Page 42 of Until Bax

“Nothing, honey,” Mia says, sounding like she’s trying not to laugh.

Flipping on the light for the bathroom, I take in my reflection and adjust my headband that has cat ears attached, then lean close to the mirror. My nose and whiskers are mostly still in place except for a little bit of pink showing through the black on my nose. Unfortunately, I don’t have the waterproof liner I used with me to fix it, so it is what it is.

When movement catches my attention out of the corner of my eye, I look to my right and watch Bax step through the open door of the bathroom.

“How do I get this off?” he asks, rubbing his nose, and I smile.

“Let me help.” I grab a piece of toilet paper and wet it, then add a little soap. Moving around him so we’re standing face-to-face, I lean up on my tiptoes and place my hand on his jaw, ignoring the way my insides tighten when he wraps his hand around my hip to hold me steady.

“You okay?”

I lift my eyes to his. God, it’s hard to look at him up close like this, especially when he’s touching me.

“Yeah.” I wipe away the black liner. “Talon seemed…” I search for the right word. “…unsurprised that it looked like we might have been making out.”

“He’s been on me about making a move.” This information surprises me. “He also knew I was considering how that might affect your brother’s and my relationship.”

There’s that weird feeling of guilt mixed with anxiousness again, and that sucks because I don’t even know what is going to happen between us, yet I’m already a mess over it.

“Oh.” I fall flat to my feet, and he lets me go. Tossing the toilet paper in the trash, I look toward the open door behind him when the bell rings.

“I got it!” one of Talon and Mia’s boys shouts, and a second later, multiple voices fill the house, along with the sound of children laughing.

“I guess we should get back out there,” he says quietly as his gaze searches mine. “If my sisters start asking questions about us, don’t feel obligated to answer them.”

“I wouldn’t know how to answer them anyway,” I mutter, and he laughs. “I’m not being funny.”

“I know, but you still are. Should we come up with a safe word so I’ll know when you need me to step in?”

“Is it going to be that intense?”

“Thisismy family. I know it’s been a while since you’ve been around them, but I’m sure you remember a little of what it was like.”

It’s been years, but I do remember there was lots of picking on each other and a whole lot of them being in each other's business. “Maybe I should go home.”

“It’s too late.” He smiles. “Everyone is here. It will look weird if you take off now.”

“Great.”

“It’ll be fine. If things get to be too much, just say ‘telemarketer.’”

“Yeah, ’cause that won't be weird at all.” I roll my eyes, and his fingers grasp my hip, digging in.

“You know, it’s really hard not to kiss you when you’re being funny.”

My toes curl at the mention of him kissing me, and my hands come up between us, landing against his shirt.

“We need to go out there to your family.” I drop my eyes to his mouth that is so close but so darn far.

“Yeah,” he agrees, and I rub my lips together as I put more pressure on his chest.

I honestly don’t know how I never recognized the sexual tension between us before. I must have been blind or in denial ’cause if it were a tangible thing, I’d be choking on it right now; it’s that thick.

“Fuck,” he mutters, dropping his eyes from mine and his hand from where he was grasping me when one of the kids shouts his name. “Let’s get this part of the night over with.” Turning, he flips off the light, leaving me no choice but to follow him.

When we get down the hall to the living room, I find the large space filled with adults and kids who are all excited to see each other and Bax. I remember Sage, Willow, and Harmony—Bax and Talon’s brother and sisters—but the woman standing with Sage and the two large men taking up space are new to me.

Standing close, with his hand resting on my lower back, Bax introduces me to Sage’s wife, Kim, Harmony’s husband, Harlan, and Willow’s husband, Clay, along with all their kids. Well, Sage and Harmony’s kids, since Willow is very much pregnant and due in the next couple of months with their first child. The only person missing is their sister, Nalia, and I’m surprised she’s not here when everyone else is.

---