Chapter 150: Are You Daring Me?

NORA’S POV

Knox shifted beneath me, his back settling flat against the mattress and his head resting on the pillows.

His large hands stayed locked on my waist, guiding me as I swung one leg over his hips. I knelt across his thighs, straddling him, the cool air of the room brushing against my bare skin.

Knox looked up at me. His broad chest rose and fell in quick, ragged breaths, every muscle in his stomach corded and tight.

"You’re in charge, Bennett," he rasped, his thumbs brushing light circles against my hipbones. "Take as much time as you need."

I reached down with a trembling hand, finding the hard length of his shaft. The tip was hot and slick. I lined him up with my entrance, feeling the blunt head press right against my core.

Slowly, testing the waters, I lowered my hips.

An involuntary gasp caught in my throat. He was so wide, stretching me open inch by slow inch. My tight walls pushed back against him, but the slick friction let him slide smoothly inside.

Knox’s jaw clenched until a tendon popped along his neck. His hands gripped my waist tight, his knuckles turning white as he fought to keep still.

"God, Nora..." Knox groaned. "Look at you."

I kept my eyes on his, sinking down further. The fullness filled every part of me until my pelvis rested flush against his.

I took a long, shaky breath, adjusting to the sheer size of him buried inside me.

Knox reached up, brushing a damp curl from my cheek with surprising tenderness. "You okay?"

"More than okay," I whispered.

Leaning forward, I planted my palms flat on his hard chest, right over his racing heart. Then, I slowly lifted my hips.

I slid up until only the head remained inside, and the sensation made my toes curl. Before Knox could lose his mind, I sank back down, taking him all the way in with a smooth, steady glide.

A low, guttural groan tore from Knox’s chest. His hips gave a slight, involuntary twitch upward, meeting me halfway.

"Fuck, baby," he choked out. "Just like that."

I lifted and dropped again, finding a rhythm that belonged completely to me.

With every downward roll of my hips, his blunt ridge brushed directly against my swollen clit. Sparks flared behind my eyes, tingling all the way down my spine. The ache from before was gone, replaced by a deep, rolling wave of pleasure that made my head fall back.

Knox’s hands slid from my waist to my thighs, gripping my bare legs to steady my balance. His gray eyes followed every movement of my body with hungry, unfiltered focus.

"You’re driving me crazy," Knox panted. "Move faster, Nora. Ride me."

I leaned over him, resting my forearms on the pillows on either side of his shoulders. My bare breasts brushed against the hair on his chest, sending a jolt through my nipples.

I picked up the pace, rocking my hips against his in a faster, more demanding rhythm.

The wet, rhythmic slap of our skin echoed in the quiet room. Every stroke pushed Knox deeper than before, hitting the sweet spot that turned my brain to mush.

Knox couldn’t stay passive any longer.

His hands locked onto my hips, anchoring me down as his athletic thighs surged upward. He started driving up into every downward roll with powerful thrusts.

"Knox... oh God, Knox..." I cried out, my voice hitching with every impact.

"I’ve got you," he rasped through gritted teeth, his neck glistening with sweat. "Come for me, Nora. Squeeze me."

The knot in my lower belly pulled impossibly tight, winding tighter with every stroke until I couldn’t take another second of the friction.

My inner walls clamped down hard around him, pulsing in tight, involuntary ripples. A sharp cry tore from my throat as the wave broke over me, sending shivers straight down to my calves.

Feeling me clamp down around him broke his control completely.

Knox let out a ragged groan, driving his hips up hard to bury himself as deep as he could go. His entire body locked rigid, veins standing out on his neck, his hands gripping my hips so tight they’d leave marks as he pulsed hard into the protection.

He held me tight against his pelvis, his chest shuddering with massive, heaving gasps.

For a long time, the only sound was our ragged breathing and the thumping of our hearts against each other. My strength gave out completely. I collapsed forward, burying my face in the hollow of Knox’s neck.

Knox’s arms wrapped around my back immediately, holding me close and safe against his broad frame. He turned his head, pressing soft, lingering kisses into my temple, my cheek, and the corner of my mouth.

"You’re incredible, Bennett," Knox murmured. "Absolutely incredible."

I smiled weakly against his warm skin, too exhausted to speak.

Knox eased carefully out of me with a soft hiss, keeping one arm around my waist so I wouldn’t feel the chill. He slid out of bed for a brief minute, returning from the bathroom with a warm, damp towel.

With quiet, patient care, Knox cleaned me off, wiping between my thighs with a gentle touch before discarding the towel and protection.

