Page 6 of Knox (Comeback Duet #2)

CREW

I hadn’t slept a wink. I had closed my eyes a few times, but I felt as though all I’d done was stare up at the dark ceiling all night.

Knox’s arm stayed around me for most of the night, and I remained frozen under it as my mind continually looped the same images and thoughts: Mallory’s face. The ventilator. The what-ifs.

I shifted slightly, and Knox moved closer behind me. He kissed my bare shoulder, and I let out a small, relaxed exhale. His hand slipped inside the waistband of my boxers, and a second later he fisted my cock.

I blew out a breath as he slowly rubbed, my dick hardening under his touch. His lips brushed along my neck, lingering near my jaw, and I knew where things were going.

I didn’t stop him.

Every stroke was slow and controlled, and I could feel him hard behind me, but he didn’t chase his own release.

He seemed to know this wasn’t about him, that I needed to fall apart first. It was clear to him that I needed to forget about everything except what was happening in this room, even if it was only for a small amount of time.

The pressure built gradually, and soon my hips started to move on their own.

I groaned and pushed back into him, rubbing my ass against his length.

He kissed the edge of my jaw and then let go of me.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he was already sliding down the bed, dragging the covers with him.

In an instant, my boxers were around my ankles, and his mouth was wrapped around the head of my cock as he sucked me deep.

I swallowed hard, my back lifting off the mattress. My thighs trembled. My breath hitched. He moved like he wasn’t in a rush, like he could stay down there forever, like making me fall apart in his mouth was the only way to keep me from breaking down in tears.

He pulled back until only my crown rested on his tongue, then traced the underside before sinking down again.

He didn’t stop until I hit the back of his throat.

I clutched the sheets, staring at the ceiling as heat built low in my gut.

There was no teasing. No hesitation. Just focused, unrelenting hunger that made every part of me tighten.

His hand slipped beneath me to cradle my balls, and he worked me with just enough pressure to make my stomach clench and my hips shift forward.

He let me move, his throat flexing each time I pushed a little deeper.

Spit coated my shaft as he pulled off with a soft pop, then sealed his lips around me again like he couldn’t stay away.

A groan tore from my chest. I rocked forward, needing more.

My abs tightened. My dick pulsed. My whole body buzzed under the weight of everything building.

Then he moaned. The sound was rough and low, and it hit me hard, shooting straight through my spine.

I lost it.

“Fuck,” I breathed.

My body locked up as my release tore through me, each pulse spilling deep into his throat. He swallowed all of it, then licked me clean and pressed a kiss to the inside of my thigh.

I grabbed him by the back of the neck and dragged him up to me. His mouth crashed into mine, his lips slick with spit and cum. I kissed him hard, bit his bottom lip, and shoved my hand into his underwear.

My fingers wrapped around his hard length, and I yanked the waistband down just enough to free him. His cock hung heavy between us, dragging across my stomach, already leaking with pre-cum.

My mouth fucking watered.

We kicked our boxers off between kisses. He reached for the nightstand, yanked the drawer open, and passed me the lube without a word.

I slicked my fingers while he dropped onto his stomach, lifted his hips, and spread himself, while his head lay against the mattress. I knelt behind him, pressing my thumb to his hole and easing it in. He let out a low breath as his ass clenched around me.

One finger. Then two.

I took my time working him apart, curling my fingers until his hips jerked, and he was pushing back against my hand like he needed more.

“Stay quiet,” I warned.

He nodded, then reached back and spread himself wider.

I slicked my dick, lined up, and pushed in. He was tight, heat gripping me as I sank inside slowly, every squeeze drawing me deeper until I was all the way in.

With one hand locked on his hip, the other splayed across his lower back, I pulled out halfway and pushed back in, slow and deep, dragging it out just to feel him twitch around me. His body trembled, muscles tightening as he pressed back with a soft, instinctive roll of his hips.

A gasp slipped from his lips into the pillow.

I leaned in, my chest against his back, my breath warm at his ear. “Shh.”

He nodded again, a sharp pant catching in his throat as I set the pace—deep, grinding thrusts that rocked the bed beneath us.

I kissed the curve of his shoulder. Bit down to keep from making noise.

Then I gave him more.

Each snap of my hips slapped against him with too much sound. Skin on skin, breath on breath, the kind of rhythm that would echo if we weren’t careful. My cock throbbed inside him, the need to come building fast and brutal.

And still, he took it—every inch, every grind, every hungry shove, like he couldn’t get full enough.

I reached around and grabbed his shaft. He twitched in my hand, thick and already slick at the tip.

“You close?” I murmured against his neck.

“Yes,” he whispered, strained and shaky, his voice muffled by the pillow.

I kept the tempo steady, movements sharp and quiet, my hand stroking him in rhythm with my drives. The pressure climbed fast, biting at every nerve.

He came with a stifled gasp, his body jolting under mine, his release hot across the sheets.

I didn’t stop.

I kept moving, fucking him through it, chasing the edge while my jaw clenched to hold in the sounds trying to claw out of my throat. My balls drew tight. My stomach tightened.

One final thrust, and I came hard, spilling inside him as every muscle seized. I buried my face in the back of his neck, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.

He stayed beneath me, chest heaving, fingers twisted in the sheets.

