Knox: A Suspenseful M/M Brother's Best Friend Romance, page 1
Knox
Laura John
This is a work of fiction, Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, event or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Laura John
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
Independently published.
Cover Designer: Brittany Franks with Chaotic Creatives
Editor: Swish Design and Editing
Sensitivity Reader: J.P Jackson
Contents
1. Dear Reader,
2. Chapter One
3. Chapter Two
4. Chapter Three
5. Chapter Four
6. Chapter Five
7. Chapter Six
8. Chapter Seven
9. Chapter Eight
10. Chapter Nine
11. Chapter Ten
12. Chapter Eleven
13. Chapter Twelve
14. Chapter Thirteen
15. Chapter Fourteen
16. Chapter Fifteen
17. Chapter Sixteen
18. Chapter Seventeen
19. Chapter Eighteen
20. Chapter Nineteen
21. Chapter Twenty
22. Chapter Twenty-one
23. Chapter Twenty-two
24. Chapter Twenty-three
25. Chapter Twenty-four
26. Chapter Twenty-five
27. Chapter Twenty-six
28. Chapter Twenty-seven
29. Chapter Twenty-eight
30. Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Also By Laura John
About Author
Dear Reader,
This book touches on a few sensitive and heavy subjects that could be difficult for some to read.
If you think there is a subject that could be a problem for you, please proceed to my website for a complete list of content warnings.
https://www.authorlaurajohn.com/knox
Chapter One
Knox
On days like today, I’m counting down the hours until I get to go home.
Being a bodyguard isn’t always a glamorous job. Most of the time, it’s boring as fuck, but even on those days, there’s still an underlying thrill.
At any moment, shit could hit the fan.
And those moments are what I live for.
Protecting people is something I love, and when I was in the Army, I always worked amazingly under pressure. But in the end, it wasn’t for me. I served my country, then got the hell out. I’m thankful to have the job I do now.
I was nervous when I first got out of the Army because I wasn’t sure what to do with my life. I really didn’t want to go to college, but I couldn’t figure out a career path that was well-suited for me. Then I met Nixon, my current boss, and when he offered me a job, it was like the stars aligned.
I’ve been at the mall all day with the teenage daughter of a Brazilian celebrity visiting the US, and I’m about ready to pull out my hair. There isn’t currently any active threat to the family, so my services aren’t really needed, but here I am, anyway.
I’m basically an overpriced babysitter.
My boss became friends with the parents while his boyfriend was filming his latest blockbuster film in Brazil. When they came to visit, I was tasked with watching the kid—a veritable pain in my ass who refuses to listen.
Not all clients want a bodyguard, and Maria is no different. She believes she should be able to do what she wants…
… when she wants.
Maybe that’s how things have worked for her back home, but shit like that isn’t going to fly with me.
“We need to go to the Starbucks on the second floor,” Maria commands with her nose in the air as she struts past me.
“I think there’s one that’s closer,” I tell her.
Maria rolls her eyes, huffing out a breath.
Lord, give me strength.
“That’s not where I told my fans to meet me,” she informs with a pointed look.
My jaw hurts from how hard I’m clenching it. The urge to scream at this young girl is strong. “What did you just say?” I bite out in a calm but deadly tone.
Maria scoffs, clearly not fazed by me at all. “I said I’m meeting my fans at the Starbucks on the second floor,” she repeats, pursing her lips.
Okay, maybe she does need a bodyguard because this girl clearly has a death wish. Last minute, unplanned meet-and-greets without adequate manpower for crowd control is not how we do things at Hunter Security. There are too many variables and too many ways this can go sideways. There’s a strong possibility this will turn into a shit show.
“We’re leaving,” I state firmly.
The glare I receive in response is enough to make the average person’s blood run cold. But I’ve been on the receiving end of a whole lot worse.
“You’re not the boss of me,” she sasses, and I’ve had enough.
“Actually, I am,” I tell her, done giving a fuck if she likes me or not. “My job is to protect you. I’m not about to have you swarmed by a bunch of random people without a plan in place. You can walk out of here on your own two feet, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you, kicking and screaming. You decide.”
Maria crosses her arms over her chest and huffs like the spoiled brat she’s proving to be, but thankfully, when she stomps away, it’s toward the car, the opposite direction of the Starbucks.
I get paid a lot, but I deserve a fucking bonus for dealing with shit like this.
It’s dark outside by the time I get home, and I’m beyond exhausted.
All the way back, and even when we reached her hotel room, Maria continued to bitch and complain, her tirade stressing me out. She even tried to invite a random fan over for a visit.
I wanted to scream at her for being ridiculously stupid and naïve, but kids don’t think twice about talking to complete strangers on the internet these days. Maybe it wouldn’t be hitting me this hard if a serial killer hadn’t nearly kidnapped my last client.