He climbed back under the heavy duvet and pulled me tightly into his side. My head rested on his bare shoulder, my arm draped across his chest. Knox pulled the blankets up to our chins, kissing the top of my head.

"Sleep, baby," he whispered into my hair. "I’m right here."

Surrounded by his scent of cedar and warm skin, I closed my eyes and sank into the deepest, most peaceful sleep of my life.

—

Morning sunlight filtered through the wooden blinds, painting soft golden stripes across the rumpled duvet.

I woke up slowly, feeling warmer and safer than I had in months.

When I tried to stretch my legs, a dull, delicious ache thrummed deep between my thighs. It was a tender, swollen soreness that made my cheeks burn instantly under the covers, bringing every second of last night rushing back into my head.

Knox was still fast asleep beside me, lying on his side.

His arm was slung possessively over my waist, pinning me against his naked chest. His dark curls were messy against the gray pillowcase, and his sharp jaw was completely relaxed, making him look younger and at peace.

I lay there for a quiet while, just listening to the deep, steady rhythm of his breathing.

Smiling softly to myself, I lifted a hand and traced the sharp curve of his collarbone with the tip of my finger. Then I ran my fingers lightly down the center of his chest, feeling the solid beat of his heart.

Knox’s brow twitched. A low, gravelly rumble vibrated in his throat, and his arm pulled me an inch closer, tucking my hips flush against his.

His eyes slowly blinked open, revealing warm gray irises heavy with sleep. "Morning, Bookworm," Knox rasped in a deep, rough morning voice.

"Good morning," I whispered, smiling up at him.

Knox smiled back... a lazy, crooked grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. He leaned down and pressed a slow, warm kiss to my lips, followed by another against my cheek, and a lingering one right over my jaw.

"Sleep okay?" he murmured against my skin.

"Hmm-hmmm," I admitted truthfully.

Knox pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes scanning my face with gentle scrutiny. "How does your body feel this morning? Any pain?"

My face warmed, but I held his gaze. "A little sore... but in a really good way."

A flare of masculine pride lit up Knox’s gray eyes. His chest rumbled as he let out a quiet chuckle, his hand smoothing slowly over the curve of my hip.

"Good," Knox whispered, leaning in to brush his nose against mine. "You were pretty ruthless on top last night, Bennett. Totally took advantage of your innocent captain."

I laughed, swatting his bare shoulder playfully. "Innocent? You practically begged me to come on top, Sheridan."

"Did I?" Knox raised an eyebrow, his classic cocky smirk sliding onto his face. "Pretty sure I was just letting the tutor administer an advanced practical exam. You passed with straight A’s, by the way."

"Oh, really? Is that your official evaluation?"

"Top of the class," Knox said softly, rolling slightly so he hovered over me on his forearms, boxing me in against the pillows.

Beneath the sheets, the thick ridge of his morning erection pressed firmly against my bare hip.

His touch turned slower, more intentional. Knox trailed his fingers down the side of my neck, tracing over my collarbone and down to the dip of my waist. Every place his calloused skin touched sparked heat across my body.

Knox caught my parted lips in another kiss.

This one was unhurried and deep, tasting like warm morning heat. His tongue brushed lazily against mine, coaxing soft sighs from my throat until my fingers found their way into his messy dark hair, holding him close.

When Knox broke the kiss, his breathing had turned shallow and uneven. His eyes were dark, burning with a mix of hunger and playful challenge.

"You know," Knox rasped, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke, "for someone who claimed she was sore, you’re not doing a very good job of keeping your hands to yourself."

I tilted my chin up, meeting his teasing gaze with a playful smirk of my own. "Maybe I like having the varsity captain right where I want him."

Knox chuckled low in his chest, his large hand sliding down to cup the curve of my thigh, squeezing gently.

"Is that right?" he murmured, leaning down so his mouth hovered a mere hair’s breadth from my ear. "Because you looked pretty confident giving the orders last night."

"I think I managed just fine."

"You did," Knox agreed, his voice dropping into a husky whisper that sent a shiver straight down my spine. "So here’s the question, Bennett... think you can handle round two, or is the tutor too scared to get back on top?"

My breath hitched in my throat. My pulse hammered wildly as I looked into his smoldering gray eyes.

"Are you daring me, Sheridan?" I challenged softly.

Knox’s lips curved into that devastating, crooked captain smirk, his gaze locked directly on mine.

"I’m double-dog daring you, Bookworm," Knox murmured against my parted lips. "Show me what you’ve got."