The accompanying photos are of Knox and me, looking perfect upon arrival at the club. He’s holding my chin and giving me an adorable kiss. There are two grainy photos of us in the club, one of us in the VIP section and the other on the dance floor. But then there’s a photo of me from when I rushed out of the club in tears.
“I look horrid!” I screech.
“You don’t look horrid. I mean, it’s not the most flattering angle, and you do have mascara running down your face, but you look pretty in all the other ones.”
“Oh, and look at the caption under the photo of you hugging me and helping me into the car. Knox knows how to make up.” I roll my eyes until I see a smaller photo of Damian and Peyton below this article. Peyton’s face is partially obscured by Damian’s arm as he leans in to kiss her. There’s a little story about the normal girl from Napa Valley who caught the rocker’s attention. I decide that one bad picture of me is worth burying the story of their date.
“So, all in all, it was a good night. We planted our relationship seed.”
“Are we having a relationship? I thought you were into one-night stands.”
“Normally, I am. But I can see the value of this. For us. Long term.”
“Knox, when things go down with the stalker, I’m not sure if I’ll survive it.”
“Even better. I can be in mourning. Imagine the sympathy sex I’d get.”
My eyes get huge. “Knox!”
He pats my shoulder and smiles. “I’m just joking. You can untwist your panties now.”
“You’re horrible.”
He laughs. “Now that you’re awake, do you wanna go for a run?”
“A run? But you said the reporters will still be—”
“Exactly.” He points to a little pile of running clothes. “Before you go off on me, these are my sister’s. She visits a lot and keeps stuff here so she never has to check a bag.”
“Does your bodyguard run with you?”
“Does he look like he can run? No, I go by myself. Part of why I run. Gotta be fast enough to get away from the hordes of women who chase me.”
“I’m calling Cooper and having him meet us.”
“Cooper looks like he’s in pretty good shape. Sucks at poker, but could probably kick my ass.” He sizes me up. “Although, from the sound of it, you probably could too. Do you think he’d teach me to fight?”
“Maybe.” I grab my phone off the nightstand and see some texts from Aiden.
Hottie God: Good morning, beautiful. I miss sleeping with you.
Hottie God: And waking up with you.
Hottie God: I just miss you.
Me: I miss you more.
I’m smiling as I call Cooper. “Hey, Knox and I are going running in the park. I’d like you to join us. Just come over to his place and we’ll meet you in the lobby.”
“Does Knox go for a jog in the park every morning?”
“Um, I don’t know. Let me ask. Knox, do you go for a run in the park every morning?”
“No. I usually run on the treadmill. Especially in the winter.”
“Did you hear that?” I say to Cooper.
“You’re in the paper this morning. We don’t want to do anything routine. Make sense?”
“Yes, it does.”
“But it is a beautiful morning. I’m assuming there are photographers who will see this run?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I’ll be right over,” he says before hanging up.
The three of us go on a run, are successfully photographed together, and then head to the studio to finish the video.
The second I arrive, Aiden grabs my hand, pulls me into my dressing room, and kisses me furiously.
I’m instantly hot.
I push him against the door, lock it, and unzip his pants, wanting nothing more than for him to take me.
“Do we have time?” he says breathlessly, as he strips my panties off then picks me up and moves us to the couch.
“We should always have enough time for this,” I say as he kisses my neck.
I arch my hips, push his jeans down with my feet, and guide him into me.
He slams his mouth down on mine, kissing me like we’ve been apart for months, not just one night.
Desperate.
Aching.
Needing.
Each other.
His tongue delves deeply into my mouth.
I match his intensity, grabbing his ass and pushing him to go faster.
“Oh, god,” he says, moving even more quickly as his body complies with my hands’ request.
A burst of fervent energy.
Then, suddenly motionless.
His face buried in my hair.
His lips finding my neck, then my cheek, then my ear. “I maybe kinda missed you,” he says adorably.
“I may spend the night with Knox more often.”
“I don’t think so, Boots,” he chuckles.
I give him a kiss. “I better get cleaned up and get my bikini on.”
“That’s the only bad thing about a quickie. It’s over way too quick,” he says, letting me up and smacking my butt as I walk away.