Chapter 46

KNOX

“I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I must have gotten carried away in the heat of the moment.” I tell her, hoping my sincerity shows on my face and is heard in my voice.

“I know.” She replies simply, snuggling a little closer against my naked body.

“I really am sincerely sorry...”

“Could you stop apologizing for something that didn't happen?” She says, pulling back to look at me. “You didn't mark me okay? So everything's fine but I have to admit, seeing your eyes like that and your fangs...”

“Did it freak you out? I fucking knew it...”

“Would you fucking stop? I was going to say I found it kind of exciting.”

“Really?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. This is clearly not the reaction I was expecting. I totally lost control earlier, let pleasure and my wolf take over and came close to disaster. I can't even imagine what would have happened if I'd scored. My brothers would certainly have killed me.

“Yes, this slightly dangerous side turned me on terribly.” She says, running her index finger over my pecs.

“When you live with us I intend to make love to you every day.” I tell her before kissing her.

After a second round, we're both out of breath. I still can't believe how she can be so insecure in everyday life and have such dirty talk in bed. She's so breathtaking I'll never tire of her. How could it be?

Without thinking, I stroke her back as she lies against me. She gradually catches her breath and lets out a contented sigh.

“You're exceptional.” I say against her hair and she giggles. “You really are. I hope one day you'll see what we see in you.”

I don't know what exactly happened with her ex-husband, and I'm not sure I want to know the details, but I'm certain he's the reason she's so insecure. I want to punch him in his fucking face and at the same time thank him for not screwing up, they wouldn't have gotten divorced, she wouldn't have been in that bar that night and we probably never would have met. But what I really want to do is hit him... let's not kid ourselves.

“I'm starving. Do you want me to fix you something?” I ask her.

“I haven't been shopping so I can't have much.” She replies.

“Ok. You want to go upstairs or order something and we'll both have dinner here.”

She takes several seconds to answer, I think she's really thinking about the question.

“If you want the four of us to have dinner together, I don't mind.” I say to reassure her. I wouldn't want her to feel obliged to stay here if she wants to spend time with my brothers too.

“I want the two of us to stay a while and get to know you better.”

“Cool. So what do you want to eat?”

JAX

I watch Ash walk into the kitchen, his phone in his hand, while I make myself some sandwiches. He sits down on the stool and takes the first one I've made.

“Hey!” I protest. “That was for me.”

He gives me a look that I'd translate as Don't fuck with me and I raise my eyebrows.

“I'm going to have to go to California. Cassie and her mate are screwing up our whole West Coast project.”

“What do you mean?” I ask as I sit down across from him.

“They want me to fulfill some fucking conditions...that I don't know about...for the restoration of the monarchy.”

“Seriously?! Why did they wait so long? I mean, you've started to rally quite a few packs to your cause and everyone's talking so...”

“They must be afraid I'll fuck them. They don't trust me. So if I have to make a round trip to California to convince them I will.”

“How long?”

“As long as it takes. I've just warned Arthur that I won't be in the office tomorrow and I know I can count on you both.” He sighs, shaking his head. “I'm just disappointed to be separated from Isabella.”

“We can tell Knox to come up and spend the evening all together before you leave...”

“No.” He cuts me off. “Let him spend the evening with her, they both need it.”

I don't insist because I know the subject is closed. So we eat our sandwiches in silence for a moment.

"Reassure me, are you still going to tell her you're leaving?"

"I'll send her a message to let her know." He replies and I put my sandwich down, shaking my head.

"You can't do that. You have to let her know so she can say goodbye if she feels like it. Fuck, she's said enough times that she's sick of decisions being made for her."

He growls. "I'll do it. I'm sick of it."

"What are you..."

"Of being in permanent restraint, of fighting every moment not to mark her. All I want is to do it and let the world know she's mine."

"It's hard for the three of us. Maybe when you come back we can take her to meet our wolves and try to speed things up. If she'd at least agree to live with us..."

"I fucking know." He drinks the rest of his beer in one gulp.

We both turn our heads when we hear the elevator doors open. Knox appears, whistling.

"Isa is packing her overnight bag and the good news is she's agreed to live with us. Please don't thank me." He says proudly as he pulls a beer from the fridge.

Asher and I exchange surprised glances.