It’s late. The clock in the pool house living room reads after midnight. My parents have been here for a few hours, but due to their busy schedules all week, they turned in early with the other older couples who showed up to spend time with Mr. Steele. For the most part, they’ve left Knox and me to ourselves, which I appreciate.

It’s only Mom who’s been giving me some strange vibes. She consistently nudges my arm or winks at me when she thinks no one else is looking. I pulled her aside to get to the bottom of it, but all I got from her was a reiteration of how excited she was that Knox and I are hitting it off. I’ve made it clear to her that we’re friends and nothing more, but maybe I need to be more convincing. If turning into a convincing liar is possible at this late stage of the game.

I still can’t believe that I told Knox about wanting more last night. By more, I meant something physical, not a relationship or anything that’ll lead to heartache. Though I’m not built like a man. I can’t fuck and move on. I’ve done a good job so far of avoiding another fuck session with Knox, but that doesn’t mean I’m heartless. It’s actually the opposite. One time with him and I was addicted. I figure that postponing round two for as long as possible will allow me not to become totally hooked on this man. There’s no universe where being the crazy stalker chick is a good look on a woman.

“Tired yet?” Knox asks from his deck chair right beside mine.

“Not really.” We’ve been looking out past the infinity pool, watching the high tide as tall waves crash down on the surf. From the angle where we sit, a stretch of shoreline and other mansions are in view. The Fourth of July isn’t until Sunday, but one of the homes over there have kicked off the celebrations early with a breathtaking display of fireworks that fill that section of night sky. “It’s so lovely out here. I’m not ready to turn in yet. How about you?”

He lifts an ice-cold beer to his lips and take a long sip. “I’m good right here. Do you want a drink or anything?”

I hug my shoulders and shake my head. “Nah, I’m fine.”

“Are you hungry? You barely ate at dinner.”

“I’m good. My appetite’s out of whack from fighting the cold, I think.”

“Okay good. I was starting to think you were on a diet or something. You’re way too tiny as it is to be on a diet.”

“No, I’m not on any diet. I’m good. A little chilly, but good.”

He reaches a hand over to me and rests it on my shoulder. “Christ, your fucking shivering. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Before I can answer, he jumps up and goes inside for a minute, returning with a blanket. “Here you go.” Shaking it open, he covers me with it, but I soon realize it’s wool and shove it off of me.

“You forgot that I’m allergic to wool,” I tell him.

“Shit. Sorry.” He picks it up off the textured concrete floor beside the pool and takes it back inside. This time he returns with one of his blue on white striped cotton office shirts, holding it up for me to look at it first. “How’s this?”

“Sure. That works,” I tell him and slip my arms into the sleeves.

“Do you need allergy meds or anything?”

“No no. The blanket wasn’t in contact with my skin long enough to do any damage.”

“Thank fuck for that.” He sits in his deck chair. It’s one of those double wide ones, big enough for two people to sit side by side. “Are you good now?” he asks, reaching over to me again, but his timing is off, and his palm touches my shoulder just as I give off a brief full-body shudder. “Shit, Belle. You’re still shivering.”

“It’s not so bad.”

“Like hell it is.” He extends his hand to me, palm facing up. “Get over here, you.”

I put my hand in his and he guides me over to stand between his legs, pulling me into his lap.

“There’s enough room for me next to you,” I say and point to the empty space at his side.

“Yeah, well you’ll be warmer if I hold onto you… like this.” He puts his widened palm on my back and lowers my torso onto his chest. His body is so warm from all the rippling muscle mass of his broad chest and thick, muscular thighs. Hell, even his groin is hot. I try to ignore the fact that my ass is curved snugly into his hips, his thick erection hard between our bodies. My head comes to rest on his shoulder. “Better?” he asks, running his palm down from the base of my neck to my tailbone, and back up again.

“Yes. You’re so hot,” I say jokingly, and hope he doesn’t take it to mean anything sexual.

“Don’t ever forget it,” he retorts lightheartedly, and places his other hand on my outer thigh, rubbing along its length to warm me up some more.

My eyelids start to feel heavy and each breath I take is deeper, slower. With my palm resting on one side of his chest, I look up at his face for a moment to find him lowering his face toward me. His mouth covers mine. Again, his touch is so gentle, so warm and welcoming, and he takes his time.

He cups the back of my head with his hand that was on my back, pressing my mouth harder onto his. What was a soft kiss turns searing hot and demanding as his tongue breaches my lips, burying so far into my mouth that I feel the stubble of his beard on the skin along my chin. I moan into his kiss, and my hand fists his t-shirt. I turn so that my breasts can feel the heat of his chest through our clothes, which I start to hate because they keep us too far apart. I’m desperately in need of more of his skin against mine.

Knox pulls my legs out from between his and turns me to straddle him. His hands grip each of my ass cheeks and I start to roll my hips, grinding my center along his hardness to ease the growing ache between my legs. My arms wrap around his neck as we continue to kiss so deeply that I can picture him fucking me with the same pace and ferocity. I want to know how rough he can get. I want to feel him invading me, overfilling me, owning me.

With his hands on my ass, he leans forward and lifts himself to stand. I wrap my legs around his waist and lock my ankles at his back as he turns and heads inside, all while our lips are still connected. He carries me inside, walking me to his bedroom where I’m staying, but as he lowers me into bed, covering me with his big, warm body, there’s a loud buzzing sound from a spot beside the dimmer switch.

“Fuck,” he groans and looks over at what I see now is an intercom. “That must be Pops. I should go check on him, just in case.”

“Hurry back,” I whisper, kissing his neck.

He pulls the covers over me and presses a kiss on my forehead. “I will.”

After he leaves, I sink further under the covers and close my eyes for what feels like only a minute. When I blink again, I feel his strong arms around me, his chest at my back and his hips at the back of my thighs. His breathing is heavy and drawn out. Then I hear a gentle snore and I smile. He’s asleep.

The heat from his body makes me so cozy. It’s like being wrapped up under warm blankets in front of a fireplace. This time, when my eyes close, I let the soft sounds coming from him pull me to a restful sleep.