Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (49 page)

He looks at the TV as my phone pings on the table. He swipes it.

“Bradi

M… E…O…W”

He busts out laughing. “Is Bradi in my apartment?” and hands me the phone. I laugh too. He gestures to the TV. “Seriously… more vampires? Do I need to bite you or something?”

Pointing to my neck where he likes to nibble, I say, “You already do bite. I like it.”

“You do, huh?” He shakes his head and clicks his tongue. “Constantly surprised. I swear, I’m constantly surprised.”

“Why?” I look at him in confusion. I really want to know what he’s thinking.

“Because, I am.” He shrugs and pulls me closer to his side, resting his hand on my hip. “You’re not like I always perceived you to be. I guess that’s my fault.”

Smiling at him, I run my hand over his face where his bruises are turning colors. “I made assumptions too, Jessie. I mean shit… you messed up this face over me. And I love this face. We’re both at fault.”

He grabs my hand and licks my palm before kissing it and then setting it on his chest, where he holds it, and we watch some TV.

It’s been a crazy few days and we fall asleep on the couch.

Jessie

I
wake to bright light in my eyes and a warm body lying across me. Blue and I fell asleep on the couch last night and somehow, in sleep, I’ve pulled her into me and I’m cradling her in my arms. Damn, she fits against me perfectly. Her lush curves fit to my hard muscle like we’re pieces of a puzzle. I don’t spend the night with women. But, I’ve done this more than once with her and I like it. It feels… right.

It also feels right to have her ass pressed against my crotch, where something is demanding attention. Damn morning wood.

Looking over at the clock against the wall, I catch the time. “Blue. Blue, wake up.” She doesn’t budge. Instead, she snuggles deeper into me and rubs that delectable ass against my already rock solid dick. Gritting my teeth, I try again, “Blue! Woman, wake up. It’s 8:30, if you want to be ready on time for Bradi and Lexi to grab you, you need to get up.” She rubs harder against me. Wait, is she awake? Taking my hands and running them over her stomach, I slip them under her shirt and palm her full breasts. She moans and her nipples tighten. Ah hell, she’s going to be late.

Thirty minutes later, she’s hopping out of the shower, fully sated and rosy cheeked. Now that’s a great way to wake up.

“What are you going to do today while I’m gone with the girls?” She’s putting on that coconut lotion she wears and I’m mesmerized as she rubs it into her legs. The bathroom smells like the beach.

I’m sitting on the counter in a towel while she gets ready. I have never watched a woman get ready before. I’ve never wanted to. “Heading to Dade’s place. We’re supposed to try to nail down the new music today.”

“When do you start on the new album?” She’s now moved onto her stomach and it’s glistening. I can’t take my eyes off of her hands.

“Huh?” Stopping, she props her hand on her hip and turns around to look at me. Her brow arches and she grins. “What? Sorry, you’re distracting. I can see your ass cheeks under the bottom of the towel, Blue.”

“You just had your hands and mouth all over my ass in the shower, Jessie.” She laughs.

Waggling my eyebrows at her, I wink. “I know.” She laughs and turns back to the mirror. I watch her fluff her hair. “We’re supposed to start laying tracks at the end of January.”

“Ah, ok.” She drops the towel and steps into her panties. These are light purple and her plump ass cheeks hang out. Who the hell knew panties other than thongs were so fucking hot?!

She puts on a matching bra and then shimmies into a purple sweater dress. Jesus, she’s gorgeous. I think I swallow my tongue and she’s fully clothed now. That has
never
happened before.

What the hell are all these feelings? I want her. I want her again. But more than that, I want to keep her. Oh God… I need to get out of here.

At ten to ten, the doorbell rings and Blue gives me a quick kiss before leaving with Bradi and Lexi, who are pulling her out the door.

I need to breathe. I don’t know what all of these feelings are racing through my body and I don’t understand this
need
I have for Blue. I decide to take a drive and organize my thoughts. I feel like I should be freaking out… I think I need to freak out… why am I
not
freaking out more?!

Two hours later, after aimlessly driving the River Road and through some old neighborhoods to organize my thoughts, I stroll into Dade’s house near LSU. It’s an older house, but he got it for a steal. It was a fixer upper, but he’s invested the money and now it’s a prize. It’s a lot of house though. I call out from the foyer to see where they are, Dade answers from the back of the house, the sunroom, turned music room, “We’re back here.”

As I walk in, I see Jude and Dade hard at work on the sofa. Cruz is across the room, near the windows scribbling furiously on a piece of paper, no doubt writing down some genius chords. Liam is smirking at me from near the bar. There are take-out coffees from Java and Sweeties spread across it. I find the one with my name. Taking a huge sip, I stare back at him. “What?”

“Nothing. How’s your face, dude?” He laughs again.

Smug fucker. Flipping him off, I shoot back, “How’s yours, Pretty Boy?” Then I look at his face. His eye is still messed up, though it’s more of an ugly brown/yellow than black, his nose has a cut under it, his lip is still split, and his bruises are starting to fade to the same mottled yellow and brown as his eye. I got him good. I laugh.

He laughs too and points to my face. “About as good as yours. The ladies want to console me for what big bad Jessie Adams did to me. Worked out in my favor.” Then he takes in my appearance. I look away. “And apparently in yours. You and Blue good?”

My head whips back. “Yup. All good.”

He smiles. “Good. Don’t make me fuck up your face again.”

“Don’t plan on it. She’s… she’s different.” I sigh and his feet hit the floor. All of a sudden, I realize I’m the center of attention and four pairs of eyes are on me. Dade whistles. Jude laughs, and Liam says, “Son of a bitch. She’s got you. I don’t believe it. She’s really got you.”

