Hendrix (Caldwell Brothers)

“I’m not avoiding you.”

“Hmmm,” I say, moving my hand to tap my finger on my chin. “What was it you said … we f-f-fucked.” He smiles at my stumble over the word. “Consent was given. Now I have a job to do and a debt to repay. You’re avoiding me, and I don’t like it.” I rub my butt for silent encouragement.

I move to unzip my jacket again, and his hand again comes up to cover mine. I pull it away, but his hand comes back up to rest on my zipper, neither pulling it up or down.

“Fuck, you’re crazy. Seriously fuckin’ crazy.”

“Talk to me. You went and made decisions for me, and then you just checked out on me.” I blink my eyes, trying to remain strong.

“Livi, I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with you.”

“That’s a start. I don’t know what I’m doing with me half the time, either.” I laugh at my own joke, and a snort slips out, making me look down.

He cups my chin to look at him. “Damn.” He smiles at me. “Livi, I’m not the relationship kind of guy.”

“I’ve never asked you for one, have I?” I mentally give myself a fist pump for my come back.

“We didn’t use a condom,” he states plainly.

Is this why he is running away from me? Is he worried about an unplanned pregnancy? Did he move me in out of a misplaced obligation? Questions swirl in my head.

Would a baby be so bad? Sure, I can’t afford one, but can anyone really be financially prepared for a child? I know Hendrix is a good man. I know he wouldn’t let us be out in the cold, obviously. I resist the urge to run my hand over my non-existent belly. Having a little Caldwell wouldn’t be bad.

“No, we didn’t. We are two grown adults, though. When the time comes to know something one way or another, we can talk about it. Well, that is, if you don’t avoid me forever.” My words are laced with an attitude I didn’t intend. I am annoyed with his standoffishness toward me since our mishap.

“Livi, look, I care about you.”

I watch him without saying anything for a moment. This is the end…

“Save it. No need to give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech. That is a cop-out, and you and I both know it.”

His hands come up and cup each side of my face, pulling me to him, kissing me. Our teeth clank as the passion explodes between us. When he pulls away, I am left breathless.

“Does that feel like a cop-out? Livi, I don’t know how to do all this. Give me some patience and understanding. You came into my world, and everything has changed. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

I bite my lip, trying not to smile. “You make everything feel right, Hendrix. With you, I feel like all is as it should be, like everything will be okay, after all.”

Chapter Seventeen

I wanna make her feel exactly how good everything can be … with my tongue.

I grab her hips, push my thumbs just under her waistband, and wait for consent to be fucking given. She responds by reaching out and stroking my hard-on.

It’s fucking on.

I unbutton her pants and am shimmying them down as I sink to my knees.

“Honey pot,” I say as I rub my nose across her panties and tug them down, ripping them on purpose this time.

Her hands go to the back of my head, and she moans as I run my tongue over her swollen, hot, little, pink lips.

“Step out.”

As soon as she does, I lift her left leg over my shoulder, pushing a finger inside while I circle her clit.

“I love your tongue,” she moans as she pushes her pussy against my face.

“Mmm,” I respond as I lap it up.

“Oh, God,” she squeaks. “Already. Not yet. Not—” I pull away, and she looks shocked. “I want you.”

“You said not—”

Her hand fists my hair, and she pulls me against her again. I chuckle as I suck on her lips.

“Yes, yes, w-w-wait!” She pulls away, and holy shit, I now know she is crazy.

“Livi, come on, babe. I’ve been having the LTs all week long,” I groan. She looks at me like I’m the one who is nuts. “DTs? What drunks—”

“I know what you said, but…”

“L, Livi”—I grab her hip and push a finger inside her—“T, tremens.”

She starts grinding against my hand. “I thought you meant…” she pauses. “Oh, God…” Her hand rests on my shoulders, steadying herself. “Deep throat.”

“Son-of-a-bitch.” I finger her harder, faster, as I reach my other hand up and shove my finger in her mouth. “Do you have skill?”

It takes her a moment to figure out what I am saying, and then her eyes widen. As she pulls away, I think how fucking stupid I was to mention that shit. “Babe, how about we forget that conversation, and you get your ass back over here and fuck my face?”