"You said you didn't have to go in."

"I'm going in. You're staying here and settling in. When you find a place, I have furniture. Your shit is ruined." Without another word, he leaves.

I am in control. He gave me that. Okay, give and take, I think to myself.

The room I have been in is just fine by me. I open one of the boxes they brought in and begin to pull out my things. Pulling out my panties, I look at the first pair I pick up. 'Unpredictable.' Yes, I will be unpredictable.

I laugh to myself as I change into my own clothes. Once in my clothing, I start sorting through what can be saved from the water damage. When I have everything I can keep in a pile, I begin to add my things into his personal space. I am sure he won't be expecting to find my panties beside his socks when he gets home. I couldn't find an underwear drawer for him, so the sock drawer will have to do.

I rub my butt and smile. If he is going to pack me up without a discussion and then disappear, he can deal with me settling in.

Floyd follows me as I put my simple touches throughout Hendrix's space. Her head tilts to the side as if she wants to shake her head in disapproval as I take out my movies and line them up on his entertainment center.

Sure, I know I will be packing all of this up and moving soon, but he made this decision without me, so I plan to show him what it would really be like to have me here all the time. Next time, he will consult me before turning my life upside down.

I ponder the thought. Has he really turned my life upside down, or are things finally becoming right side up since Hendrix came into my world? This is the first time I have felt something good in my life with a man. Hendrix makes everything feel good.

As the hours pass, my smile fades. Insecurity creeps in as Hendrix stays away.

Knowing I have to work at the hospital in the morning, I climb into his bed and let the exhaustion of my life overtake me.

Darkness. The only light is a small alarm clock on the nightstand. His nightstand. At almost three in the morning, I am in Hendrix's bed, suddenly wide awake.

There is movement in the dark around the room, but I don't move. I stay on my side, facing the wall away from the door.

The bed behind me dips, the blanket pulls, and then Hendrix is quickly pulling me to him. His scent engulfs me, calms me, and consumes me. I say nothing, he says nothing, and soon, I am sound asleep again.

The week goes on, much the same. Broody is back; only, he is now the master of avoidance as we have had no time alone together, except the early morning hours when he slips into bed beside me and pulls me to him. After my long days at the hospital and the shifts at the bar catching up to me, I am too tired to try to talk to him in the middle of the night.

Tonight, however, he can't avoid me. Thursday night, ladies' night. Sure, we have gone round and round about me working Thursday nights. He doesn't want me to, but I am going to. Add to the battle my animosity toward Sadi, and yes, Broody, I'm coming for you tonight.

I change from my work clothes into jeans and my favorite cleavage showing red shirt. Rocking my best push up bra, I grab my 'Eye of the Tiger' panties and laugh to myself. Covering my face as I snort, I work to get myself ready. Like Rocky preparing for a fight, I am readying to go round for round with none other than Broody Caldwell.

I shake my butt to myself as I leave Hendrix's house and make my way to the bar.

I am not inside the building two seconds before his stare is zoned in on me. I do my best to strut my way over behind the bar like I own the place. Rubbing my butt, I mentally prepare myself to go into the ring.

Challenge accepted, Caldwell. Here I come.

I smile sweetly as I begin to un-layer. I get my hat, scarf, and mittens off, and my zipper is halfway down when Hendrix is suddenly in front of me. His hand covers mine, pulling the zipper back up as I continue to try to tug it down.

"Livi, what're you doing here?"

"Working," I reply with a huge smile, my right hand trapped under his around my zipper, my left hand holding my belongings.

I shimmy my butt, reminding myself to stay strong.

"Go home, Livi."

"It would seem my place is currently inhabitable; therefore, I need to work so I can find a more suitable home." I meet his stare, not backing down.

"Your living conditions have been fine this week, Livi. You have to work tomorrow at the hospital and here. Go home, feed Floyd, and rest."

"Oh, no you don't, mister! You don't get to send me away so you can sneak into my bed later and continue to avoid me."

He takes me by the hand and leads me into his office. Turning around, he leans against his desk, moving me to stand between his legs. His hands come to rest on my hips.

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Hmmm," I say, moving my hand to tap my finger on my chin. "What was it you said ... we f-f-fucked." He smiles at my stumble over the word. "Consent was given. Now I have a job to do and a debt to repay. You're avoiding me, and I don't like it." I rub my butt for silent encouragement.

I move to unzip my jacket again, and his hand again comes up to cover mine. I pull it away, but his hand comes back up to rest on my zipper, neither pulling it up or down.

"Fuck, you're crazy. Seriously fuckin' crazy."

"Talk to me. You went and made decisions for me, and then you just checked out on me." I blink my eyes, trying to remain strong.

"Livi, I don't know what the fuck I'm doing with you."

"That's a start. I don't know what I'm doing with me half the time, either." I laugh at my own joke, and a snort slips out, making me look down.

He cups my chin to look at him. "Damn." He smiles at me. "Livi, I'm not the relationship kind of guy."

"I've never asked you for one, have I?" I mentally give myself a fist pump for my come back.

"We didn't use a condom," he states plainly.

Is this why he is running away from me? Is he worried about an unplanned pregnancy? Did he move me in out of a misplaced obligation? Questions swirl in my head.

Would a baby be so bad? Sure, I can't afford one, but can anyone really be financially prepared for a child? I know Hendrix is a good man. I know he wouldn't let us be out in the cold, obviously. I resist the urge to run my hand over my non-existent belly. Having a little Caldwell wouldn't be bad.

