Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

P erry

The cabin feels different now. There's a warmth that wasn't there before, an intimacy in every corner, in the way the fire crackles low and steady, casting soft shadows across the worn wooden floor. It's not just Knox's space anymore—it's ours. The stone walls that once seemed to hold everything and everyone at bay now radiate comfort, like the cabin itself has softened with Knox. There's a balance between the ruggedness of the place and the new life we're breathing into it.

I'm curled up on the couch, my legs tucked beneath me as I watch him. Knox stands by the hearth, broad shoulders backlit by the fire, the flickering light dancing across his face. He's always been quiet, his thoughts hidden behind a steady, brooding mask, but tonight, something feels different. I can sense the weight of his thoughts, the intensity in the way he stares into the flames. The air between us hums with unspoken things, words he's held back, walls he's been trying to keep up.

I know better now. I've learned to wait for him, to let him come to me when he's ready. But there's something about the way he glances over his shoulder at me, those stormy eyes of his softening when they meet mine, that tells me tonight is different.

"Hey," I murmur, my voice barely breaking the quiet. It's not a question, just a gentle acknowledgment. I'm here. I see him.

Knox crosses the room in a few deliberate strides, each step echoing with the weight of whatever is on his mind. When he kneels in front of me, his presence fills the space, making the cabin feel smaller, more intimate. He reaches for my hands, his calloused fingers brushing over mine. I've always loved his hands—the roughness of them, the way they make me feel grounded and safe. Tonight, though, there's something vulnerable in the way he holds me, like he's laying down his armor piece by piece.

"I'm yours," he says, his voice rough, thick with emotion. His gaze locks with mine, and the intensity of it steals my breath. "I've fought it, resisted it... but I can't fight what I feel for you anymore. I'm in this, for good. For better or worse."

His words hit me deep, and I can feel my heart swell in my chest, the warmth spreading through me. This is Knox letting go, the man who has spent years building walls around his heart, finally choosing to let me in. And I don't take that lightly. I know how hard he's fought this—how hard it is for him to trust.

I lean forward, brushing my lips over his knuckles, feeling the weight of his commitment in every inch of his touch. "I know," I whisper, my voice soft but steady. "And I'm not going anywhere."

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he just looks at me, like he's still processing the fact that I'm here—that I chose him, and I'll keep choosing him. I can see the struggle in his eyes, the fight between wanting to protect himself and wanting to be with me completely. But tonight, he's made his decision.

He pulls me into his lap, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels both protective and possessive. His lips find mine, slow and tender, and this kiss...it's different from the ones we've shared before. It's not about the raw need that's always been between us. This kiss is about something deeper. It's a promise. A union of more than just our bodies—it's our souls, meeting in the middle, trusting, surrendering.

I let out a soft sigh against his lips, my hands sliding up the broad expanse of his back. I can feel the tension ease from his muscles, the weight of whatever he's been carrying slowly lifting. For the first time, I realize he's fully here with me—not retreating, not hiding behind the walls he's so carefully constructed.

"Knox," I whisper his name, and the way he responds with that low, rumbling hum makes my pulse quicken. I know what this means, how much he's giving me right now, and it makes my heart race with something that's more than desire. This is trust. This is love.

His hands slide up my arms, rough fingertips trailing over my skin, leaving a path of heat in their wake. He pulls me closer, deepening the kiss, but it's still soft, still careful. Like he's savoring this moment, like he's savoring me.

My hands find their way to his jaw, feeling the stubble beneath my fingers as I tilt his head slightly, kissing him with a bit more urgency. I can feel him smile against my lips, and I know he's feeling the same thing—that we're not just easing into this, but we're falling, deeper and deeper with every kiss, every touch.

He shifts, his hands sliding down my sides, pulling me flush against him. The firelight flickers, casting golden hues across his face, and for a moment, I pull back, just enough to look at him. To take in the man who has changed everything for me. His gaze is heavy with unspoken things, but I can feel them—he doesn't need to say them out loud.

I lean in, pressing my lips to the spot just below his ear, feeling the shiver that runs through him as I do. "You're mine too," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "For better or worse."

Knox's breath hitches, and he tightens his grip on me, his lips finding mine again in a kiss that's not so slow anymore. It's like something has broken open between us, all the fear, all the hesitation, spilling out and leaving only this—only us. His kiss deepens, rougher now, more insistent, and I can feel the heat building between us, not just from the fire but from the way our bodies press together, every inch of him burning into me.

His hands move with more purpose now, sliding up under my shirt, his touch igniting a trail of fire along my skin. I gasp as his fingers brush against my bare skin, and he takes advantage of the sound, deepening the kiss even more. There's a hunger in the way he touches me, a need that's been simmering for so long, finally breaking free.

But it's more than just the physical. This is Knox letting go—of everything. Of the fear, of the pain, of the past. This is him choosing me, choosing us, and I feel that in every kiss, every touch, every breath.

I'm not sure how long we stay like this, lost in each other, but eventually, Knox pulls back, his forehead resting against mine as we both catch our breath. His hands are still on me, his fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns on my skin, and I can feel the steady beat of his heart against mine.

"I love you," he murmurs, the words slipping out like they've been waiting to be said. And I know he means them.

"I love you too," I whisper back, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

We sit there for a while, wrapped up in each other, the fire crackling softly in the background. The world outside the cabin feels far away, and for once, it's just us. Just the two of us, in this place we've made our home.

And I know, without a doubt, that this is just the beginning.