Page 23 of Knox

Maybe he should just proceed and see what would happen?

But if that was the case, how could he explain the draw he felt toward Adrian?

Adrian didn’t need to be naked to tempt Knox.

"See anything you like?" the woman who’d greeted him at the door asked, cutting through his thoughts.

Knox was about to pick someone at random to get to the bottom of this mystery when he heard someone call his name.

Startled, he turned to see Adrian standing in the doorway, his face flushed, though it didn’t seem like he had been running. He marched up to Knox, ignoring the curious stares. "Whatever you need," he said with an air of determination that belied the nervous energy he radiated, "you can take it from me."

Knox blinked, caught off guard by the offer. "Adrian," he began, but Adrian cut him off.

"I mean it," the human insisted. "If it’s going to help you stop this Shadow King or whatever, then I’m willing to… to help."

"This isn’t a decision to make lightly," Knox said, stepping closer until they were mere inches apart. "You need to understand what you’re offering."

"I do understand," Adrian replied, his voice steady despite the flush spreading across his cheeks. "I’m not a kid. I know what I’m saying."

The woman standing behind Knox cleared her throat. "If you nerds are not here for business, you need to leave," she said sharply.

Knox nodded absently, his focus entirely on Adrian. He could feel the energy radiating from him, raw and potent, calling to him like a siren’s song. So different from the emptiness he sensed in the other humans.

Why?

Knox didn’t know, but he was hungry for it.

Chapter

Seven

Adrian’s fingers trembled as he booked a hotel room on his phone, standing just outside the brothel in the bright daylight. He barely glanced at the details, his mind focused on one thing—finding a place where he could be alone with Knox.

Knox’s hand rested on Adrian’s shoulder, the touch sending a shiver down his spine. "What are you doing?" Knox asked, looking at Adrian’s phone.

Adrian swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "Booking a hotel room. Nearby." The words came out in a rush.

Knox’s eyebrows rose, his storm-cloud gray eyes studying Adrian’s face intently. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Adrian nodded, but when he tried to speak, no words came out. His heart raced, pounding against his ribcage. Was he really going to do this? It seemed insane, and yet…

His phone vibrated, startling him. The booking confirmation had arrived in his inbox.

No turning back now.

He took a deep breath and met Knox’s gaze. "Come on," he said, his voice steadier than he felt. "The hotel’s just two blocks down the street."

As they walked, Adrian’s mind whirled with a thousand thoughts. What would it be like, being with Knox?

Adrian hadn’t been intimate with anyone in a long time. Not since Chris—and that hadn’t been enjoyable. And while Adrian was fairly sure that being with Knox wouldn’t be anything like being with his ex…

Chris had never been the problem.

The problem was Adrian himself.

Would Knox see that too?

Would he be disappointed?