Conception (The Wellingtons, #4) Read online

  Knox just grunts an inaudible answer and disappears from sight. I nervously toy with my fingertips, curious about his antics. When he returns, I nearly giggle at the sight of my purse slung over his broad shoulder.

  He gets in the car, and though I probably should move back to the passenger’s seat, I stay right where I am. He holds up a set of keys. “I couldn’t exactly leave the door wide open for anyone to just wander in, so I locked up for you. And seeing as how this purse was on the ground right next to the spot where I kissed you senseless, I figured it was safe to assume you planned on bringing it.”

  “Ah, yes. Thank you.” I glance around the car. “Do you, ah, need me to move over so you can shift?”

  He places his left hand on the steering wheel and I can’t help but appreciate the way his taut forearm flexes. “Christ, you’re fucking cute. No, babe. You don’t need to move. I can shift between your legs just fine.”

  I squirm a bit at the idea, and a bead of sweat rolls down my back. Stick-shift activities indeed. “I have complete faith in you.”

  “Dammit, Amelia, you have to stop blushing or we’re going nowhere.”

  I grin at him. “That doesn’t exactly sound like a half bad idea to me.”

  He gives me a pointed look, his jaw all tight and sexy, his tone bossy. “We’re going out. We eat, we talk. Catch the movie. Then we’ll see what happens after that. ’Cause, babe, if I didn’t get you out of that house, there’s no telling what we’d be doing.” He grins. “Not that I don’t want that. I just promised you a date and I know you don’t know me well, but I always keep my promises, especially to a beautiful woman. Not to mention, I’m kinda hoping you need someone to hold you tight just in case you get a bit spooked at the drive-in.”

  It’s my first glimpse of this side of him, the kind of alpha-y, this-is-my-woman, Tarzan ownership thing, and hell, I like it. I like it a lot.

  Instead of letting him in on that fact, I enjoy the radio while he drives a few miles outside Crystal Cove to the nearest drive-in. We stop at a little diner nearby to order burgers, fries, and shakes—strawberry for me, chocolate for him.

  It’s totally cliché.

  And totally rad.

  At dinner with Knox, I learn he’s about to enter his final year of college then plans to work for his father’s business, alongside his brother. He doesn’t ask about my parents, and I wonder if he knows something or if he’s just exceptional at reading people. I tell him about Grams, living with her until last year, and I think he reads between the lines that parents aren’t in the picture. When he finds out I like photography, he mentions a couple of hikes he plans on doing this summer in the Smokies and asks if I want to come along.

  I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel some foreign squeeze in my belly at the thought of spending more time with him. I’d also be lying if I say this instant attraction doesn’t scare me a little bit, knowing it’ll eventually come to an end.

  Instead of brushing him off, I push my fears aside and beam at him, readily accepting the invitation. What better place to utilize the skills I’ve learned over the last few years than the gorgeous Smoky Mountains? If I happen to snap a couple of pictures of Knox at the same time, well, that’d be bonus.

  “You ready for this?” he asks when he parks and gets the audio set up for the movie.

  Considering I’m not exactly sure what this is, I don’t know how I want to answer. But if it’s more of what came earlier, then yes. I am so ready.

  Unlike on the way to the diner, I’m sitting on the passenger’s side of his car. The short drive to the drive-in, I was racking my brain, wondering if I should scoot, but I never did. Now that we’re parked, I’m thinking its time I move over when Knox’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

  “Babe.”

  I sure am getting used to that one-word moniker. I glance in his direction and see his left arm resting on the lowered window, his right arm stretched out across the back of the seat, and his eyebrows raised at me.

  “Um, yes?” I ask.

  “I’ve got long arms, but I can’t exactly hold you during the scary parts if you’re clear across the car.”

  “Or you could come to me,” I say with a haughty tone I’m not sure I’ve ever used before.

  His jaw twitches, and he glances at his legs then over to mine. “Seein’ as my legs are about twice the length of yours, I don’t think I’m goin’ to be moving over. Come on, Amelia. I won’t bite,” Just as my gaze falls to his lips, he finishes with, “Yet.”

