And Knox leaves me feeling warm all over. Forget Bryan. He lost out when he tossed me away like yesterday’s trash.
Best thing that could’ve ever happened to me.
THIRTY-TWO
KNOX
The momentI see Joanna in that dress, I swear I almost swallow my tongue.
It’s dark red with long sleeves and covers her almost completely, save for the circle cut-outs on either side, right at rib level, revealing smooth, soft skin. She can’t wear a bra with those cut-outs and my gaze drops to her tits, where I can just make out her nipples straining against the fabric.
Shit.
The skirt is short and she’s wearing boots that hit right below the knee.
Double shit.
“Hi.” Her smile is confident, her gaze sending me a secret message that says,I know I’m destroying you with this dress and that was my plan all along because I’m an evil queen.
“You look…” My brain can’t find the right word to describe her.
“You like the dress?” She turns in a circle, offering me a quick view of her ass and the way the fabric clings to it.
“It’s—hot.” I’m literally breaking out in a sweat the longer I stare at her.
She laughs, and it’s the type of laugh a woman makes when she knows she’s got a man wrapped around her finger.
Does she realize how much she’s got me? I’m whipped. It’s true. I’m one hundred percent whipped for this woman.
“You’re beautiful.” I sling my arm around her waist and pull her into me, depositing a hot kiss to her glossy lips.
“Thank you. You look…amazing.” She rests her hand on my dark gray button-down that I paired with black trousers. “I love that we’re so dressed up.”
We’re usually hanging out at my apartment in sweats or naked, so this is a big change. “I wanted to take you out. You deserve it.”
“And what did I do to deserve this?” Her eyes are dancing and I can’t help myself—I kiss her again.
She exists. That’s why she deserves it. She makes my life a lot brighter, and I’m pretty sure she’s completely unaware of how much she matters to me. I need to show her. Tell her.
Starting tonight.
“Because you’ve been such a big help to me this semester,” I explain, which only counts for like, ten percent of my gratitude for her. “I got an A on my latest paper.”
A giant smile breaks out on her face and she reaches for me, her hands on my cheeks as she delivers a smacking kiss to my lips. “Oh my God, you did? I’m so proud of you.”
She’s helped me so much. I couldn’t get through this class without her.
I squeeze her waist, my fingers sliding through the cut-out, so I can touch her bare skin. “It’s all thanks to you.”
“You’re the one putting in the work.” She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes me tight, her mouth on my neck, delivering a quick kiss. “I’m so happy for you.”
My chest aches at her words, the way she feels pressed against me. I’m half tempted to walk her back into her bedroom and have my way with her, but our reservation is in fifteen minutes and it’ll take at least ten to drive to the restaurant.
“We should go,” I tell her and she pulls away from me reluctantly.
“Where are you taking me?” she asks once we’re in my car, heading to the restaurant.
“The Vintage. It’s a steakhouse.”