Unraveled

by Lorelei James

  “You like that,” he murmured.

  The more he touched her, the more her body responded. Then his hot breath fanned her shoulder. “Tell me what will get you there.”

  “Keep your hands on me.”

  As soon as Knox returned to the hard, sweeping press of his fingers, that tingling sensation started in her tailbone.

  Shiori wasn’t even touching her clit when she started to come. Her pussy clamped down on his cock and the pulsing rush happened deep inside her, sending another wash of vibrations through her.

  “Jesus. Yes.” Knox kept the same rhythm as he reached that point. She felt his cock jerking within her as his balls emptied.

  He let out another grunt and started to slow the pumping of his hips. Before he stopped moving entirely, he pressed his chest into her back and dragged an openmouthed kiss from behind her ear to the ball of her shoulder. “You are amazing. Thank you.” He pulled out and flipped her onto her back, taking a moment to kiss her thoroughly before he went to ditch the condom.

  Now Shiori was too hyped up to go back to sleep. When Knox appeared by the side of the bed, he’d already slipped his lounge pants back on.

  He held out his hand. “I’ll finish cooking you breakfast.”

  “I’m not doing the walk of shame even in your kitchen by putting my club clothes back on. Do you have anything I could wear?”

  Knox rummaged in the closet. He handed her a long-sleeved white shirt.

  “This?”

  He shrugged. “I wanna see you in one of my shirts, knowing you’ve got nothing on beneath it.”

  She shoved her arms into the sleeves. “Speaking of shirts? Only button-up or snap shirts when you’re with me. I hate having to fight to get my hands on your chest.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The tail of Knox’s shirt brushed her knees. There seemed to be six inches of material left over in the sleeves. She stopped in front of him. “I look ridiculous.”

  “You look ridiculously sexy.” He rolled the cuffs up past her elbows. “There. Now you look perfect.” He kissed the top of her head. “Don’t know what the hell happened to your panties.”

  “Do you have shorts with a drawstring? I don’t want to leave cooter marks all over your kitchen.”

  He laughed. He opened the top drawer in his dresser and fished around until he found a pair of boxers. “Best I can do.”

  “That’ll work.” She slipped them on and followed him into the kitchen.

  “I wasn’t sure if you wanted eggs. Or I can make pancakes or French toast.”

  “Eggs would be great. Scrambled, please.”

  “Coming right up.” Knox curled his hands around her waist and said, “Jump up,” and hoisted her onto the counter.

  Shiori swiped a piece of bacon off the rack and watched Knox crack four eggs and whip them with milk. Then he threw a pat of butter in the pan. When it sizzled, he poured in the egg mixture and dropped two pieces of bread in the toaster.

  “I’d ask if there’s anything I could do to help, but I’d probably electrocute us or burn the place down.”

  “No worries. I’ve got this handled.”

  “I like watching you cook.”

  Knox looked up, surprise on his face. “Really? Why?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve never really had a man cook for me before.” Fearing she’d said too much, she added, “And because I can see the muscles in your biceps flexing as you’re whipping eggs. It’s sexy.”

  Then he was in her face. “Right now I wish I were a five-star chef so I could wow you with some fancy dish.”

  “I’m glad you’re making me plain scrambled eggs while I sit on the counter next to you and steal all your bacon.” She grinned and crunched another piece.

  “I’m keeping track. Those two pieces are coming out of your bacon allotment.”

  “Or I could just command you to give me your bacon,” she said sweetly.

  Knox laughed. “She-Cat. I’m submissive in the bedroom only. Out here? I’ll take you to the mat over bacon, baby.”

  He buttered the toast, dished up their plates, and divvied up the bacon. Then he insisted on feeding her. Which was sweet and funny and intoxicating and just so . . . Knox.

  Afterward, he cleaned up.

  Shiori was ogling his ass, wondering how long he’d last in a game of blow-job torture, when he spun around and leveled that stare at her. “What?”

  “You do realize you made a devious chuckle that had my balls shriveling with fear?”

  “I wasn’t aware of that.”

