Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
XANDER
Inviting Indie was the right move. She shook off her nerves, and she’s been making the rounds, chatting and laughing as if she’s been with us all her life. It helps that she already knows us a bit just from the ice cream shop and none of us is truly a stranger.
Even my dad took her aside and had some words with her. When they were finished, Indie wiped a tear from her cheek and Dad patted her shoulder, and I have a feeling that he’ll eventually take her under his wing because that’s just who my dad is.
He’s never met a stranger, and he’d give any of us the shirt off his back.
The fact that my mother chose someone else over my dad is mind boggling to me because there’s no one better.
Speaking of no one better, my gaze drifts over the patio to where Ivy is sitting with Darby and Easton, the water tumbler I gave her in her lap, that red hair up in a high ponytail. She’s in a Flurry T-shirt that has my number eleven on it, and to say I love it is a goddamn understatement.
I love that she’s wearing my number and my name on her back.
I love that she’s here with my family, laughing and fitting right in. The self-doubt from earlier is long gone, and it makes me want to scoop her up and kiss the fuck out of her.
“Hey, X, remember that time when you were like twelve and you dared Easton to ride his bike through the lake on the property?” Tucker asks. “That bike is probably still out there.”
I frown because I have no recollection of that at all.
“I didn’t do that. It must have been Ava.”
“No way, I’m an angel,” Ava says with a sassy wink. “It was you. I remember it.”
I shake my head and feel the frustration that always comes when the memories are lost kick in and it makes my chest burn.
“If you say so,” I reply and try to laugh it off, but I know it sounds forced.
“I brought caramel fudge brownies for dessert,” Darby says, rescuing me from more questions about why I don’t remember Easton riding his bike into the lake.
“I have vanilla ice cream in my car,” Indie offers.
“Wait, it’s not melting?” Ivy asks. “You should have brought it in.”
“I have a freezer in my car,” Indie clarifies. “Ice cream is my business, remember?”
“Fancy,” Darby says. “And yes, please. That’s perfect.”
Ava sits next to me and sighs. “Your memory is bad, X.”
“Yeah, well.” What else am I supposed to say to that? No shit, it’s bad.
“Do I need to be more worried than usual?” she asks casually.
“No. I’m okay. I need a favor.”
“Changing the subject, I see.”
I laugh and she rolls her eyes.
“Fine. What do you want?”
I glance over at Ivy. She’s holding Belle again, and fuck. My heart. I don’t want kids. At least, I never have before. Not once in my life did I ever consider wanting a family of my own. Because women don’t hang around, and I don’t want to be a single dad like my father. It’s hard as fuck.
And then I had to go fall in love and see my girl holding an infant, and now my stupid, jumbled brain is coming up with all kinds of ideas.
“Xander, I’m not a mind reader.”
“I need the east-facing bedroom with all the windows converted into an art studio. I want the best supplies in there, and I want it to be fancy.”
My sister blinks up at me, and I can see the sarcasm coming from a mile away. “You’re taking on a new hobby? Are you that bored?”
“No, jerkface, Ivy paints. And her piece-of-shit mother destroyed every piece of work she’s done. They’re all gone, and she’s sad. I want her to have a space for it here so she can do it whenever she wants.”
She narrows her eyes and nibbles on her bottom lip. “That’s a lot of work and expense for a temporary studio. Just let her set up an easel and her stuff in the dining room. There’s a ton of light in there, and you never use it.”
“It’s not temporary.”
Now she turns in her seat, fully facing me. “It’s not.”
“Nope. She’s mine. So she needs a studio. And I want it to be a surprise. We’re going out of town later this week for the charity gala in Denver. Is five days enough time, or should I extend the trip?”
She’s still blinking at me like she doesn’t understand the words coming out of my mouth.
“I think that’s enough time. I can start ordering stuff tonight. But Xander, are you telling me that you’ve already decided that she’s the endgame for you? It’s been, what, less than a few weeks?”
“I’m telling you that the thought of being without her makes me want to tear the world apart. I don’t need five years with her to know that she’s amazing. I’m also not in a rush to do anything but spend time with her, learn more about her, and get her naked as often as possible.”
“Why must you torture me so?”
“Because it’s fun.” I smirk. “So yeah, she’s mine. And I want this to be her home as much as it’s mine.”
Ava nods and follows my gaze to Ivy. “I like her a lot. I’m happy for you. I can make the studio work. It’ll be great.”
“Thanks. Just charge it all to my credit card.”
“Oh, I plan to. I’ll also schedule myself a massage on your credit card as payment.”
“How generous of me.”
“Right? Best brother ever.”
“Admit it, it was fun and you’re glad you stayed.”
Ivy helps me close the accordion doors. It’s dark outside now, and all the family has gone, but it was a good day.
