Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
He mutters something under his breath, but he’s already lost. I let him go, shoving him back toward the door, and he stumbles out, glaring at me over his shoulder. But he’s not coming back. He won’t risk it.
As soon as he’s gone, the tension in the shop lingers like a thick fog. I turn back to Perry, my chest heaving, my fists still clenched at my sides. The adrenaline is wearing off, replaced by something heavier. Something raw. I look at her, and for the first time, I’m not sure what to say. I’ve been protecting her from him, but who’s protecting her from me? From the walls I’ve built around myself, from the distance I’ve tried to keep between us?
“Knox…” Perry steps toward me, her voice soft, filled with concern. She reaches out, her hand brushing my arm, but I pull back. Not because I don’t want her touch—I crave it—but because I’m terrified. Terrified of what comes next. Of what I’ve been trying so hard to avoid.
“I can’t lose you, Perry,” I say, my voice rough, filled with all the emotion I’ve been holding back for so long. “I… I love you. And it scares the hell out of me.”
The words come out harsher than I intended, like a confession I didn’t want to make. But now that they’re out, there’s no taking them back. I look at her, my heart pounding, my body tense, waiting for her to respond.
She steps closer, her eyes soft, understanding. “You’re not going to lose me,” she whispers, her voice steady. “I’m here, Knox. I’m not going anywhere.”
She reaches up, cupping my face in her hands, forcing me to look at her. Her touch is gentle, soothing the storm inside me, and for the first time, I believe her. I believe that maybe, just maybe, I don’t have to do this alone.
“I love you too,” she says, her voice filled with emotion, and it’s like the weight on my chest lifts, just a little. She presses her forehead to mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. I close my eyes, letting her words wash over me. She loves me. She’s not leaving.
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, holding her tight. For the first time in a long time, I let the walls come down. I let her in, fully. And it feels like coming home.
As we stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the chaos of the night fades away. The future is still uncertain, but I know one thing for sure—I’m ready to face whatever comes next. As long as I have her by my side.
Chapter Eleven
Perry
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.”