  “The hell you weren’t.” He stepped between her knees and tugged her to the edge of the counter. “Will it startle you into dialing your car service when I say I want to hang out with you like a normal couple today?” He smoothed her hair down with his hands. “Watch a movie or TV or go for a drive.”

  Four loud raps sounded, followed by the squeak of the door opening and a feminine voice yelling, “Knox? I saw your truck outside, so I know you’re home.”

  He swore and headed to intercept his houseguest. “Vivie. What the hell? Since when do you just walk into someone’s house?”

  “Fair game when the homeowner was stupid enough to leave the front door unlocked,” she retorted. “And why are you half naked?”

  Jealousy gnawed at her even when she couldn’t see Knox’s visitor. Too bad she couldn’t drop to the floor and slink into the bedroom.

  “Vivie, you’re a shithead,” another female voice said. “I told you to wait until he answered the door before you barged in here.”

  “Shut it, Zara. He’s speechless because he’s so happy to see us, huh, bro?”

  Bro?

  “Does Mom know you two drove into the city?”

  “Yes. We learned our lesson last time.”

  Knox snorted.

  “Omigod. Who is that?”

  And . . . she’d been spotted. Shiori hopped down from the counter and did up the two buttons on the shirt before she turned around.

  Knox took her hand and pulled her forward. “These are my two little sisters. Vivie”—he pointed to the tall blond girl—“and Zara.” He pointed to the other tall blond girl.

  They really were a family of Vikings.

  Vivie offered her hand. “Nice to meet you . . . ?”

  “Shiori Hirano. Knox and I work together.” Why had she qualified it?

  “I knew it!” Zara said with a smug smile. “You’re the one who knocked Knox on his butt the first time you met because you outrank him.”

  She looked at Knox, shocked that he’d told his sisters that story. “Yes, technically I outrank him, but he’s still considered the highest belt level besides Sensei at Black Arts.”

  “I can’t believe someone so little threw down a guy your size, bro.”

  “Me either. Don’t let her size fool ya. She’s packing mean.”

  “So are you guys dating?” Zara asked, her gaze winging between Knox’s bare chest and Shiori wearing only Knox’s shirt.

  “Yes,” Knox answered without hesitation, “Shiori and I are involved, but we’re keeping it on the down low since we work together.”

  “Wait a second.” Vivie’s brow was furrowed. “You’re Ronin Black’s sister?”

  “Yes. But don’t hold that against me.”

  “Ronin is like—”

  “The hottest guy we’ve ever met in person,” Zara finished. “He’s just so—”

  “Perfect,” Vivie finished.

  “Well, I think your brother is the hottest guy I’ve ever met,” she said.

  Knox kissed the top of her head.

  “He’s not bad, I guess, for an old guy,” Zara teased.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Knox said dryly. “And Ronin is three years older than me, so there.”

  “None of that PDA crap when we’re at the mall today, okay?” Vivie said.

  “Mall?” Knox repeated.

  “Why do
you think we’re in Denver?” Vivie poked him in the chest. “We talked about this, remember? My senior social? I need a dress?”

  “Yeah, but it’s not until next month, so why are you shopping now?”

  Shiori exchanged a “men are clueless” look with Vivie and Zara.

  “How’d I get roped into this again?” Knox asked.

  “Because you won’t let her buy a dress that’s skanky,” Zara said, “while I’d probably encourage her to dress slutty.” She looked at Shiori. “We balance each other out.”

  “What’s the age difference between you two?” Shiori asked.

  “A year and a half. Vivie’s a senior this year and I’m a junior.”

  “Technically, Knox is old enough to be our dad,” Vivie said.

  “You’re jumping on the ‘Knox is old’ bandwagon too, Viv?”

  “But we love you.” Vivie kissed his cheek. “Got any food? I’m starved.”

  “Me too,” Zara said.

  “You two are always starved.” He sighed. “I can cook you eggs or grilled cheese.”

  “Grilled cheese,” they said in unison.

  It was fascinating to see Knox in the big-brother role. He had an easy rapport with the teenagers, and yet she knew if his mother sent him shopping with them, he wasn’t a pushover. And it made her heart melt a little seeing his nurturing side.

  Shiori had a pang of jealousy that her relationship with her brother hadn’t been like that. Wanting to leave them to their family time, she tried to sneak out.

