Page 58 of Naughty & Nice

I’d have loved to have a Noelle. Sure, she’s always been in my life, but not the way she’s been in Rix’s.

I’ve never told him before just how jealous I’ve always been of them.

“I’m still pissed at you, you know,” he suddenly says.

“Yeah,” I agree. “I know. Wouldn’t expect any less, to be honest. I took something that wasn’t mine. But hey, at least you know I didn’t fuck her.”

“Well, that makes it all better,” he mutters.

“Nothing will make it better. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Then why did you?”

“Because I’m a selfish asshole.”

The words float around the kitchen, but for long seconds, Hendrix doesn’t respond. Instead, he just sits there wearing nothing more than his boxers with his fingers gripped so tightly around the edge of the counter, his knuckles are white.

He’s angry, I get it. But if I’m being honest, I’d rather he hit me again than force me to open up. He knows I hate talking.

Probably exactly why he’s doing it, a little voice pipes up.

The ultimate punishment for my crime.

“When we were dancing,” I start, taking myself back to that night, “there was something different about her. And then when she left, I couldn’t help but follow her. I needed more. Her body spoke to mine in a way no other woman’s ever had.

“I followed her to the bathroom and caught the door just before she closed it.

“I didn’t give her a chance to react. I just pinned her back against the wall and lifted her veil.”

The shock I felt at that moment rendered me useless for a few seconds. Long enough that she could have run. But she didn’t.

“I couldn’t believe it. Hell, for at least a minute, I don’t think I did. But she stayed there with her back against the wall, looking at me with wide eyes. Wide, hungry eyes that begged me to do something.”

“Did you know what the date was?” I ask.

I hang my head. “To start with, no,” I confess.

“Would it have made any difference if you had?”

“Honestly, no. She needed an escape. It didn’t matter what from. In that moment, I just knew that I needed to give it to her.”

He stares at me, and for once, I can’t read what he’s thinking.

“I can’t regret it, Rix. I won’t regret it. She was spiraling. If it weren’t me, then it could have been?—”

“I know. And weirdly, I’m grateful that you were there to take care of her. Not sure this morning was necessary, though.”

I hang my head.

“She’s ensnared me in her web, Bro. Couldn’t help myself.”

“She’s mine,” Hendrix growls possessively.

“I know.” I hate how dejected and sad my voice comes out. “You should get back to her,” I say, hopping down from the counter. “She might wake up wanting round three.”

Rix’s eyes light up at the suggestion.

“Welcome to adulthood, Bro,” I mutter as I walk out of the kitchen.

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