**Edited**

Poppy's POV

I let out a deep sigh before attempting to open my eyes. Keyword: attempting. When I successfully pried them open, the bright sunshine invading the room through the wide-open window blinded me almost instantly. I snapped them shut as they watered from the assault. I peeked one open just the slightest, waiting for my eyes to adjust before finally cracking the other open, too. I blinked a few times to rid the blurriness of sleep from them. I turned my head so I could see over my shoulder and was met with the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

Knox looked like a million dollar piece of art when he slept. His facial features were significantly softer than normal. The harsh lines that usually marred his forehead from constantly scrunching his eyebrows together were gone and his casual scowl was nowhere to be found. His long, inky black eyelashes splayed across the skin just underneath his eyes, his eyelids twitching every so often as he dreamed. He released a deep sigh through his nose as the arm he had against my stomach clenched, pulling me just a tad closer to his body.

The subtle touch reminded me of the intimate position we were in while still naked. Knox's entire body was cocooned around my own just like he'd done the first night I allowed him to sleep with me. His arms were securely wrapped around me while his legs were intertwined with my own. I would definitely be sweating from the amount of heat his large body produced if I'd been wearing any clothing at all.

I shifted carefully, doing my best to not wake him as I inched away little by little. Even in his deep slumber, he wasn't having any of it. The second I grew a noticeable distance away, his strong hands sought me out and wrapped around my waist before shifting me back near his chiseled chest. His hand wandered up my stomach before cupping my bare breast and humming blissfully. I gasped quietly as the simple touch had my nipples hardening as my breasts grew heavy with need. I took another look at his face, astonished that he was still asleep.

This man and his wandering hands, I swear I thought to myself silently with a single shake of my head. Turning back so my face was towards the window, I tried to come up with an escape plan so I could get some food into my famished body. Someone must've been watching out for me because a few seconds later I heard a tired grunt come from Knox. I yelped softly when he pinched my nipple as the rumbling of his laughter vibrated against my back. I glanced back to see his mouth pulled into his signature cheeky smile.

"Good morning, Flower," he rasped out as if everything was perfectly normal. His voice was lower and gravlier from sleep, the sound sending a pang of desire straight to the apex of my thighs.

"Good morning, Mr. Handsy," I joked back while squirming against his hold.

He smiled at me and just like that my train of thought was gone. I started to study his face once again, never able to get enough of how handsome he was. His eyes were the most beautiful sparkling blue I'd ever seen, his high cheekbones had the ability to make any runway model green with envy, but my favorite overall were his plump, kissable lips. I reached my hand up and lightly trace them with my index finger, basking in their softness. His tongue darted out of his mouth to sensually lick my finger before playfully nipping at it. I sucked in a harsh breath before meeting his gaze once again, amazed to find that his eyes were hooded with desire.

How could he possibly want me again?

"If you keep touching me while giving me that look, I'm going to fuck you senseless and I know for a fact you're not ready for me to take you again," he growled out.

"Again?" I asked incredulously. Was he not sore like I was?

"No, baby. I said I was going to fuck you. Last night wasn't fucking, last night was us making love. There is a very, very big difference, my Flower," he hummed before sealing his words with a brisk peck to my lips. I grew hot all over just thinking of what fucking - in his crude words - would entail. I'd lead to incredible, mind-numbing pleasure I'm sure. He groaned deeply while staring at me with the same intensity he had last night.

I was finally able to successfully remove myself from him and securely wrapped my naked body in the bed sheet to try and remain a bit modest.

"Knox, can I ask you something?" I asked, my expression serious.

"Of course, Flower. I'm an open book just for you," he insisted while rolling onto his side and resting his calloused hand against my hip. I almost let it distract me when he started to rub little circles into my skin overtop the sheets.

"What was it you wanted to ask, baby?" he prodded.

"Can you explain to me the logistics of the kind of fighting that you do? I don't understand it, and since it seems to be a big part of your life I would like to know about it," I said. He searched my face intently, looking like he was at war with himself before finally giving me a hesitant nod.

"The easiest way I can explain it that it's pretty similar to what you watch on TV, but a lot more dangerous because there are virtually no rules and there's really nobody to mediate the match to ensure no dirty hits. Unfortunately, there'll be nights I'm going to come home a little roughed up, but it won't be anything too serious," he assured me, trying to play it off like it wasn't a big deal at all. He must've seen the horrified look in my eyes once he'd finished explaining because a worried expression took over his hesitant one.

I was though. Horrified, that is. Despite trying to seem nonchalant while telling me, there was no way in heck that what he's been doing is anywhere close to safe at all. What if someone decided to play dirty, as he'd mentioned, and brought a knife or some other dangerous weapon to one of his fights? He'd be defenseless. The thought itself had me sick to my stomach.

