Page 54 of Off Pitch (New York Stars #1)

fifty-three

Knox

“If I have another piece of sushi, I might actually explode,” Harlow laughs.

I prop myself up on my elbow from where I’m lying while working off a food coma. “So, you don’t have room for dessert, Lo?”

“I can always find room for dessert.” She smiles, and I lightly chuckle.

“Thought so,” I say as I grab the white box tied up in gold string and set it between us.

I’ve learned over the past several months that she has a bit of a sweet tooth, so when she immediately leans over and unties the string, I can’t help but smile. It’s a small thing, but I love it when I can make her happy. Her joy is genuine, and it’s so damn contagious.

“Ooh,” she says, flipping the box open. “Chocolate-covered strawberries. Why’d you pick those?”

“So I can do this.” I grab one of the strawberries and bring it to her lips. Harlow opens her mouth and takes a bite.

“Mmm,” she moans. “That’s delicious chocolate.”

“I spared no expense tonight, baby.”

“Is that why we’re on the roof, then?” she asks, teasingly looking at me.

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” I smile.

“Fucking hilarious,” she laughs. “And you know you love it.”

Yes, I certainly do love it.

“In case you missed it then, Harlow…” I say, dragging out her name with a look of faux offense. “I want to be alone with you tonight.”

She leans closer to me, and I can smell the scent of her perfume. Heady with notes of citrus. Intoxicating . “Why’d you want me alone?”

God, that flirty tone always gets me. I’m an absolute sucker for her seduction. But I’m not sure I’ve earned that back yet.

“Because,” I say, gently tilting her chin so she’s looking into my eyes, “I don’t want to share you. You’re mine , remember?”

“I remember,” she replies softly. “I’m yours, Knox. I’ve been yours.”

“I’m yours, too, you know,” I admit. “I don’t want you to doubt that. I’m all fucking yours, Harlow.”

Her smile is disbelieving, but not in a negative way. In a way that seems more like she can’t believe that I mean that.

I sit up and bring her in closer, leaning her head on my shoulder as we sit and soak in the sounds of the city below us. The sun is already setting, and we have a great view of the sunset from this vantage point. The amber light shines off Harlow’s perfectly blonde hair, casting her in an ethereal glow.

She’s breathtaking .

Sitting with her like this is something I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to do again a month ago.

I nuzzle my face against her neck. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“Why are you thanking me?”

“Because,” I say, voice muffled by her hair, “I hurt you last month. You didn’t have to forgive me, but you did anyway.”

Harlow twists her head, now looking right at me and pressing her forehead against mine. “I know you didn’t want to hurt me. You’re a good man, Knox. I truly believe that. I couldn’t for one second believe that you said any of that out of malice.”

“Why do you think I said that then?”

“Fear,” she answers assuredly. “I’m the first woman you’ve gotten close to since Emily. It must have scared the hell out of you when I told you this didn’t feel fake to me anymore.”

I let out a breath. “I’m an open book to you, aren’t I?” She just smiles at me. “Lo, I know what I said last month, and I still regret it. Because it was a lie.”

“Was it?” She rests her hand on my thigh as I start tracing lines up her arm.

“Yes,” I admit. “I can’t remember the last time this felt fake. What I have with you feels more real than anything I’ve felt before. It terrified me, and I panicked. But as soon as you walked out my door, I knew it would be the biggest mistake of my fucking life letting you go. All I wanted was for you to talk to me again so I could prove that to you.”

“You didn’t have to tear your hamstring just to get me to talk to you again.” Her tone is playful, so I can’t help but laugh.

“It was partially torn,” I state. “And I sure as hell didn’t do that on purpose. I missed a month of the season. My mind was a mess, and my game suffered. But I wouldn’t do it differently even if I could. Having you around me again was everything I wanted.”

“It would’ve taken a bit more time if you weren’t injured, but I always would have forgiven you. I was hurt, but I still understood that you didn’t have the same feelings, and that was okay. I didn’t want to lose you forever. Maybe offering to stay with you full-time wasn’t the greatest idea, but go big or go home, right?”

We both chuckle before I press a soft kiss to her lips.

And another.

And then another.

I could kiss Harlow every minute for the rest of my life, and it would still never be enough.

“You know what I think we need right now?” I say, murmuring with my lips still brushing hers.

“What’s that?”

“Music. I may or may not have created a playlist specifically for tonight. It also may or may not be a bunch of… love songs.”

Harlow smiles brightly as the darkness grows deeper, the sun falling beyond the horizon. “You’re such a fucking romantic.”

