“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 f**king 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 f**k 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.