Emelia was an influencer with a massive online following and came to us when she couldn’t shake a stalker. She’d been unknowingly communicating with the guy for two years. He’d tricked her into thinking he was a sympathetic and supportive girl she could open up to. The guy was a sick fuck. She was lucky he hadn’t put his plans into action and taken her. Sadly, two other girls hadn’t been as fortunate.
Thankfully, this assignment is nearly over. Maria and her parents are going to a different state tomorrow, and I’m off the hook since I’m only able to take local jobs for the next month.
Who knew my sister, Tatiana, getting knocked up would be a blessing in more ways than one? She’s had trouble getting pregnant and was about to try IVF. But it turns out she didn’t need to, and the last time her husband was home from his tour, she got pregnant. Unfortunately, he had to go back overseas about a month ago and won’t be back for the birth of his child. That’s why I’m sticking close to home, to be on call for my sister when she goes into labor.
The house is quiet as I make my way inside and head directly to my room, ready to put the day behind me. I secure my gun, then pad my way to my en suite and turn on the shower. As the water warms, I strip off my clothes and discard them in the hamper I keep in the corner.
The moment I step into the steaming hot shower, I let out a contented sigh and relax under the stream, washing away the day’s stress. Initially, I had planned on using a hookup app since I have tomorrow off, but now, unwinding from the constant battle with Maria, I’m too exhausted.
I’d still love to get laid, but I don’t have the energy. Nothing beats a release to wind down.
I guess I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands tonight.
As the water continues to rain over me, I grab my cock, stroking it, imagining someone else is here with me.
A muscled arm wraps around me, gripping my dick firmly in its strong hand, eliciting a moan from between my lips.
“You like that?” he asks as I lean back against his hard chest.
I nod, whimpering as he picks up his pace, my cock throbbing and desperate to release.
The man’s other hand grasps my throat hard but eases and glides up to my jaw before harshly turning my face toward his for a bruising and punishing kiss. I sink into it, getting lost in the feel of his lips and tongue.
Looking into his lust-filled eyes, I don’t see some random nameless hookup. I see sea-green eyes I’ve been infatuated with since I was a teenager.
“I can’t wait to have my cock buried balls deep inside you, where I belong.” Gunnar, my brother’s best friend, tells me and smashes his lips to mine.
I gasp as I spray my load over the shower tiles and come back to reality.
“For fuck’s sake,” I grumble.
I haven’t fantasized about Gunnar in a long time. He’s off-limits for so many reasons, always has been, but that doesn’t stop the agonizing crush I have on him from rearing up. I’m not sure why my brain decided to conjure thoughts of him tonight, but I’m going to blame it on how tired I am.
It doesn’t take me long to finish the rest of my shower and collapse into bed. Maybe tomorrow I’ll tr
The smell of smoke pulls me from a dreamless sleep and forces me to open my eyes. Everything in my bedroom is hazy, causing me to startle.
What the fuck is happening, and where is the smoke coming from?
Quickly, I fling the blankets off me and rush out of bed. Thankfully, my training kicks in and helps me keep a cool head. I stay low and move across my room, pressing the back of my hand to the door. I promptly yank it back because it’s hot as fuck.
“Shit,” I yell, shaking my hand out.
I guess I’m not getting out that way.
My brain is still waking up and moving slowly as I try to figure out what to do next.
Think, Knox, think. You are not going to die in a burning house.
As if the internal pep talk wakes me fully, I finally go into mission mode. As fast as possible, I throw on sweats and a T-shirt, grab my cell phone, break my bedroom window, and climb out. Thank fuck I don’t have a long drop.
As soon as my feet touch the ground, I run to the front of my house and gasp when I see it going up in flames. I dial 9-1-1 but know there is no way they’ll be able to save my home. Tears stream down my face as everything I own goes up in flames.
What am I going to do now?
Chapter Two
Gunnar
My phone buzzes on the table beside me as I eat my lunch. It’s been a steady night, not too crazy but busy enough that I decided to take my break the second we got a lull. It’s better to have it early than not at all.
After a quick wipe of my mouth, I answer, “What are you doing up at this hour?” I ask my best friend, Malcolm.
It’s not exactly normal for him to be awake at three o’clock in the morning on a Wednesday night.
“Knox is being a fucking idiot, and I need you,” he pleads with pure panic in his tone.
“What happened?” I question, going straight into overly protective mode.
“His house burned down, and he doesn’t want to go to the hospital. Can’t he die from smoke inhalation?”
My eyes grow wide, and I gasp. “He was in the house when it caught on fire?”
“Yeah, his smoke detectors didn’t go off, but the smell woke him. He’s lucky he didn’t fucking die. But you know Knox, he’s stupid fucking stubborn.”
I groan, running a hand over my face. Knox has always thought he’s invincible.
“Bring him in,” I state firmly, thankful I’m working the night shift today.
“You’re gonna have to convince him,” Malcolm says.
“What?” Knox answers a second later.
“You need to come see me at the hospital,” I tell him.
“I’m fine, Gunnar. Malcolm is overreacting,” he replies with a sigh.
