A sly grin creeps across Knox's lips as Everett feigned confidence with his statement.

The boy's eyes no longer glow with fear when looking at Knox, no longer carry disgust and ire. Presently, Everett's pretty brown eyes radiate unadulterated lust. Fucking hot-blooded arousal. It's driving Knox mad on the inside, and it's a wonder how he hasn't already spread Everett wide open to—

"When is this introduction thing happening? I'm not exactly dressed to impress." Everett waves a hand over his lazy outfit, a loose t-shirt with dark sweats, before pulling his leg from underneath Knox's large hand.

The action produces a frown on Knox's face, their skin to skin contact having momentarily warded off the darkness tormenting his soul.

"I can arrange something shortly, but I have to speak with Pres first," Knox says. "Soon as Doc gave him the all-clear earlier today, I went to pick you up. He has no clue I brought you back here."

"Are you sure he'll let me stay?" Everett's brows furrow with worry, his gentle voice having gone quieter.

"After I talk with him, I promise he'll let you stay for as long as you need to," Knox answers. "When I feel it's safe enough for you to return home, I'll tell you. Trust me, there's nothing for you to worry about."

Everett nods. "Okay."

Knox gets up from the bed and he can feel Everett's eyes follow him around the room, part of him enjoying being the center of Everett's attention. Knox makes space in his closet for some of Everett's clothes, and he even goes the extra mile by cleaning out a drawer on the dresser.

It's as if he's forgotten this situation is temporary, not permanent.

"You're being too gracious," Everett calls out a few minutes later. He takes the duffle bag with him to deposit some of his belongings in the dresser drawer that now belongs to him. "But I appreciate it, anyway."

Knox leans against the tall dresser with an impassive look on his face, once again studying Everett's every move. "You were brought into this mess against your will, so the least I can do is make sure you're comfortable while staying here."

"It's crazy how you're completely chill about sharing your bed with a stranger for only God knows how long," Everett says. "I'm not looking forward to it."

"I am," Knox smirks when their gazes find each other again. A familiar heat rips through them like wildfire, amplifying the yearning their bodies feel for one another. It's so potent Knox can almost taste it.

"Do you, uh, plan on walking around here half-naked all day, or are you going to eventually put a shirt on?" Everett questions. He tries to play it cool, but he's actually struggling to keep his eyes from drifting past Knox's neck.

"Why would I cover up when you clearly like what you see?" Knox teases, taking a step forward.

"Like what I see? Says who?" Everett rolls his eyes.

"Says your cock," Knox answers with a straight face. The bag hits the floor, and then he backs Everett into the dresser with his hips, placing a hand around his throat and the other at the waistband of Everett's sweats. "Think I didn't notice that you were hard for me? Because I did. I'm always watching, kitten. Not a lot can get past me when it comes to you."

"Do something..." Everett licks his lips and tilts his head farther back, shamelessly offering himself up to the devil. "Or get the fuck off me."

Knox actually growls at that. He pulls Everett forward by the neck, their breath hitting each other's lips as his eyes zero in on Everett's mouth, and then a knock sounds at the door.

Knocking that turns into a pounding when no one immediately responds.

"Ignore it," Everett whispers, desperation rolling off him in waves. He grips Knox by the waist as if that's enough to keep him from moving. "Stay with me."

"I hear voices," Josie calls from outside. "What are you two doing in there? Open the door already."

"We aren't done here," Knox whispers back, reluctantly separating from Everett. He runs off to the bathroom while Knox answers the door to greet Josie, the only woman in his life that's worth a damn. "Shouldn't your pregnant ass be sitting down somewhere?"

She laughs. "Mind your business."

"I was until you started banging on my door like you were the fucking police," Knox mumbles. "You here for Everett? He's in the bathroom."

"Oh, no. Has something happened? Is he sick?" Josie asks, concerned. "Is he okay?"

"Far as I know," Knox smirks. He lets his mind wander about whatever Everett is doing in the bathroom. "So, you're here for him or me?"

"Him," Josie says. "I saw you pull in with him earlier, so I figured I'd come and say hello since we kind of hit it off the last time he was here. Oh, and Gav wants to see you. He's in the main room with the other guys."

"I'll head there now." Knox then nods in the bathroom's direction, lowering his voice. "Can you keep an eye on him while I'm gone? He hasn't tried it yet, but I can't have him running off anywhere. It's too dangerous out there, and the only thing he knows how to do is cuss and scratch."

Josie grins big, then says, "Wow... It almost sounds like you care about the kid."

"Don't start with me, Red." Knox grumbles while passing her to leave.

The main room is a massive open space where the men and their partners come to kick back and relax. Connected to it is a bar that takes up one of the walls, something that is used daily. Two giant flat screen televisions hang on opposite ends of the room, and there's also a giant pool table where many bets have ended in fistfights.

It's basically a giant man cave.

Knox doesn't spend as much time in here as the others do. He finds entertainment in working out, tending to the member's bikes as a part-time mechanic, and taking part in runs for the club. His inner demons love club runs because they usually end with him ridding the earth of some scum that should've never been born.

His brothers often rag on him for being too 'serious' all the time, but Knox doesn't think of himself that way. Introverts don't always have to be part of the crowd. He knows how to have fun on his own.

"How's the arm doing, old man?" Knox comments while taking a seat next to Gavin at the bar.

The man finishes his drink, something dark that he probably shouldn't consume while on medication, and then he sparks up a cigarette. "I'll take this over getting stabbed in the gut any fucking day."