  But Knox caught her around the waist halfway down the hall. “Where you going?”

  “I need to get dressed and call the car service for a ride.”

  “Why?”

  “Because your sisters are here.”

  He looked confused. “So?”

  “So they want to spend time with you, not me.”

  “They want to spend time at the mall. I want to spend time with you, so you’re coming with us.”

  “I only have my walk-of-shame clothes here, remember?”

  “I don’t know what your deal is. You looked fantastic last night, nowhere near slutty. What you wore is fine even in the light of day. Better than fine. Come with us.”

  “All right.” Her eyes searched his. “And if we run into anyone we know?”

  His eyes cooled. “I don’t like this sneaking-around shit. Part of me gets why we have to, but a larger part of me wants to say fuck it.” He traced the deep V of the shirt. “We’re together. People can deal with that.” His unspoken, You can deal with it too, hung between them.

  “Would you be so willing to tell people you’re my submissive?”

  “Apples and oranges, kitten.” He gave her a lingering kiss and returned to the kitchen.

  Shiori made herself as presentable as she could.

  Knox walked in, threw on jeans, a button-down shirt, and ran his hand through his hair. Ready and looking delectable in less than two minutes.

  “Why are you scowling at me?”

  “Never mind. By the way, I used your toothbrush.”

  “No worries. But you might wanna think about keeping some of your stuff over here.”

  Why that annoyed her—she had no idea. “Maybe you should consider keeping some of your stuff at my place.”

  He smiled. “Whatever works. You ready to go?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Cherry Creek Mall.”

  * * *

  SHOPPING with Knox’s sisters yanked her out of her sour mood. She’d not spent any time with teenagers since she was a teen, and she didn’t remember her friends being so funny. Probably because they were trying so hard to be cool.

  Vivie and Zara didn’t care about being cool, and she had to credit their upbringing for making them want to be true to themselves since Knox was the same way.

  The dressing-room door opened and Vivie sashayed out in dress number ten.

  “Dear god,” Zara said, “that is hideous. Are those . . . mushrooms in the floral pattern? Because from here they look like dozens of dicks of all sizes.”

  “Dammit, Zara, can’t you keep your voice down?”

  She looked at Knox. “That was my quiet voice.”

  “Shiori? What do you think?”

  She shook her head. “Too high fashion.”

  “Not to mention the slit goes up so high I can see your underwear,” Knox added.

  Vivie stormed back toward the dressing room. “At this rate I’ll never find a dress.”

  The saleslady returned with four more dresses and whisked the discarded ones away.

  Five full minutes passed before Zara got up and pounded on the door. “Hurry up.”

  “I can’t reach the zipper on this one because it’s so low.”

  “I’m saying strike one for that dress without even seeing it,” Knox muttered.

  Zara stepped inside to help her.

  A lot of squealing ensued.

  Then Zara opened the door. “Ta-da! This is one of those dresses you make an entrance in.”

  Vivie strolled out in a pale blue satin and tulle dress. The style was modest in the front: cap sleeves, shirred satin panel on the bodice, a nipped-in waist, and a full skirt.

  “Isn’t this dress to die for?” Zara exclaimed.

  “Yes, you look stunning, Vivie,” Shiori said.

  “It’s weird because I’ve never thought about it before, but this dress makes me feel like a princess.” She twirled and giggled.

  Knox smiled softly. “You look awesome, brat.”

  Vivie stuck her tongue out.

  “But I’ve gotta be the voice of reason and ask to see the price tag.”

  “But it’s perfect!”

  “It’s not the only dress in the world. And Mom and Rick don’t have an unlimited budget to spend on one dress, sweetie. You know that.”

  She fussed and adjusted the dress in the big mirror. “Okay, I looked at the price tag and it’s way more than I can spend. Even the babysitting money I have saved up can’t make up the difference.”

  Shiori started to open her mouth to say she’d cover the difference because Vivie deserved that dress. But she felt Knox’s gaze burning into her as a warning.

  Zara held her hand down to Vivie and said, “Low five.”

  “No doubt.” She sighed and spun in the dress one more time.