"Say something, Poppy," he whispered, leaning up to press his lips against my forehead. The sudden movement caused the sheet to fall around his waist and expose his perfectly sculpted chest. I had to force my brain to focus on the conversation at hand instead of his perfect body all on display for me.

"I'm not going to ask you to quit because that would be unfair of me. A relationship should always be a give and take. However, I do want you to at least try and keep yourself safe at all times. I don't know what I'd do if you got seriously hurt," I confessed, feeling vulnerable. We might've only been dating for a short period of time, but the connection we shared was more than I ever thought I'd experience with a significant other.

Like my mother once told me, you could be with someone for three years and feeling nothing, or you could be with someone for three weeks and feel everything. Time wasn't a measure of love. We may not have always been this way with one another, but I've known him my entire life and I'll always care about him deeply no matter what.

"I promise I will always come home to you, Poppy. No matter what," he vowed confidently. His last few words were whispered against my lips seconds before he claimed them in a toe-curling, mind-jumbling kiss. I finally broke away to breathe and decided that it was as good a time as any to ask my next question.

"Can I come to one sometime?" I asked breathlessly as he began trailing kisses up and down the column of my neck.

"No, and that's my final answer so don't ask again," he stated in a no-nonsense tone. I pushed lightly against his chest so I could see his face. After seeing the hardened look in his eyes I knew my best bet was to just drop it, but I couldn't. I gave him my best pouty eyes and lips and asked again.

"First of all, don't give me that face. I know what you're trying to do and it won't work. Secondly, the answer still is and will always be no. Don't push it," he warned.

"But why?" I argued back against my own better judgment.

"Because the actual fighting isn't the only dangerous part about what I do. The crowd these type of things bring in aren't made up of the greatest of people. They have a tendency to become extremely rowdy not only during but also after the fights are over. Fistfights over lost bets commonly break out and I refuse to allow you around that environment. This is one thing I will not budge on, Poppy. It's for your own good."

I released an unhappy sigh but ultimately gave in. It still didn't prevent me from moping childishly. Despite my displeasure with his refusal to let me come, I was grateful for him having my best interest in mind.

**

After I finally forced Knox to get out of bed and get ready, we made our way to my parent's house to pick Tansy up and take her out to ice cream - just like I did every Sunday when she was finished with Sunday school. Knox and I were standing around the kitchen waiting for the little munchkin to get changed out of her Sunday best when my mom joined us. We started to exchange small chatter about Knox being back and such until he excused himself to use the restroom. He paused to kiss my forehead on his way out

"You know sweetheart, I always did like that boy. I never had to worry about you when he was around. He usually did the worrying for me," she said.

"Ah yes, because he refused to share his victim with anyone else, Mom," I muttered sarcastically to which she laughed heartily in reply.

"I understand that as a child that's how it seemed, but from my point of view things were much different than they seemed on the surface," she retorted back knowingly. I nodded in agreement.

"I think I'm starting to see that," I murmured, allowing my thoughts to wander for a minutes or two. My mom opened her mouth to start another conversation, but was cut off as Tansy rushed into the kitchen. She ran right into my legs and squeezed them in a death-grip hug. I stroked the top of her head lovingly just as Knox made a reappearance. He swooped down and picked her up, tickling her belly as she screamed shrieked happily.

"You ready for some ice cream, pretty girl?" he asked her while smoothing over the Unicorn t-shirt she'd decided on. He set her back on her feet while rummaging around in his pocket for what I assumed was his keys.

"YES!" she screamed enthusiastically, bouncing on her feet with all her bundled up four-year-old energy.

"You three have fun!" My mom called after us as we made our way to the front door. I couldn't remove my smile from my face as I watched Knox listen intently to whatever Tansy was saying as they walked ahead of me.

"You're going to make a great father someday," I abruptly blurted.

"I know, I'll make sure our kids always have the best," he said with a wink. I scoffed and rolled my eyes at him, something that proved to be a very bad idea. I yelped as a harsh stinging sensation overtook my butt cheek, realizing seconds later that what I felt was Knox smacking my butt. I glared at him playfully as he moved around my body to buckle Tansy into her car seat - the one he'd borrowed temporarily from my mother.

"Rolling your eyes at someone is very rude, isn't it Tansy?" Knox murmured in a sing-song voice. Tansy agreed, mainly because she basically worshipped Knox already and would agree with anything he said. He shut the back car door once tansy was secured and stepped so close to me that I was able to smell his musky cologne. The intoxicating scent surrounded me, overwhelming my senses.

"Roll your eyes at me again and I'll spank that perfect ass of yours until it matches the color of your cheeks when you blush. Hear me?" He asked, cocking his head towards me while licking his bottom lip. My breath hitched in my throat as I nodded, trying desperately to ignore the intense ache that'd started up between my legs as I got in the car.

Later, Poppy. Later.