BLAINE
After taking Ben from my parents’ home, we went home immediately to prepare our dinner. Mom was so happy to see Xandry and we had to spend lunch with them—she had to impress him with her new stew recipe.
I made a simple creamy white lasagna—Ben’s favorite since he’d been asking me for over a week now, but my mind was somewhere else. I guessed I was starting to be a terrible mother for Ben, yet he never complained although he didn’t miss to ask about Xandry occasionally.
The fact Ben liked Xandry so a lot, terrified me, and the last thing I wanted was to hurt my son and to keep him under false pretenses.
This was my first time having a man in my life since his father, and I couldn’t help but question myself of how was I going to explain to my son if Xandry was done with me?
“Sweetheart, I think I heard the oven dinged.” Xandry already prepared the table as he insisted on helping, he placed the wine given by Saph in the fridge a while ago.
Saph sent me a text to enjoy her brother. It was hilarious and embarrassing at the same time because she knew exactly the reason why Xandry came to see me— he was expecting a lot of hot sex and multiple Os.
“What’s in that pretty head of yours, sweetheart?” I blinked when I heard Xandry’s amused voice. He might have an idea of what was I thinking. Am I really like an open book to him?
“Just remember Saph’s message.” I gave him a diablerie smile, and Xandry snaked his arms around my waist and hugged me from behind.
“Can’t wait for Ben to sleep, and I finally have a chance with you all by myself,” he whispered in a lusty voice, and I couldn’t help but pressed my thighs together and bit my lip for the anticipation. But the other side of my brain was damn scared that he would give up on waiting for us to have time alone.
“Something’s really bothering you, Blaine. What is it?” He held me to turn myself around and face him.
“I was just worried that you might get tired of me, of us...” I trailed off, not trying to be affected than I already am, besides we’ve just started to even start talking about the future. “...that you have to wait for us to have free time alone.”
His brow arched. “Do you think I don’t know that? I like Ben, Blaine. I’m aware that he comes first above everything, and that’s why I like you so much.” The amazement filled eyes locked to mine. “I would never want you to prioritize me first over Ben in the first place. That little guy means to me, too. He needs you and hopefully, he will need me in the future because I’d loved to be by his side.” He kissed me quickly while my mouth was still hanging open.
I was beyond shocked to the core. In a good way.
I blinked trying to sink-in all his words. Never in my million thought that Xandry would ever care about my son. I was so damn wrong about him after all.
Xandry was not just a man on a stick, but he had a huge heart as well. Thinking of falling for him was terrifying, but life was not always about perfect and happiness, it was also about pain and sacrifices.
“Let’s eat before Ben falls to sleep. We can’t be late for the band tonight, can we? And we still have to take him to your mom.” He kissed my forehead and grabbed the path holder.
“Yeah. Are you sure you want to go to the bar?” I asked hesitantly. I knew the country music was not his thing or he might just agree with Riley out of shyness and kindness.
“Yep, sweetheart. We are going.”
“I think we have to drink that wine later?” I suggested, grinning. I didn’t want to go fuzzy since there were drinks there too.
We ate with a few chat and Ben grinned most of the time when Xandry asked if he liked the new toy Saph gave him.
***
Mom was already on the porch waiting for us to take Ben.
“Are you sure this is okay with you, Brenda? I mean we can just cancel and go home. The movie and popcorn are great, you know,” Xandry said.
“Ha! Honey, this is my grandson and my daughter we are talking about. And you came all the way here from New York just for two days.” Mom waved her hand, shooing us.
“Call us if—”
“Sweetie, take your man away,” Mom exhorted, making Xandry laugh.
“Sleep and be a good boy, big guy, okay?” I kissed Ben’s forehead, and he nodded and yawned. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
“Hey, buddy. I’ll see you in the morning?” Xandry said, offering his fist for a bump.
Ben grinned lazily and bumped his tiny fist into Xandry’s huge one.
“Let’s go,” I announced after kissing Mom good night.
Fifteen minutes later, we were at Max’s Bar. It was crowded than the usual Saturday night. The Hays Band was already on the small stage singing a country hit song. The tables were full and so as the bar area.
“Wow! This is awesome. I can barely remember the last time I was here,” Xandry commented, seemingly surprised.
“Lovers, over here!” Riley yelled from the bar full of patrons. Now, all eyes were on me and Xandry, but I couldn’t care less what they thought of me. And it was not like they always saw me with any man other than my ex.
Xandry’s grip tightened around my waist possessively as we walked towards the bar counter.
Damn, I love his possessiveness.
It was a typical country bar with meticulously hand-carved dark wood counter, stools, and liquor racks, but above our head were the antique lamps from our great-grandparents home. The two classic beer barrels were donated by the local beer maker that we were proud of.
“Wow, man. This is a great night,” Xandry commented delightfully.
“Better than NYC, huh?” Riley smirked, after their manly-hugged on the counter.
“I think it is now.” Xandry laughed.
“Guys, give my best buddy here a seat, please?” Riley said with respect, and two patrons stood up willingly. With a warm smile, they shook hands with Xandry and moved to the long bench at the corner of the bar.
“Have a seat, Blaine.” Xandry led me, making me stiffen, then eyed me cautiously. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I muttered, sitting on the stool with a twisted stomach.