  After lacing my purse down on the floorboard, I smooth my skirt down and try to scoot across the bench seat as gracefully as possible. Apparently, I don’t move fast enough for Knox, because I’ve barely moved an inch when he leans forward, hooks his arm around my waist, and draws me to his side. He slings his arm along the back of the seat, tucking me into his chest in the process.

  “Comfortable?” he asks, looking down at me.

  I blink up. “Umm, yeah.”

  “Good. Now, eyes on the movie. And remember, if you get scared, just squeeze me and hold on tight.”

  It’s not long before I learn he’s serious about that last part. Or, well, kind of. So much for being about glad about the ice already being broken in regard to kissing. When Knox asked—rather, told—me we’d be going to the drive-in tonight to watch a movie, the last thing I expected was to actually watch the movie.

  Yet here we still are, in his banging Ford Thunderbird convertible, with bench seats just like he promised. Top up, of course, for a bit more privacy for what I thought we’d be doing. Which wasn’t watching the movie.

  Not that it’s a bad thing. Every so often, I feel his fingers toying with my hair. I try to keep my eyes glued to the screen, but all through the opening scene, I find myself glancing over to him, wondering when—if ever—he’s going to make a move.

  He doesn’t, which turns out to be just fine. As far as slasher films go, this one surprisingly has me on pins and needles, to the point where one of my hands is clutching Knox’s denim-clad thigh, with my head turned slightly into his chest at sight of that creepy lunatic in a hockey mask lurking in the shadows and an axe slamming into the face of a pretty young girl.

  Knox lets out a low chuckle and pulls me closer to him. “I’ve got you, babe.”

  And he does. Oh boy, if the butterflies in my belly are any indication, he really, really does.

  It’s a testament to the movie that I’m able to focus on it while pressed against Knox’s chest, our thighs practically pushed together, and his errant fingers brushing the skin on my bare shoulder every so often. Even still, I’m not sure if the goose bumps that keep arising are from the man beside me or the creep on the screen.

  It’s ninety degrees outside and I have goose bumps.

  Maybe I wasn’t wrong when I told Sunny it must be the heat. Every single touch, every single rush of his breath against my forehead, everything about this man has my body on fire and in chills at the same time. Like I have a fever and I can’t get heated. But at the same time, one kiss from him lit a match, sparked a blaze, and I’m praying for a firestorm instead of a slow burn.

  My fingers continue to clutch the material of his shirt as the image of a serene lake fades to black, and Knox’s finger still run lazily across my back. I close my eyes, reveling in this moment.

  “Babe.”

  How is it that that one word seems to set me at ease? So aflame.

  I glance up at dark, amused eyes.

  “What’d you think?” he asks.

  “Sunny was wrong. I think you’re more of a Paul Newman.”

  His lips quirk up into a grin. “Not even gonna ask. I was talking about the movie.”

  “Oh.” With great reluctance, I lift from his chest, releasing his shirt from my clutches. “Good. Creepy. And it doesn’t escape me that they were at Camp Crystal Lake and we’re at Crystal Cove.”

  “Makes you wonder where they got the inspiration.”

  I playfully hit his chest. “Don’t
say that! I won’t sleep for weeks.”

  “Something tells me you’ll be fine, catching up with those guys in your horror novel. Because, if you ask me, getting your dick chopped off at a gloryhole truck stop is ten times worse than an axe to the face.”

  “I’m not sure I even want to argue the point. Not that I could if I wanted to.”

  “Just trust me. Ready to go?”

  I’d like to say no because I’m not ready for this night to end. At the same time, I’m wondering how delicately I can ask him in when we get back to my place without him thinking I’m a two-bit floozie—even if he makes me want to be. Heck, I’ve always kind of toed the line between wanting to be more Rizzo than Sandy, so why not start now, with him?

  “Sure.” When I start to move over to the passenger’s side, Knox’s hand lands on my thigh and he squeezes gently.

