“You are definitely coming home with me tonight, Liv,” I say as I place my mouth against hers and kiss her hard.
“Okay, guys.” Theo hits my back, and I grab on to Liv.
“Let’s go,” I say as I walk toward the entrance with Liv tucked into my side.
I look back to see Eric and Theo laughing at my expense. Jameson is helping Emma to step out of the club. Just as Eduardo promised, a car is waiting to take Emma home. Jameson helps Emma in the car and tells the driver to wait. He comes over to us.
“I can get her home if you want to stay out longer. You’re more than welcome to come with us, but I am staying. I just want to ensure she is okay, you know?” As Liv is about to answer, I pull her into me and answer for her. “Tell Emma she will see her tomorrow when I drop her off.” With that, I turn to walk toward my Uber, waiting for us a few cars down.
As we walk away, I hear Jameson yell, “It’s about time,” right before he slides into the back seat with Emma and shuts the door.
ChapterSeventeen
Liv
I getinto the Uber car with Dax, and a million thoughts go through my mind. It’s hard to think with him in such close proximity. My senses are on overdrive. He drapes an arm across the back of my shoulder and pulls me into his side. I can feel the warmth of his body, his hard-muscled thigh pressing against my own. My heart is beating out of my chest, and I’m sure he can sense that too. He turns his head and gently kisses my hair, and I melt a little inside. This moment, being with him, heading back to his place, is something I’ve been thinking about and wishing for months to happen. I take a deep breath and struggle to get my nerves in check. He was with that beautiful woman not too long ago…is anything more going on between them? Did he break it off? I say a little prayer hoping that’s the case because I don’t feel I can compete with that woman. She was extraordinary, and I’m, well, I’m pretty ordinary.
We drive in silence, both of us trying to figure out what is happening. Downtown Houston passes by in a whirl through the windows. The city looks calm and pretty; the streets are practically empty this morning—such contrasts to how it feels during the day with the constant chaos and traffic congesting the city. We turn into Dax’s apartment complex and pull up in front of a high-rise building.
“This is it,” he whispers in my ear.
I know he means we’ve reached his place, but I can’t help the feeling that he is saying something more. I look up at the towering building, wondering what floor he’s on. Could we live here together? Would I like it here? I wonder if we would raise kids in the suburbs? I shake my head at the rapid-fire questions that go through my mind in quick succession: thoughts about a future with a guy I barely know. I look over and see Dax looking at me with a tilt of his head as if he is trying to read my thoughts. I am glad he can’t because he would be fleeing away from the crazy ideas I have about us.
“Where did you just go, Liv? I swear, I wish I could see into your head and reassure you.”
I give him a small smile, and he tucks a loose strand of hair from my braids behind my ear. He grazes my cheeks with his hand. He drops it down to take my hand in his.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
My heart practically beats out of my chest as he pulls me out of the car and leads me into his building. We take the elevator up, and I lose track of what floor we’re on. The space is so tiny that I swear I can hear his breathing match the beating of my heart. A rhythm in sync as we wait an infinite amount of time, and the doors finally open. We walk down the hall, and he stops to unlock and open the door without letting go of my hand. I assume he thinks I am still a flight risk after what he witnessed of my past behavior. I can’t blame him either because the feeling of bolting back through the elevator doors isn’t out of the question. I’m scared of this man and the emotion that has become so intense in a short time. I can’t stop the way my heart rate picks up when he is near or my skin buzzes with electricity when he brushes against me. The way he holds me makes me feel safe in his arms.
I walk through his front door, and he pulls me into his body. My head tips back, and my eyes flutter closed, expecting him to ravage me. But instead, he asks if I want something to drink.
“Um…sure, just some water, please,” I manage to stutter out, feeling like a fool for thinking he would kiss me. “Your place is beautiful.”
And it is. I look around and take in the modern furniture and neutral tones. He has it tastefully but simply decorated. It’s masculine, sexy, and suits him perfectly. He sees me looking around, and a brilliant smile spreads across his face like it’s just hit him that I’m here. He walks over to his kitchen, and that need to escape rushes over me again.
“Where is your bathroom, Dax?” I say, immediately feeling like I need a moment to myself.
“Just through the hall, first door on the right.”
I turn around and head to the bathroom.
“Liv,” he calls after me.
I turn around before I get to the door.
“I’m so happy you’re here.”
The honesty in his voice and the longing in his eyes are palpable. I close the door quickly, place my hands on the bathroom counter, and hang my head. What is this man doing to me? I look up in the mirror at my reflection and see a woman with flushed cheeks and smudged mascara. I quickly use the bathroom and make myself presentable. I hear music playing and quickly recognize the songInfinityby Jaymes Young playing on his surround sound speakers. I open the door and spot him with his arm on the island with my drink in his hand. I realize that he isn’t going to come over to me, so I make my way over to where he is standing in all his magnificence. He is built like the perfect male specimen. His shirt is untucked, and his sleeves are rolled up, exposing those impressive corded forearms displaying muscular arms. I can’t help but be drawn to him.
He never takes his eyes off me as I walk toward him, his eyes drinking me in. He hands me my water.
“Thirsty?” he asks.
I grab the water and take a drink. “You have no idea.”
I feel beads of water falling on my lips and I lick them. His eyes smolder as he grabs the glass from me and puts it behind him on the counter. He reaches up to rub his thumb over my lip, and I move closer. His other hands wrap around my waist, and he pulls my body flush with his. He stares right into my eyes.
