Hendrix’s room was mostly dark. The only light spilling into the room came from the dimly lit hallway where I stood. It didn’t help me see much though. I couldn’t tell if Hendrix was in bed or if—

The door to the right of the bed—the master bathroom I guessed—suddenly swung open, and out he walked.

The door must have been shut when I was in his room earlier because I’d never noticed it. If I had, I wouldn’t have run my fluffy butt all the way down the hall to the other bathroom when I was on the verge of puking.

I inhaled sharply as Hendrix moved further into the room, giving me a better view. Wearing no shirt and grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips he looked ovary combusting good. If I'd been wearing panties, I'm sure they would have melted right off my hips.

“Maddie?”

A smile tilted my lips heavenward as a memory came rushing back. “No, it’s your local axe murderer.” Much to my disappointment, he didn’t laugh. “I wanted to talk”—no I didn’t— “but if you’d rather go back to sleep I can…” My voice trailed off as I waited for him to respond.

Nothing but silence surrounded us.

Crap.

Even though he couldn’t see me, I hooked my thumb over my shoulder and pointed behind me. “I’m gonna, uh, I’m just gonna go.”

Feeling defeated, I turned around and walked away.

Two steps later, Hendrix's arm wrapped around my waist. I yelped in surprise, as he slammed my back into his chest. Dipping his face so that his lips hovered over my ear, he whispered, "Where do you think you're going?"

“I… I…” Lord, I couldn’t even talk! My face flamed. “It can wait until morning.” I blew out a breath. “Go ahead and go back to bed, handsome. It’s not a big deal. Really.” I didn’t know who I was trying to convince more—him or me.

He growled against my ear. “No.”

I nodded in agreement. “Okay then.” What else was I supposed to say?

The fingertips of his left hand dusted the outside of my thigh. I gasped. Then, I moaned as he moved his hand upwards. The hem of the long shirt that I was wearing rose as his fingertips danced across my skin, moving towards my hip. Oh, God. Again, he growled in my ear. "What the fuck are you wearing?" His fingers continued their ascent. "Scratch that. The better question is: what the fuck aren't you wearing?"

I stalled for a moment before a grin spread across my face. “One of your t-shirts.” I’d shamelessly stolen it out of his closet. “And to answer your second question—panties.”

His hand stopped moving.

“You came into my room in the middle of the night without wearing panties? Do you know how dangerous that is?”

I shivered. “No.”

His teeth nipped my ear lobe, and I almost collapsed on the spot. “Doing shit like that is liable to get you fucked against a wall, pretty girl.” His lips met the sensitive skin of my neck, and I arched my back, pressing myself into him. His hard cock dug into my back, and I couldn’t stop myself from sliding my hand between us and grabbing it through his sweats. “Fuck, Maddie,” he hissed, grounding himself into my palm. My core pulsed and my stomach clenched.

I needed him. Needed him now.

“Hendrix,” I moaned, “please…”

He spun me around to face him. Cupping my jaw with his strong hands, he looked down at me with lust filled eyes. “What do you want, baby?”

I couldn’t think! I felt like I was eighteen all over again. “You,” I whimpered, “I want you.”

His face morphed into a look that I couldn’t decipher, and suddenly he dropped his hands. My stomach plummeted when he crossed his arms over his chest and took a step back. He shook his head. “Maddie…”

Suddenly, I felt naked, and not in a good way either. Taking my own step back, I tugged at the hem of my shirt. Unable to bear looking at him, I dropped my head back and stared at the ceiling.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't. Cry.

What the heck had I been thinking? A couple of hours ago I was acting like a total brat and ignoring him. But now, I was standing in the middle of his room, sans panties, and practically begging him to have sex with me.

My emotions were more unstable than a house built on sand.

I had to leave, had to get out. “I’m sorry, Hendrix,” my voice broke, “I shouldn’t have come in here. Shouldn’t have done this.” I couldn’t stop the tears. Stupid, traitorous tears. Dropping my head, I pointed over my shoulder. “I’m just going to go.” Go where? Back to bed? Back to my childhood home? Back to the shelter? Heck if I knew.

I turned to leave when Hendrix grabbed my arm. "Stop." Like always, I listened to his command. He didn't release his hold on me as he moved around me and flipped on the light switch. I waited for the sudden brightness to send a bolt of pain careening through my skull, but it never came. Huh. Suddenly, Hendrix moved in front of me. “You’re not leaving.”

I furrowed my brows. “I’m not?”

His face was hard, unmoving as he replied, “No, you’re not.”

Once again, silence surrounded us.

Until…

“Why’d you come in here?”

I shrugged. “You want the truth or a lie?”

He moved closer and his scent grew stronger. It made me lightheaded. “I always want the truth from you.” Nervously wringing my hands together, I stared up at him. He was so damn beautiful. “Truth is, I’m tired of being away from you.” It was as simple as that. Still, my answer wasn’t enough. Raising my right hand, I wiped away the tears that blotted my cheeks. “I know how I reacted earlier was… well, it was… bratty.” I blew out an exaggerated breath and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve spent so much time thinking you didn’t love me.” I swallowed. “And wondering what I did to cause it.” Breathe, Maddie. Just breathe. “That I didn’t stop to think that maybe there was another reason why you left." I shook my head and closed my eyes. "I should have known though. I should've realized something was wrong, but I was too blinded by the pain to think straight. I know that now. If I'd only—"

Hendrix cut me off. "Shut up." My mouth snapped closed. "If I hear you blame yourself one more goddamn time I'm going to lose my shit." Wrapping an arm around my back, he pulled me into him. "Baby, I lied to you." His arm squeezed me tight. "I said stuff to you,” closing his eyes, he ground his teeth together, “stuff that I’ll never forgive myself for.”

