Page 19 of Knox (Comeback Duet #2)

CREW

I couldn’t stop smiling through that whole series. Sweeping Atlanta was the start we needed, but having Grady in the stands kept me happy.

Each time I stepped out of the dugout and jogged toward the plate, I spotted him waving from the seats, wearing my jersey and a cap pulled low over his hair.

His face would light up every time he saw me.

When I waited in the on-deck circle, he’d climbed up on the seat, cheering his little head off.

I couldn’t hear a thing over the crowd, but seeing him with my jersey on made me feel so lucky.

I wanted more of it, but after the final game in the homestand, Knox and I boarded a flight to Chicago with the rest of the guys.

Knox wheeled his suitcase into our hotel room and parked it by the bed.

I placed mine near the TV. The hotels were always top-notch, but having stayed in so many of them, they all blurred together.

Like most, this one had a king-sized bed under some piece of art that looked the same as every other hotel room I’d been in, thick curtains hiding floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city lights, and a couch that didn’t look like anyone ever used it.

“Think this one’s got an overpriced steakhouse downstairs?” he wondered.

“That or something just as pricey.” I scratched the back of my head. “Might still go down there and order something—and not just room service. Let you pick up the bill,” I teased.

“That’s fine by me.” His mouth tugged up on one side. “I don’t mind treating my man to a big piece of meat.”

I grinned. “That sounded dirtier than you probably meant it.”

“Who says I didn’t mean it dirty?”

I snorted and rolled my shoulder, working through the usual tight spot that always settled in after too many days behind the plate.

Knox’s eyes followed the motion and he moved toward me. “You want me to work that out? Could have it feeling better in five minutes.”

“If you start on my shoulder, we’re not making it to dinner,” I teased.

He chuckled. “Wouldn’t hear me complain.”

“I know.” I cracked my neck and felt the pressure ease a little. It was nothing I couldn’t handle.

“Are you starving or want to stay up here a while?” He tugged on my T-shirt and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“I’m starving, but I should probably call Grady first, just in case we end up out late with the team.”

“Call him and then we’ll head down. I’ll text some of the guys and see if they want to join us.”

Nodding, I slid my phone from my pocket and video called Mallory as I took a seat on the couch. Knox got to work unpacking and taking his toiletry bag to the bathroom.

The moment the call connected, the screen lit up with Grady’s face so close I could barely see anything else. “Daddy! Did you see me today?”

“I saw you, bud. I saw you all weekend. You made sure of that.”

He laughed and leaned back just enough so I could see the grin on his face. “Oh right. But Archer kept putting his hat on me and it went over my eyes and I couldn’t see you sometimes.”

“That probably made you laugh though.”

“It did. And Mommy let me get popcorn again. I didn’t drop it this time.”

“That’s good. No more eating off the ground,” I half-scolded.

Grady’s eyebrows furrowed. “But it still woulda been fine.”

I let out a low breath that was almost a laugh. “Ew no. Not on the stadium floor. Only at home.”

Knox came and sat next to me and I angled the phone so we were both on screen. “Hey, G!” he greeted Grady.

“Hi, Knox!” My son beamed. “Did you hear me cheering for you?”

Knox smiled. “Yeah, I sure did. Think all that noise helped me get on base?”

Grady laughed. “Yeah! My throat feels weird now.”

“Bet it does.” Knox chuckled.

“You’re gonna call me tomorrow before your game, right?” Grady asked.

“Yeah. Always,” I assured him.

“Okay. Love you, Daddy. Love you, Knox!”

“Love you too, bud.”

“Love you too, G,” Knox said.

Grady gave us one more huge grin then the screen disconnected. He knew what the red button meant and he sure as shit used it when he was done with the call. I set my cell down on the table and leaned back into the couch, blowing out a breath.

Knox squeezed my knee. “He knows you’re there for him. Doesn’t matter if we’re in another city.”

“Yeah.” I ran my hands over my face. “I still want to be there more.”

“You keep showing up. That’s what counts.”

I nodded then pushed up off the couch. “Come on. I’m starving, and I want you as a nightcap.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Knox smirked as he stood.

We headed down to the restaurant, and it turned out it wasn’t a steakhouse after all. The hotel had some Italian place instead. We found a few of the guys already at a big table in the back. Turner, Ramos, Diaz, Jacobs, and Mejia were scattered around with drinks and menus, talking over each other.

Turner leaned back when he spotted us. “Look who finally decided to show. We figured you two were already upstairs breaking in the bed.”

Knox dropped into an empty chair. “That’s for later. Stratton’s gotta eat so he can keep up with me.”

“Bullshit,” I cut in as I sat next to him. “You’re the one who needs fuel for what’s coming after.”

Diaz laughed. “Just try to keep it down. My room’s next to yours, and some of us need our beauty sleep.”

“That’s your problem, Diaz. Sleep’s not fixing that face,” I jabbed playfully.

Jacobs leaned back in his chair. “Unreal. The rest of us are lucky to get a swipe right, and you two already have your night planned before we even order.”

“Not our fault we figured it out,” Knox shot back.

The waitress came by and we ordered. Mostly pastas and steaks, and since we were the only ones without drinks, Knox and I each ordered a beer.