“I like your family,” she says. “They’re a good bunch. And now, I’m so freaking tired. Who knew that hosting a party is so exhausting?”
“Have you never done this before?”
Ivy scoffs. “No. Of course not. I mean, I worked in a busy bar, and I guess that feels about the same. And I’d definitely do it again.”
“Good.” I corner her against the countertop in the kitchen, brace my hands on either side of her hips, and lean in to brush my nose up the side of her neck. “It was torture, you know.”
“What was?” Her hands drift up and down my sides, under my shirt, making my cock twitch.
“Being so close to you all day and not able to do this.”
I nibble on the corner of her lips, and then she opens for me, and I frame her face, kissing the hell out of her. She makes those little noises that set me on fucking fire, and I boost her onto the counter and keep kissing her.
Her hands go right for my fly, and I grin against her lips.
“Are you saying that you missed me today too?”
“I mean, we fucked this morning, Xander.”
With a laugh, I pick her up and carry her into the living room, where I set her on her feet and start stripping her out of her clothes.
“That was at least twelve hours ago,” I remind her before I drop her shirt to the floor. “Fuck, I love these freckles.”
“I always hated them,” she admits.
Shaking my head, I work her jeans down her hips and help her step out of them, then drag my fingertips over her skin as I stand tall, and she shivers.
“You’re still dressed,” she whispers.
With one hand, I reach over my head, pull my T-shirt off, and let it fall, and my girl licks her perfect lips.
And I can’t wait anymore.
I turn her around and bend her over the arm of the couch.
“Brace yourself on your hands,” I instruct her as I drag the flat of my hand down her spine to her ass and give it a little slap. “Fuck, you’re pretty bent over for me.”
“Holy shit,” she whispers, and I let my fingers dance through her wet slit, then sink inside her. “Xander.”
“That’s right.” I unzip my jeans, and her ass wiggles in anticipation, making me grin and lean over to kiss her shoulder. “What do you want, baby?”
“You. God, I always want you.”
“That’s a good answer.” I kiss over to the opposite shoulder. “Now be more specific.”
“Inside me. Please, fuck me, Xander.”
“I love it when you ask nicely.” I drag the head of my cock through her slit several times before I line it up with her entrance and slowly push inside. “Every time I sink into this perfect pussy, I almost see stars. Jesus Christ, you were fucking made for me, baby.”
I bottom out and she groans, her body contracts around me, and fuck.
With my hand braced on the small of her back, I start to move in a slow, steady pace. I work my thumb down to that little muscle and put pressure on the outside as I fuck her, and she tightens even more, making me growl.
“Is this okay, wildcat?”
“God, yes.”
My eyes almost cross as her pussy starts to tremble, her orgasm not far away. She’s doing her best to push back, to meet me with every thrust.
“You need it harder, baby?”
“Harder,” she agrees. “Fuck, I need it harder.”
Obliging her, I reach up and fist her hair at her nape, right by the scalp, and pound into her, my thumb just nudging into her little hole, and she cries out as she falls apart, spasming around me.
“Fuck, that’s good,” I growl and pound harder, only lasting a few more seconds before I feel my balls lift and my own climax move through me until all I can do is rock against her, coming inside her.
I rest my forehead on the middle of her back and try to catch my breath.
“Jesus,” Ivy mutters. “So damn good.”
I grin against her skin and kiss her.
“Now we go upstairs and do it again.”
“You’re insatiable.”
I shake my head and pull out of her, watching as my cum drips down her inner thighs, and then gently lift her up, turn her to me, and kiss her gently.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” I confess. “It’s like I can’t control it. I need you like I need air.”
She lifts an eyebrow as I skim my thumb over her tight nipple.
“I’m not complaining,” she says. “Honestly, if I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”
I kiss her forehead. “No dream. Now, in the spirit of afterglow, tell me I’m your favorite.”
“Wow, okay. You’re my favorite sex partner I’ve ever had.”
I narrow my eyes and slowly shake my head back and forth. “You know that’s not what I want to hear, and mention anyone else being inside you ever again and I’ll spank your ass until it glows.”
“Promises, promises.”
Fuck, she’s funny.
“Come on, you know you want to say it out loud.”
“You’re my favorite . . . Hendrix brother.”
Ivy giggles, and then I let go of her completely, and the smile falls from her face.
“What the hell?”
“Try again.”
She narrows her eyes. “You’re not going to blackmail me with affection just so I tell you what you want to hear, Xander Theodore Hendrix.”
I blink at her. “That’s not my middle name.”
“I said what I said.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and I can’t resist her, so I close the space between us, tip her chin up, and kiss her lightly.
“Fine. But you’re going to tell me soon, Red.”
She grins and leans into me. “Maybe.”