It didn’t matter that I could dress circles around everyone calling me a nerd. All that mattered was my unwillingness to deviate from my schedule. It paid off with a Julliard scholarship though so I couldn’t be too mad.
“Let’s cross our fingers that Frankie stays sweet through high school. I’m going to make sure of it,” I said with a smile.
Navy folded her arms and slid her lips to the side. “You’re going to make sure of it? You sound like this job is long-term.”
Realization settled into hot prickles along the apples of my cheeks. I did make it sound like this nanny job was for good. That wasn’t the case at all. I shook my head quickly dispelling the insinuation.
“Even when I move on, I’ll keep in touch with Frankie.”
“Okay, Xari,” Navy smirked.
It was easy for her to see I had a soft spot for Frankie. How could I not? She reminded me of myself when I was her age. Snappy but unsure and vulnerable.
Hell, I was still like that today.
…
TEN
Xari had been quiet all day, which wasn’t like her at all. Even the few short days she’d been in my life, I was used to her relentless mouth and spike-studded words. I was used to her soft floral scent when she stepped too close to me. I was used to the way every stitch of fabric hugged her tight, slender body. I was even used to hearing my name roll off those full lips.
Now, the house felt like a ghost town. I’d been in the den writing and nursing a glass of whiskey when I felt intrigued enough by her silence to seek her out in the house.
I found Frankie in her room sprawled out on the bed, studying. “Hey, where’s Xari?” I quizzed, sweeping my gaze around the lilac room.
“She’s in the foyer by the window.” Frankie looked at me for a beat then went right back to her books.
In the foyer?
Sure enough, she was pacing in front of the window. I opened my mouth to call out to her but I was too caught up in the reverie of watching her move. She took long strides in tall heels with straps wrapping delicately around her ankles. I traveled up her legs and over her thighs. I wished I had x-ray vision so I could see beneath the hem of that red dress. It tied around her neck with a fine string that could be easily untied.
My mouth turned to straw imagining how silky her copper skin would feel under my fingertips.
“Oh, Evander. I didn’t know you were standing there.” I blinked at her then found a polite smile.
“Yeah, I realized I hadn’t seen you much today. I know your things are getting moved in. I wanted to make sure everything was alright.” One look in her eyes told me everything was not alright.
A frown weighed down my features. I moved closer to her, waiting for the soft floral scent I knew would come once I was near enough. It met my senses without fail. Soft jasmine and the clean smell of soap.
“The movers are late,” she said, wringing her hands.
“They’re notoriously late. I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” My hands kneaded the tension knots along her shoulders.
I was right.
Her skin was silk.
Every logical thought in my brain told me not to touch her but the illogical thoughts…
The thoughts conceived from whiskey and idle time bore a child of insolence determined not to listen to anything my logical side had to say.
“They need to be here now,” she fired back. Her words were strung together with thin thread, ready to pop any moment. It was deeper than the movers being late. Something persistent pushed me to unravel Xari a little more.
“Okay, so what’s on that truck? Something is making you lose your shit.” My hands kept working on her shoulders but they turned greedy and wanted more so they moved up to her neck.
Something about the contrast of my long fingers and wide palms working the tendons along her slender, dainty neck rattled the demon inside of me. The one who liked to consume first and ask questions later. The one who went against everything I stood for in my normal life as a senator.
The demon inside of me was reckless. It was hungry. It was demanding. It wanted to awake from hibernation.
“I’m that easy to read, huh?” Her shoulders went slack and she pressed her back against my front. The swell of her perfect, tight ass rubbed against my soft cock, rousing it subtly.
“You wear your heart on your sleeve.” I had to stop my hands from working her smooth skin or else…
“My harp. I need my harp.” It was strange seeing her so vulnerable. It piqued my interest and stoked the smoldering fire building inside.
“Hey, it’ll get here in one piece. Unharmed. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can. Listen, if your harp…”
“Sunshine,” she said softly.
“O…kay. If Sunshine gets here in one piece with no damage, you have to let me see you dressed down. Jeans and a t-shirt. No heels.” The gasp that tore from her was comedic gold. With that reaction, someone would have thought I insulted her mother.
“If Sunshine is damaged, then what?” She turned to look at me over her shoulder and espresso brown swallowed me nearly whole.
“I’ll buy you a new one and I’ll cook dinner for a week.” My hands found her waist, pulling her against me even more. Her hips flared out from her tight waist and I ached to move down further. I wanted to slide my hands between her thighs and spread her legs.
“You will?” She turned in my grasp and looked up at me. Now her tits were