“But you had too.”

His eyes opened. “Doesn’t matter. Every bit of it will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

“You were protecting me.”

“I destroyed you.”

I nodded once. “You did.” I paused long enough to catch my breath. “But you destroyed yourself too.”

His forehead met mine, and his minty breath wafted over my face. “I’m so sorry, pretty girl.”

Raising my hands, I slid them into his inky black hair. “It’s not your fault.” And it wasn’t. It was Pop and Petrov’s fault—not his. “Besides, I’ve already decided to forgive you.”

"Yeah?" He smiled, and my heart melted.

"Yeah, handsome." I placed a gentle kiss on his chin. "We've lost enough time. I don't want to waste anymore." He exhaled, and I continued. Here comes the hard part. I grabbed his biceps for support. “But first, there’s something I need to tell you.” He leaned back and peered down at my face. “I can’t keep secrets from you,” I swallowed, “not anymore.”

My heart rate accelerated and my breaths came faster.

Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.

Hendrix’s face hardened again. “Is it about another man?”

I blinked. Once. Twice. Completely shocked, I momentarily forgot about the vicious truth that was seconds away from spilling from my lips. “What? Of course not!”

He dropped his arms and clenched his hands into fists. “You sure?”

Was he nuts? “Of course, I’m sure! Why would you even ask me that? You should know better!” I wasn’t mad. More like confused.

He shook his head and exhaled. “It’s nothing. Just something Grandmama said.”

Oh, Lord. I could only imagine. “And what did she say?”

“Just something about Ty Jacobs wanting to date you.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. Hard. “Are we sure you aren’t the one with the head injury. Ty Jacobs? Seriously, Hendrix? I’d rather play in traffic than go anywhere with that dickhead.”

Hendrix didn’t laugh. “What’s the secret?”

I stilled, and the panic came flooding back. “C-can we sit down?” I stuttered as I pointed towards the bed. "I need to sit down." Or else I’m going to end up on the floor, I mentally added.

I didn’t wait for him to reply before I moved.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I waited for him to join me. When he did, I looked up sideways at him through fear filled eyes. Heart heavy, I fisted my hands in my lap. I didn’t know how to start. “There are some things I need to tell you.” Breathe, Maddie. “Some things you need to know. But I’m scared to tell you.”

Sitting up straight, Hendrix turned to face me, and with a calm voice, asked, “Why would you be scared? You know you can tell me anything.”

If he only knew…

Just be honest. "Because now that I know you still love me, I'm terrified that once I tell you, you'll end up hating me. And I…" Dang, it! "I can’t lose you again, Hendrix. If you walk away again, it’ll kill me.”

Placing his hands on my waist, he swiftly picked me up and sat me on his lap. He turned my face towards his and looked at me with determined eyes. “I’m not going to leave you. Never again.” Hendrix leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. My heart fluttered and for just a tiny moment, all the worry, all the hurt, all the dang memories disappeared. When he pulled his mouth away from mine, I nearly screamed in protest. “It doesn’t matter what your secret it, I swear on my goddamn life—I will not leave you, Maddie.”

His words broke me.

Unable to hold them back any longer, I let the violent tears flow. Sob after sob racked my body as everything came pouring out of me in a torrent of mixed emotions. Fear. Relief. Anger. Happiness. Trepidation. Remorse. I felt like I was breaking in half as over six years of up and downs—mostly downs—rushed to the surface and spilled from my aching chest.

“I’m so sorry, Hendrix.” And I was. So, so sorry. "I just want you to love me forever, and I'm scared you'll walk away. Scared you'll hate me."

Hendrix kissed my temple before lying me flat on my back. Climbing over me, he wiped away my tears. "Shh. There's nothing you could do that would make you hate you." Yes, there was. "My heart belongs to you, pretty girl. Always has. Always fucking will."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought my lips to meet his. Once. Twice. Thrice. I needed him closer, needed this moment, because after I told him… I wasn’t sure what would happen. “Hendrix…”

Burying his face in the side of my neck, he inhaled. "Goddamn, I missed your scent." He nipped at my pulse point, and I yelped. He chuckled before running his tongue over my flesh to soothe the stinging ache. “Need you to understand something, baby.” Moving to the other side of my throat, he repeated the same move. “Doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past,” both of his hands landed on the outsides of my thighs, "it's not going to change a thing between us." Yes, it would. "Long as your safe, and as long as some man isn't on his way here, hell-bent on taking you away from me, then it can wait."

“Hendrix—”

He squeezed my thighs. “No, Maddie. It's obvious you aren't ready to tell me, so we're going to wait." His hands slid to the insides of my thighs. "Because right now, I've got more important shit to do."

My heart stilled.

My lungs froze.

“Like what?”

With an arrogant smile crossing his gorgeous face, he yanked my thighs open. “Like shoving my cock so deep inside of you that you remember exactly who the fuck you belong too.”

Oh.

My.

God.

Jumping off the bed, he ripped his sweatpants down in one smooth movement. His big cock bobbed in the air, and I lost the ability to breathe. Friggin' Christ, I'd forgotten how big it was. Taking the throbbing length in his hand, he stroked himself.

My mouth fell open.

“You ready for me, Maddie?” Unable to speak, I nodded once. “Then get over here and show my cock how much you missed it.”

Pushing up onto my hands and knees, I moved.