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16

Raven

I can’t breathe. I went into Hendrix’s room looking for… God, I don’t even remember what I was looking for. I think I was going to ask if he was still up for a movie tonight.

He’d been back there long enough to be finished showering. I never intended to walk in on him naked. When I heard the spray of the water, I started to go.

I had every intention of leaving and giving him privacy, but then he groaned. He gasped and moaned, and his sexy voice swore in a tone I’d heard before.

It was a tone I remembered so well from a night so long ago, and my body lit up like I’d touched an electric fence. I had to see him. I couldn’t stay away.

The door to his bathroom was cracked, and I knew it was wrong. It was an invasion of his privacy. Still, I was hypnotized by the sight of him naked, covered in water.

His perfect ass flexed and his hips rocked. The muscles in his back tensed as the water ran in rivulets down every sculpted line .

I rationalized it, saying I was only appreciating his beauty. I wasn’t insanely turned on at the sight of his hand frantically pumping his cock. The muscles in his thighs flexed and tensed. Every muscle in his body was tense. He was the statue of David.

Then he said my name.

Correction, he groaned my name.

Shock froze me in place. Was he jerking off in the shower and moaning my name? I had to be dreaming. I’d fallen asleep and was having a dream.

Staring through the door, I waited to see if he’d say it again, only he didn’t say it again. His eyes locked on mine, and I was a deer in the headlights. I was caught and there was no escape.

I’ve never been into domination or taking orders from men, but the ferocity in his voice as he told me what to do, the hunger as he said what he wanted to do to me…

You won’t let me touch you. At least let me see what I had.

Simply remembering his words in my head makes my stomach tremble. I can’t even think about the fact that I came right there with him.

Now I’m in my bathroom with Haddy in her little chair, doing my best to get control. She’s bathed and ready for bed, and she’s chewing on that elephant ring like she’s so close to getting that tooth free.

I could have any woman in LA, but all I want is my wife.

Another tremble moves across my shoulders, and I go to my toilet, taking a moment to clean my orgasm away. I made the rules. They’re very important rules.

“Mamma has lost her mind, Hads.”

“Da da,” Haddy takes a moment to inform me.

“Yep, he’s the one.” I stand quickly going to my lingerie chest for a dry pair of underwear. “He looks too good, and he smells divine. And those abs and that…” I think of his thick cock fisted in his large hand, and heat flashes down my neck and chest. “It’s a lot.”

She blows a raspberry through her lips smiling up at me .

“I know.” I pull on a pair of leggings and a thicker sweatshirt this time. “You won’t remember any of this, but trust me. It’s not easy. And the night we made you…”

“Da da da!” She rocks in her chair, and I lift her out onto my hip.

“I’m not surprised we broke a condom. We broke everything else.”

She puts the ring in her mouth again, watching me with big blue eyes just like her father’s.

Inhaling a deep breath, I square my shoulders. I can do this. I might have slipped up just now and shown my hand, but we can get this back under control.

I’m a grown woman, a scientist. If I can’t handle one hot-as-hell tight end, how do I ever plan to handle a major storm?

Walking from our side of the house to the living room, I fortify my resolve. It was a moment of weakness. That’s all.

When I enter the living room, he’s standing with his back to me, and my resolve tries to falter when I see that ass.

Haddy’s head pops up, and she lets out a high-pitched Dada ! There’s no doubt, she knows what it means now.

Hendrix turns, and our eyes meet briefly before he walks over to lift her out of my arms. “I made her formula.”

He’s quiet, more in control as well, and I follow his cue. “Do you still want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.” He shrugs, kissing the side of our daughter’s head, and she leans into him, putting her little arms around his neck.

Blinking, I watch her love him, thinking if only …

“ Driving Miss Daisy .” It pops out of my mouth, and his brow quirks. “It’s sweet and iconic…” And safe . I don’t say that part out loud. “Haddy loves it.”

“Sounds good.”

We go to the movie room, curling up in the chairs. Tonight we’re having Nashville hot chicken from a place Hendrix said one of his teammates wouldn’t shut up about. I’m taking the first shift with Haddy, but he’s not eating .

“You know, I could cook dinner for us sometime.” My voice is quiet. “We don’t have to order out every night.”

