Page 15 of Blissful Vixen

“I’ll see you then,” I blurted.

Dr. Hertz studied me, and then she waited me out before she stood. “I mean it. Call me anytime.”

I walked her to the door, then sat down on the couch feeling worse than before my session began.What was the purpose of this again?

Emberlynn came back inside then and smiled at me as she took out her earbuds. “How’d it go?”

“It was cool.” I paused and then turned so that I could see her fully. “Why didn’t you tell me that you weren’t staying?”

Emberlynn turned off her music and came to sit down on the couch. She smoothed her hands down her thighs. Her eyes moved from me to her hands. She was covered in sweat from her walk or run. And she was breathing more heavily than she was mere minutes ago.

“Hardison, I lost my job two days before I got here. I don’t have any money, and if I don’t find something soon, I may not have a place to go home to.”

“Okay.”

“So I didn’t want to drop all of that on you when we were just meeting. I figured it easier to just cancel. I tried to message you, but it said you weren’t available for that. Then I got here, saw you, and then you needed help. I figured it was simple to just come, tell you in person. It’s backfired on me, though. I never expected to like you.”

“It’s only been three days.”But she said she likes me.

“Yes, and it’s already tough to fight the chemistry between us.” She lowered her eyes, almost like she was too afraid to admit that.

“You were going to cancel to prevent me from finding out the truth?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I was going to cancel so that we weren’t starting things off on the wrong foot. I was always going to tell you. I’d never expected things to move quickly. Between helping you, and our day out together, I’ve never felt as at ease as I do when you’re around.”

I understood that all too well. “I have plans for us today if you’re interested.”

“Oh?”

“The bakery is having a Christmas cookie decorating event this evening. I’ve purchased tickets already and even added a few more cookies to the order. Go with me?”

Emberlynn’s face lit up like the star on top of the tallest tree, radiant enough to still shine down on the people so brightly that they couldn’t deny the intensity. They felt it everywhere.

“You don’t want me to leave?” She tried to shy away, but I wasn’t having that.

“I told you, I came here with a purpose. I plan to get to know you to see if this thing between us is real.”

Emberlynn squealed with excitement, and before I knew it, she scooted next to me, bottom lip tucked into her mouth and very much up to something.

“I’ll go with you.” She slipped her hand into mine and smiled. “I want to get to know you more as well.”

That answer was the perfect remedy for my mood.

“Then go get ready, Queen.”

Emberlynn removed her hand from mine and caressed the side of my face. “Okay.”

She sauntered away, and just before she entered her room, she winked at me. Emberlynn couldn’t help the brat that lived inside her. That portion of her slipped out from time to time, bating me into wanting to nurture it even more than she had. Maybe today was about time that I showed her what that was like.

EMBERLYNN

Today was fun. We decorated cookies and drank spiked apple cider while we worked. There were five other couples, and after bonding through frosting and sprinkles, we went out for dinner and drinks.

The Italian food was amazing. I had lasagna that was almost as delicious as the one my grandmother used to make.

When we finally came home, I was in a good place filled with Christmas cheer and alcohol. Hardison stretched out on the couch, tired from the day’s events. He wouldn’t admit it, but I knew his leg was killing him from all the walking and standing.

“Here, let me help.” I unbuttoned his pants for him and pulled to get them over his butt.

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