Standing in my bedroom, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

I couldn't believe the girl staring back at me was … well, me.

Some days, I barely recognized myself, unable to comprehend how freckle-faced, sometimes awkward little girl I’d once been had turned into such a beautiful woman.

I mean I’d always been pretty. I just hadn’t allowed myself to see it. Low self-esteem and all that. But that was one problem I no longer had to deal with. And it was all thanks to him.

Downstairs, the doorbell rang.

I smiled. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Picking up my hairbrush from the dresser, I ran it through my waist-length hair before grabbing my favorite pink champagne colored lip gloss from the nightstand.

Two coats on the bottom. One on the top.

Glancing in the mirror one last time, I turned to the side, checking the way my dress fell down my body, hugging both my hips and breasts tight before slightly flaring and hanging loosely around the tops of my thighs.

It was short. It was green. And it was made of the softest material I’d ever touched.

Hendrix would love it.

Grandmama? Not so much. And Lord, it was a good thing Daddy was at the fire station for the next twelve or so hours. He would have had a stroke if he saw what I was wearing.

Grandmama hollered from downstairs. “Madelyn Grace, get your rear end down here! You’ve got this boy waiting, looking more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!”

“I’ll be right there,” I shouted back, looking around the room for my clutch. Seeing it on my bed, I snatched it up, tucking it under my arm. Spinning around, I whispered to the empty room, “Where the hell are my shoes?”

I’d purchased the cream-colored stilettos just for tonight, so there was no way I was leaving without them. Having never owned, much less walked, in a pair of heels before, I’d been practicing every single day for the last two weeks. Thankfully, after almost breaking my ankles on more than one occasion, I had finally mastered the art of walking in sky-high heels.

BINGO!

I spotted the heels in the corner of my room, tucked behind a packed suitcase and duffle bag. Both ready for my trip tomorrow. I walked over and slid my heels out, trying my best not to think about what the periwinkle blue luggage symbolized or about the change it represented.

A change that, looking back now, I wish I’d never agreed to.

I was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Don’t think about that now. Just enjoy tonight.

I quickly glanced at the clock on my nightstand that seemed to glare at me, the stupid illuminated numbers on its face screaming, “Time is running out! Tick Tock! Tick Tock!”

Determined not to let those bags or that stupid clock ruin my night with Hendrix, I slid my feet into the heels and stood up straight, giving myself a minute to find my balance. Once I had it, I flicked my hair over my shoulder and moved my ass.

Shutting my door behind me, I walked to the landing of the staircase and peeked over the edge. I didn’t see Hendrix anywhere, but I heard Grandmama’s rocking chair squeaking; I knew they were in the living room where she was, no doubt talking his ear off about the weather.

Straightening my spine and pulling every bit of confidence I possessed from the pit of my stomach, I started down the stairs, taking it one step at a time.

I was so focused on keeping my balance and making sure I held on to the banister in case I fell, that I didn’t see Hendrix come out of the living room and into the foyer.

But I sure heard his swift intake of breath.

I smiled. It was the exact reaction I’d been hoping for.

“Maddie,” he said, his voice strained, “what are you wearing?”

Making it to the last step, I stopped, not taking the final step down. From here, with the help of the stair’s height and my heels, my eyes hovered above Hendrix’s.

Ha! I was taller for once!

“Hey, handsome!” My voice echoed through the foyer and my cheeks instantly reddened. I hadn’t meant to practically yell in his face. How embarrassing!

His eyes locked on mine and my skin heated for an entirely different reason.

Now it was my turn to suck in a breath.

Swear to God, I’d never seen a man more perfect than the one standing in front of me. Long gone was the skinny boy with the messy hair and gangly limbs. Now before me stood a man. A man who stood a hair over six foot three and weighed in at two hundred and twenty pounds. A man with messy black hair, a strong jaw, and stubble-covered cheeks. A man with whiskey-colored eyes, full lips, and cheekbones worthy of any magazine cover.

Hendrix reached out, wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him.

Chest to chest.

Belly to belly.

“I asked you a question, pretty girl.” He leaned in close, lightly running the tip of his nose across mine. Butterfly kisses. “What are you wearing?”

I breathed him in, pulling his scent, a mixture of his cologne, a light trace of motor oil, and something that was uniquely him, deep into my lungs. I was sure I could survive off his smell alone. Who needed oxygen anyway?

