Page 122 of Naughty & Nice

Lorelei goes on and on about how long she truly has been waiting, telling us about all the times she’d thought we’d finally figured our feelings out and she got all excited. It’s only when Kian gets bored and asks about when we’re going to get to leave that she stops.

“Tomorrow,” Rix explains. “Wilder and I are going to see if we can dig the car out.”

A sad sigh passes my lips at the thought of leaving this place. It’s been everything and more than I could have asked for. So much more.

I look at the guys sitting on either side of me. They look so similar and yet are so different in every other way.

I love Hendrix with all my heart. Always have.

And Wilder. He means a lot to me too. Especially after this week away. And not because of the sex, or the pleasure, but because at times, he’s allowed me to see a slightly more vulnerable side of him that no one else gets to.

He’s always kept his guard up so high, even with me and Rix, that it’s incredible to see it lowered slightly. To have it confirmed that he isn’t an unfeeling, football throwing machine, and that there is a man with a heart in there if you spend enough time trying to peel it back.

Thinking about going home and him returning to that version of himself makes my heart ache.

“Is it still bad?” Lorelei asks, making me look out the window. The sun is shining, and although there is still a lot of snow out there, now the plow has been through, there’s a lot less. We’ve even seen cars.

It’s a reality check that life is still continuing outside of our little bubble.

Hendrix, Wilder, Lori, and Kian continue talking for another twenty minutes, but I barely react to what’s being discussed. I’m too lost in my own head to get involved.

“We’re going to go out and find the car,” Wilder says once the call is disconnected, pushing to the edge of the couch and heading out.

“Sure,” I mutter, speaking for the first time in ages.

Wilder’s footsteps get farther away, but Hendrix doesn’t follow. Instead, he remains sitting next to me.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly, shifting so he can look into my eyes.

“Yeah, why?” I ask, attempting to cover up for the fact that I’m not. I mean, I am; there isn’t anything wrong. I’m just… unsettled, I guess.

“You’re quiet. I don’t like it when you’re quiet. It usually means you’re freaking out about something and don’t want to worry me.”

My heart skips a beat. This is why I love this man.

Reaching out, I cup his jaw and smile.

“I’m not freaking out. Just preparing to return home. I spent so long waiting for this trip and… it’s over already. I’m mourning it, I guess.”

“Was it everything you wanted?” he asks despite knowing the answer.

“It was so much more. I’m excited about what’s to come for us.”

“Me too, Elle. Me too. Are you going to be okay if I go out and?—”

“Of course. I’m going to start dinner.”

He leans forward and steals a kiss. I get the impression it’s meant to be a quick one, but he doesn’t pull back.

“I’m not doing this myself. Put Noelle down and get to work,” Wilder calls a few minutes later.

I laugh while Hendrix mutters, “Cock block,” against my lips.

“Just think, when we get home, he’ll go back to the team house and we’ll be all alone.”

I ignore the pang of disappointment as I say those words and focus on what I’m going to gain instead of what I’m going to lose.

“I can’t wait,” I breathe.

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