Hard Knox - Riley Hart Page 0,42

feels…right.”

I ventured a glance at him. Knox’s forehead was wrinkled, like he was in thought. He was so cute when he concentrated, his mouth tense, surrounded by that sexy beard of his.

“Yeah, here feels right to me too,” Knox replied.

My heart jumped.

“Havenwood, I mean. It has that effect on people.”

Because of course that was what he was talking about.

“Be careful. Not that direction. Here.” Knox’s hand was suddenly on top of mine, guiding me. “You want to keep the strokes going in the same direction. I know it doesn’t seem like it makes a difference, but it does.”

He kept his hand there, and I tried not to tremble, tried not to breathe wrong, so he wouldn’t see how much I loved the feel of his big, rough hand on mine. “I, um…think I got it.”

“You’re a natural.” He smiled.

“You have to say that because you’re my teacher,” I teased, and Knox chuckled.

“Why does that sound familiar?” He pulled his hand back, and I missed the touch instantly.

“Have you, um…been serious about anyone since the divorce? Dated?” Why, why, why had I asked that?

Knox shook his head. “A few dates here and there. Hookups, that kind of thing, but I haven’t been serious. It’s hard with kids involved, ya know? Probably even more now with Logan here. I don’t want something I do to hurt them. Plus, I don’t know if I want to get married again or anything. Carol and I are close. It wasn’t a messy divorce or anything. I just…don’t know if marriage is for me.”

“I get it. I don’t have any plans to get married. You can be serious about someone and committed to them without that.” I looked down at the tool in my hand. “Logan said Dale’s mom was flirty with you. Who knows, maybe you’ll change your mind.” Those words hurt to say more than they should have.

“She’s a nice woman, but I’m not interested in her.”

I turned to him, and he was close, Jesus, he was fucking close. Had he been that near to me the whole time, or had one of us moved? Both of us moved? “Good,” I replied, then wanted to snatch the word back. I had no business saying it, and I didn’t know why I did. The lines between my brain and my mouth seemed to be misfiring. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I don’t know why I… I know we’re friends and that’s all…” I really needed to pick a sentence and go with it.

Knox closed his eyes, and I assumed this was when he was going to tell me I needed to go, or that he was straight and only wanted to be my friend. What he said was, “I felt weird…when you said you were supposed to meet with someone tonight.”

Blood was rushing through my ears. My heart was going crazy, my chest tight. Holy fuck. I was going to stroke out. “Why?” I managed to ask.

“I don’t know.” Knox’s voice sounded far off, full of questions and confusion.

This time when he reached out, when I felt his hand on my face, he wasn’t wiping away pizza sauce or a stray leaf. He brushed his thumb beneath my eye, over my cheekbone, and I felt like my brain was buzzing. Yep, totally going to stroke out.

“Your skin is so soft,” he said in this deep whisper I almost couldn’t make out.

“Oh,” I replied ridiculously. What was wrong with me? Why was that how I answered, and why in the fuck couldn’t I make myself say anything else?

“Sorry. I—”

“No!” I rushed out when he went to pull away. I put my hand on his, danced my wood-dusty fingers along his skin.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

“Do you want to stop?” I asked, my voice sounding needier than I wished it did.

“No.” Knox leaned in, his lips gentle and unsure against mine.

I closed my eyes, savored the feel of his rough beard against my skin. I had no idea why that did it for me. I wasn’t sure if it had before Knox, but yes, the contrast of his wiry hair and the gentleness of his questioning lips was making me crazy.

As much as I wanted to grab him, to hold him and deepen the kiss, I let it move at his pace. Knox pressed a few closemouthed kisses against mine before his tongue teased the seam of my lips. I opened them for him, wanted to taste him and let him taste me. It was