Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
HARPER
I woke up that morning to the glorious, masculine sight of my boyfriend, Phoenix.
As I turned onto my back, Nix was crouched by the bed with a smile on his face.
His hands rested on his thighs, and his usual air of superiority surrounded him.
The man was always so cocksure and master of all he surveyed, and it was so darn attractive to me. I devoured the sight of him.
“Stop, or you’ll make me blush,” he said in that deep voice I felt beneath my skin, and I yawned, stretching out my body. “How do you feel?”
“Good. More than good,” I replied happily. The chemistry between us felt even more insane than ever.
As I moved, I felt a twinge of soreness between my legs. Nix must have seen it as he cocked his head and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, maybe a bit achy.”
“Well, I would have been offended if you’d gotten off Scot-free. I almost put my back out,” he added with a humorous look as he flexed his hips.
As I elbowed myself up into a sitting position, the cover slipped down, and I quickly clutched at it, dragging it up against my neck to cover my nakedness.
Phoenix chuckled at my panicked expression and shook his head. As he pushed to his feet, his broad shoulders cut off the light. “I think we’re past that, baby girl. There isn’t an inch of your body that I haven’t seen or tasted,” he teased, holding out his hand.
I placed my fingers in his, keeping the sheet there anyway; my courage from last night having faded slightly.
As I came to my feet, I checked him out as he released my hand and turned to open the drawer of the dresser.
Phoenix was dressed in gray sweatpants. They sat low on his hips, and he was topless.
I eyed the muscles on his broad back as they flexed.
Nix plucked out a black tee and turned to face me, those sculptured abs looking mouthwatering as usual.
I could see water droplets on his chest, and his hair was damp, suggesting he’d taken a shower.
He was so fresh-faced. I was only too aware of how gorgeous he looked when I probably looked like shit.
Bedhead hair, remnants of yesterday’s make-up smudged across my face, not to mention death breath.
As I glanced down to check that the sheet was in place, he handed me the garment. It was one of his favorite T-shirts, and I felt honored to wear it.
“Thanks. What time is it?”
“Almost ten,” he replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they dropped to my death grip on the bedsheet.
“You gonna put that on?” he questioned with a flick of his head towards the tee I held, his jaw twitching.
“In a minute,” I assured him, nervously clearing my throat as I shook my hair back from my face.
“Look, I’ll be a gentleman. But only this one time,” Nix chuckled with a pointed finger as he turned his back.
I dropped the sheet and quickly tugged his top over my head. It held his scent, and I breathed him in as the material passed my nose. As it fell over my thighs, I quickly tidied my hair and pinched my cheeks to give them some color.
“OK,” I announced, so he knew I was ready.
“You sure?” he called, turning his head to the side. I knew I was being silly, but I couldn’t help it.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied with a coy look as he faced me.
“So sweet all of a sudden?”
“I’m always sweet,” I explained with a playful glint in my eyes.
His eyebrows inched towards his hairline. “Yeah, right,” he scoffed.
Before I could think of a response, he moved. A squeak left my lips as Nix lunged forward, bent down, and scooped me up, bridal style. I had no option but to wrap my arms around his neck.
“OK,” I panted, momentarily knocked off guard. I shot him a flustered look.
Nix’s expression was possessive as he kissed my nose and then winked, whisking me out of his bedroom and down the hallway. I so hoped we didn’t bump into any of the others. I warily eyed Micha’s bedroom door as we sailed passed.
When we got to the bathroom, Nix nudged the door with his shoulder, carried me inside, and lowered me onto the bathmat. I could see that he’d drawn me a bath as I slid my hands from around his neck.
Jerking his head towards the steaming water, he said, “In you get, while it's still warm.” He’d even put my bubbles and lavender salts in there, and it made me feel all gooey inside.
I wasn’t overly girly, but I occasionally indulged in a pamper.
Phoenix hated it when I put ‘flowery scented shit’ as he called it in the tub.
He’d taken my head off a few times for stinking up the bathroom, so the fact that he’d used it now felt romantic as well as thoughtful.
Placing his fingers on my shoulders, he then slowly turned me to face the water and wrapped his arms around my ribcage, so my back was against his chest. It felt so amazing to be held by him. He nuzzled the side of my neck and inhaled. “You smell of me and I like it.”
“Why the bath then? Surely that will wash the ‘you’ element off me,” I pointed out, reveling in that moment.