“You said the same thing when you broke your leg in the second grade,” I remind him.
I’ve known the Hanes family since I was a baby. Malcolm’s mom, Maribeth, and my mom were childhood best friends. Apparently, they made some sort of vow when they were teenagers to raise their families together, and that’s what they did.
Since Malcolm and I were born in the same month, it made sense that we became best friends. When Knox was born five years later, he quickly became a shadow to our duo.
“I didn’t know it was broken,” Knox complains.
“Just like you don’t know for sure that you’re fine now,” I counter. Knox sighs, and the line goes silent for a moment. “Please come in and put my mind at ease. My mother would kill me, and yours would make the afterlife un-fucking-bearable if you died and I didn’t do everything in my power to save you. I can’t do that if you don’t come in so I can run a few tests.”
“Fine,” he finally mutters.
“You’re the best,” Malcolm tells me when he comes back on the phone, and I snicker.
“See you in a bit,” I respond.
I end the call and scarf down the rest of my lunch. When I’m done, I head to the front to let the nurses’ station know what’s going on, then head to check on a patient.
“Dr. Carr, the smoke inhalation patient you advised us about just arrived,” Bethany, a nurse I enjoy working with, tells me as I pull a curtain closed. “He’s already filled out all his paperwork, and we’ve put him in exam bay four.”
“Thanks, Beth, I’ll head to him right now.”
A bright smile is on Bethany’s face as she nods and walks away.
“You should be home with your family,” I overhear Knox tell Malcolm.
“You’re right, but instead, I’m here with your stubborn ass,” Malcolm chides his brother.
Neither says anything else, so I pull back the curtain and wave. “How are you feeling, Knox?” I ask, pulling up his chart on my tablet.
“Tired, I’d like to leave. I still need to find a place to crash for the night.”
“The faster you let me run these tests, the quicker we can get you out of here,” I respond, stepping toward him to check his breathing.
As I place my stethoscope on his back and get him to breathe in, I take him in for a moment. He’s a handsome man, something I only began to notice when I came back to town a few years ago.
Something I definitely shouldn’t be noticing.
I’d spent a few years working for Doctors Without Borders, traveling the world, and helping where I was needed. I learned a lot along the way, not just about medicine and poverty but also about humanity in general and, more importantly, myself.
One discovery is that I’m bisexual. It was a bit of a mind fuck at first, but I’ve had some time now to settle into myself and own who I am.
Knox’s hazel eyes, normally full of life and mischievousness, are more sullen than I’ve ever seen. Even though he’s claiming to be fine, there’s obvious fear there.
“Take a deep breath,” I instruct.
When he does, his firm and wide back expands as he inhales. Knox is the perfect definition of a bear and is exactly my type.
Too bad he’s completely off-limits.
Internally, I shake my head, then coach Knox through a few more deep breaths. I’m happy not to hear any rattling. His lungs sound clear and strong.
“I need to do an oropharyngeal exam now,” I tell him, grabbing a tongue depressor. “Open your mouth wide, but don’t stick out your tongue.”
Knox follows my instructions perfectly, and I place the depressor on the dorsal surface of his tongue, applying gentle pressure and using a light to check his oropharynx. Happy with how it looks, I make a few notes on my tablet.
“A nurse is going to come and take some blood, then we’ll send you for a chest X-ray. After we have all those results, I’ll be able to tell you more,” I state.
Knox sighs. “Sounds like I’m going to be here a while,” he mutters, making me feel bad.
“I’ll try to get things done as fast as possible,” I assure him.
Knox’s lips pull up the smallest amount, and he tilts his head at me in silent thanks.
“You might as well leave,” Knox tells Malcolm, who grabs the back of his neck.
I know he wants to stay for his brother, but I’m sure he also wants to be home with his wife and three children.
“I understand you’re worried, but you brought me here because you trust Gunnar. I’m not going to run away. I’ll send out some messages in the meantime. I’m sure I’ll find a friend to crash with.”
Malcolm presses his lips together, mulling over his words. “You can stay with us,” he offers, but Knox firmly shakes his head.
“No thanks, bro, your couch isn’t comfortable. Besides, you don’t need another person to worry about,” Knox counters.
I can tell Malcolm wants to argue, but Knox isn’t wrong. Malcolm’s wife, Ayla, has been battling breast cancer for some time now and is undergoing chemotherapy. He loves his siblings immensely, but his focus needs to be on his own family.
“And don’t think about suggesting Dad or Tatiana,” Knox tells his brother firmly.
“You can stay with me,” I offer out of the blue.
Both men turn to stare at me, and it’s crazy how much they look alike. Strong jaws, identical hazel eyes, and black hair that is thick and full of body. But where Knox has a slender nose and a well-groomed beard, Malcolm’s nose is broad, and he’s clean-shaven. Malcolm also has a narrower build than Knox and is softer around the middle. Knox is built like a tank, with wide shoulders, thick calves, a muscular frame, and a fantastic ass.
