Page 30 of WITSEC
Knox’s claim detonated me and I came screaming.
As I contracted around him, he slammed us together hard, burying himself deep inside me. He groaned as his cock swelled and his release spilled out of him. His hands slid up my back and he lifted me up to straddle him. The moment we were chest to chest, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held onto him as my soul returned to my body.
Chapter Ten
The soundof the bedroom door opening was what woke me. I thought it was Knox leaving or one of his brothers coming into the room. When I heard the sound of boots walking on the wood floor next, getting closer and closer to the side of the bed where I was lying, I knew I’d assumed wrong.
I opened my eyes and just barely could see a shadow standing over me. I knew who it was and fear made my body too heavy to move.
In the darkness, I faintly saw him reach for me before his hand wrapped around my throat. As soon as he began choking me, I was able to move my arms and I grabbed ahold of his arm to try to stop him. It was no use, though. I fought to suck in air, but none reached my lungs. I smacked, punched, and pushed at him to no avail.
Knox!I internally screamed for him. He was sound asleep next to me, completely unaware of what was happening. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, knowing that if Mr. X rendered me unconscious, he’d kill Knox next.
“You…are…” Mr. X leaned down, bringing us face to face. “Mine!” he roared over my mouth.
I’m not yours!I wanted to scream, but I could feel myself slipping away into nothingness.
I woke gasping for air. The room was full of light; it was morning.
An arm tightened around my middle, pulling me closer to a chest. Knox’s voice filled my ear. “I have you. You’re safe.”
I rolled over and buried my face in his bare chest.
His hand went to the back of my neck and began kneading it. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t dream about the night my family was killed anymore,” I said. “All I dream about is him finding us. In Arizona. Here. I fear losing the four of you more than anything and my nightmares have realized that.”
Knox was quiet for a while and if he hadn’t been massaging the back of my neck, I would have thought he’d fallen asleep. “I could make promises that I would do everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t hurt you again, but I think that would just stress you out.”
“You’re right. I’d rather protect you.”
He sighed. “My little control-freak-slash-hero.”
I leaned back to look up at him and he stared down at me with a tired smirk. “You’re my family, Knox,” I said. “You, Keelan, Colt, and Creed. The four of you are my family. I love you so much that I’d endure a lifetime of nightmares so long as the four of you were safe.”
His eyes became more awake the more I spoke. “Do you think that we don’t feel the same? That I don’t want to kill him for what he’s done to you?” His hand stopped massaging the backof my neck and instead just gripped me, holding me in place. “I’ve never felt this type of rage before you. The mere thought of anyone hurting you…” He trailed off with a clenched jaw. It clearly angered him just talking about it. “My need to protect you is just as great as yours. Never doubt that.”
I pushed on his shoulder until he rolled onto his back and I climbed on top of him. “I don’t doubt it.” Straddling his hips, I was reminded that we had fallen asleep naked last night, and I was currently sitting on what felt like a hard rod.
Knox gave me a little bit of déjà vu when he put an arm behind his head. Instead of just staring up at me, he reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I love you.”
Every thought, everything I’d planned on saying when I’d climbed on top of him, left my head. He hadn’t said that when he thought I’d been sleeping. He’d just told me that he loved me without fear, without shields, without pressure. He’d said it purely because that was what he felt and because he wanted to, and it was profound.
I leaned down and just before I kissed him, I said, “I know.”
The smile that stretched his mouth was almost too beautiful to ruin with a kiss. Almost. As I pressed my lips to his, I promised to myself that I’d find another reason to make him smile like that again.
When I left my room that morning, I felt lighter. I still hated my hair, and it was going to stay in a messy bun until I was able to change it, but it no longer gutted me to see it. As for everything else, I wasn’t as overwhelmed by it, or rather, thebreak Knox had given me had allowed me to recoup my mental and emotional strength to withstand my demons.
The thought of cooking breakfast didn’t seem like such a battle as I pulled things out of the fridge. Knox and I had skipped dinner last night. I was starving and I was sure he was as well.
The cabin was quiet, but it was fairly early in the morning. Keelan and the twins were probably still sleeping.
Knox and I worked quietly together in the kitchen. The delicious smells of coffee and food quickly filled the room, drawing Keelan out of bed first. I was currently mixing pancake batter at the island as he came out of the closest bedroom.
Yawning, he came to me and kissed the top of my head. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” Just as I said that, I got a really sharp cramp that made me grab the edge of the island and hunch over a little. I had started my period this morning at the most inconvenient and embarrassing time.