Incinerate

Chapter 29

Charlie

WHEN KNOX met me at home, I felt like I’d been waiting for hours, but the moment he threw me on the hood of Evelyn, ripped my shorts off, and slammed into me without preamble made every single second worth waiting for. Until Knox, I’d never actually fantasized about being taken on the hood of a car. But ever since I walked into that garage and saw her, I knew I wanted him to fuck me right there, paintjob be damned.

When he finally did, it was a mixture of passion, possession, and claiming. I know he apologized, but the way he was seemed raw, like he was trying to push out whatever thoughts Branson had put in his mind. Like every single time he buried himself inside me made him really believe I was here to stay. And all I could do was hold on to him, his thrusting too forceful, too fast for me to even keep up. It was only a few minutes before I was clawing his back, coming around his cock as he released into me.

Remembering the intense feeling that washed over me as he took total control has me so turned on, and if he weren’t waiting for me to go out for the night, I’d probably be enjoying a little self-pleasure in the shower as I remember just how hard he fucked me.

Unfortunately, instead of a shower, I have to get ready to go out for the night. We’re on our way to Legends, where we’re meeting up with Lucy and Kale. Ever since she’s been back for the summer, they’ve been spending a lot of time together, but whenever I ask, she says they’re just friends. Walking into the bar, we spot them almost immediately and join them at their table.

Lucy jumps up, giving me a hug. “Hey, girl! I swear, now that you’re with Handsome over here, I never get to see you,” she says, even though I know many of her nights are spent with Kale.

Speaking of, he comes over and gives me a hug before he and Knox head to the bar to get drinks. Sliding into a chair next to Lucy, I notice that she’s grinning at me.

“What?” I ask, wondering if I have a smudge in my mascara or something.

“You. You look like you’ve just had the most amazing sex of your life. You’re all flushed and smiley. I can’t remember the last time I saw you like this.”

I can feel the blush creep over my face, and Lucy squeals when she sees it. “We may or may not have had hot, sweaty sex on the hood of his car,” I finally admit, causing her to squeal even louder.

I move to shush her, hoping that Knox doesn’t look back and see her cheesing like a lunatic. “Oh my god, you two are so cute together. Who would’ve thought? So what’s it like? Being a couple, living together? I feel like I missed so much from being gone this summer,” she says, and I can tell she wants every single detail.

Grinning at her, I decide to throw her a bone. “Well, things were a little iffy at first, but since the night he said he wanted to be with me, it’s been mostly nothing short of amazing. Sure, our personalities clash at times, but that usually just leads to really hot make-up sex.” I pause, letting my words soak in. “But honestly, Luce, he’s one of the sweetest, most thoughtful guys I’ve ever met.”

She eyes me suspiciously, assessing my words. “You’re falling for him,” she guesses, and I can only nod and smile when I see her eyes widen.

“Falling? Fallen? Semantics, right? I’m crazy about him, Lucy,” I tell her, and she quiets, looking behind me. I realize we’re not alone, and I wonder how much he heard. He doesn’t show any expression when he sets a beer down in front of me, so I decide not to worry about it.

The four of us catch up. Lucy tells us funny stories about her second graders, while Kale and Knox talk about their training exercises. Watching Knox talk about work, I realize just how much he really loves his job. His eyes light up when he talks about which wires to snip, and a shiver runs down my spine, thinking about him being that close to an explosive.

A little while later, Jace and Lexi surprise us, joining us at our table. The guys scoot another one over before heading to grab another round. Lexi’s beaming and can barely sit still in her seat.

“Lexi, what the hell are you so happy about?” I finally have to ask, not being able to stand not knowing what her excitement’s about.

Leaning forwards, she gestures for us to come closer. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but dammit, I can’t wait!” She’s practically squealing with delight, and I’m dying to know what’s going on. Before she can say anything, the guys come back to the table. Jace takes one look at her and shakes his head.

“Alexa, we agreed to wait,” he says, faking a scowl.