“A dress.” I was such a smartass. “Don’t you like it?”

Hendrix pulled back far enough to look me in the eyes. His pupils were ablaze with appreciation. “Baby, you could wear a brown paper sack, and you’d still be the most beautiful woman in the world.”

I swooned. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally.

Holding on to his broad shoulders, so I didn’t fall over from the sweet words that tumbled from his lips, I replied, “I wore it for you.”

“Just for me?”

I nodded. “Only for you.”

My voice sounded breathy. Desperate. The same way it always did when he touched me.

“Does that mean I get to take it off later?”

He was teasing, but my reply wasn’t.

Desperate for his taste on my lips, I leaned forward, tilted my head to the right, and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. “Yes.” One word. Simple. Truthful.

Hendrix squeezed my waist in response and kissed me back. His lips, hot and firm, felt good against mine. I could feel myself slipping, falling into that familiar place where nothing else existed outside of this moment.

Only him.

Only me.

Only us.

But the moment was shattered when a throat cleared from behind Hendrix. Loudly.

He pulled his mouth from mine, breaking our connection. I almost stomped my foot in frustration like an errant three-year-old.

“I would prefer it if you didn’t defile my only granddaughter in the middle of my damn foyer, Mr. Cole,” Grandmama growled, her heavy cane tapping the floor in unison with each of her words.

Hendrix rolled his eyes, and I giggled.

He winked and whispered, “Watch this,” before turning around to face Grandmama, who now stood in the foyer, wearing a yellow housecoat and sporting a head full of foam curlers. “Come on, Grandmama, you saw what just happened here. Your granddaughter was the one mauling me.”

I buried my face in his back, trying to cover the mixture of embarrassment and laughter that rolled through me.

“I’m the innocent one in all this.”

I smacked his back playfully. I didn’t need to see his face to know he was grinning like a loon. I was so going to kill him!

“Maybe you should lock her up or something. It seems she’s a danger to the entire male species.”

I peeked at Grandmama over Hendrix’s shoulder. She was not amused. Narrowing her eyes, she thinned her lips. “Wearing that dress, I don’t doubt it.” She turned her steely glare on me. “Since when do you dress like a hussy?”

A hussy? Had she really just called me a hussy?

“Grandmama! I am not a hussy!”

Now it was Grandmama’s turn to roll her eyes. She tapped her foot on the floor, and although the slipper didn’t add much emphasis, the glare she threw in my direction, did. In response, I stuck my tongue out at her. “Didn’t say you were, Madelyn Grace. Said you were dressed like one. God gave you two ears for a reason, sweetheart—”

Hendrix interrupted her. “They’re cute ears too, aren’t they?”

I snorted as he reached back, playfully pinching my leg. Playfully or not, it still hurt. The ass! I growled and grabbed his ear lobe between two fingers and tugged—hard. He pulled out of my grasp and scowled over his shoulder.

“I’m going to get you back for that you little shit.”

Grandmama raised her voice and continued. “As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, you’re supposed to listen before opening your mouth.”

I couldn’t resist the urge to be a smartass. “But I don’t like listening.” I raised my hands, palm up, in the air. “I mean, where’s the fun in that?”

Grandmama narrowed her eyes, and I knew I was about to catch hell. Hendrix knew it too because he spoke up quickly.

“Time for us to go.” He turned around and placed both of his hands on my hips. Picking me up, he moved me from the bottom step to the floor. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” I bit my bottom lip and fidgeted in place as a wave of nerves roared through my center. “Ready as I’m going to be.”

It was the truth.

I looked over at Grandmama. “I won’t be home until late so don’t wait up.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. The giant broach that was pinned to her sweater glittered in the afternoon sunlight that spilled through the stained-glass front door.

“Don’t be too late. You’ve got to be up early in the morning. You leave at—”

Hendrix tensed behind me, and my heart clenched. Neither of us wanted to be reminded of what was happening tomorrow. I couldn’t stand the thought of it.

“I know, Grandmama,” I said with a shaky, uneven voice. “I just… I know, okay?”

A mixture of sympathy and pain flashed across her face. I knew she was hurting too. As her only grandchild, I was Grandmama’s baby. Whenever something hurt me, it always hurt her worse.

“Okay, sweetheart. Just make sure you get some rest.”

