Saxon(7)

“You did not just say that to my cousin,” I say, sliding down his back and slapping him on his ass. Buns of steel I tell you.

He ignores my comment and looks towards my bathroom. “Want to take a quick shower with me before I have to leave?”

Seriously? “Yeah, I’m going to have to skip out on that one.”

No matter how intriguing it sounds.

Water dripping down that body…

Snap out of it Tenielle!

He shrugs like it makes no difference to him and heads into the bathroom. I stare at his retreating figure, then scrub my palm down my face and head into the kitchen.

I hear the shower running and decide to do some yoga.

I’m bent over, touching my toes when he walks into the lounge room, freshly showered.

“Holy f*ck,” he mutters as he watches me change positions.

“Bye Saxon, it’s been… interesting,” I call out breathlessly from the mat on the floor.

He tilts his head down to look at my face. “I’ll be here again tonight.”

“What?” I ask. Surely I heard wrong? “Sorry I’m busy tonight.”

“Doing what?”

“I have to wash my cat,” I reply, saying the first thing that pops into my head.

“You don’t have a cat,” he says, looking around.

“Hair.”

“What?”

“I meant I have to wash my hair.”

A slow spreading smile appears on his handsome face. “I can do that for you. Tonight.”

Then I remember I actually do have something to do tonight. “Shit I forgot. I’m teaching the women’s self-defence class tonight at the recreation centre.”

His eyebrows rise. “You teach women’s self-defence?”

“Yeah, once a month,” I explain. I love teaching those classes, empowering women and giving them the tools and confidence to fight back and not be a victim.

His eyes heat. “That’s f*cking hot.”

I roll my eyes at him. “I’m glad you think so.”

His eyes roam to the top shelf on the wall. “Is that a bong?” he asks, his eyes widening.

“Who are you? The police?” I reply, laughing at the look on his face.

His phone rings again, and he shakes his head as if clearing it. “I have to go. I’ll call you, okay?”

He bends down and kisses me on my forehead. The tenderness of it all makes my throat burn. “I had fun last night.”

And with that, he’s gone.

I flop onto my back and lie there, staring at the ceiling.

How exactly did this happen?

*****

My lip quirks when Morning Alliance’s song ‘Fire’ plays on the radio. I turn it up and sing along with the words, feeling pride flow through me.

You’re like fire through my veins. Your body, it consumes me.

Defiant eyes.

Beauty inside.

The things I want to do to you…

This was their first song released from their new album.

When I park my car in my driveway, I call up Ryder. When he answers I put the phone to the radio and turn it up so he can hear his own song. After a few seconds I turn the music off and speak into the phone.

“Guess what I’m listening to on the radio,” I say, opening the car door and getting out.

His happy laugh makes me smile. “That song is exploding.”

“I know,” I reply. “Who wrote it?”

“Saxon,” he says, sounding amused. “I heard he stayed the night. I have to stay Tee, I was counting on you to put up more of a fight than that.”

I scoff. “He stayed the night but he didn’t sample the goods dear cousin.”

Ryder chuckles. “Good to know. Where are you? Why don’t you drop by and visit Lexi and me?”

“I just got home from teaching a self-defence class,” I tell him as I stand at my front door, looking for my keys. “What are you guys doing tomorrow? I can stop by after work. I’ll tell Layla and Sasha to come too.”

“Sounds good. I’ll tell Jet as well. See you then cuz.”

I say bye and hang up, shoving my phone in my bag. My hands just close around my keys when someone walks up behind me.

“Tee—”

Without thinking, I just react. I turn around and deliver a swift kick. Saxon falls to the ground, his hands covering his junk. Oh shit.

I kneel down. “Oh my god Sax! Don’t sneak up on me! I’m sorry.”

“What the f*ck Tee,” he wheezes, still cupping himself.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I reply, trying to school my features. My lip twitches, and I want to laugh, but I don’t because he looks like he wants to kill me right now. “What are you doing here?”

“I told you I was going to come by and see you,” he says, standing up and shooting me a pained look.

“And I told you I had class.”

“That’s why I came by later,” he says, dusting his pants.

“You know friends don’t see each other every day,” I reply casually, opening the front door and entering. When I get no reply, I continue, “I’m going to have a shower.”

“I’ll order some pizza,” he says, settling himself on the couch where we spent most of last night. I open my mouth to say something, but close it, shaking my head.