I didn’t pull out.

I couldn’t. Not yet.

I stayed there, both of us trying to catch our breaths. The room was finally quiet again.

And for the first time in more than a day, my head wasn’t spinning.

But I knew better than to believe it would last.

I pulled out and rolled onto my back, wiping sweat from my face. My dick was wet with cum.

Knox climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom as I sat up and followed him. He jumped in the shower while I used a washcloth to clean up, and then I said, “I’ll make us coffee. Maybe get breakfast started before Grady wakes up.”

“Sounds good.”

Stepping into my boxers and sweats, I made my way to the kitchen. Grady was still fast asleep, but I knew he would be up soon.

I popped a pod into the Keurig and hit brew.

While it filled the first mug, I grabbed another and set it beside the machine for Knox.

While my coffee brewed, I thought about how this weekend was supposed to be about simple things with Grady, like taking him out, making memories, just having fun together.

While it would have still included us having Sunday breakfast with my son, I hated how it had really turned out.

Grabbing the waffle mix, I started the batter, taking sips of coffee in between. I heard Knox get out of the shower, so I started his coffee. A few minutes later, he walked into the kitchen, and Ihanded him his mug.He took it and leaned against the counter.

“I keep thinking ...” I hesitated and swallowed.“If she doesn’t make it, I’m done.”

His cup stilled at his lips. “Done?”

“I can’t play anymore. Not if she doesn’t come home. If Grady loses his mom, I can’t expect him to give up his dad for weeks at a time. I won’t do that to him.”

“Then don’t think that far ahead. Grady needs you here now. That’s what matters.”

I looked down at the mixture in front of me.

Knox set his coffee down. “You’re not thinking straight. You haven’t slept; you’ve barely eaten.” His voice stayed soft. “And she’s still alive.”

I didn’t say anything. Just kept stirring the batter that didn’t need to be stirred any longer.

“You’re talking about walking away from everything,” he continued, “but this isn’t the moment to decide anything. Not while you’re this raw.”

“I know.”

“She’s still fighting. So don’t bury her yet.”

“I’m not.” My voice cracked. “I just ... Everything feels upside down.”

“I know, but let’s just see what happens.”

He grabbed three plates from the cabinet and set them on the counter.

I poured the batter into the waffle iron and let it cook as Knox cut up strawberries.

When the waffles were done, I plated them and handed him one.

He took a bite right away. I forced myself to do the same, even though I couldn’t taste it.

“Grady’s gonna wake up soon,” I muttered. “What do I even say today if he asks when she’s coming home?”

“Tell him the truth. That the doctors are still helping her, and she’s resting.”

“What if she doesn’t get better?”

“Then we deal with that later.”

Right on cue, I heard the sound of small feet on the floor. I turned as Grady walked into the kitchen, sleep still clinging to his eyes. I crouched in front of him and brushed his hair back.

“Morning, buddy.” I kissed his head and lifted him onto the counter.

He yawned and rubbed his face. “Can we go to the park today?”

The question felt too normal. Too easy.

I let out a quiet breath. “Maybe. Let’s eat breakfast first.”

He blinked up at me. “Will Mommy come with us if she’s feeling better?”

Knox came to stand beside me, his hand resting between my shoulder blades.

“No, buddy. She’s still in the hospital because she needs more rest.”

Grady nodded, like that made sense. I wasn’t sure how long simple answers would hold.

After breakfast, Knox helped him get dressed while I lingered at the sink, staring out the kitchen window.

The thought of being around anyone felt impossible, but I knew the park would be empty this early.

And Grady needed it. Hell, I suppose I needed the fresh air too and to see my son have some fun.

We walked to the little park two blocks over. Grady ran ahead, hopping between sidewalk cracks and swinging Bunzy by the ears. I watched him, half-present, the rest of me trapped in a hospital room I couldn’t see.

Grady climbed the play structure and shouted for me to watch.

I forced a smile. Waved. Sat down on the bench and felt Knox settle beside me, his leg warm against mine.

I watched my son and wondered if this was what life would look like if I quit.

Just mornings like this—breakfast, the park, cartoons, trying to keep him entertained until dinner.

Maybe tee-ball in the fall. Trying to explain why the sky was blue or how birds flew. It would all be on me.

And maybe I could do it.

Maybe this would become the new routine. The new normal. Maybe I’d figure it out. One day at a time. Just me and Grady.

But not with Knox.

He wasn’t in that version. Not because I didn’t want him there, but because I could never ask him to give up the game.

Maybe we’d still be together, and make it work despite the distance. Plenty of guys in the league made it work, so why couldn’t we?

But this wasn’t supposed to be his life.

He hadn’t signed up for tee-ball practices and school drop-offs, and watching my son while I was at the hospital, hoping Grady’s mom pulled through.

And I couldn’t ask him to stay.

Once we got back home, I followed Grady to his room while Knox stayed behind in the kitchen to rinse out Grady’s cup and load a few dishes into the dishwasher.

I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the floor.

I used to think baseball was the only thing I couldn’t live without.

Then Grady showed up in my life.

Now Mallory was lying in a hospital bed, and every second that passed felt like it might be the one when the phone rang and nothing would ever be the same.

If that happened, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to step back behind the plate again.