“For now, yes. It really is that simple.”
“When does it become more complicated?”
He sat back in his chair. “Two things concern me above the rest. First, the man we saw earlier today in Florence. Second, that someone was in the casina. Apart from that, there’s nothing I see as urgent, unless you know who he is and why he was following you. Or if there are additional threats against your safety you’re aware of.”
“I don’t know any of those things.”
He stood and took his plate to the sink but looked as though he had something more to say. Like I had, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Tara, the man I saw you with, do you have any reason to believe he would do anything to hurt you?”
“None whatsoever. I know he would never.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
“For now?”
He smiled. “For now.”
After we cleaned up the dishes from dinner, Knox took my hand and led me over to the staircase. “I want you to sleep in my bed tonight, Tara.”
“Okay.”
“There’s something you need to understand first.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Which is why we’re talking about it before we go upstairs.”
I nodded even though I really didn’t want to hear what he was about to say.
“I want you in bed beside me. I want to feel you next to me. And as much as I want to have sex with you, we aren’t going to. Not tonight.”
There was no need for me to look in the mirror to confirm my cheeks were flushed. I could feel the heat in them. The humiliation I felt made me want to race out of the farmhouse. Knox, obviously anticipating that reaction, had his arm around my waist and was holding on tightly.
“Too much happened today. I know you’re feeling that as much as I am. I’m not saying it won’t happen tomorrow, but even if it doesn’t, it won’t change the fact that I want you.”
He cupped my flaming cheek with his palm. “I know that, somewhere inside, you agree this is the best thing for both of us.” His eyes bored into mine. “Don’t you, Tara?”
I had to admit, I did. My first reaction was embarrassment, but if I’d allowed myself time to think it through, I knew what he was saying was best for both of us.
“One more thing—”
Before he could speak, I put my fingers on his lips.
“Let me say it.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I told you I want you in bed beside me. If you don’t want that, I’m not going to force you, Tara.”
“I would really like to sleep with you, Knox.”
He smiled and led me up the staircase, past the room where my things were.
“Sorry, I’m kind of a slob,” he muttered, picking the clothes scattered around the room and tossing them into a heap in the corner.
I went back into the hallway and to the room where my bags were. I grabbed a few things and used the restroom. When I came back into the bedroom, Knox was sitting at the end of the bed. He was wearing fleece shorts but no shirt. And, God, he looked delicious. I’d never been with a man like him before—someone so muscular. His upper arms were bigger around than my thighs. The idea of all that power thrusting into me made me shudder.
He held out his hand, and I came and sat beside him.