His eyebrows rise. “You teach women’s self-defence?”
“Yeah, once a month,” I explain. I love teaching those classes, empowering women and giving them the tools and confidence to fight back and not be a victim.
His eyes heat. “That’s fucking hot.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m glad you think so.”
His eyes roam to the top shelf on the wall. “Is that a bong?” he asks, his eyes widening.
“Who are you? The police?” I reply, laughing at the look on his face.
His phone rings again, and he shakes his head as if clearing it. “I have to go. I’ll call you, okay?”
He bends down and kisses me on my forehead. The tenderness of it all makes my throat burn. “I had fun last night.”
And with that, he’s gone.
I flop onto my back and lie there, staring at the ceiling.
How exactly did this happen?
*****
My lip quirks when Morning Alliance’s song ‘Fire’ plays on the radio. I turn it up and sing along with the words, feeling pride flow through me.
You’re like fire through my veins. Your body, it consumes me.
Defiant eyes.
Beauty inside.
The things I want to do to you…
This was their first song released from their new album.
When I park my car in my driveway, I call up Ryder. When he answers I put the phone to the radio and turn it up so he can hear his own song. After a few seconds I turn the music off and speak into the phone.
“Guess what I’m listening to on the radio,” I say, opening the car door and getting out.
His happy laugh makes me smile. “That song is exploding.”
“I know,” I reply. “Who wrote it?”
“Saxon,” he says, sounding amused. “I heard he stayed the night. I have to stay Tee, I was counting on you to put up more of a fight than that.”
I scoff. “He stayed the night but he didn’t sample the goods dear cousin.”
Ryder chuckles. “Good to know. Where are you? Why don’t you drop by and visit Lexi and me?”
“I just got home from teaching a self-defence class,” I tell him as I stand at my front door, looking for my keys. “What are you guys doing tomorrow? I can stop by after work. I’ll tell Layla and Sasha to come too.”
“Sounds good. I’ll tell Jet as well. See you then cuz.”
I say bye and hang up, shoving my phone in my bag. My hands just close around my keys when someone walks up behind me.
“Tee—”
Without thinking, I just react. I turn around and deliver a swift kick. Saxon falls to the ground, his hands covering his junk. Oh shit.
I kneel down. “Oh my god Sax! Don’t sneak up on me! I’m sorry.”
“What the fuck Tee,” he wheezes, still cupping himself.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I reply, trying to school my features. My lip twitches, and I want to laugh, but I don’t because he looks like he wants to kill me right now. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you I was going to come by and see you,” he says, standing up and shooting me a pained look.
“And I told you I had class.”
“That’s why I came by later,” he says, dusting his pants.
“You know friends don’t see each other every day,” I reply casually, opening the front door and entering. When I get no reply, I continue, “I’m going to have a shower.”
“I’ll order some pizza,” he says, settling himself on the couch where we spent most of last night. I open my mouth to say something, but close it, shaking my head.
He can drop by all he wants.
We’re still just going to be friends.
Chapter Four
Saxon
I wake up alone in Tenielle’s bed, stretching my body lazily before walking into the kitchen in nothing but my boxer shorts. We fell asleep together again last night, but nothing happened, not even a kiss. The woman must have a will of steel because I’m dying for a taste. I come to a standstill when I see Tenielle in front of the stove, dancing to Rita Ora’s ‘I will never let you down’. She is swaying her hips sensually, singing along to the lyrics. She has a nice husky voice—talented like most of her family.
“I thought you didn’t cook,” I say, making her jump.
She turns around and purses her lips. “I can cook just fine, I’m just not one of those women who’s going to slave over a hot stove every day.”
I walk over to the stove to see what she’s frying. “So I shouldn’t expect a hot meal every night?”
She flips the pancakes. “That would be a hell no.”
She’s so cute.
“So you admit that I’m going to be around every night?” I say, leaning back against the countertop.
She spins and flashes me a smile. “Sure. As a friend.”
My lip twitches as I check her out from behind. She’s wearing cotton shorts and a tank top, letting me see every curve.
“Stop staring at my ass,” she says without turning around.
“I’m doing no such thing,” I lie, still staring at it. She turns the stove off and grabs two plates from the cupboard, placing them down on the counter and then serving the pancakes onto them.
“Maple syrup?”
“Yes, please,” I reply, sitting down at the counter. She slides a plate my way then takes a seat beside me, handing me a fork. “Thank you.”
“Don’t get used to it,” she replies, smirking.
I take a bite and moan. “These are good.”
“Good? They’re fucking great is what they are.”
I hide my smile. “So you know I’m leaving tomorrow night.”
She stares down at her plate. “Yes, I’m aware of that.”
“Do you have anything you want to say to me?” I ask.
“Like what?”
“Do you care if I hook up with other girls while I’m away?” I ask her, hoping she might say that she minded. I want some kind of commitment from her.
Something.
Anything.
“Hook up with whoever you like,” she replies. Her tone is even, but I don’t miss the way her mouth tightens. She doesn’t like it—she just won’t admit to it.
So bloody stubborn.