“I didn’t say anything! I promise,” she protests, fluttering her eyelids up at him. Lucy and I look at each other, grinning, because I think we both know what’s about to happen.

Once everyone takes their seats, Jace grabs Lexi’s hand, bringing it in for a kiss, and that’s when I see it. There’s a gorgeous ring on her left hand, and she holds it out for us all to see. It’s different than a traditional engagement ring and I love the way the bright red ruby sparkles when the light hits it.

“We’re getting married!” she exclaims.

I have a feeling everyone in the bar heard her. Kale and Knox both get up and give Jace some kind of man hug while Lucy and I gush over the ring. Eventually we all settle back in around the table as Lexi tells us how Jace proposed at the Reds stadium, and it’s one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard.

When she finishes the story, Lucy and I are practically swooning over Jace, and Lexi surprises me with what she says next. “And the wedding’s next month, so you all better be there.”

I watch as Knox’s eyebrows rise. “Next month? How in the hell are you going to plan a wedding in a month?”

Jace shrugs as he takes a sip of his beer. “We decided we’ve waited long enough for this. It’s just going to be something small and simple on the beach. Like Alexa said, we’d like you there.” Knox nods.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he says. He looks at Lexi contemplatively, and I wonder what he’s thinking.

I’m about to lean over and ask when Kale challenges him and Jace to a game of pool, something neither of them can turn down.

“So, Charlie, how are things with Knox?” Lexi asks.

“Umm, they’re good,” I say, pausing when she gives me a look like she wants to know more. “Okay, they’re better than good. Things are great. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this comfortable in a relationship.”

Lucy chimes in, apparently deciding that I’m not saying enough. “Before you got here, she was just telling me about how she’s in love with him,” she informs Lexi, grinning at me.

Lexi’s eyes widen and she looks at me. “Really? You’re already at the love stage?” she asks.

Shaking my head at Lucy, I mentally curse her, because I need to still sort through my feelings myself before making declarations to everyone else. “It’s too fast, right? I mean, it’s only been five months since I moved in, and only three of those have we been dating. I don’t know. After Drew, I didn’t think I’d find anyone for a long time, but I guess since we already lived together, things moved a lot faster than normal. But I’m not telling him. There’s no way that he’s ready to hear it, and I’m not going to freak him out,” I say, and I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince them or myself.

“He could surprise you,” Lexi says, causing me to raise my eyebrows at her. She holds a hand up before I can protest. “Hear me out, Charlie. When I lost Ty, I kind of went through a really dark time, and I almost lost myself in the process. I honestly never thought I would move on. I really didn’t. And if it weren’t for Jace, I don’t know that I would have. It took me a long time to admit it to myself. And to him. I was almost too late.”

She stops and reaches her hand across the table to place it on top of mine. “I guess what I’m saying is don’t wait too long. It’s scary—trust me, I get it more than most—but the way Knox looks at you? It’s not just a guy looking at the girl in his bed. He’s looking at the girl in his heart, too,” she says, looking past me and nodding in his direction.

Turning around, I spot him standing off to the side of the pool table, waiting patiently as Kale takes a shot. His forearms are taut, and I can see the bulge of his biceps as he holds the pool stick tightly with both of his hands. His eyes meet mine, and I watch as a slow, sexy smile spreads over his face when he catches me looking at him. Shooting me a wink that sends a thrill down my spine, he bends over the table and lines up to take a shot. His face turns serious as he concentrates on making the perfect shot.

Part of me knows that Lexi’s right. I think I’ve gotten into Knox’s heart the same way he’s in mine, but I’m too scared to voice it. The moment I say the words out loud, I’ll never be able to take them back. Even if he does feel the same, I’m not sure he’s ready, and I’m okay with that. I can be patient. I’m not in any hurry to settle down, and he’s worth waiting for.

When I turn back to the girls, they’re both watching me. “What?” I ask, even though I know what they’re thinking.