His blue eyes lift to mine, and he smiles. “I don’t want you to have to come home from work and do more work making us dinner.”

“I don’t have to do it every night, but it’s an option.”

I look down at Haddy drinking her bottle and sliding her fingers back and forth on Axel’s gills. It means she’s content.

“I’m sorry about what happened just now.” His voice is quiet, and his eyes are on his dinner. “I was a bit keyed up. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I broke your rules.”

My chest is tight, and I swallow the knot in my throat. “I shouldn’t have invaded your privacy. I apologize as well.”

Blue eyes blink up at me, and my breath stutters. We hold each others’ gaze for several heartbeats, and thinking about him naked in the shower, only wanting me, I’m not sure I am sorry.

He looks away, and I can finally breathe again. Lifting the small remote, I press play on the screen, and wistful clarinet music begins.

Haddy’s eyes are fixed on the images as she drinks her bottle. We watch Miss Daisy back her giant old car off the side of the driveway and her son hires Morgan Freeman to be her chauffeur.

Hendrix sets his tray to the side then reaches to take our daughter from my arms. “I need to get you a car.”

A short laugh rises in my throat. “Am I Miss Daisy? You’ll get me a car?”

“Or a car service if you don’t want to drive around the city.”

“You can do that?” I still can’t get over how easily he says these things.

“I make a lot of money, Pink.” His eyes level on mine. “ A lot . And up till now, it’s just been me. So yes, I can do that.”

My lips twist, and I think about his offer. “I don’t mind driving.”

“Okay.” He shifts, moving Haddy to his side where she likes to cuddle. “I’ll hop online and find you a Rover. I want my girls to have the best.”

His girls .

My stomach tingles, and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, doing my best to keep my eyes from drifting to him as the movie continues.

Haddy’s asleep as the credits roll, and I’m surprised to see he’s still awake. It’s a pretty quiet film, and I know his days are physically taxing.

Standing, I collect our plates, Haddy’s bottle.

“I have a maid service that comes once a month,” he says, standing as well with our sleeping baby in his arms. “Tomorrow’s the day. They’re really good, but if you’re uncomfortable with them in your room, just close your door.”

“I don’t mind.” My voice is quiet, and my eyes slide over his muscled arms in that tee holding our little girl with so much confidence.

I think about the first time I handed her to him, and he almost turned her upside down.

“Did you like the movie?”

“Yeah, I’m surprised.” I look up to see a glint in his eyes. “It was good.”

“You’re surprised?”

“I mean, come on. It’s about an old lady and her chauffeur.”

“I wouldn’t steer you wrong,” I tease.

He grins, tilting his head to the side. “I’m glad I didn’t live in those days. I’d have gotten into a lot of fights.”

“It’s hard to imagine.”

We walk to the kitchen, and I leave all our things by the sink. Following him to Haddy’s room, I do my best not to gaze at his perfect ass flexing in those thin joggers .

Clenching my teeth, I remind myself of his one-date rule. I remember his love of the game, his dream of building a legacy and playing football until he’s too old to throw a good pass.

It actually works.

I wait at the door, watching as he bends down to put Haddy in her crib. The nightlight casts a galaxy of stars on her ceiling and the temperature is right. A baby monitor is on the side table, and he picks up one of the small receivers.

Slowly, he walks to where I’m standing at the door, hesitating like he might stay.

“She’ll be okay,” I whisper. “I’m right across the hall.”

His shoulders drop, and he nods. “I know. I just… I don’t ever want her to be afraid.”

My heart melts a little more as I close the door. “You’re a good daddy.”

He stands in front of me in all his rock-hard gorgeousness, and that naughty smile is back as he looks down into my eyes.

“What?”

“It didn’t work, Pink.” A tease is in his tone.

A tingle moves through my stomach. “What didn’t work?”

“The movie. It didn’t work. I still want you.”

“Hendrix…” I try to argue, but I don’t have a leg to stand on.

“Don’t worry, I know.” Leaning forward, he kisses the side of my cheek, surrounding me with the scent of seduction and soap. When he straightens, his eyes linger on my lips, which are heavy. “See you in the morning.”

With that, he walks away, and I lean against the door trying to catch my breath.