"No, we didn't. We are two grown adults, though. When the time comes to know something one way or another, we can talk about it. Well, that is, if you don't avoid me forever." My words are laced with an attitude I didn't intend. I am annoyed with his standoffishness toward me since our mishap.

"Livi, look, I care about you."

I watch him without saying anything for a moment. This is the end...

"Save it. No need to give me the 'it's not you, it's me' speech. That is a cop-out, and you and I both know it."

His hands come up and cup each side of my face, pulling me to him, kissing me. Our teeth clank as the passion explodes between us. When he pulls away, I am left breathless.

"Does that feel like a cop-out? Livi, I don't know how to do all this. Give me some patience and understanding. You came into my world, and everything has changed. I can't stop thinking about you."

I bite my lip, trying not to smile. "You make everything feel right, Hendrix. With you, I feel like all is as it should be, like everything will be okay, after all."

Chapter Seventeen.

Hendrix I wanna make her feel exactly how good everything can be ... with my tongue.

I grab her hips, push my thumbs just under her waistband, and wait for consent to be fucking given. She responds by reaching out and stroking my hard-on.

It's fucking on.

I unbutton her pants and am shimmying them down as I sink to my knees.

"Honey pot," I say as I rub my nose across her panties and tug them down, ripping them on purpose this time.

Her hands go to the back of my head, and she moans as I run my tongue over her swollen, hot, little, pink lips.

"Step out."

As soon as she does, I lift her left leg over my shoulder, pushing a finger inside while I circle her clit.

"I love your tongue," she moans as she pushes her pussy against my face.

"Mmm," I respond as I lap it up.

"Oh, God," she squeaks. "Already. Not yet. Not-" I pull away, and she looks shocked. "I want you."

"You said not-"

Her hand fists my hair, and she pulls me against her again. I chuckle as I suck on her lips.

"Yes, yes, w-w-wait!" She pulls away, and holy shit, I now know she is crazy.

"Livi, come on, babe. I've been having the LTs all week long," I groan. She looks at me like I'm the one who is nuts. "DTs? What drunks-"

"I know what you said, but..."

"L, Livi"-I grab her hip and push a finger inside her-"T, tremens."

She starts grinding against my hand. "I thought you meant..." she pauses. "Oh, God..." Her hand rests on my shoulders, steadying herself. "Deep throat."

"Son-of-a-bitch." I finger her harder, faster, as I reach my other hand up and shove my finger in her mouth. "Do you have skill?"

It takes her a moment to figure out what I am saying, and then her eyes widen. As she pulls away, I think how fucking stupid I was to mention that shit. "Babe, how about we forget that conversation, and you get your ass back over here and fuck my face?"

Instead, she goes to her knees, fumbling with my belt. Fuck, she's gonna show me skill, and then I will die one happy son-of-a-bitch.

I push up on my knees and help her pull my jeans down. Then, she's on my cock like a twenty-one-dayer is on a draft. She is crazy and moaning and stroking and-really, really bad at this.

Her fucking rhythm is all off, and I am trying like hell to make her feel in control and shit, but what I really want to do is push my face back in that bush and forget this shit ever happened, 'cause no man hates a blow job. Fuck, no man would ever complain about one, and I would never stop someone from sucking my cock, but Livi, well, she's fucking Livi.

I close my eyes. I am gonna try real damn hard to forget she sucks at sucking, 'cause I fucking like this chick, and I really may want to keep her around. However, annoyances are annoyances, and you can never un-see something like this. She is out of control, and I am not losing my erection, fuck no, I'm not, but I gotta put an end to this right quick.

I pull back. "Livi, I want your pussy in my mouth so bad right now."

And I do. Thank fuck that didn't change.

She sits up on her knees, and I try to lay her back.

"No, you," she stops me.

"You gonna sit on my face?" Oh, hell yes, I think to myself and lay back.

She moves on top of me, reverse cowboy, and I dip my fingers into her hips, dragging her hot box up and down my face as she leans over and starts stroking me. Then, she leans in and starts sucking me again.

Fuck.

I am trying not to falter here and decide to just focus on Liv's sweet pussy instead of my dick getting scrapped up by teeth and shit. I start sucking on the clit then lapping at the lips before slowly tongue fucking her. I am holding her hips, dragging her slowly up and down my face when she starts slowing down. I kid you not, she is mimicking my speed and pleasure, and now, motherfucker, Livi is giving me the best damn blow job I have ever had. Her tongue stays flat to my shaft, and she begins sucking with perfect pressure. My balls are instantly on fire, and I am damn close to blowing.

I lift her hips to tell her to stop, but she doesn't.

"Liv," I groan, "unless you want a mouth full of Caldwell cocktail, you need to stop."

She doesn't.

"I won't warn again," I growl.

She only takes me deeper.

So I pull her back onto my face and go at her hard. As she starts to tremor, my balls are on fire, and I swear to fuck we both come at the same time. Then my Livi, my crazy, little Livi, fucking keeps it deep and swallows.

When I am done, she rolls to her side and then sits up. "Wow," she pants.

"Best blow job ever." It's only half a lie. The second time was true.

"Really?" She blushes.

"Yeah, Liv, you are amazing."

She smiles and chews on her lip while she blushes. "I like you, a lot."

"I like you, a lot, too."

We stare at each other in pre-orgasmic lust, and I know damn well, aside from family, I have never in my life liked someone as much as I like Olivia.

"Please go back to our place and get some rest."