  “When you’re in my car, you’re at my side. Cool?”

  No. That’s really, really hot.

  I swallow, hoping I don’t sound too eager. “Cool.”

  He nods, I sidle up to him, and he shifts the gear between my legs. Is it weird that this feels like foreplay?

  I’m a bundle of nerves when Knox opens the driver’s door and steps out into my driveway. He leans down, taking my hand and bringing out me on the same side since I was practically wedged up against him the whole drive home anyways.

  The air is silent around us except for the crickets chirping off in the distance and an occasional splash from some aquatic creature frolicking under the moonlight.

  Suddenly, frolicking underneath the moonlight with Knox is all I can think about.

  But once he takes my hand and intertwines our fingers while leading me towards the front door, frolicking in the bedroom is now at the forefront of my mind.

  “Keys?” Knox asks when we get to the front landing.

  The light is on, which must’ve been Knox’s doing when he went back to lock up. He waits patiently as I rummage through my purse, and then I hold the keys up once I’ve found them.

  “Women and purses. I’ll never get it. Why do you need to take all that stuff with you?”

  I open my mouth to answer, but he leans in and gives me a quick swipe of his lips.

  “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

  His infectious grin has my own spreading across my face. As far as first dates go, I’d say this was definitely a winner.

  “Thank you for tonight. Dinner, the movie.”

  “I’m not sure what you watched more: me or the movie,” he teases.

  I’m not going to blush. I’m not going to blush.

  “You caught that, did you?” I ask.

  “Maybe in the beginning… You’re lucky. Two more minutes of feeling the heat from your gaze and you probably wouldn’t know how the movie ended.”

  Damn my impatience. And to hell with playing hard to get.

  I slide my hands up his chest and wrap them around his neck. “Well, just because the movie ended doesn’t mean the night has to…” I say, hoping he catches my drift without me having to ask him to come inside.

  Knox’s head falls slightly, and I lose his eyes. In that moment, I know the answer is no, so I let my hands fall and take a step back. But not before he catches my wrists and draws me back in.

  Dark eyes peer down at me. “God, I wish I could, Amelia. I really fucking do.”

  “It’s okay, Knox. I get it…” I trail off when his chest rumbles with laughter. I don’t actually get it, and he knows it.

  “Babe, the only thing you should be getting is how into you I am. Whatever else you’re thinking in that pretty head of yours, forget it.”

  My lips form an astonished O. Not sure why I’m surprised because I was pretty sure Knox is indeed into me, but he hasn’t kissed me since the beginning of the night, and it’s apparently no dice on my invitation inside.

  “Babe, look at me,” he says, and I realize I’m staring into his chest and not at him anymore.

  I don’t want to look at him. I don’t want to see the rejection in his eyes. But with one more prodding babe, I glance up and see earnest eyes gazing down at me.

  “It’s just that I told my brother I’d be home tonight. He’s only here for a couple of more days, so I promised to spend some time with him before he left. He’s a pain in my ass.”

  “I think it’s nice,” I tell him honestly, even though I’m a bit bummed to be going to bed alone.

  He must still see the disappointment on my face. Warm hands cup my cheeks, and his eyes pierce mine. “Trust me, Amelia. The last thing I want to do is turn around, get back in that car, and leave you standing here alone, looking so damn cute.”

  “It’s fine, Knox. I understand. I do. After all, we’ve got the summer, right?” I nearly cringe at the addition of the last word. I hope it didn’t sound too anxious. At the same time, I might as well find out if he really does want this to be a summer thing.

  “I’ve got to be honest with you. Until about a few months ago, I’d only ever been with one girl in my entire life, and after her, well, I haven’t found the time to find anyone else.”

  “Okay…” I’m not sure where this is coming from or why the conversation took this detour. Is now the time I tell him about my sexual history? Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like the right moment.

