Chapter 49 CHAPTER 49
YAEL
The kiss deepened instantly, like we’d both been starving for it even while we were fighting. His tongue slid against mine, slow at first, then hungry, and I couldn’t help the little whimper that escaped me when his hands tightened on my waist. I pushed him backward until his legs hit my bed and he sat down hard, pulling me with him so I landed in his lap, my knees on either side of his thighs.
“Fuck, Yael,” he groaned against my mouth, voice rough and wrecked as I settled over him, straddling him fully. His hands slid down to grip my ass, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp.
I started grinding without even thinking, rolling my hips slow and deliberate, feeling him already so hard underneath me. The friction was perfect, maddening, and I couldn’t stop the moan that slipped out.
“God, baby,” he rasped, head falling back for a second before he dragged his mouth down my neck. “You feel so fucking good. Keep doing that.”
“Knox,” I breathed, fingers threading through his hair as I rocked harder, chasing that heat building between us. “Don’t stop touching me.”
“Never,” he promised, voice muffled against my skin as he started sucking, open-mouthed kisses turning into little bites that had me arching into him. “Never stopping. You’re mine, Yael. I’m sorry, I’m so fucking sorry, just—don’t stop.”
I whimpered again, louder this time, grinding down harder as his hands kneaded my ass, guiding my rhythm. “Say it again,” I demanded, breathless.
“I’m sorry,” he groaned, pulling back just enough to look at me, eyes dark and wild. “I’m sorry I scared you. I’m sorry I fought him. I’m sorry I’m such a fucking mess. But I’m yours, okay? All yours.”
“Prove it,” I whispered, crashing my mouth back to his.
He growled low in his throat and flipped us somehow—no, I was still on top, but he yanked my top down in one swift move, exposing my bra, then tugged that down too. Cool air hit my skin and then his hot mouth was on me, sucking hard on one nipple while his thumb teased the other.
“Oh my God,” I moaned, head tipping back, hips moving faster on their own. “Knox—yes—please—”
“Like that?” he murmured against my skin, switching sides, leaving wet, dark hickeys everywhere his mouth went. “Tell me, baby. Tell me what you need.”
“You,” I gasped, grinding shamelessly now, feeling how close I already was. “Just you—don’t stop—don’t—”
He sucked harder, teeth grazing just enough to make me cry out, and his hands were everywhere—my ass, my back, my thighs—like he couldn’t decide where to hold me tightest.
“Yael,” he groaned, voice breaking. “You’re gonna kill me. You’re so perfect—fuck—I love—”
Knock knock knock.
We both froze.
Knock knock knock—louder this time.
“Shit,” I hissed, eyes flying open. My heart slammed against my ribs for an entirely different reason now.
Knox’s head snapped toward the door, chest heaving. “Who—”
“Shh!” I clapped a hand over his mouth, scrambling off his lap so fast I almost fell. My top was still halfway down, hickeys blooming across my chest, hair a mess. “Closet. Now.”
His eyes went wide. “Yael—”
“Now,” I whispered fiercely, shoving him toward the sliding closet door. “Go. Please.”
He hesitated for half a second, looking like he wanted to argue—or maybe punch whoever was on the other side—but then he nodded once, sharp, and slipped inside. I slid the door shut just as another knock came.
“Yael? It’s me,” Aaron’s voice called through the door, quieter than usual. “Can I come in?”
I yanked my top up, smoothed my hair with shaking hands, and tried to slow my breathing. My lips were swollen, my neck throbbing with fresh marks—thank God for hoodies. I grabbed one from my chair and threw it on, zipping it high.
“Yeah,” I called, voice only a little shaky. “One sec.”
I opened the door.
Aaron stood there looking almost as rough as Knox had—bruised jaw, cut above his eye, shoulders slumped. He wouldn’t quite meet my eyes.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hey,” I echoed, stepping aside so he could come in. I closed the door behind him, hyper-aware of the closet ten feet away.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I, uh… I came to say sorry.”
I blinked.
“I was an asshole,” he muttered, finally looking at me. “I shouldn’t have started shit in front of everyone. I shouldn’t have gone after him like that. I just—” He exhaled hard. “I saw red, okay? But that’s not an excuse. I embarrassed you. I scared you. I’m sorry, Yael.”
I stared at him, throat tight. “Aaron…”
“I mean it,” he said quickly. “I hate that I made you cry in front of half the campus. You’re my little sister. I’m supposed to protect you, not… not make things worse.”
I swallowed. “Thank you. For saying that.”
He nodded, then glanced around the room like he was looking for evidence of something. My heart stopped.
“Why do you hate him so much?” I asked quietly, needing to keep him talking, needing to steer this anywhere else. “Like—really hate him. It’s more than just hockey rivalry, isn’t it?”
Aaron’s jaw tightened. He looked away.
“Aaron,” I pressed. “Tell me.”
He shook his head. “Not tonight. I’m not… I’m not ready to get into it. But I will. I promise. Just—not right now.”
I wanted to push, wanted to demand answers, but the closet felt like it was screaming Knox’s name and I was one wrong move from disaster.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Later, then.”
“Yeah,” he said, relief flickering across his face. “Later.”
He stepped forward and pulled me into a quick, careful hug. “I love you, kid.”
“Love you too,” I mumbled into his shoulder.
He let go, gave me a tired half-smile, and headed for the door. “Lock up, okay? And… text me when you get to class tomorrow.”
“I will.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
I waited five full seconds, counting my heartbeats, before I yanked open the closet.
Knox stumbled out, hair messy, lips red, eyes blazing.
“Your brother,” he whispered, half-laughing, half-horrified. “Your brother was two feet from me while I was hiding in your damn closet with a hard-on.”
“Shut up,” I hissed, but I was already smiling, adrenaline and relief crashing through me.
He pulled me into him immediately, arms tight around my waist. “We are never doing that again.”
“Agreed,” I breathed, burying my face in his neck.