"I've lost count on how many times you've been close to death," Knox says. Gavin chuckles, nodding in agreement. "I saw Josie a few minutes ago. I'm assuming you and I need to talk about the same thing?"

"The kid," Gavin confirms. "A little birdie told me you two are getting pretty close. That true?"

Knox shrugs, playing coy. "Depends on what way you're talking."

"Don't fuck with me, man. You know exactly what way I'm talking about," Gavin says, giving Knox a playful slap on the shoulder. "You brought him back here, so I'm guessing you're ready to claim him?"

"I am," Knox answers without a second thought. "Your accident made me realize I can't be in two places at once, doing runs for the club and looking after him at the same time. I figured this would be the safest option for him, keeping him here."

"With you," Gavin adds.

"With me," Knox confirms.

"We've never had a break-in, so I would have to agree this is the safest place for him." Gavin takes another drag of his cigarette, getting one final smoke in before Josie returns to his side. "And... you know, if The Jackals ever take an interest in him, they can't do much because he's ours. We can use the situation to our advantage."

"He's mine," Knox clarifies, his jaw tight and fists clenched. "And I'm not using him as a damn pawn."

Gavin pauses for a beat, quietly analyzing Knox's reaction. "I hear you, brother. Since you're claiming him, I give you my word that he'll be protected at all costs. The club's resources are now his resources. Use them however you wish."

"Thanks." Knox and Gavin shake on it, making things official. He then has the bartender fix him up a drink to relax the nerves that Everett set fire to earlier.

The members who'd been eavesdropping cheer loudly in the background for Knox. He's been alone since he got here, by choice, and it's nice to see the grump finally take an interest in someone. The real question is if the kid will be enough to tame Knox's inner beast. After all, two are one in the same.

"I need to ask you about assigning a few guys to keep watch over his parent's and friend's houses," Knox adds. "Do we have any men to spare right now?"

Gavin nods. "Pick whoever you want for the job. If they have a problem with it, send them to me."

"Will do."

"Hey, I ain't trying to bust your balls or anything like that, but I've got to ask you this."

"What?"

Gavin shifts in his seat and lowers his voice. "Are you falling for this kid?"

"No. It ain't like that at all. I'm just trying to keep him alive," Knox says. Whether he fully believes that, well, it's still up for debate. "Shit, now you're giving me that fucking look. I'm sick of it."

Gavin smiles. "What look?"

"The same look your Ol' lady has been giving me since she first met Everett." Knox downs the rest of his drink, welcoming the harsh burn that travels down his throat and settles into his chest. "I am not falling for him. I don't do relationships and I damn sure don't do love. If anything, I'm one mistake away from fucking him. That's it. Strictly physical."

"Interesting. He's not your usual type, though, is he?" Gavin asks. Knox shakes his head in response. "You may not be falling for him, but that doesn't mean he ain't already falling for you."

Knox scoffs at that. "I'd be able to tell."

"Not always," Gavin smirks. "When I first met Josie, I told myself she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Lust, I thought, was what drew me to her after we rescued her. I hadn't realized it was love until another bastard tried to steal her away from me. It struck me then that I couldn't live without her. That I had to make her mine."

"I think this conversation is getting off track," Knox mutters.

Gavin laughs loudly, waving a dismissive hand. "I say all that to say be careful with the kid. Love is a beautiful thing, but she can also be a ruthless bitch. She'll sneak up on you when you least expect it, and won't think twice about ripping your heart out and shitting on it. Believe what you want, but one thing you can't turn off completely are your feelings."

"Whatever you say, man." Knox has never been one to partake in emotional ass discussions, so he takes Gavin's words with a grain of salt.

After wrapping things up downstairs, he returns to his bedroom to find Everett and Josie cackling on the bed with a book between them. They look like two best friends despite being strangers still.

"Am I interrupting?" Knox asks, stepping further inside.

"Yeah, actually. We were just about to get to the part where the monster uses his eight tentacles to—" Josie quiets when Everett playfully slaps her leg. "Sorry, Knox. You, uh, wouldn't understand."

Knox chuckles. "Not sure that I want to."

"When I find the sequel, I'll lend it to you," Josie tells Everett before departing.

Knox locks the door behind her. "What kind of filthy smut are you reading over there?" he asks.

"The kind you wouldn't be able to digest," Everett answers. He bookmarks his spot and then sets the book aside, giving Knox his undivided attention. "Did the talk with your Pres go well?"

"It did. Consider this your new home." Knox walks over to the bed and sits next to Everett, his pulse racing as his mind replays their thrilling slip-up from earlier. "About that rain check you owe me..."

Everett rolls his eyes, blushing. "I don't recall either of us setting one."

"I just did, and now I'm here to collect." Knox is quick with his movements. Everett squeals when he's snatched up and placed on Knox's lap, his hands resting on the man's bare shoulders. "I like to finish what I start, kitten. Are you going to deny me?"

"I should." Everett's heart thrums fast against his ribcage while his eyes focus on Knox's mouth. "Do you want me to deny you?"

"What I want is to know what the inside of your mouth tastes like..." Knox whispers, a slight edge in his tone. "I want to know how tight and hot you'll feel around my cock when it's buried inside you. Tell me you don't want the same and I'll call you a fucking liar."

Everett's breathing turns shallow, his hips instinctively jerking forward as Knox purposely shifts beneath him. "I hate you so much."

Knox chuckles. "And?"

"And..." Everett says. "I want the same."

a/n: this chapter is dedicated to LucidDreams and Dawn♥ for being such amazing readers and supporters :) thank you for giving my story a chance 💕💕💕