When the check came, Knox handed over his credit card to pay for his food and mine.

Ramos let out a low laugh. “Look at that. Didn’t even make it to dessert.”

“We’re having dessert upstairs.” Knox winked.

I scooted back from the table. “Enjoy your lonely night, boys.”

We left them still laughing. As we headed for the elevators, Knox’s hand found the back of my neck.

Once the doors slid shut, Knox turned to me right away, crowding into my space.

His mouth hit mine, teeth catching my lip until I grunted.

He didn’t waste time, hands flat on my chest, urging me against the wall.

When he pulled back, he was reaching for his phone. “Hold still.”

I gave him a look. “You serious?”

“Yeah. I want this for The Loop. Let ‘em all see exactly who I’m taking upstairs.”

I huffed out a laugh but didn’t move. He lifted his phone and hit record. His hand slid up to my jaw, thumb hooking under my lip, and I looked right at the camera.

“Where are we going, baby?” he asked. His voice would also be on the recording, but only my face would be showing.

“Up to our hotel room.”

He panned the camera toward himself and winked as he said, “Damn right.”

He cut the video, typed something and then shoved the phone into his pocket.

We weren’t even at our floor yet and he kissed me again, rougher this time, his tongue sliding against mine.

One of his hands gripped the side of my neck, while the other pressed into my hip so our crotches rubbed against each other.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. We hurried out and once we were at our door, he fumbled for the key card from his pocket and then pushed me inside.

We didn’t make it far once the door shut.

I had him up against it a second later, my lips on his, my hands under his shirt.

He let out a low groan that went straight to my dick, then he helped me yank his shirt off over his head.

I moved him back, our mouths still going at it, until we hit the bathroom counter.

“Gotta have it your way tonight, huh?” He shot me a mock glare.

“Yeah. Not complaining, are you?”

“Hell no.”

I stripped us the rest of the way, then got the shower running hot.

He stepped in first, and then I got in behind him, squirted some shower gel into my hand, and worked it over his shoulders, down his back, then lower.

He rested his hands on the tile while I washed him, my hands dragging over his ass, spreading him open so I could work the soap everywhere .

He let out a little growl when my fingers slid over his hole.

“You like that?”

He nodded but I had other plans that didn’t only include my hands.

I nudged him into the full spray and let the water rinse him off as I watched all of the suds slide down his body. My gaze zeroed in on his erection that matched mine, and my mouth wanted to taste him for dessert, but not where he was hard.

“Your turn.” He got a few pumps of the shower gel and I started to protest but then stopped when his slick hands glided down my chest, my stomach, and then wrapped around my dick long enough I had to step back and rest on the wall for support.

He didn’t hide the grin and kept going, stroking me just the way I liked, and running his thumb over my tip.

“I could jerk you for hours just to see how wrecked you get from my hands on your cock,” he said, his voice low, his eyes watching me the whole time.

“Yeah? You think that’s how this is gonna go?”

He narrowed his eyes playfully and then gave me one more long stroke before he let go.

“Turn around,” I told him.

Knox didn’t argue. He turned to face the wall, braced his hands on the tile, and spread his legs. Water dripped from each of us as I dropped to my knees, yanked his hips back just enough to lean in, and dragged my tongue across him. His shoulders tensed as a rough noise tore out of him.

“Fuck,” he panted.

“Hold still.”

“Not easy when you’re doing that.”

I didn’t stop. Instead, I took my time, kept my hands locked on his sides while I worked him over with my mouth. He rocked back into me, and his legs started to shake when my tongue went deeper. When I finally pulled back, he was breathing hard, his forehead resting against the wall.

I quickly got the silicone-based lube from his bag near the sink, squirted some onto my fingers, and then slid two in.

He let out a string of curses that didn’t stop.

I worked him open slowly, added another, and stretched him until he was more than ready.

Once he was loose enough, I slicked my hand again, stroking myself until I was as ready as he was.

I lined up, then slid in inch by inch until I was buried to the hilt.

His head dropped forward and a deep moan rumbled out of him. “Fuck, yeah. Just like that,” he panted.

I paused as he clenched around me, then I started to move. Each push back ended with me driving in hard, setting a pace that made his shoulders tighten and his hands slide slightly on the wall.

“Always so tight for me,” I gritted out.

“Yeah, but stop holding back.”

I drove into him harder, the sound of skin meeting skin echoing off the tile. Knox pressed back against me, matching every thrust, his breath catching each time I sank balls deep.

“Yeah, take it,” I muttered, grip tightening.

“Don’t stop,” he managed, breathless.

I kept at it, slow then faster, pumping into him until I felt myself get close. I reached around, wrapped my hand around him and stroked him in time with my thrusts.

He let out a groan that filled the small space when he came, his body tensing under my hands. That sent me right over the edge. I drove in one last time, growled low, and spilled inside him.

We stayed like that for a moment, the water raining over us, both catching our breath. When I finally eased back, he turned and leaned into me, his mouth finding mine for a messy kiss.

“Worth skipping dessert for,” he said against my lips.

I smirked. “Pretty sure you were dessert.”

He let out a small laugh. “Now it’s my turn.”