“Well I’d rather you didn’t hook up with anyone while I was gone,” I tell her, trying to act casual and failing. The thought of her with someone else kills me, even though we aren’t exactly together.
Yet.
I’m working on it though.
“Well this is awkward,” she mutters under her breath. She sighs and turns her body to face me. “You said we were just friends. I’m pretty sure a friend wouldn’t ask me to be exclusive.”
I sigh. I want to tell her that she’s lying to herself if she’s still using the friend excuse, but I don’t, because, knowing her, she will stop letting me come over to spend time with her. This woman will use any weapon against me she can find, so I’m not going to give her any ammunition. I’ll let her play her games and live in denial.
For now.
“Okay,” I reply, standing up with my plate, rinsing it and putting it in the dishwasher. I hear her mutter another comment about a rock star who cleans up after himself. I close the space between us and kiss her on her temple.
“Thank you for breakfast. And even if you will be hooking up with others, I won’t, because there is no one else I want,” I whisper in her ear. I ignore her intake of breath and head straight for a shower.
Scrubbing my body with Tenielle’s olive scented soap, my hand wanders lower, rubbing the length of my hard cock. It’s like I’m always hard in her presence, and I could definitely use the release right now. A moan escapes my lips as I continue to stroke myself, my head tilting back against my neck. Water cascades over my face and drips down my body, my eyes squeezed shut as spurts of my release hit the wall. Lost in my own world, I don’t hear the door open.
“Holy shit!” Tenielle gasps.
I t
urn to look at her through the shower door and see her staring down at my cock, which I’m still holding in my hands. I quickly let it go, but her gaze remains fixated. Does she like what she sees?
“I’m pretty sure friends don’t barge in when people are in the shower either,” I say in a dry tone. My chest heaves slightly, my cock starting to get hard again as she eyes it like it’s something she’d like to worship.
Fuck, I’d love that.
She licks her bottom lip. “Well I came in here because I need to take a shower and you were taking ages in here, but now I can see why…”
I scrub a hand down my face, wiping the water out of my eyes. “You can always join me, you know? It was you I was thinking of the entire time.”
She shakes her head, eyes flaring. “Not a good idea. If I get in there, I’ll have that,” she says, pointing at my semi-hard cock, “in my mouth before I knew what I was doing.”
Now my eyes widen. “Did you just say that?”
“Yes, I did. I’ve never tried to deny that you’re fucking hot Saxon, you are. Trust me, attraction isn’t the issue here,” she says. “Okay, I’m gonna go before… Yeah, I’m gonna go.”
With that—she walks out.
I’m not ashamed to say that after that, I made myself come once more.
*****
I slide on my jeans with nothing underneath while Tee hits the shower. The thought of her in there… Is it possible to want someone so much? I don’t even know what to do with myself. I groan out loud when it hits me that I’m acting like the bitch in the relationship. Not bothering with a shirt, I grab my keys and get ready to head back home. I still have a few things I need to do before we leave. Tee walks out a few minutes later, wearing skin tight jeans and a t-shirt that says, ‘Sorry for what I said when I was hungry.’
“I gotta get home,” I tell her, moving my gaze up to her face.
She leans her hip against the countertop. “Like that?”
“Like what?”
“With no shirt on,” she replies, her lips curving.
I look down at my bare chest. “It’s only a ten minute drive.”
“Don’t people recognise you?” she asks, stepping closer to me.
“I wear a hat. It’s the ultimate disguise. I’m kind of like Clark Kent, except with a hat instead of glasses,” I tell her, loving the laugh my comment incites from her.
“I think your tattoos and nipple rings are a dead giveaway. You do have Morning Alliance tattooed on your chest.”
“That’s because you know me. No one else pays attention. Now come here and give me a hug because I won’t see you until I get back from tour,” I tell her.
She wraps her arms around my waist and lays her cheek on my chest. “Be safe.”
“Safe?”
“Yeah you know, swarming women and whatnot,” she replies. “There is one good thing about you guys leaving though.”
“And what’s that?” I ask, hating that there’s anything she likes about me being gone.
She lifts her head up and grins at me. “I get to drive Ryder’s car until you get back.”
I laugh at the look on her face. Pure happiness mixed with goofiness. It’s a good look on her. “You can drive any of my cars, you know.”
She suddenly looks interested. “Really?”
“Sure,” I tell her, kissing her brow. “Be good.”
One day everything I own will be hers as well, after all.
And I can’t wait for that day.
Chapter Five
Tee
Saxon leaves, and I find myself sulking as I wait for Lexi to pick me up. Why the fuck am I sulking? Okay, so he asked me if I wanted him to not be with any girls while on tour, and I said I didn’t care.
I don’t care.
I picture him with some groupie on his lap, his hands full of her ass.
I want to strangle said imaginary girl.
Okay, so I do care.
But I shouldn’t.
An image flashes in my mind. Him in the shower this morning, stroking himself. Now that was a perfect penis if I’d ever seen one. Long, thick, and completely lickable. I’m practically drooling when Lexi beeps her horn for me to get my ass out there. Locking the door behind me, I walk to her car, flashing her a wave. Sliding into the passenger’s seat, I turn and stare at my best friend. “I need jam donuts.”
