Page 25

She climbs into the bed and slides beneath the covers. I make quick work of pulling the shades and closing the curtains. After feeling my way through the dark room, I place my phone on the nightstand and take my spot next to her in bed. “Corie?”

“Yeah.”

“Come here.” I roll to my side and open my arms for her. She comes easily, and I pull her close, tucking her into my chest. “Now we sleep.” My eyes are heavy, and I feel my body relax on the mattress. When her breathing evens out, I let myself drift off to sleep.

The blaring of my cell phone, at least I think it’s my cell phone, wakes me up. Carefully, I reach over and grab it, trying not to wake Corie, where she’s sleeping on my chest. I curse when I see Landry’s name on the screen.

“Hello.”

“What are you doing? Why are you whispering?”

“I was sleeping,” I blurt before I can think better of it.

“Shit. Are you sick? What’s wrong? What do you need? Did you go to the doctor or something?” he rattles on.

“No. I’m not sick. I just slept like shit last night.

I got up, did my workout, and decided to try and catch a few more hours of sleep.

” Corie shifts next to me, lifting her head.

I mouth “ Landry ,” and she nods. She tries to pull away from me, but I keep my arm locked tightly around her. “Did you need something?”

“I’m meeting up with Foster to do a workout. Wanted to see if you wanted to join us.”

“I’m proud of you both, but no. I’ve got mine in. I’m going back to sleep.”

“What are you doing later?” he asks.

“I’m not sure yet.” It’s not a lie. I don’t know exactly what I will be doing later, other than it will be with Corie.

“Well, hit me up if you want to meet up. I think we’re going to eat after.”

“Will do.”

“Glad you’re not sick. Later,” he says, and the line goes dead.

“What did he want?”

“He and Foster are going to work out and invited me to go with them.”

“Is that something you normally would have done?”

“Probably.”

“Even though you already worked out today?”

“Yep.”

“I can go.”

“No. I mean, if you need to or want to, then that's fine, but I’m not going to miss this time with you, Corie.”

“Knox, this is so damn risky.”

“I know it is. I also know that when I think about missing these moments with you, not getting to hold you or kiss you… I hate it.”

“I do like kissing you,” she says.

“Maybe we should test that theory.” Pushing her to her back, I hover over her as my lips mold with hers. Her hands reach up under my arms, and her nails dig into my back as I explore her mouth.

Seconds. Minutes. Hours…. I’m not sure how much time passes, but I know it’s not long enough. “Much better plan,” I say, kissing the tip of her nose.

“I hate that we’re lying to him, but there is so much at stake. When this is over, I don’t want you to have lost your best friend or have your job in jeopardy.”

“You trying to get rid of me already?” I ask. The thought of this ending doesn’t sit well with me, but I know we’re too new to think about that.

“No. Not at all.”

“We take this one day at a time. It’s important that we’re open and honest with each other. When it comes to a time when we’re ready to tell Landry and the rest of the world, we’ll make a plan and execute it.”

“Do you think that will happen?”

“I don’t know, Corie. I know that I don’t spend time with women like this.

I don’t let them into my home. Outside of my family and my housekeeper, you’re the first woman ever to be up here.

That doesn’t freak me out, not in the slightest. I know with you, you’re here for me.

You’re here for Knox, the man, not my career or the number of zeroes in my bank account. ”

“That’s the only reason for me to be here.”

“And you like my kisses.”

“That, too,” she agrees.

“If you want to stop, we can. I would never want you to be uncomfortable.” I move to my side and rest my palm against her cheek. “But, baby, that’s going to be hard for me. Really fucking hard. I like you far too much to give up without a fight.”

“You want to fight for me?” she asks. There’s awe in her voice, as if she can’t understand why I would say that.

“For us. For what we could be, yes, I do. What about you?”

“Yes. I feel guilty, but at the same time, it’s not enough for me to stop.

” She pauses. “I’ve been cheated on, as you know.

Not by a man I truly cared about, but we were exclusive.

That hits you in your feels even when you’re not in love with that person.

I never want to go through that again. So, when you decide we’re done, please just be honest with me. ”

“It’s just you and me, Corie girl. I promise you, there is no one else for me.

If that changes, you will be the first one to know.

Until then, let’s see where this takes us.

It could be a grand adventure we’ll look back on one day fondly, or it could be the greatest fucking part of our lives. We won’t know unless we try.”

“Knox?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m ready for more of those kisses you’re so good at.”

I laugh, the sound filling the room. “My pleasure, baby.”