Page 60 of Dark Verse

This man’s mouth is about to get me in trouble if I’m not careful.

“You eat. I shower,” I say firmly, at last breaking our embrace.

My body protests, wanting to stay pressed against him, but I force my feet to carry me down the hallway and into the bedroom first to grab some clothes before I head into the bathroom. I ignore the ache between my legs, needing to keep my shower as short as possible. Damn, I really lost track of time this morning. I run through the rest of my morning routine as quickly as possible, doing my makeup and getting dressed in record time.

I check my phone as I head back down the hallway to the main living spaces. My second bus will be at the stop in twenty minutes. If I miss that one, I’ll be late.

When I come back into the space, I see that Knox has put his clothes back on from last night. He’s by the window, gazing out onto the landscape, looking completely devastating standing there in all black, sipping from one of the drinks.

“You look beautiful, Venny.”

“Thanks.” I almost unconsciously run my hands over my clothes.

“I cut everything in half. I didn’t know which one you would prefer.”

I see what he’s speaking about. On a plate on the counter, I see that every pastry I brought back has been neatly cut in half.

“No preferences. I didn’t get this big ass cause I’m a picky eater,” I smile, giving my left cheek a slap.

“I like your big ass. Oh shit,” he says suddenly, “Can I say big ass?”

“I think you just did.”

We both laugh, taking a seat at the bar stools.

“Can’t stay long to eat,” I say, putting the first bite of blueberry muffin in my mouth. I chew and swallow quickly so I can continue, “I don’t want to miss my bus.”

“Let me take you in. Enjoy your breakfast, relax for a little while longer.”

I shake my head at the suggestion, quickly saying, “No.”

Too soon. Not yet.

I don’t even know what this is between us yet. A one-night stand? A situationship while I’m in town? The real thing? If anyone saw us coming to the venue together, that would raise questions or, worse, spur rumors. I wouldn’t have any answers for the inevitable questions, and that fact makes me nervous.

Knox looks like he wants to say more, but after a moment, he nods in acknowledgment. Leaning forward in his seat, he pulls me in for another kiss. His lips on mine calm my racing thoughts into something more manageable.

“Okay, sweetheart,” he says. “Just us?”

I breathe a little deeper, relieved he seems to read all the nervousness in my body that I can’t quite articulate.

“Just until…we figure out what this is.”

His smile is gentle and filled with unspoken thoughts.

“All right then, eat up. Don’t want you to be late. I don’t want to be accused of being a bad influence on you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

KNOX

EVEN THOUGH we don’t work tonight, my body still wakes me before my alarm sounds. I plow through my morning routine, workout, shower, quick coffee break, and some breakfast. By noon, my day seems mostly done, so I decide to camp out in the living room with the others, avoiding the heat of high summer behind closed curtains and in air conditioning.

“Hey Knox, I invited your girlfriend over this afternoon.”

That wakes me from my half-doze in one of the recliners. I sit up from the chair I had just been becoming one with and look at Via.

“You invited Ray over?”