Beauty and the Outcast (New Hope)

“Do you mind?” I try not to sound like an ass, but I’m not sure I pulled it off. It doesn't help that all my blood is pumping to my dick. I grab her, pulling her back to me.

“I don’t mind at all.” He chuckles as he goes back out the door.

“Oh God. Are we going to get in trouble?”

“Why would we?” She lifts her head.

“Because I live here?”

“We’re adults, Bunny. We’re fine.”

“Okay,” she agrees once again. So I do the same thing as before: I kiss her, never wanting to let her go.

15

Whitney

“Like this, Bunny.” My breath hitches each time he calls me that. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I’m slowly coming to love it. It’s not baby or angel. It’s different, and I’m sure there is a reason why he calls me that. One day I won’t be so shy and I’ll push to know why.

Knox comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me as I stand in front of the punching bag in the gym. I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of him holding me. I settle into him, loving how safe I know I am right now.

“Your thumb needs to be on the outside of your fist.” He pulls my thumb out, putting it where he wants. “Between your first and second knuckles on your index and middle fingers. That way you won’t break it.”

I glance at him over my shoulder. He has all his attention focused on me. I turn back so I can concentrate before I throw the punch. He gives me an approving smile that sends a thrill through me.

“Now if you can—and you're shorter so I’m guessing you will—I want you to go like this. Especially if it’s a man. It’s going to temporarily blind and startle them.”

He shows me how to hit the bag using the palm of my hand. “It’s hard on the bag to go up right, but you want to hit upward.” He moves to stand in front of me, sliding his finger up and down his nose to show me where to aim.

We play around for a while. He shows me a few other self-defense moves. I love how determined he is for me to know how to protect myself. It also doesn’t escape me that he knows all these defensive moves. I try not to think about how hard he had it growing up. It hurts my heart.

“And always watch your feet.” Even as he says the words, mine are swept out from under me. I let out a laugh, somehow knowing I’m not going to hit the floor. His arms grab me before I fall, and he pulls me into him. I wrap my arms around his neck.

“You know a lot about protecting yourself.” As soon as the words pass my lips I wonder if I’ve gone too far. The walls we both put around ourselves are only starting to fall away. I don’t want to push him to open up any more than he’s ready to.

“I wasn’t always this big.” Big is really only the start of what he is. It’s hard for me to see him as anything but this enormous man in front of me who dares anyone to challenge him.

He stares down at me, his mouth starting to lower. My eyes fall closed in anticipation of his kiss, but my phone starts blaring from where I left it. My eyes fling open.

“Not going to stop me, Bunny,” he says against my mouth before he’s kissing me yet again. It’s so easy to get lost in him. I’m not used to that. The letting go part. “They’re fucking persistent.”

Knox grunts as he pulls back from the kiss, putting me back on my feet. He grabs my phone. The irritation is clear on his face. It slips away when he glances down at the screen and answers it.

“Hey,” he says. “I’ve got her.” I know it has to be Faith. “I said I got her.” He pauses again. “Got it.” He ends the call, never giving me my cell phone.

“I’m going to jump in the shower and change. Then I’ll take you to meet Faith for lunch.”

“Oh crap. I forgot all about that.”

“Come on. We’ll change and meet them.” He takes my hand, leading me out of the gym and up toward our bedrooms. He releases me but not before he kisses me yet again. For a man that doesn't care to be touched, he sure enjoys me touching him. I wonder what makes me so different.

It doesn't take us long to meet up with Faith and Ace. I don’t miss the stares we get as Knox holds my hand through the restaurant and out onto the back patio where Ace and Faith are sitting. Her eyes go wide when she sees us coming. Knox continues holding my hand all the way to the table. He even pulls my chair out for me.