Chapter 23

Lakeland

Knox keeps my hand clasped in his as he leads me inside the mansion, it's stunning. Marble floors, high ceilings with wooden beams displayed, a grand staircase in the foyer, and paintings of landscapes adorn the walls.

"In here," a woman calls out. Knox sighs before leading me toward the sound of voices. As we enter, I notice it's a large kitchen. It's huge! Stone countertops, stainless steel appliances but it's the sight of the plants littered throughout the space that has me gasping and tearing my hand from Knox's as I spin around taking in the greenery. I love plants. I always have but Dad never allowed me to have any inside our home. He said it looked tacky and distasteful. "Lake." I spin around at the sound of my name and come face to face with a gorgeous woman. She wears a blush-pink silk blouse and black, boot leg slacks, her brown hair is loose around her shoulders but it's the warm smile on her face that holds me captive as I flick my eyes to hers and gasp—hazel colored eyes!

Those eyes have pain exploding in the back of my head, I stumble backward and groan in pain as I clutch my head.

"Knox is just salty I got Mom's eye color and his resembles the color of a dying tree." She laughs when I shove her shoulder.

"Your brother's eye color is stunning, Wave. Don't be mean." Her hazel eyes spark with disgust.

"I think I threw up in my mouth."

Gasping, I bolt upright and try to catch my breath as panic threads through my veins, that was a memory!

"Are you okay?" I shriek in fright and jerk backward. I look around to find I'm in a bedroom and currently sitting on a bed while Knox stands at the edge peering down at me.

"Your eyes are the color of a dying tree." All traces of worry from a second ago vanish as his features harden. I don't want him to be angry. I can"t take it, so I ignore the resounding pain in my head and push to my knees, shuffling closer to the edge. He stands there stiff and without an ounce of emotion present on his face as I reach out and wrap my arms around his neck in a bold move, hoping he won't push me away. "I… I think I had a flashback," I say quietly. I hope it was because if that is what these strange flashback things are, then that means I'm slowly starting to remember.

"My sister always said that about my eye color. How did you… know?" His tone is firm. I bite the corner of my mouth trying to think of the right words to explain it. He reaches up and uses his thumb to pry my lip loose, his simple touch has a fire swirling in my belly.

"I think I had a memory or flashback or whatever you want to call it of me and your… sister." I can see him struggling with his emotions. He wants to scream at me and blame me for her loss but another part of him, the part that claims to have known and loved me years ago, won't allow him to push me away. "She was teasing you about your eye color and I told her your eyes are stunning." He quirks a brow. I feel heat creep into my cheeks. "She gagged and then I woke up." Silence stretches, I try to keep my mind from drifting and thinking he will hurt me. But, given how we met and the way he handled me, I fear he may fall back into those habits. I see now, mentioning anything from the past especially, anything to do with his sister is a very sore subject. Suddenly his hands grip my waist and without warning he leans down and ghosts his lips over mine. This moment feels… strange. Our eyes are locked, our breath is mingling but it is the raw emotion I see in his gaze that has me stilling with bated breath to see what he does next.

"I don't want to think, when I do it doesn't end well for you." Sucking in a sharp breath I nod grazing his lips with my own. "I'm going to fuck you until I can't think anymore." He doesn't wait for a reply or permission, he seals his lips to mine taking what he desires from me without asking, he doesn't need to because he and I both know I will give in. It's strange to not know him from Adam and yet my body responds to him like a dog obeying its master. He uses his weight to force me back flat onto the bed as he nestles himself between my legs without breaking the kiss. My fingers slide through the strands of his hair. I gasp into his mouth when he grinds against me.

He grips the hem of my dress and pulls it up, exposing my bare pussy before reaching between us and making quick work of freeing his cock from the confines of his jeans. Unlike on the plane, there is no build up, no teasing or foreplay, just carnal need. He lines his cock up with my entrance. Breaking the kiss for the first time, he cups my cheeks as he eases inside me inch by delicious inch, watching me the entire time as if he is documenting every sound and shift in my features to his memory. This moment feels so intimate. I feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes as he stares down at me with such an intense look of longing in his green eyes.

"I want everything from you, Lakeland," he growls as he draws out of me until only the tip remains inside before slamming back inside, drawing a sharp cry from me as my back arches off the bed. He latches onto the exposed skin on my neck, sucking the flesh into his mouth, marking me as his again. Gripping his hair, I hold him there as I lock my legs around his waist so I can take him deeper.

"Give me all of you, Knox," I rasp out, pulling back and bracing his hands on either side of my head as he stares down at me.

"You have no idea what you are asking for."

Gripping the front of his shirt in my hands, I pull him to me until there is just a sliver of space between us. "You want me to give you everything, then I need you to do the same. Help me remember your Lakeland." His mouth parts in a silent gasp as his eyes fill with pain before he quickly masks it and silences me with a kiss. Any argument I may have had evaporates as he continues to move inside me. Suddenly this doesn't just feel like sex or him fucking me to prove that he can do this… it's more. He's showing me without words that I meant something to him—still do. Unlike every other orgasm he has given me, this one doesn't tear me apart, this one crests slowly and washes over me like a warm embrace. I'm a panting mess beneath him and slowly blink my eyes open to find him still gazing down at me. There is something empowering about looking him in the eyes as he comes with my name on his lips.

"You've always had me," he murmurs as he pulls out of me. I expect him to leave after that declaration and even prepare myself for his exit, then he drops down beside me and wraps me in his arms, pulling me close. Neither of us utters a word as we slowly come down from our highs. I can feel him slowly leaking out of me and coating my inner thighs with his cum.

