I work open the buttons on his shirt instead, begging, “Pants. Off. Take them off. They’re trying to thwart me.”
“Bossy, woman.” His mouth drags to my jaw, my throat, that spot near my clavicle that always makes me shiver. “I need to show your nipples how much I missed them first, everyone knows that.”
I arch into him, laughing and wincing at the same time. “I would usually agree, but seriously, Baylor, I’m?—”
The sound of a key scraping in the front door cuts through the sex fog.
We both freeze, and I hiss, “Roommate?”
“Fuck no,” Nix hisses back.
“Baylor?” A female voice calls out as the door swings open just around the corner in the small entryway. “You home? I found my key! The one I thought I lost.”
“Shit. My little sister.” Nix jerks back, and I scramble to pull my skirt down as I slide off the counter.
I’m still wobbling in my heels when a young woman rounds the corner into the main room, pulling a small red suitcase, a guitar case strapped to her back. She’s pretty—mid-twenties maybe, with light brown hair in a long, messy braid and the same big, dark eyes as Nix.
When she spots us panting in the kitchen, they get even bigger.
“Oh shit.” She giggles. “Wow. My timing obviously sucks. I’m so sorry.” She backs away, lifting a hand in the air in surrender. “I’ll go find a hotel and grab a drink in the quarter or something. Pretend I was never here. You guys are good! Get you some and all that. Sex positivity all the way! Go Team Banging!”
“Bea, stop,” Nix says, his voice tight but amused. “It’s fine. And don’t be crazy, there’s no way I’m letting you go to a hotel. I’m so glad to see you. I just wish you’d told me you were coming so I could get things ready. I didn’t think you had a break from the tour until Christmas.”
“Um, well…yeah. That’s technically still true, but we can talk about that later.” Her smile looks more forced as she adds, “After we toast! To you two being so pretty together and so cool about a bratty kid sister interrupting your night.” Shifting her focus fully my way, she adds, “I’m Beatrice, his little sister and general pain in the ass.”
“Charlotte,” I say warmly. “So nice to meet you. How long are you going to be in town?”
“You aren’t a pain in the ass,” Nix cuts in before Bea can respond, “but you are cagey as fuck. Not to mention a shitty liar.What’s going on? Just tell me. Anything you need to say is fine to share with Charlotte. She’s a vault.”
Bea exhales a long breath, her smile wobbling a bit as she says, “Okay, fine. I broke up with Kai. Loudly. Dramatically. The way artsy-fartsy people do shit like that.” To me, she adds, “I’m in a band with my boyfriend. Well, my ex-boyfriend now.” Glancing back to Nix, she flashes another megawatt grin that feels slightly unhinged. “Which I know you’re thrilled about, so don’t even bother saying you’re sorry to hear it.”
“I’m sorry to hear it was loud and dramatic,” Nix says, a scowl digging into his forehead. “Are you okay?”
She rubs a hand over her hair, rolling her eyes with a laugh. “I’m fine. Deep down, I knew we weren’t going to end up all happily ever after. I was hoping we’d get through the tour without crashing and burning, but…whatever. We have a week before the next show. Plenty of time to cool off and figure out how things work with Kai and me as friends or…” She trails off, her throat working before she adds, “I’m sorry I didn’t call first. I was going to, but then I started crying in the bus station restroom. And then, I was on the bus, and there were too many people around, and then I was almost here, so…”
“I’m going to go,” I cut in, crossing to fetch my clutch from the floor where I dropped it.
“No, please!” Beatrice says. “Stay! I’m just going to go right to sleep anyway. I’m exhausted, and I always wear noise-cancelling headphones to bed, so?—”
“No, no,” I cut in, meeting her gaze with a firm smile. “Seriously, Nix and I can pick up where we left off another time. Family comes first.” I cross behind her, pausing by the open arch leading to the front door. “I’ll take a cab home, Baylor, and text you when I’m in for the night, okay? Take care of your sister, and I’ll see you soon.” I smile, sending him a silent wave of strength for whatever comes next. “I had a great night.”
“Me, too,” he says, his gaze telegraphing a silent “thank you.” He starts across the room, “Here, at least let me walk you out.” As he passes Bea, he bends to press a quick kiss to the top of her head and promises, “Be right back.”
She nods before calling over her shoulder, “Bye, Charlotte. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” I assure her, following Nix to the door.
He turns to face me, whispering, “I’m sorry. I need to figure out what’s going on. It’s more serious than she’s letting on, or she wouldn’t be here. That tour was really important to her.”
I nod. “Absolutely. Take care of her. And if either of you needs anything I can help with, let me know.”
His lips curve in a grateful smile. “Thanks. I… I appreciate it, Char. I appreciate you.”
“I appreciate you, too.”
“And I really want to pick up where we left off,” he murmurs, holding my gaze as he adds, “The next time we start kissing, we’re not stopping until you’ve come at least twice for me, okay?”
I bite my lip, fighting the wave of desire that surges through me. Before I can respond, Bea calls out from behind us, “I can seriously just go to the guest room, guys. I don’t mind. I feel terrible for ruining your night.”
