The moment they were gone, I found myself overwhelmed and in the need of getting away. Sure, Hendrix was being nice, some would even venture to say sweet, but with the yo-yoing he dished out daily, I was confused.One minute, I wanted to hug him.Then the next, toss him from a cliff.So, after saying goodbye, I retreated into the bathroom and took the fastest shower known to man. Didn't give him a second of my time, or he'd try to invite himself along.Ten minutes of waiting him out - I combed my hair and put on lotion - while the man was slamming drawers on the other side of the door. By the fifteen-minute mark, he called out that he'd shower in the guest bathroom down the hall before stomping out in haste.I could hear the annoyance in his tone, and it made me smile."Thank you, Christ," I breathed while poking my head out the door. The coast was clear. "Now to get dressed before he comes back."In a past life, I must've been a ninja of some sort, because I was dressed in a tiny pair
Beau "Don't go," he spoke low, his eyes looking everywhere but at mine."Okay," I replied just as low and he nodded, letting me know he heard, and then reached toward a small hidden compartment behind my hip. Opening it up, he pulled out a tablet-looking device.It was a remote.Hendrix settled back into his earlier position with his head on my lap, wiggling a bit in place, and brought his hair toward my fingertips just a couple of inches away.Without a word, I complied to his silent request and ran my fingers through his thick black hair. Scratched his scalp, while he swiped a finger over the tablet's interface.A few buttons were pressed, and the projection screen came down from the ceiling and his equipment turned on. Another swipe of his index finger and the bright bold red and white logo for Netflix came to life.He remembered my wishes of a few days ago."Want to chill with me today and watch bad scary movies?""You're actually asking, not telling me?" I bit my lip, a move he
Beau"So, let me get this straight," Zoe began, looking through yet another rack of designer dresses. Fifth store, and we had yet to find anything even remotely elegant enough for the gala that Hendrix would be honored at. "He made you feel cheap, then was attentive and sweet, only to turn around and give you three days to find a dress for the Design & Architecture event this weekend.""Pretty much." She had summed it up in a nutshell. Taking a red gown down, I held it out and examined it. It was a beaded, high-waist halter style. Nice, but not me. It reminded me of something my mother would wear. "Did I also mention that before we came back, I snooped in his office while he was on the phone outside? I know…" I waved off her look of chastisement "…but there was this picture and photo album driving me up a wall. So, I peeked and Jesus, I wish I hadn't.""What did you find?" I scrunched up my nose in disgust at the lime-green number in her hand, and she laughed, turning back to continu
Beau"Aren't you going to congratulate me, sis?" Gloria said a few minutes later, and I looked up; I'd been in a daze since he got down on one knee. Trying to process everything around me.Was I happy for her? Yeah, I was.There was never a moment where I doubted my own feelings toward the situation, but it's the suddenness that had thrown me for a loop. Zoe's hand in mine kept me grounded; she squeezed whenever I needed to clap or act enthused."Congratulations, babe." I pulled her to me and gave her a good hard squeeze. My eyes watered, and the sniffle coming from her let me know she was emotional too. "You're going to be a stunning bride with the cutest flower girl ever. Is munchkin excited?""Thank you, Beau. To be honest, I thought you would scold me and say it was too fast.""It's rather quick…" I looked down at her stomach "…are you?""No, brat…" she laughed "…but I'd like to be in the future.""I'm really happy for you." Looking around the room once more, I spotted my favorit
Beau"Want to tell me now why you decided to stay here for the night?"I jumped, not expecting him to still be here. "Do I have to?"In the light of day, it seemed pathetic that I reacted the way I did to Gloria's proposal and the smoothness in which Ivan was accepted into the family.For a moment there, I felt as if I were a spectator, rather than family."Come sit with me, nymph." Hendrix grabbed my hand in his, while balancing a large cup of coffee with his other. I eyed that cup with longing, even let out a small whimper, which caused him to laugh. "Made it for you, whiny. Wouldn't dream of having any kind of conversation without caffeine in your system…know better.""You're smarter than you look, grouch."He looked back at me from over his shoulder, hazel eyes narrowed. "What's with the nickname all of a sudden?""If the shoe fits…hey!" I yelled out, suddenly airborne before being settled on his lap, my head tucked under his chin. "I'm going to sue you for all the manhandling an
Beau "I can do this," was my mantra once more.The woman reflected at me in the mirror was different. Poised and elegant, I'd even venture to say beautiful in a vain way. She was everything I always knew I could be, and yet, the tremor in my hand belonged to the fear I couldn't bury in the sand.I can do this.I can do this.I can do this.Picking up the red lipstick that Zoe demanded I use for tonight, I touched up my mouth. Over the last ten minutes I had picked up the habit of biting my lip and licking them excessively. The poor shade of red had turned into nothing more than a stain by that point."I can do this." Obsessed, I checked to make sure my lashes were coated with mascara, that there were no smudges beneath my eyes, and that no contour line was visible.My hair had been given a loose, fishtail braid across the top which then blended at the side of my neck into a messy knot. A few curls had been left undone. It was pretty, left most of my neck and back exposed for Hendrix
Beau"We should leave." I hated the way my voice betrayed the cool demeanor I tried to feign. "At this rate, we'll be late no matter what.""If you insist, Miss Carter.""I do." Turning around, I reached for the panel and pressed the garage's button. Ignored the mounting tension - how wet and swollen I already was for him. It was better that way.Waiting for us downstairs was a car I'd never seen before. Sleek and ostentatious. Sexy. I recognized the Porsche emblem at once, but not the model."Glad you approve." Hendrix walked around me to open the door, helped me slip inside without hurting the long skirt of my dress. With ease, he strapped me in and then went around to his side. Got in.Silver; a two-seater with more buttons inside than I was used to. The center console was something I'd never seen before, modern and with touch screen technology for everything. Was almost afraid to sit inside of it.The car rumbled; a strong engine roared while he put it in drive and took off down
Hendrix"Close your mouth, Parker, or you'll attract flies." Jax and entourage was taking up half my table. My personal guest to this idiotic show of wealth. Pissed me off that I had to give up my night to deal with the likes of Henry and friends.This event wasn't for charity, each dime shelled out covering tonight's bill hosted by the city and its officials.The sole bright side to tonight was getting to see Beau all dressed up in a sinfully decadent gown that so far had turned every head in attendance tonight. The front, though conservative, was molded onto her every curve and dip. Outlined the perkiness of her breasts - the flared of those hips I loved to grasp while stroking in deep.Then you had that split, it gave you a glimpse of mile-long legs in a pair of gold heels.And even then, nothing compared to the view from behind.Skin. Soft. Mine.Bare; a temptation to take her. Fuck my DNA into her system until she'd forever bear a mark of me within her blood.What this little gi