He laughs with me. “Told you, I’m really new to this.”

“We both made mistakes and said things we didn’t mean, but I don’t want to keep dwelling on them,” I admit softly. “Think we can leave it in the past and start over?”

“Say you’ll be mine first, and I’ll do anything you ask,” he demands.

Without hesitation, I brush his lips and whisper, “I’m yours, Knox. Only yours.”

He pulls me against his mouth, stealing my breath, and capturing my bottom lip between his teeth. Greedily, he takes everything I give him.

“Let me take you home,” he quietly growls.

I blink, looking around, and no one seems fazed by our public display of affection.

“Only if you promise I won’t wake up alone again,” I counter.

He presses his forehead to mine and exhales. “I swear to never leave before giving you a proper goodbye.” He pauses, then adds, “Preferably between your thighs.”

I chuckle as I pull his mouth to mine. “Okay, agreed.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

KNOX

As soon as Hadleigh unlocks the door to her place, our hands and mouths are on each other. I can’t believe this is finally happening. I wasn’t sure she’d forgive me or give us a second chance, but I’m grateful as hell that she is.

“Bedroom. Now,” she demands, yanking off my jacket.

“Hads, wait,” I murmur against her lips.

“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me,” she deadpans, reaching for the hem of my shirt.

I pull away and chuckle in amusement at her pouty face. “I want you to know this is more than just sex for me.”

“Okay, well…can it be about sex right now?”

I grin, brushing a finger along her cheek. “It’ll always be more.”

She looks up at me with lust-filled green eyes as my heart hammers in my chest.

“No one has ever made me feel the way you do, Hadleigh. Before we go all in and start over, I want you to listen to what I have to say.”

Her shoulders relax, then she nods. “Okay. I’m all ears.”

I tilt up her chin, making sure she looks at me when I say this. “I’ve never said this to a woman before, so I hope you believe me when I tell you that I’m in love with you. I don’t know exactly when it happened or if it was years in the making, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I love you.”

Her face breaks into a glorious smile. “It’s about goddamn time, Knox Bishop. I’ve been crushing on you for most of my adolescence, and I thought I’d never hear you say those words to me.”

I burst out laughing. “I’m not so great at recognizing the signs.”