She wrinkles her nose. She hates them. “How much do you love me?”
“Why?” I ask, instantly suspicious.
“Because I bought you a twelve pack and they’re at home waiting for you,” she says, reversing the car and turning onto the road.
She bought me a twelve pack of donuts? “You’re kind of perfect you know. You should ditch my cousin and marry me.”
“Really Tee? Poaching your own cousin’s woman, shame on you,” comes a voice from the back seat.
I scream. “Motherf—”
Lexi and Ryder laugh.
Assholes.
“What the hell are you doing skulking in the back seat?” I turn and ask Ryder. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave?”
He leans back against the seat. “I want to spend as much time with Lexi as I can before I have to go so I tagged along. Oh and I’m in the backseat because I wanted to scare you.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Let the woman breathe now and again. And you totally didn’t scare me.”
He laughs. “Sure I didn’t.”
Seriously, how old is my cousin? I shake my head at his immature antics. Reminds me of the days he used to wear a scary mask and sneak up outside my window at night just to scare me. I really should get him back for that. Planning revenge against him makes the drive go faster, and soon we’re at his house. I spend an hour with Lexi then take Ryder’s car and the rest of my donuts and speed off.
The donuts weren’t as good as the ones Saxon brought me.
Damn Saxon.
*****
The next few days pass in a blur. I don’t hear from Saxon, and I don’t contact him. What I do do is wonder what and who he’s doing. I know I don’t have any right to do so, or to get upset after how I played it off like I didn’t care, but I can’t stop myself. I turn and look at Lexi, who is staring at the screen of her phone, a secretive smile playing on her lips.
“That’s my cousin you’re sexting right now,” I remind her, pursing my lips.
Golden eyes peep up at me. “I know. I just miss him so much.”
“When does he get back from tour again?” I ask her, not really caring when Ryder gets back, but one of his band mates instead.
“In a week,” she replies, her attention back on her phone. “Longest week of my life.”
I make a whipping sound causing her to giggle.
“Why didn’t you go with him?” I ask.
“I have work. I just handed in my notice though so next time I will definitely be going with them.”
“A kept woman hey?” I joke, wiggling my eyebrows.
She peeks at me and sighs. “So many women throw themselves at him on these tours. I know it’s a normal thing for him now, and I know he’d never cheat on me, but…”
“But what?” I ask, not liking the fact that she’s feeling a little unsure and questioning my cousin’s loyalty.
“In the back of my mind there is always doubt. You know? That I’m not good enough,” she tries to explain. “That he might find someone better.”
I think it over, tilting my head to the side and narrowing my eyes. “No. I don’t think I do know.”
Why doubt yourself? What does that do? It’s better to look at all your good qualities and focus on those. I’m my own biggest fan.
Her eyes widen. “You don’t ever feel like you’re not worthy or good enough for something or someone?” She laughs at my blank expression. “Ever?”
I shake my head. “I’m kind of awesome—and totally worthy. So are you.”
She stares at me in astonishment, blinking slowly. “I wish I had your confidence.”
Confidence.
Is that what I have? I was kind of thinking I had a huge ego instead, but I guess confidence works too.
“We should go out tonight,” I blurt out, changing the subject and trying to cheer her up. I think we could both use a girls’ night out. It’s been a while. And for some reason every time I try to take Lexi out Ryder always wants to tag along. He’s so clingy and needy sometimes!
She puts her phone down. “Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. A pub?” I suggest. “Ooooh I know, we should go to karaoke bar.”
She picks up her phone again.
“If you have to ask Ryder if you’re allowed to go out for karaoke, this friendship is over,” I plainly state.
Lexi rolls her eyes at me. “I’m not asking, I’m telling. You know he worries every time I go out with you.”
There is something very wrong with that statement.
“I’m his family! And I knew you before he did. In fact, he owes me everything he has for bringing you into his life,” I point out. “Be sure to pass that on to him.”
She pats me on my shoulder. “I’ll do that. Should we start getting ready then?”
“Yep, good idea.”
Luckily I keep clothes here.
“Just karaoke right? This isn’t going to turn into one of your all-night can’t-remember-anything-the-next-day type of nights?”
I think it over. “I can neither confirm nor deny anything.”
She sighs. “I’m wearing flats then. I can’t wear heels and keep up with you, dancing until six am.”
“Flats are for quitters!” I call out as she walks into her room.
Or pregnant women.
I search her cabinet until I find the alcohol.
“Bingo!” I say as I see a bottle of tequila. The expensive kind. I find two shot glasses, which happen to be ones we got in Greece as souvenirs, rinse them, and pour in the tequila. I then take a picture of them and forward it to Ryder, with the caption:
If you’re drunk it doesn’t count as cheating.
I start laughing my ass off when I hear Lexi’s phone ring from the other room. A few minutes later she starts yelling, “Tenielle Crawford I’m going to kill you!”
I tilt my head back and drink down the tequila.
Saxon Page 3