“I will. Promise.”

The air in the room was thick. Almost suffocating. Trepidation, grief, and the pain that would come tomorrow swirled around all three of us in a cloud of misery that threatened to suck the joy right out of our souls.

But I wouldn’t let it.

Not with less than twenty-four hours left until everything changed.

Looking over to Hendrix, I entwined his hand with mine. “Let’s go.”

He moved, pulling me behind him. “See you later, Grandmama.”

She reached out, grabbed his arm, and stopped him in his tracks. “You better take care of her, Hendrix. If you don’t and something happens to her, I will bust a cap in your ass.”

I choked. Swear to God, I choked. Grandmama was a gangsta!

Hendrix’s face blanked. I’m not sure he knew what to think, much less say. “Sure thing, Grandmama.”

Giving him the stink eye, she walked over to where I stood and pulled me into her arms. She squeezed me until I was convinced my organs were being smashed into little puddles of goo. She may have been old, and she may have been little, but she was strong.

“Love you, Maddie.”

Gangsta Grandmama had disappeared, and sweet Grandmama had taken her place. And Hendrix thinks my mood swings are bad.

“See you in a bit, honey.”

I squeezed her back. Warmth spread through me as her signature scent of lilac and gardenia wafted up my nose. After pressing a kiss to my cheek, she let me go. I stood up straight and looked down at her. Even flat-footed, Grandmama was a good three inches shorter than me.

“See you later. And I love you too, you, crazy old coot.”

“Whatever you say, hussy, now get out of here before the neighbors think I’m running a whore house.”

Hendrix snorted, and I tossed my head back and laughed.

“A whore house? Does that mean Hendrix needs to pay you before we leave?” The room fell silent, and I regretted the words the minute they left my mouth. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

I really hadn’t. I just meant… Ah hell, I didn’t know what I meant.

Grandmama pulled her eyes from mine and looked at Hendrix. He was smiling. The big idiot! I was more than likely about to get whipped with a hickory switch, and he was smiling.

“You better marry her.” Grandmama’s words were direct and left no room for argument.

Hendrix nodded once. “Planning on it.”

Grandmama rolled her eyes. “Good. Now get out of here. My show’s about to come on.”

Hendrix was the first to move. Pulling me behind him, he stopped at the front door. Looking over his shoulder, he hollered into the living room where Grandmama sat in her rocking chair.

“Behave, old woman!”

She chuckled. “Get outta my house, you hooligan.”

With that, he shook his head and opened the door.

Over the porch and down the steps we went. I’d forgotten my glasses, and I’d chosen not to wear contacts, so I let him guide our movements. Lord knows I couldn’t see worth a dang.

My heels clicked against the concrete as we made our way down my driveway and onto the sidewalk that led to his house.

Hendrix’s shoulders were tense and his muscles tight. He was no doubt aware of the ticking countdown that hung over us like a stick of dynamite, ready to blow the entire world we’d built around ourselves to hell the minute the clock ran out.

Reaching his front porch, he turned around to face me. Placing one arm under my knees, and the other under my back, he picked me up bridal style and carried me into the house. I looked up at him as we moved through the door. His jaw was clenched harder than a rock.

I had to fix this.

Once he set me on my feet, I stood up straight and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Look at me.” He closed his eyes for a moment, his jaw ticking, before dropping his face to meet mine. “Don’t think about it. What is or isn’t happening tomorrow doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is what’s happening right now.”

He dipped his forehead to rest on mine and closed his eyes again.

“I just can’t…” He grabbed my sides, pulling me against him. “It may make me sound like a pussy, but I can’t lose you, Maddie. I won’t survive without you.”

I held his cheeks with my hands. “You won’t lose me. You’ll never lose me. That isn’t even an option.” And it wasn’t. There was no way I could ever keep going without Hendrix by my side. He was my heart, my soul, my everything.

Leaning down, Hendrix kissed me. But, unlike before, when his lips met mine it wasn’t sweet, and it wasn’t gentle.

It was rough. Hard. Desperate.

I moaned, and the sound drove him crazy. Letting go of my sides, he fisted my hair with one hand and tugged. Hard. The other hand dropped to my butt, kneading the flesh in a possessive grip that made my body soar.