“She’d never came here with a dude, I guess.” My cousin grinned at Xandry, placing two bottoms up beer mugs.
“Good to know.” Xandry grinned back. “So, who are those guys? You should be there singing, man.”
“Our local guys. Nah, they need gigs,” he answered proudly and looked at me. “You okay, Blainie? You look tense.”
I nodded and sipped my beer silently. I felt Xandry’s warm hand squeezing my knee, making me look up to him. “Yeah?”
Thankfully, before he could ask me inquisitively, the crowd roared and clapped when the song ended.
“Guys!” My head snapped to the familiar voice at my back.
Crap!
“Is this the reason why you ignored our text? Because someone made your hands busy?” Charlie said with a drawl, arms snaked around Xandry’s and my shoulder.
We always met here every Saturday to watch the Hays Band. Charlie had an eye for the lead. My face heated with guilt because I completely forgot to reply to their messages. Or something was plaguing my brain.
“Don’t ask the obvious, Charlie. Our friend here is preoccupied with Ls, right Xandry?” Olive winked at me.
Xandry was already shaking, trying to hold his laugh. With his innocent looked, he raised his hands to surrender and faced my best friends. “I really don’t know what are you girls talking about. And what Ls means exactly?”
“Oh, it’s a girls’ thing,” Olive quickly answered because Charlie would definitely tell him what did it mean.
“Fine, don’t tell me. Let’s go there to the table. I’m not aware this bar is crowded like this.” Xandry stood up, and we followed him.
“So, Xandry, how long are you gonna stay?” Olive started, strolling her eyes from his head to his chest. If I knew she had no interest in Xandry I’d be jealous as hell, but I knew we would not betray each other over a guy.
“I’m leaving tomorrow night, so I have her all by myself until my flight. No calls, no text, and no visiting her until I’m gone.”
“Oh, my god. I love your possessiveness.” Charlie’s eyes widened in awe. “So, is this serious now, Xandry?”
“Ask her. I know you girls don’t keep secrets, right?”
Charlie laughed out loud, and my face burned in guiltiness when Xandry eyed me intently.
“Well, whatever she says we also don’t share that with our guys.” Olive shrugged.
“Fair enough. We guys don’t usually share each others’ secrets if we are serious with our girls. What happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom.”
“Oh?” I was surprised to blurt it out.
“Yup, sweetheart. I know my friends are having sex or whatever they do with their girls, but that’s it. I don’t need gory details, that’s normal and we respect each others’ privacy,” he confirmed, and my jaw just dropped for his honesty.
“I like you already, Xandry—”
“And there’s a but, right?” Xandry cut off Olive.
“Definitely!” Charlie assured.
“Another threat?”
“Absolutely!” Olive confirmed.
“Girls, as much as I love your concern for me, that’s really unnecessary,” I told them. “We already discussed this, and he seriously doesn’t budge.”
“I know, Blaine. He’s hot with all alpha male thingy on you like I can see right now where his hand is under this table.” Olive pointed out, making my eyes widen. “See, that reaction,” she added playfully. “You, Xandry, I love our best friend, but make sure you can keep your junk inside your boxers while you’re hundreds of miles away from Blaine,” Olive continued.
“Sorry to disappoint you girls, but I don’t wear boxers, so stop threatening Blaine’s property.”
“Really?” they yelled in unison.
“Liar,” I countered with a fluttery feeling in my belly. My property, huh?
“Well, right now, sweetheart,” he confirmed, and I just stared at him with utterly shocked while my friends giggled like school girls across the table.
“I just wanna prove to these girls how serious I am and one thing is not to lie to them.” He shrugged while my mouth was falling open. “By the way, you’re gorgeous when you’re blushing.” He winked.
I broke my incredulous stare and drunk my beer while my heartbeat was racing in my chest.
“Easy, we have a wine to drink.” He clapped with the crowd when the band took a break with the last song.
“Well, I’ve no words to say anymore. You just shocked us, X.” Charlie drunk her beer after raising it to cheer with us.
“X? is that how she called me when I’m not around.” Xandry’s eyes glimmered with amusement, squeezing my thigh under the table.
I swallowed, ignoring the scalding sensation of his hand on my thin summer dress. It was like I wore nothing because his touch penetrated through the thin cloth I was wearing. My skin tingled. God, what he was doing to me? He made me like a sexual creature yearning for his touch and orgasms. No, I made myself to be this, because I couldn’t resist him, but I couldn’t blame myself for wanting Xandry as well. He was just an utterly hot male specimen with a huge sexual appetite and a very generous lover.
“Sweetheart?”
“Yeah?” Crap!
“Enough drinking beer. I think you’ll get blitzed sooner.” He tucked my hair behind my ear affectionately, making the two sing.
“I’m fine. I’ll just need to use the restroom,” I excused and totally needed to cool down. I couldn’t honestly believe I was easily aroused by just being near him and just his simple touch made me wanting for more. His touch was like a drug. A very dangerous drug.
I knew the girls followed me, so I breathed deeply to loosen up, then I saw my best friends in the mirror standing beside me with a sad-looking on their faces.
“So you read our messages?” Olive started.
I nodded glumly. “When did he get back?”