Page 27 of Within Shadows

Maeve

Knox steps forward and kneels, gripping my knees as he wrenches them apart and lifts, draping my legs over his shoulders.

He places one gentle kiss onto my clit, and I hold my breath.

With one hand, he scrapes his hand beneath my shirt and up my chest, pressing until I lie back.

His palm is over my heart, and I know he can feel the erratic beats.

Warm breath puffs out across me a moment before his tongue drags across my pussy, flicking at my clit in a way that makes my back arch off the bed.

“This is the paradise men search the world for, and you’re all mine,” Knox says breathlessly.

His tongue devours me, plunging inside before swirling over the sensitive bundle of nerves.

My hands slide through his long hair as I grip the strands at an almost punishing intensity.

Knox groans, the sound reverberating against me and stealing away any hesitation I may have had.

My body crests higher, closer to the release I’m craving, and he never falters or slows.

I clamp a hand over my mouth, trying to smother the sharp whimpers he draws from me, but Knox lurches up, snatching my wrist and pinning it to the bed.

“Don’t hide from me, Thalia. Those sounds are mine, and I want to hear you fucking sing for me.

” Backing his words, he plunges two fingers inside of me, curling them as he sucks on my clit.

I grip his hair tighter with one hand while digging the other into the sheets as I writhe beneath him, my orgasm ripping through me.

His name is a cry, a plea, and a prayer all in one as it tumbles from my lips.

Aftershocks make me twitch when he pulls free, the smug smile on his face hot enough to burn to my core. He makes a show of sucking his fingers clean while staring down at me with adoration and hunger.

“I could spend an eternity feasting on you, never once coming up for air.” He groans and leaps at me, his arms sliding beneath me as he rolls across the bed.

Before I can blink, I’m halfway across the bed, with Knox rubbing his throbbing cock against my clit.

He leans close, kissing me softly until I brush my tongue against his, and Knox shivers.

I roll my hips and grind against him as I bite his lip.

“I’m trying to hold back and take this slow, muse.” His voice is strained, and I smile, brushing my nose against his ear.

“What if I don’t want you to hold back?” I purr. Knox chuckles, gripping my hip with one hand as he lines himself up with me, slowly pushing inside of me. The burn of stretching around him makes me flinch and he stills, massaging my hip.

“Just keep breathing and relax. You’re doing so good,” he praises, and I swear, if I had a tail, it would be wagging. Knox reaches between us and presses against my clit, swirling his fingers as I rock my hips against him. The motion drives him deeper, and Knox hisses in a breath as I cry out.

“Please, Knox, I need you to move. Fuck me.” I bite out the words, borderline begging. He shakes his head but thrusts slowly, pushing deeper until his hips smack against my thighs.

“If I hurt you, or if you want to stop, our safe word is ‘shadow’,” he grits out, thrusting forward as he fights to hold my gaze, gripping my chin and forcing my head back.

I nod far too enthusiastically, and he smiles, kissing me with enough passion to take my breath away.

He pulls back, driving forward as his cock hits right where I need him.

My nails dig into his shoulders as I rock my hips, meeting every thrust that lands harder and faster than the last. Knox pounds into me, the pain now replaced with mind numbing pleasure that consumes me.

The smell of his shampoo, mixed with our sweat and musk, adds to the sensation, and when Knox moans, I nearly lose all control.

The sound is so primal and deep as I kiss and nip at his neck, needing to touch him in every way.

He slides an arm behind my back, raising my hips until my legs lock around him.

Stars burst behind my eyes as I scream his name, my climax hitting with the force of a tidal wave against my body.

Knox slams into me, prolonging every wave until I’m whimpering and lax.

He pulls out, stroking his cock as his cum shoots across my belly and chest while I struggle to catch my breath.

Once he finishes, Knox drops to the bed next to me, peppering my face with kisses.

I push him away, giggling as he jogs to the bathroom.

My eyes lock onto his perfect ass that bounces with every step, and I have the overwhelming urge to leave my bite mark on it.

Knox stops in the door and turns, glaring at me as if he can read my mind.

“You were checking out my ass, weren’t you?” He tsks, shaking his head as he disappears inside.

“A cake that beautiful needs to be admired,” I retort. He walks back, and this time I can’t take my eyes off the perfect cock that bounces, as if beckoning me to it.

“I must not have done a very good job, because you don’t look satiated,” Knox says as he carefully cleans me up and tosses the towel at the hamper by the door.

He pulls the blankets out from under me and lies down, dragging me until I’m draped over him.

My vagina nearly seals herself shut and basically hangs a ‘do not disturb’ sign.

“I think you may have broken my pussy. Honestly, I'm not sure any other dick can compete.” I sigh, and he tenses up, holding his breath. Knox grabs my chin and forces me to meet his intense gaze.

“No other cock can compete, because you will only be taking mine from now on. Now, if your pussy is sore, maybe I should kiss it better. And remind you who you belong to.” His voice trails off as he drags his tongue over his lips. I tighten my legs around his hips and widen my eyes.

“I’m all yours, no need, or my clit might just fall off.

” I’m only half joking, and Knox cracks a smile, wrapping his arm around me as we settle into bed.

Being wrapped in his embrace, thoroughly satisfied and knowing that I am safe, is a feeling I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to.

But it’s something I’ll never take for granted.

Knox hums softly, and I drift off to the sound of that and his heart beating beneath my ear.