"Knox, I need to clean up." Rather than letting me go, he just chuckles and pushes me onto my back and bends his elbow, resting his chin in his hand as his other one skates down my body leaving gooseflesh in its wake. As he reaches my pussy, I stiffen. "What are you doing?" I breathe out as he runs a finger through my folds and pushes that finger inside me and draws it out, bringing it to my lips.

"Suck it." Heat blooms inside my belly as a dark depraved beast awakens inside me. Never would I have ever thought I would beg to have my ass eaten or fucked but I did, now the thought of tasting both our cum has me opening my mouth and sucking his fingers clean while moaning. Without being prompted to, I reach between my legs and circle my clit, moaning around his finger. His brows bunch for a second until he flicks his gaze down and sees what I'm doing. Heat blooms in his eyes as he tears his finger free and leaps off the bed. "Turn around, head over the edge of the bed, now." The gravelly tone of his voice has excitement thrumming through me. "Lose the fucking dress," he also growls. I do as he says and reach for my bra but he shakes his head. "That stays, you're going to be punished for touching what doesn't belong to you."

My jaw unhinges. "Seriously?" I squeak.

His eyes darken as he strikes out and grips the back of my head, tangling his fingers through my hair, dragging me forward and positioning me how he wants me. My neck balances on the edge of the bed. Releasing his hold on me, he undresses but my eyes are glued to his cock that is still glistening with both our releases. He peers down at me while gripping his cock. I dart my tongue out, needing to taste him.

"Open your legs and show me that cunt." I eagerly obey him and can't even find it within myself to be ashamed of how fucking wet I am. His stance widens as he steps forward, forcing me back, his balls resting on my chin. "Open your mouth and suck them." Opening my mouth I tease him and dart my tongue out tasting him. He jerks forward and growls. "Sneaky bitch," he snarls. I cry out when he smacks my pussy.

"Knox!" I scold but he delivers another two smacks. I shiver and fight the urge to clench my thighs together for some friction.

"Suck them!" Doing as he demanded, I reach out and grip the globes of his toned ass and force him lower as I suck his balls gently. "Fuck, swirl your tongue," he snaps. I obey without complaint, loving the taste of him as the salty taste of his cum covers them. Moaning at the taste, I suck him harder, loving the strangled groan that comes from him. Just as I start to enjoy myself, he shifts and crouches down beside my head, then grips my throat as he leans in close. "I'm strong because I have been weak. I'm fearless because I've been afraid. I am wise because I have been foolish. I won't make the same mistake twice." I try to sit up but his grip on my throat keeps me in place, my head spinning slightly from this angle.

"I don't understand," I say honestly.

"I was weak six years ago, then I became strong. I was afraid of losing anyone else I loved, I'm not now because I'm strong enough to protect them. I'm wiser and smarter now because I will never be foolish again. Don't make me break those vows."

"I would never," I say still slightly confused.

"You make me weak because I need you. You bring fear to life because I won't survive losing you again. You make me foolish because I can't seem to stay away from you when I know I should until I know the truth." His raw honesty stumps me for a moment until I gather my thoughts.

"Women love what they hear and men love what they see, that"s why women wear makeup and men lie. I don't wear makeup, Knox. I'm not hiding anything… willingly and I believe you aren't lying to me. We aren't like everyone else. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Believe me when I tell you that I am in this with you, I want to know the truth as much as you do." He releases his hold on me and stands. I can see in his eyes he is going to leave so I do the only thing I can, I scramble off the bed and drop to my knees before him.

"Lakeland—" Before he can finish pushing me away, I grip his length as I wrap my lips around the head of his cock, making sure to keep my eyes locked on his as I swallow as much of him as I can. His mouth opens and a groan slips free. I bob up and down on his cock, stroking the base with my hand. "You fool me again, Lake, and I will slit your fucking throat myself and bathe in your blood," he warns before his hand delves into my hair. Holding me in place, he begins to thrust his hips, forcing me to drop my hand back to my side. "Play with that greedy cunt while you choke on my cock."

I almost weep in gratitude. Pushing my knees apart, I plunge two fingers inside my drenched pussy, moaning. He groans as the vibrations travel up his cock. I finger fuck my greedy little cunt in rhythm with his thrusts. He may be the one setting the pace but in this moment, I am the one with all the power. I hold the key to bring him to the greatest of highs. Spit trails down my chin as I gag around him but the sight just seems to spur him on. I love the unhinged look in his eyes and the way his lip is pulled back in a snarl—he looks like a fucking nightmare, my nightmare come true.

"Fuck, baby, I'm gonna come." I quicken my pace as I ride my fingers. He throws his head back and groans so loud it reminds me of a grizzly bear. I feel his cum slide down the back of my throat and savor the taste of him just as my own orgasm begins to crest. Knox pulls his cock free and drops to his knees in front of me, he grips my hand and yanks it free as I whimper. He replaces my fingers with his own and my eyes roll back as he grips my throat, forcing my head back so he claims my lips in a kiss of ownership.

""Knox… God," I cry out, breaking the kiss.

"Who's your fucking God, Lay?" he snarls.

His eyes darken and I know if I don't answer correctly he'll pull his fingers free and leave me here on edge. Being bold, I reach out and grip the hair on the back of his head, pulling him in closer. "You are." His eyes blaze with approval. "Now make me come on your fingers so I can ride your cock." A sexy smirk tugs at his lips. Pressing the pad of his thumb flat against my clit, I cry out as the orgasm rips through me without warning. I scream his name as I ride this fucking high like there is no tomorrow. We may have a fucked-up history that only one of us can remember but that doesn't diminish the chemistry or sexual tension that is constantly present when we are near each other. Knox Bronson is the ring around my Saturn and I can't find it within myself to be pissed about that.