Page 9 of HIS GIRL.
Sunlight streamed lazily through the slits of the blinds, casting golden stripes over the tangled sheets and the bare, intertwined limbs beneath them. The air was thick with warmth, the lingering scent of passion still clinging to the room like an unspoken promise.
Hera stirred gently, her lashes fluttering as her body began to wake.
Her head rested on Eryx’s bare chest, his heartbeat a steady, soothing rhythm beneath her ear.
His arm was draped protectively around her waist, fingers still lightly brushing her skin as if he wasn’t ready to let go, even in sleep.
She smiled faintly, her body aching in all the right places—a delicious soreness that reminded her just how thoroughly Eryx had worshipped her the night before. Again. And again.
Her cheeks flushed at the memory.
His lips. His tongue. The way he’d said her name like it was his salvation.
She gently tilted her face upward, eyes drinking in the sight of Eryx sleeping.
He looked peaceful—one arm tucked behind his head, the other still possessively around her.
The stubble on his jaw was darker in the sunlight, his hair mussed from her fingers tugging it through the night.
Even now, with his guard down, he was breathtaking.
Unable to resist, she reached up and ran her fingers gently along his collarbone, then down to the well-defined muscles of his chest. She felt him shift slightly beneath her touch, and then—
“Mmm... starting trouble already?” Eryx’s voice was low, gravelly, and teasing. His eyes didn’t open right away, but a slow smile spread across his lips.
Hera giggled softly. “I wasn’t trying to...”
His hand suddenly gripped her waist, pulling her fully on top of him. Her breath caught in her throat as her bare body pressed against his. His eyes opened now, dark and burning with a familiar fire.
“Well now you’ve done it,” he murmured, his hands sliding down to cup her backside. “Good morning, my goddess.”
She blushed under his gaze, heart skipping. “Morning.”
Eryx brought a hand to her cheek, brushing her curls back. “You’re glowing,” he whispered. “You’re... everything.”
Their lips met again, slow and sensual this time, not urgent like the night before but laced with intimacy and something softer—something deeper. The kind of kiss that said you’re mine, I see you, I want all of you.
When they finally parted, Eryx tucked a curl behind her ear and asked, “Hungry?”
She bit her lip and tilted her head. “For food, or for you?”
He laughed—a deep, husky sound that made her stomach flutter. “Both.”
---
An Hour Later
The sound of bacon sizzling filled the kitchen as Hera leaned against the counter wearing nothing but one of Eryx’s oversized shirts. It hung low on her thighs, the sleeves swallowing her hands, but somehow she made it look effortlessly sexy.
Eryx stood barefoot at the stove in just a pair of grey sweatpants, the waistband hanging low on his hips. He flipped pancakes like he did it every morning—which he probably did.
Hera watched him, her heart full. She couldn’t believe how fast things had changed. How much he’d become a part of her world.
“So... about last night,” she said, nibbling at a strawberry.
Eryx turned, eyebrow raised, lips curved in a sly smirk. “You mean when you screamed my name so loud the neighbors might call the cops?”
She laughed and threw a piece of fruit at him. “Shut up!”
He caught it midair with his mouth. “What about it?”
She walked closer, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “It wasn’t just the sex... it felt different. Like... like I belong here. With you.”
He turned in her arms, gazing down at her with something heavy in his eyes. “That’s because you do,” he said simply. “You’re not just someone I want, Hera. You’re someone I need.”
Her throat tightened, and she buried her face in his chest, hiding the emotion swimming in her eyes.
---
Later That Day
They had barely stepped outside when Eryx’s phone buzzed in his back pocket. He glanced at the screen and frowned slightly.
Hera looked up at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah... it’s just,” he sighed, locking his phone. “My sister wants us to come over for dinner tonight. She’s been dying to meet you ever since I mentioned your name.”
Hera blinked. “You told your sister about me?”
He chuckled. “Are you kidding? She knew I was falling for you before I even admitted it to myself.”
Her cheeks went pink. “What if she doesn’t like me?”
“She will,” he said firmly, cupping her face. “But even if she didn’t, I’d still choose you.”
---
Evening – Eryx’s Sister’s House
Hera stood on the porch, nervously clutching a small gift bag. Inside were a pair of handmade earrings and a box of premium chocolates—her peace offering for a woman she hadn’t even met yet.
The door swung open before Eryx could even knock.
“Well damn,” said the woman with a big grin. “You weren’t exaggerating. She’s gorgeous.”
Hera blinked in surprise. The woman standing in front of her had the same sharp jaw and fierce eyes as Eryx—but her vibe was completely different. She radiated sass and confidence.
“Hi!” Hera said quickly. “I’m Hera—”
“I know who you are,” the sister said, pulling her into a hug. “I’m Myka. Welcome to the family, babe.”
Eryx grinned from behind them. “Told you.”
---
Later That Night
As they drove back to Eryx’s place, Hera was unusually quiet.
“You okay?” he asked, lacing their fingers.
“I just... I didn’t expect everything to feel so real,” she said softly. “Meeting your sister, hearing stories about you as a kid, it’s like I’m being woven into your life.”
He pulled the car over suddenly, turning to face her.
“You’re not being woven in, Hera,” he said, voice low and firm. “You are my life now. And I want to build everything with you.”
Her breath hitched.
“Eryx...”
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. “Whatever we are… wherever we’re going… it’s you and me. Got it?”
She nodded, heart pounding, eyes brimming with emotion.
“Got it.”
---