My throat is so dry that I struggle to swallow while I blink rapidly.

The room is dark and unfamiliar, disorienting to my sleep riddled brain as I stretch my aching body.

Knox grunts, his arm wrapped firmly around my breast as he sleeps against me.

My back is pressed to his chest, and he’s curled protectively around me, even as we sleep, and I smile into the darkness and bask in it for a minute.

My sore throat is protesting, and I know that I won’t be sleeping anytime soon.

Careful to not wake him, I slowly pry his arm away from my waist and slide out of the bed, digging through his closet until I find a shirt to wear.

It barely covers my backside but is better than nothing as I slip from the room.

The sound of my padding steps is almost too loud in the silent house, and I keep checking over my shoulder, on edge in an unfamiliar place.

It takes me three different tries to find the cabinet with cups, and I give a hmph of triumph as I snag a glass.

A flash from the woods has me leaning over the sink while I turn on the cold water. I frown and watch intently as my eyes strain until I see it again. A dim light cuts between the trees in the distance.

“What the fuck?” a man huffs from behind me. I whirl, screaming as I throw the glass at him, and he throws up an arm, the glass shattering against him. My feet slap on the floor as I run past him, but he snags my arm and shoves me backwards.

“Watch out,” he snarls.

“Thalia!” Knox shouts, his steps thunderous as he rushes towards us.

Buck. Ass. Naked.

The man in the kitchen flicks the light on, glaring back and forth between us as Knox shoves him aside to get to me. My racing heart takes a minute to recognize the grumpy giant standing with us as Al, and I immediately feel like an idiot.

“What did you do?” Knox snaps over his shoulder at Al as he gently lifts and sits me on the counter. I shove the shirt between my legs as I clamp them together, my face burning.

“Do you people have a problem with wearing pants? Fuck’s sake,” Al grumbles, stepping over the shards of glass to grab a broom and dustpan.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was you, let me clean it up.” I try to slide off the counter, but Knox stops me with a glare.

“You will stay right here. You’re bleeding.

” His voice is irritated, but also relieved that I’m not in imminent danger.

Knox is breathing hard through his gritted teeth, and I feel even worse.

The stinging in my foot chooses that moment to make itself known, and I hiss in a breath as he lifts my foot and prods at it.

“There is glass in your foot,” he sighs, pointing at me. “Don’t move.” He stomps away, sparing an angry look at Al.

“Didn’t mean to spook ya,” Al huffs, his way of apologizing.

“Don’t apologize, I should have turned the light on, but I didn’t know where the switch was and just needed a drink. I’m really sorry that I threw something at you.” I watch with guilt as he cleans up my mess.

“Tried to keep you from getting cut up, didn’t think I grabbed ya that hard. You alright?” he asks, nodding to the red mark on my arm. I brush my fingers over the welt and nod, embarrassment making my face burn hot.

“If that bruises, I’m leaving the same mark on your throat,” Knox warns him, and I roll my eyes.

Thankfully, Knox is now wearing a pair of boxers as he kneels in front of me, inspecting my foot and opening a first aid kit.

I glance back through the kitchen window, but with the light on, I can’t see anything outside.

“Looking for monsters?” Knox asks, raising a brow and brandishing a pair of tweezers. I flip my middle finger up at him, but when he tugs the glass from my foot, I grunt and grip the edge of the counter.

“That hurt,” I whine.

“Glass in the foot isn’t supposed to feel good,” Al mutters, walking past us to throw away the shattered pieces he cleaned up. When he’s done, he leans against the fridge and crosses his arms, still not looking at me.

“So you forgave him?” he asks, staring down at Knox.

“Well, I’m still a little pissed at him, but yes. I trust Knox.” I blow out a relieved breath as Knox sprays antiseptic on the cut and blows softly, easing the sting. He wraps a thin bandage over it and sits back, inspecting my foot before he nods in satisfaction at his work.

“I owe you twenty,” Al huffs. Knox smirks and shrugs, cleaning everything up and setting the first aid kit on the counter.

“Told you that my girl has no self-preservation instincts,” Knox says, kissing the side of my head, and rubs my thighs as he steps between them. I scramble, trying to keep myself covered, but Al keeps his gaze on the wall beside us.

“There’s a purring ball of fur in my bed.” Al picks a stray cat hair off of his chest with a raised brow, and I cringe.

“I’m sorry, we must not have brought him back to Knox's room,” I apologize.

“ Our room,” Knox corrects, and I roll my eyes.

“He’s fine, but he’s a bed hog,” Al chuckles, and I shake my head. Atticus really does have a way of wedging himself into everyone's heart.

“You scared the shit out of me, Maeve. Waking up to you gone from the bed and hearing you scream, I thought something had happened.” He bumps his forehead to mine, taking a deep breath. Al opens the fridge, tossing something over his shoulder that Knox catches without looking away from me.

“Bottled water is on the top shelf, terrible for the environment but beats having a glass lobbed at my head. Nice aim, by the way.” Al snorts, walking back towards his room. He stops, squinting at us over his shoulder.

“No fucking where we eat, and put some damn pants on when you leave your cave, animals. You’ll traumatize that cat,” Al basically growls in disgust, stomping away.

Knox grins, his fingers inching under my shirt as he pushes it higher.

He flips me over his shoulder, smacking my ass as he marches us towards his room, with me squealing and fighting every step.