was the problem. Josie had acted on impulse, and her subconscious mind had propelled her straight to his bedroom door.
It wasn't the most illogical thing in the world. An alpha was a pretty good choice when facing all manner of threats, given his size, strength, and protective instincts. But the danger for someone like Josie—for a dormant omega—was real. Especially when being so close to Knox's near-naked body had felt so right.
Every detail and contour, from his well-defined biceps and rippling abs to his tawny, rock-hard chest and powerful shoulders, were suddenly exposed, and…damn. She'd had a lot of spare time all week and spent nearly all of it imagining what Knox's body might look like, and he was even more magnificent than her fantasies—not just impressive but objectively beautiful, radiating energy and power and heat.
And that was all before Josie's gaze lit on the massive erection pressing against the front of his boxers. She gripped the pillow even tighter at the shocking memory, burying her face in the soft down to muffle the spasms of laughter that bubbled out of her.
Laughter. Apparently, that was the reaction that had won out.
And why not? The beta men that Josie had known were all obsessed with the size of their dicks, but quibbling over a few centimeters seemed absurd when she was staring at Knox's unrestrained cock. The thing was a monster, barely contained by his plaid flannel shorts. It was either laugh or run for the hills screaming.
Josie had taken Knox at his word when he told her the reason he wasn't a good guy was his penchant for drinking and fighting and fucking. She had no way of knowing if he'd been honest about the fighting and drinking—but he'd definitely been lying about the fucking.
There was no way that he could be using that anaconda to screw women…especially not beta women. Not even the most experienced prostitute could handle that thing without being split in two, shattered like an ice sculpture hit with a sledgehammer. When Knox had said that he'd killed people, Josie didn't realize that his weapon was the beast in his pants.
She tried to stifle the hysterical laughter that continued to spill out of her at the thought. But it took Knox's rumbling growl to make her stop, snapping her head up to see what was wrong.
"What's so funny?" He stood in the doorway, illuminated from behind by the firelight so that Josie could only see his looming shadow, not his expression. But his tone told her all she needed to know.
"Nothing," she gasped—not a lie as much as a reflex stemming from her embarrassment.
"You sure about that?" Knox propped an arm against the doorframe, a thoroughly distracting move that allowed Josie to drink in the sight of his muscles in stark relief. She swallowed hard, dragging her attention back to the moment.
Better not to answer his question…better to change the subject. Josie grasped at the first thing she could think of. "What were you doing outside?"
She'd heard him go outside into the cold after sweeping up the glass. He hadn't gone far, just out on the porch, and Josie was sure he had his reasons—manly, dominant, protective reasons. But the only other thing she could think of to ask was whether a cock the size of his ever got in the way.
"What was I doing outside?" Knox echoed, and though his tone didn't change, Josie was quite sure he was mocking her. "Nothing."
Oh…Oh. Josie felt her cheeks flame as the last of her laughter died in her throat. So he really had been out there 'taking care of business.' Now the image stuck in Josie's head involved Knox leaning against the exterior wall with his head thrown back and sweat forming on his brow despite the cold.
Josie gulped at the thought of his massive hand wrapping around that incredible shaft, stroking…faster…faster…until…
Suddenly the heat in Josie's cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment.
Knox never took his eyes off her, their twin gleams all she could make out of his face in the darkness. "What you thinking about, sugar?" he drawled softly, sending a jolt of molten heat straight to her core.
Josie was really going to have to talk to him about that. The way he spoke the word, it was definitely not an appropriate nickname between friends. "Nothing," she mumbled, looking away.
"There seems to be a whole lot of nothing going on in this house tonight." Knox stood up straight, his suggestive tone disappearing along with his