“He was totally looking at you like he wished you were on the pool table and he was ramming you with his stick instead of the cue ball,” Lucy says. “Like you were the only person in the room. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even realize Lexi and I are sitting here.”

Shaking my head, I just laugh. “Whatever you say. It was a smile and a wink. Definitely not a love declaration,” I tell her. I want to believe them, to believe that he feels the same way I do. But until I know for sure, I’m keeping mine bottled up. I know Knox has opened up since we started dating, but I’m not going to push him too far or too fast. Until then, I can be satisfied knowing that we’re together. That’s all that matters. For now.

Switching topics, we start discussing wedding plans, and I find myself wondering if that’s a future that Knox wants, if he wants a wife, a family. It’s not something we’ve ever talked about, and it’s something I’d like to know so I can prepare myself for the future. I’m just terrified I’m not going to like his answer, and I’m not quite ready to have to face the possibility that we both want two very different things.

Knox

“YOU’LL BE there, right?” Jace asks as we watch Kale rack the balls then break them.

I wasn’t shocked when Lexi announced their engagement, as Jace had already told me about his plans, but their getting married so quickly did come as a surprise. He looks happier than I’ve ever seen him, and now that I have Charlie, I’m beginning to understand why he was so messed up over her all those years they were apart.

“I wouldn’t miss it, man,” I tell him. “Congratulations, by the way. I have no idea how you kept that a secret until she got here.”

Grinning at me, he goes to take a shot. “She made me promise. She wanted to be here when I told you guys, but trust me, it wasn’t easy.”

I can’t help stealing looks at Charlie, but her back is to me. “Dude, we can stop playing if you want,” Kale says, poking me in the stomach with his stick. “It’s been your turn for about a minute now, but you’re too busy staring at the back of Charlie’s head.”

“Yeah, I was going to ask about that,” Jace says, chiming in. “How are things going there? Getting serious?”

Before I can answer, Kale starts laughing. “I’d say so, especially after Knox’s little stunt at the gym today. I figured he’d be getting the silent treatment for at least a week.”

Jace’s eyebrows shoot up, and he starts laughing when Kale retells the story. I just shake my head, knowing I sound like a total asshole from Kale’s perspective—and he’s right. I’m surprised Charlie forgave me so easily, but then again, she’s never been one to play games or hold a grudge.

Kale finishes, and Jace shakes his head at me. “Dude, you must have it bad. I’ve never seen you lose your cool over a chick.”

Shrugging, I take my time adding chalk to the tip of my cue stick. “Charlie’s different. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before, and for the first time, I’m actually thinking about a future I never thought I wanted.”

Jace looks at me, surprised since he’s been privy to all my ‘fuck women’ rants. “No shit?”

“No shit,” is all I say as a huge grin spreads over his face.

Slapping me on the shoulder, he drops his smile and gets all serious faced. “Seriously though, I’m so thrilled for you that I’ll even pass up the whole ‘I told you so.’ You deserve to be happy, Knox.”

“Jesus, all this wedding shit must be seeping into your brain. You sound like a couple of pussies over here having a bro moment,” Kale says.

Jace and I grin at each other, and Kale starts backing away, shaking his head. “You know, a few months ago, I think I said something pretty damn similar, Montgomery.”

“And I told him he’d eat his words,” Jace tells him. “I was right. And the same thing will happen to you. Eventually your man-whoring around will get old, and you’ll find a girl who will make you want to settle down. You know what they say? These things come in threes. You’re next, man.”

“Nope, not happening. I have no interest in settling down. At least not any time soon. Growing up with a single mom and two older sisters, I have no desire to get into a relationship when I’m gone all the time. Maybe once things calm down, but for now, I’m happy being a bachelor.”

Jace and I look at each other. “Do you want to say it, or you want me to?” he asks.

“You had your chance with me, so it’s my turn,” I tell him before looking at Kale, whose eyes are darting back and forth between us. “Famous last words, Montgomery. Famous fucking last words.”