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“Do you drive often?”

I could tell he was nervous, his hand clutching the oh-shit handle tightly. I wanted to touch him to ease his worries a little, but I got the feeling that would only freak him out more. It was better for me to keep both hands on the wheel and distract him with talking.

“Pretty often. Someone has to drive the truck with our instruments. Everyone trades off, but since I’m not a big drinker, it’s me or Duncan more than anyone else.” I didn’t mention that I’d been driving since I was a kid. My dad used to sneak me over to the human realm so I could drive him and my uncle back after a night out. As soon as I was old enough to see over the steering wheel, he taught me how to drive. I was the one who taught my friends, since cars didn’t exist in the Other Realm until after the integration.

“I noticed you don’t drink much. Is it the taste? It took me a while to find something I actually enjoyed.”

“No. Not only am I a lightweight, my dad is a big drinker and I don’t want that kind of life. My mom took me to some yoga classes when I was a kid to help me sort through the divorce. Ido that and meditate, and I don’t wake up the next day hungover and nauseous.”

I studied him out of the corner of my eye, waiting to see if he’d judge me. I wasn’t my dad, but I got a lot of judgment sometimes when I said I was related to a drunk. And sometimes people went in the opposite direction, complaining that they wouldn’t be able to have fun with someone who only drank a few times a month.

Arthur’s nose scrunched up, and I held my breath, but his response surprised me.

“I’ve never been able to do yoga. I can’t even touch my toes.”

I barked out a laugh, wincing when I remembered Sophie was asleep in the back seat. “Shit. Sorry. Do you work out at all?”

He nodded. “I swim a few days a week. Since I work in an office all day, I need to work the energy out somehow. I wouldn’t say it makes me overly flexible, though.”

I tipped my head back and forth thoughtfully. “I’m sure it loosens you up a bit. It probably wouldn’t be hard to stretch out those muscles. I can show you some yoga positions that could help, if you’re interested. I’m not one of those guys who thinks everyone should be doing it, though. I’m of the ‘you do you’ persuasion.”

He chuckled lightly, the sound washing over me and making my heart stutter. Arthur wasn’t the first human I’d spent time with. After years of sneaking over here, I didn’t have the same fears as my friends did. But he was the first human I wanted to spend more than one night with. I wasn’t sure what it was, the shy smiles or the way he blushed whenever I sat next to him, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him during the week. Seeing him was part of the excitement for each show. I knew he’d be there, and I looked forward to spending time with him again.

Whatever the reason was, I was glad he was giving me a shot. I’d been feeling drained recently and the love for themusic was tempered a little. Arthur brought it back with his raw enthusiasm and dedication. His excitement fueled mine, and it showed when I got up on that stage. If he was that effective just being there, there was no telling what he could accomplish if we spent more time together. Only one way to find out.

CHAPTER TEN

ARTHUR

Hendrix gotus safely home without any incidents. I wasn’t a big fan of driving at night, especially on weekends when drunk drivers were more prevalent. I tried to avoid it as often as possible. But knowing Hendrix could see better and that he wasn’t a new driver helped a lot, and when we finally got to my home, I was more relaxed than I normally was after a nighttime drive. He took my keys and went to open the door for me while I gently pulled Sophie from the back seat. She’d slept the entire drive and didn’t even stir as I brought her upstairs. Hendrix waited downstairs while I got her ready for bed, and after tucking her in, I went to join him.

“Thank you for driving us. I really appreciate it. I’ve become a little overcautious since Sophie was born. Val always complained about it, but…” I shrugged helplessly.

“I get it. You want to keep your kid safe. Nothing wrong with that.”

He was always so understanding, and it made it harder to control my crush. My heart pounded in my ears and I feltbreathless just standing there with him. We were both staring at each other, the tension in the room dialed to eleven. I wanted so badly to cross the room and kiss him again, but I also wasn’t comfortable making the first move. I hovered by the stairs, pleading with my eyes for him to kiss me.

Either I wasn’t very good with non verbal conversation, or Hendrix took my anxiety as a rejection. He didn’t come closer. Instead, he tipped his head towards the door and smiled at me.

“I’m gonna head out. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

I choked back a whimper, following him towards the door. I’d never been brave enough to ask for what I wanted. Val always decided on when we were intimate or when we kissed. The few times I tried to initiate, she got angry with me. I wasn’t even sure how to best go about it. But I knew if I didn’t do something, Hendrix would walk away. I caught his hand, my face burning.

“You… You said you would kiss me again after our date.”

I almost crumpled in on myself from embarrassment. I sounded like a petulant teenager. It was no wonder I couldn’t date.

Hendrix’s hand on my cheek pulled me out of my shame spiral. He gently tipped my head up, a smirk pulling at his lips. He was going to laugh at my pathetic attempt at asking for him to kiss me. My blush deepened to where my ears were burning and it was spreading down my neck. I regretted holding him back now. He could’ve been gone already and spared me the embarrassment. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to melt into the floor and disappear.

“You’re so freaking cute,” Hendrix murmured.

Before I could question that statement, his mouth was on mine. Slow at first, but with enough passion to sweep me off my feet. Tentatively, I settled my hands on his chest, leaning into him. I thought kissing a man would be weird, the differences too sharp for me to focus. But I really liked how it felt tobe pressed against him. His body was firm, muscular, without being overbuilt. It felt like I could lean into him as much as I wanted and he wouldn’t falter. His hand slipped around my waist, dragging me closer, and I gasped at the feel of his erection brushing against mine. Hendrix took advantage, slipping his tongue past my lips, and pressed me against the door.

It was like someone struck a match in a gas filled room, heat and need burning through me. I felt almost frantic for more, my fingers digging into his hair to keep him close. He groaned quietly, pushing me harder against the door. When his erection ground against mine, vibrant colors exploded behind my eyes and one hand moved to his hip, encouraging him. My knees felt weak and I almost worried about being able to keep myself on my feet. If Hendrix didn’t have me so securely in place, I’d probably sink to the floor.

I was eternally grateful that Sophie was a heavy sleeper, because I couldn’t help the needy noises escaping me. Hendrix muffled them with his tongue in my mouth, but not entirely. And they dialed up a few notches when he slipped his leg between mine, giving me his firm thigh to grind on. I ripped my mouth away from his, gasping and moaning as I rocked my hips.

Hendrix’s lips skimmed down my neck and I arched to give him more room. I never really considered my neck as an erogenous zone. Not until he sucked lightly on my pulse point. I let out a strangled moan, my hips bucking automatically.