“Shut up, Pretty Boy. What? What are you laughing at, Jude?” I challenge them all.

Jude clears his throat, but laughs again. “You. You sound so shocked. About time you get your head out of your ass. So, you and Blue are the real deal?”

“Uh, I think so. I mean, yeah. I guess so. She’s with me and I’ll kill anyone who touches her, so yeah, I guess we are.”

Dade chuckles and says, “You good with that man? I guess that means you’re officially not a slut-bucket anymore then. Blue is not going to tolerate your shit.”

“What shit? What are you talking about?” I rake my hands through my hair. “I’ve never done relationships. So, what shit?” Throwing my hands up at him in exasperation, “I’m not going to cheat on her if that’s what you mean. I actually like her. Like, I
like
her. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here, but I like her, and I don’t want to fuck up again.”

Cruz cuts in. “Wow! You’re in love with her.”

My mouth drops open.

I’m not in love with Blue. I care about her. I like her. I don’t want anyone else near her, but I’m not in love with her. I don’t even know what being in love with someone is about. I’m not in love with Blue!… Am I?!

“What? Jesus, Cruz. We’re seeing each other. Having fun… I’m not messing with anyone else. But, I’m not in love with her!”

Jude steps back and clears his throat. “Ok, then. Are we ready to get started?”

Dade cuts him off as his cell rings. He walks out of the room to take it and Jude gets a concerned look on his face. We start talking about what songs we’d like to possibly do while he’s gone, putting them into a pile to make the final decision once we’re all here and ready to work.

Half an hour later, we’re arguing over a song that has a long guitar solo, when Dade walks back in and punches the wall.

We stop and look at him. “What’s up, dude?” I ask.

“My sister. Clove is coming here. She’s going to be here tonight and she’s going to be staying with me for a while. Some things are going on and since she’s done with culinary school, she’s coming home.” He looks ready to kill someone.

Liam speaks up. “She’s going to be staying
here
? Like with us?”

Dade looks at him sharply. “Yes, Liam. She’s going to be staying here. In
my
house. That you live in. Is that a problem?”

Liam grits his teeth, but mutters, “Nope.” Then under his breath says, “First Jessie kicks me out, now your sister is moving in. I need my own place!”

“Aw, is Clove going to ruin your game, Pretty Boy?” I antagonize him. His hands flex. Then I look to Dade, “Everything ok with her, man?”

“No chick messes with my game, dude!” Liam grits out before throwing himself against the couch.

Dade rolls his neck and pops his knuckles, before sighing and sitting down. “She’s fine. Just dealing with some things and the best place for her right now is home. But she’s ok. Thanks, Jessie.”

This reminds me, I need to tell the guys about Blue.

Clearing my throat I start. “While we’re talking… uh, something happened in L.A.”

They all look at me. Jude says, “What do you mean? What happened?”

My hands find my hair. “Well… Blue got fired.” I just blurt it out.

Jude jumps up. “What the fuck do you mean ‘Blue got fired?’ Why?”

I move to the bar. Away from Jude… and Liam. “Because of me. She got fired because she’s involved with me.”

Jude’s face turns purple and I can see the veins in his forehead. Liam punches the table. At the same time they explode.

“What? Because she’s involved with you?” Jude starts pacing. “So what? Why did they fire her because of that?”

“Fuck! This is that fucking weasel Brock’s doing. I’m going to beat his ass!” Liam punches the table again.

My head whips around. “You know about Brock? You never told me there was a Brock!”

He pins me with a fury filled gaze. “Of course I know about Brock. Blue and I are
friends
, Jessie. We talk. And why the fuck would I tell you about Brock?! Until a week ago, you couldn’t stand the sight of her! Or you sure-as-shit convinced yourself you couldn’t!”

Jude stops him with a raised hand. “Wait? So who fired her, Jessie? Brock or Anthony? What is she going to do?”

“Am I the only person who didn’t know about Brock?!” I sigh and walk back to the sofa. Dropping onto it, I rest my head in my hands. “Anthony. There was a picture from the elevator in Vegas. And then more from L.A. He showed up at her house with photographs, after Brock left when Blue refused to take him back. She lost her job because we’re fucking.”

Liam says through clenched teeth, “Is that what you’re doing, Jessie? Fucking her?”

I pierce him with a glare. And stand up, pointing at him. “No, asshole. Yes, we’re fucking, but it’s not just that. I could fuck anyone I wanted to. I don’t let people I’m
fucking
stay in my house. I don’t follow people I
fuck
across state lines!” I crack my knuckles and get ready in case he swings at me again.

Cruz stops my tirade with a hand on my arm. My head whips around and I raise my fist, before registering he’s not attacking me. “Calm down, Jessie. I don’t think he was accusing you.” I lower my hands and wiggle my fingers to loosen some of the tension. “In fact, I think he was making a point.” He looks to Liam and then to me. I see Liam nod his head.

Jude says, “Ok, well, I don’t think there’s anything we can do about that. Blue is a big girl and she’ll land on her feet. She could get a job anywhere. But Jessie, you’re not the reason she lost her job. I promise you that. And I’m glad that you realize she’s more to you than someone you fuck.” He winks. “Now the next person to raise their fist towards another member of the band is paying for the Bachelor/Bachelorette getaway. The whole thing. So, calm your asses down.”

Looking around at the band, I sigh. They’re right. She’s more to me than a fuck buddy, but how much more… I have no idea.

Blue