what Alexis lets you do.” I tried not to sound annoyed because it wasn’t her fault Alexis didn’t want to get on the same co-parenting page. Frankie was just being a kid and trying to bend the rules. I expected her to act like a child. I didn’t expect Alexis to act like one too.
“I know. I’m sorry.” She shot a look at Xari then at me. “I’m ready to go to bed.” I stood and wrapped her in a hug before kissing the top of her head. With her face scrubbed clean, she was my little girl again.
She went to Xari next and hugged her then went upstairs.
“Is it bad that I want to go up and tuck her in?” I asked, shaking my head.
“It’s cute, Evander.” She walked over and rubbed my shoulders. Her hands were strong working the knots out of my muscles.
“I know something else cute.” I grabbed her hands and kissed the backs of them.
“I am cute,” she smiled. She sat on the couch and plucked my glass from the table, bringing it to her lips. She looked so damn sexy.
“Why don’t you tell me about going viral…with your cute ass.”
“Well, turns out Damon Philips’s fiancé, Nicole wants me to play at their wedding in DC. I’m gonna do it because they’re willing to pay for my flight and hotel. She wants me to email my contract to her but I don’t have one.” Her words hung in the air. I let out a small chuckle and nodded my understanding.
“You’d probably need a lawyer to draft one for you…huh?”
“That would be nice. I mean, if I knew a lawyer.” She batted her lashes at me and I pulled her close. I liked the way she felt in my arms.
“Maybe I can help you.”
“You’d do that for me?” She curled her pointer finger, hooking it under my chin so she could pull me closer. Our lips pressed together and her eyes shut immediately. I watched her for a few beats before closing my eyes too.
“Absolutely. You gotta promise to come to bed with me though.” I stole her bottom lip, trapping it between my teeth then I moved to her chin…her neck…her shoulder. She was butter beneath my lips.
“As long as I wake up in my own bed, right?” She said. Her tone danced on a line between sarcasm and something sour that I couldn’t put my finger on.
“You know we can’t have Frankie seeing you in my bed in the morning.”
“I know, Evander. I was just being extra.” She was hiding something. I didn’t dwell on it though.
“I’m proud of you for taking the Damon Philips wedding. You’re going to do great.”
“Thank you. I’m a little nervous but I mostly can’t wait to play for them. They want a mixture of classical and R&B.” She smiled when she got excited. She smiled so much that my eyes were stuck to her dimples.
That’s not all the way true. I noticed the animated motion of her hands and the way her eyebrows lifted when her excitement reached a fever pitch. I wanted to take her features and paint them on the pages of my next novel. I wanted to stitch her into my words.
“What’s that look in your eyes?” She quizzed, tipping her head to the side.
“Do I have a look?” I chuckled.
“You do. You look like you’re studying.”
“I am. I’m studying you.” Maybe my words were too honest. Xari blinked a few times and cleared her throat.
“Me?” She laughed with her hand on her chest. I knew the look women had when they were flattered though. She couldn’t hide it. “Why are you studying me? I mean besides the fact that I’m amazing.”
“You are amazing, but I’m picturing you in a story.” I wet my lips then rested my elbows on my knees. “A heroine who’s strong and takes what she wants, and an alpha with a heart. I usually write strong male leads but you…” My eyes flitted over her face, taking in the scarce dusting of copper freckles across the bridge of her nose. I’d weave those into my character too. “You make me want to deviate from my usual formula.” My fingers tingled and I longed to write. I needed to finish revisions on my finished story though.
“Am I your muse, Evander Freeman?” Her voice was husky like the thought of being my muse turned her on more than anything I’d done so far. I nodded and she climbed in my lap. “You