“Because you need it. It will help ease any soreness.”
Now that he mentioned it, parts of my body had started to wake up, and my hips also felt bruised.
Breaking my train of thought, he planted his chin on my shoulder and whispered in a gruff voice. “Now, it’s up to you. I can leave you and give you some privacy, or,” he paused for dramatic effect, holding me tighter, “stay and wash your back?”
I turned in his arms to face him, and his devious grin made everything hot under his tee.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Nix must have sensed I was feeling shy, and he took control of the situation. “Why don’t you get into the tub and relax, and I’ll see you in the kitchen for breakfast.”
“You’re going to make me breakfast?” I questioned with surprise.
Nix grimaced, feigning offense at my question, and tapped the end of my nose with one finger, “Yeah, why not?”
“OK. Sounds good,” I replied, looking up at his handsome face through my lashes. Ones that felt clogged with makeup.
“Cool. Enjoy your soak.”
“I will.” Popping a kiss on his cheek, I moved around him towards the towels, jumping as he tapped my ass.
“Next time, maybe I’ll make you breakfast in bed,” Phoenix said with a suggestive look, causing me to laugh.
“I’ll hold you to that,” I called as he went to leave.
“You’ve got thirty minutes,” he said over his shoulder.
And I used that time wisely. After using the toilet, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, stripped off his tee, and then sank into the tub. As the warm water kissed my skin, it felt heavenly, and there was a slight sting between my legs. And then it hit me, I was no longer a virgin.
As I closed my eyes, I replayed the spicy events of the night before.
Sex with Phoenix had been unreal, better than I could have anticipated, and I had been so close to telling him that I was in love with him.
At the last minute, I’d snatched the words back, not wanting him to think they were blurted out in the throes of passion.
When I said it, the timing had to be perfect.
After I’d showered and dried off, I scooted back to Nix’s to collect my stuff. Once I got to my own room, I threw my backpack onto the bed and slid my cell out. I had several messages from Molly, all about Storm and how she was freaking out.
Shit. I hadn’t even thought about Nix’s father.
Dressing in boyfriend-style jeans and a white tee, I combed out my hair and left it loose. Sliding my cell into my back pocket, I then went to find Phoenix.
As I got to the bottom of the stairs, Micah was on his way out. He was dressed in running gear and holding what appeared to be a breakfast burrito.
“Morning, sis,” he said, stopping by the front door.
“Good morning.” As I left the last step, I shoved my hands into my jeans and looked up at him, painting on a smile that probably looked as guilty as fuck.
“Sleep well?” Micah questioned with a twinkle in his eye. He pointed his breakfast roll at me as I awkwardly rocked back and forth on my feet.
Before I could answer, Nix appeared in the doorway to the dining room. “Grubs up.” His eyes narrowed on Micah. “First, he steals my food, now my girl?”
We both rolled our eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m going. You’ll have to keep an eye on his territorial side, Baby Sawyer. Enjoy your breakfast.”
Micah then left with a chuckle.
I watched Nix with a head tilt as he crocked his finger, instructing me to go to him. And I did.
Breakfast was yummy. I felt like a queen as Phoenix served me. There were burritos, nice and spicy, and they were delicious. There was also freshly brewed coffee and juice.
I got the feeling that he didn’t want to talk about his father, but I brought it up anyway, saying how Storm now knew. Sliding my cell out of my jeans, I read a few of Molly’s messages. Phoenix listened intently, watching me over the rim of his cup of coffee.
“Will you go and see him, like he suggested?” I asked.
Nix placed his cup down and stretched his fingers out on the table. I leaned over and placed my hand on his.
“Maybe you should, just to get his side of the story?”
After rubbing my hand with his free one, he slid his arms off the table and leaned back in his chair. I knew I’d made him uncomfortable, and I cursed myself for ruining the moment.
“So much has happened in such a short space of time, my head feels scrambled. First, my mom and brother, and then my dad and a fricking sister. It’s all so uncertain.”
“And then there’s us.”
His face softened, and his eyes remained locked on my face. With the hint of a smile, he said. “To be honest, that’s the only thing I feel certain about right now, us. Last night was unbelievable.”
“It was,” I agreed, placing my roll down.
“How do you feel? I wasn’t too rough, I hope.”
“I don’t think so.”
The way he was looking across at me felt intense. “Considering our size differences, you took me really well.”
Shuffling back in my seat, I asked, “I did?”