I gasped, and my mouth opened. Hendrix took full advantage. Plunging his tongue inside, he tasted me, exploring every inch. I slid my hands up his rock-hard chest; the heat from his skin teased my fingertips.

I wanted to feel him bare. Skin to skin. No barriers.

I swear it took every ounce of strength I possessed, but I managed to rip my mouth away from his. It was a miracle. He growled, tugging the handful of my hair still gripped in his hand.

“You don’t pull away from me,” he hissed, his mouth chasing after mine. “Ever.”

I turned my head, and my body screamed in protest. I wanted him. So. Bad.

“Five minutes,” I said, gasping for breath and aching with need. “I need five minutes.”

Hendrix pulled back, his eyes scanning the side of my face. “For what?”

I pointed towards the stairs. “I’ll be in your room. But you gotta give me five minutes.”

Confused, he looked at me then the stairs, and back to me again. “What?”

Oh, God. How was I supposed to say this? I wasn’t shy by any means but this, this just seemed… I don’t even know. The words lodged in my throat.

“I…” 

Get it together, Maddie. For weeks, I'd had this all planned out in my head. Every little detail. What I would say. What I would do. But it was already going down the drain. Breathing deeply, I tried my best to get my crap together.

“Tonight, baby. No more waiting. I’m ready.”

“You sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.” I grabbed onto his biceps for support as my body swayed. “I just need five minutes. Alone. In your bedroom.” I wondered if I looked as stupid as I felt.

Hendrix pressed one more lingering kiss to my lips. “Five minutes, pretty girl. But not a second longer.”

I let go of his arms, stepped back and nodded. “Five minutes.”

Hendrix looked me up and down, his body radiating heat and need. “Go.”

He nodded towards the stairs. He didn’t need to tell me twice. I turned on my heel and rushed straight for the staircase.

Before taking the first step, I reached down and quickly removed my shoes. They were cute and they did amazing things to my legs and butt, but they had to go. As nervous as I was, if I tried to take another step with them on I’d more than likely fall and break something.

Leaving them on the floor, I straightened my spine, hiked my dress up a few inches and ran up the steps. My entire body shook as I made it to the landing.

I was scared to death.

Still, I wasn’t going to let that deter me.

Keep moving! Don’t chicken out!

Come hell or high water, I would see to it that tonight would be special.

Once in Hendrix’s room, I slammed the door shut behind me without locking it. There was no need. He wouldn’t come in before I was ready.

At least, I hoped he wouldn’t.

I wasted no time in dropping to my knees beside the queen-sized bed that sat in the middle of his bedroom facing the dresser and mirror—a mirror, how convenient—and pulling out the black duffle bag I’d snuck in there earlier that day while he was at work.

Quickly unzipping the bag, I pulled out the items I’d meticulously placed inside.

Candles. Lingerie. An expensive bottle of lube I’d ordered online. Lord, had that been embarrassing. Browsing for the sexy stuff on the internet made my face heat. I had no idea there were so many different types of vibrators.

Shaking my head, and refusing to think about the way my skin burned as I looked at the different toys and wondered which ones would feel the best, I placed the candles around the room, lighting them as I went.

When I had lit them all, I picked up the lingerie and slid it through my fingers.

My stomach dropped.

I hadn’t even tried it on. What if it made me look fat? Or what if the blue material made my already fair skin look pasty?

Crap!

Oh well, I didn’t have time to second-guess myself. I only had—I glanced at the clock on Hendrix’s dresser—less than three minutes left. Stripping out of the sexy dress I’d worn for an entire twenty minutes, I removed the plain, albeit cute, panties and bra set I wore underneath and tossed them into the corner.

Shaking out the lacy, baby blue chemise I’d picked out online, I slid it over my body. I loved the way the material slid down my heated skin, caressing my every curve. Tugging it down to cover the tops of my thighs, I picked up the matching thong and stepped into it, pulling it up my legs and into place.

Then I turned to look in the mirror.

Well, I’ll be damned.

I looked … sexy.

My confidence soared. Running my hands through my hair, I gave it a shake for added body. Finished, I dropped my hands to my side and walked over to the end of Hendrix’s bed and leaned my hip against the footboard.

I had no idea how to pose or what to do with my arms, so I just let them hang at my side.

I stood there and waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Until finally the silver doorknob turned, and the door swung open.

My breath hitched in my chest.

Hendrix.