I tickle her side as she squirms. “And you love it, don’t you?”

“Very much.”

I grab the portable speaker Stephen brought up from my penthouse, connect my phone, and bring up the playlist. Once I hit shuffle, Christina Perri’s soothing vocals start playing.

“I love this song,” she says happily. “I’ve always wanted to dance to this at my wedding one day.”

“Well, this isn’t your wedding, but we can still dance.”

I stand up and reach out my hand to help her. “You want to dance?” she asks incredulously.

“Having you pressed against me while I get to look into your eyes? Oh, I’m going to just hate that, Harlow.” She laughs as she stands up and wraps her arms around my neck.

I position my arms around her lower back and pull her close as we sway to the music.

“I know I’ve said it before,” she says, “but you’re not at all what I expected you to be, Knox. You’re so sweet and kind. I’m so happy I’ve gotten to know you.”

“Knowing you has been the greatest pleasure of my life, Harlow.”

I slowly spin her around as we dance, and my mind starts to wander.

To imagine things.

Things like doing this in the future with Harlow in a long, white dress.

A veil flowing behind her as she twirls with all our family and friends watching.

I’ve never envisioned anything like this with anybody else, and I never really considered myself marriage material.

But with Harlow? Well, maybe one day I actually could be.

And just like the first time I realized what all this means, I smile like a goddamn fool.

“What’s that smile for, Knox?” she asks, curiosity in her eyes.

“Just thinking,” I say, spinning her around again.

“Thinking of anything good then?”

“Well,” I reply, bringing her back in close, “I’m thinking of you, so I’d say it’s good.”

“So charming,” she says softly, looking up at me with an unmistakable look in her eyes.

Love .

I lean down to kiss her before we stop swaying, and I pull her against me with my arms wrapped low around her back.

“Harlow,” I say, “do you know how much you mean to me?”

“Yeah,” she replies with a soft smile. “I think I do.”

Just then, a breeze blows by, unobstructed by anything when we’re so high up. She shivers against me.

“Do you want to head inside, Lo?” I ask.

Harlow nods in response, and we walk off toward the elevator.

The descent on the elevator is quick since my penthouse is just one floor below. We could have taken the stairs, but I didn’t want her to trip in her heels.

When the elevator doors open, we take a few steps to my penthouse door and walk inside, closing the door behind us. As soon as it clicks, Harlow leans back against the wall, grabbing my shirt by the collar and bringing my mouth down to meet hers.

I return the kiss as she moves to drape her arms over my shoulders, and mine grab her low on her hips. I feel her tease her tongue lightly across my bottom lip, so I open it, and she slides inside. When she softly moans against my lips, any semblance of restraint I had snaps.

I kiss her harder, hands slowly roaming her body. She slides her hands down and begins to untuck my shirt, pulling it free from my slacks. Before she can start working the buttons at the front of my shirt, I grab her wrist, stopping her.

“Harlow,” I rasp.

She looks at me, mortified. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry! I just assumed-”

I cut her off. “Don’t you dare start thinking this is because I don’t want you, Lo.” Her expression eases. “I really fucking want you. But…“ I take a deep breath. “But I don’t know if I really deserve to have you.”

“Are you still hung up on last month?” she asks. “Obviously, you don’t think everything is fake anymore, or we wouldn’t be where we are now. I’m not worrying about what you said then because all that matters is right now. And right now, I just want to be with you, Knox.”

I softly smile. “That’s all I want, Harlow. To be with you. Actually be with you.”

Her smile is so bright that even the sun can’t compare. “You want to be with me?”

“Yes,” I reply, brushing her hair out of her face. “More than anything. I want to be able to call you my girlfriend and for it to actually mean something. I want you to be mine.”

“I am yours, Knox,” she says before pressing her soft lips against mine again. “I’ve been yours. And if you’re asking me to be your real girlfriend, not just your fake one, that’s a very easy yes.”

This time, I kiss her , letting my emotions take control and convey everything I’m feeling. But even if actions speak louder than words, sometimes you need those words of affirmation to truly get the point across.

“Harlow,” I say, resting my forehead against hers and staring into the blue abyss of my girlfriend’s eyes. “You are everything I want, everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m sorry that it took me a bit to see that. But there’s no mistaking it now. How I feel about you is unlike anything I’ve felt before.”

“And how do you feel then?” she asks, her smile lighting up her face with understanding.

I press one more kiss to her lips.

“I love you, Harlow.”