  “I’m fucking this up. What I’m saying is that I’m new to this hooking-up stuff. I’ve never done it before,” he says, using his free hand to motion between the two of us. “I’ve never wanted to. But hell, Amelia, it’s been twenty-four hours and you’re all I can think about. So yeah, babe, if you’re up for it, we have the entire summer.”

  I rise onto my tiptoes and brush my lips across his before sinking back down. “I think, Knox, that by the time the summer’s over, you’ll learn I’m up for just about anything.”

  His answering groan is all the promise I need. He closes the distance between us and pushes my back up against the front door. One arm now rests on the door above me, the other holding tight to my waist.

  “Now that we have that established, I think we should probably set some ground rules. That okay with you?”

  I nod because, at this point, I’ll agree to practically anything.

  “Good. I told you last night I’m not looking for anything long-term, nothing permanent. Now, I get how strong our attraction is, but I have to know that you get that this is for the summer and nothing more.”

  I blink, and my silence causes him to continue.

  “The only way I know how to communicate is by bein’ direct. Don’t fall for me, Amelia. I don’t have time for it. All I’ve got time for is sex and a good time. Now, if that’s cool with you, we can have plenty of fun this summer.”

  “I get it, Knox,” I say, slightly perturbed he feels the need to emphasize this point. I set my chin and stare back into his eyes. “Before you came along, I was already telling Sunny how I just wanted to have fun this summer, no commitments, nothing. So this works perfectly for me. Just tell me the rules so we’re on the same page.”

  His jaw tightens for a split second. Then he nods. “Right. Rules.” He clears his throat. “Don’t go fallin’ for me was my first one, but I think we have that established. That’s the main one.”

  “It’s noted.”

  He must hear the irritation in my tone. His eyes soften while he strokes my cheek. “I’m not comin’ in tonight, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.” He pushes against me, his straining erection caressing me in all the right places.

  Yeah, he’s not lying. If that’s how it feels through clothes? Heaven help me.

  “I want you, Amelia. So fucking bad. But I need you to let me go as slow as I fucking want, because I’m going to savor you. I also need you to tell me if I’m moving too fast. If you need something more from me, say it. If this is going to work, I need your honesty because I don’t want to do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. All I wanna do is make you feel so fucking good that you’ll remember th
is summer for the rest of your life and ache between your legs every time you think my name. Got it?”

  Whew. I blow out a breath. “Got it.”

  The two words are the barest whisper because, holy hell, I’ve never had a man speak to me this way. I never knew I wanted a man to speak to me this way.

  “Good. Glad we’re on the same page. Now, keys?” he asks, pushing back and holding his hand out to me.

  I blink twice before my eyes focus and I realize what he’s doing. Knox unlocks the door then gently places a hand on the small of my back, slowly forcing me inside. Once we’re inside, he closes the door. Turning back, I raise an eyebrow in his direction.

  “What kind of man would I be if I let you in the house and didn’t check to make sure there aren’t any monsters hiding in the dark?”

  It’s silly, and I know he’s teasing, but like Sunny said, while I may love all things horror, I still get a little freaked out. And since this is my first night alone in this house, I’m grateful for the security and the extra few minutes with him his search may give us.

  I flinch at the unexpected sensation of Knox’s thumb under my chin. Worried eyes shine down at me.

  “Where’d you go in that pretty little head of yours?”

  It’s uncanny the way he can read me after such a short time.

  “It’s nothing,” I tell him with a slight shake of my head. It’s not that I don’t want to tell him about my parents. It’s just… It’s been whirlwind twenty-four hours with him. I’m not ready to ruin it.

  “Hey, I know we just met, but you can tell me anything that’s on your mind.”

  His eyes are so earnest that I want to break down right here in his arms. But I don’t. The last thing I want is to put a damper on our night. Or scare the guy off with my emotions.

  “I promise, Knox. It’s nothing. It’s just… This is the first time I’ve been back to Crystal Cove in four years. And the first night I’ll be staying here alone.”

  I nearly curse myself for telling him this, opening myself up to questioning. But it’s out there. It’s all I can give him for now, and I hope it’s enough. I pray he doesn’t ask for more.