lowers his hand, exhaling slowly through his nose.

“I need less of this.” His voice is low but sharp enough to cut. “Thistalking backthing you do. It won’t work with me. Especially when I’m tired and pissed as fuck I had to drive two hours out of my way to pick you up.”

The words land heavier than they should. Maybe it’s the exhaustion in his voice or the way he sayspick you up,like I’m a problem he had to solve. Either way, I swallow the retort forming on my tongue.

“It’s almost two in the morning,” he adds, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We need to go to bed.Now.”

His gaze never wavers as he steps back, giving me just enough space to breathe but not enough to escape. Then he motions toward the bed.

For a long moment, I just stare at him. My throat tightens, words sitting on the edge of my tongue that I don’t dare say. Because I know what’s at stake. So, I swallow them down and walk toward the bed, hating myself for how helpless I feel.

Behind me, Knox exhales, deep and measured, like he’s forcing himself to stay patient.

I move to the left side of the bed; he goes to the right.

When he pulls his shirt over his head, revealing a sculpted, muscular torso, a flock of swallows inked along his hip and a dark happy trail disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants, I look away.

But not before my treacherous brain registers —against my will— that for all his arrogance, Knox Vale is insanely gorgeous.Unfairly beautiful. And somehow that makes this entire situation worse.

Heat floods my face before I can stop it, my pulse kicking hard against my ribs.

While he strips down to his boxers, unveiling even more of what Mia called hisex-linebacker muscles, I take off my shoes, his jacket, and my yoga pants. I keep my shirt on and try to wriggle out of my bra beneath it, fumbling like an idiot. I usually sleep naked, but this is the closest I’ll get to that tonight.

He climbs into bed and fixes his gaze on me. When I glance up, he doesn’t bother to look away. The nerve of him.

My hands go still, the back of my neck prickling with heat.

I grab the nearest blanket just to have something between us, pretending I don’t feel the weight of his eyes tracking every move.

“Think the blanket can protect you from me?” There’s a smile in his voice.

“You will not touch me. Not even a little bit.” Finally, I look at him, and he holds up his hands.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Scout’s honor.”

“You weren’t a boy scout.”

He grins. “I’m saying it all the same.”

With a roll of my eyes, I climb onto the bed as carefully as if it might explode. The sheets are cool against my skin, soft in a way that screams money and comfort. It’s been years since I felt anything close to comfort. My old bed had springs popping out of the side of the mattress and was so old it squeaked.

I lie rigidly on my side, facing away from him, every muscle locked tight.

The mattress dips behind me as Knox shifts closer. The heat of his breath grazes my skin. “See? You survived.”

“Leave me alone.”

“Not yet, love. Not yet.”

Those words linger in the dark, curling through the silence like smoke. I try to breathe evenly, to pretend he isn’t there, but every nerve in my body is acutely aware of him. His presence, his warmth, hispower.