Chapter Six

Hattie

“ H o, Ho, Ho!” I looked up and found Rashid, Nix’s oldest brother, dressed in his father’s Santa costume. Everyone laughed as he made his way around the room with a sack full of presents, handing one out to everyone. We spent the entire afternoon stuffing our faces with more goodies than I had seen all year. My size eighteen jeans were already tight, and all the added food wasn’t helping matters. Mrs. Stratford always bought the boys matching pajamas and made them wear them to open presents. It was a ridiculous tradition that only got funnier the bigger they got. This year she bought me a pair to match them and I was happy to change into some comfy clothes and sit around the oversized tree in the living room. I was sitting on the floor next to the chair Nix had helped my mom into. She was smiling and laughing just like she had before everything happened. Nix was next to me in his pajamas that were way too tight, and I was having a hard time keeping my hands to myself. The buttons wouldn’t stay so eventually he just undid them, which meant his broad chest and gorgeous tattoos were the only thing I had eyes for. The sideways glances he kept giving me made it clear he could tell.

“You know, you don’t have to leave tonight.” he said, leaning over whispering into my ear.

“I have a flight home.”

“Let me change it.”

“What? No. That would cost a fortune.”

“Please, Hattie, give me one more night before we go back.”

I felt my mother’s hand on my shoulder when he pulled away. There was no way she could have heard him, but it was almost like she knew anyway. We finished opening gifts and then headed back to the dining room for another round of desserts before we got ready to bring my mom back. I hated she had to live so far from me, but I also knew if I forced her to come to New York City, she would miss out on visits from friends and the familiarity of our hometown. Maybe it was time for me to consider coming back. The city didn’t hold that much for me now that Nix and I were through. Sure, I had Sofia and my other friends, but they were all getting married and moving on with their lives. All I had was the diner and occasional nights out.

When we got back to the nursing home, Nix left me with my mom to go make a phone call.

“You know I’m going to miss you, Ma.”

“I know, sweetie. But I’m so proud of you and what you’ve accomplished.”

“I haven’t really accomplished much. I mean, I have a job that barely pays my rent and some friends, but then I come back here and it makes me wonder what life would be like if I never left.”

“Dad and I never wanted you to chase Nix to the city. But you needed to spread your wings and figure out who you were outside of our family drama. Nix is a good man Hattie, he always has been. I see the way he looks at you, and it makes me happy to know you two are still close.”

I didn’t have it in me to tell her we weren’t. It was painful to think about how long it’d been since we had even spoken. If it made my mom feel better knowing I had him in the city, then I’d let her believe that. There is no reason to let her worry.

“I love you, mom.” I said, leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek. “I’ve already started saving up for my next trip back, so it will be soon. I promise.”

“I know, Hattie, don’t worry about me. I’m doing fine here. It pays off living in the same town all your life. If one of my nurses gives me trouble, I just threaten to call their mother.”

She laughed, and the sound warmed my heart as Nix came back in to say his goodbyes. By the time we got back to the house, I would need to grab my things and have the Uber come pick me up for my flight. I couldn’t believe the trip was over when it felt like it had just begun.

We pulled up to the house, and I opened the truck door to get out. The second my foot hit the ice, I slipped and fell straight on my ass.

“Shit, Hattie! Don’t move.” Nix hollered as he ran around the truck and pulled me up into his arms. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Did you hit your head?”

“No, nothing like that. Just my ass.” I said with a laugh to lighten the mood, “You can put me down.’

“Fuck that.” he stood to his full height, lifting me as if I weighed no more than a feather.

“Nix, you’re going to hurt yourself. Put me down. I am way too heavy for this.”

“Shut up Hattie. Seriously, stop with that bullshit.” he shook his head as he climbed the steps to his parents’ house. The door opened as we approached and Mrs. Stratford was beside herself with concern.

“What happened? Hattie, honey, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Really. Nix is just overreacting.”

“I am not. You fell flat the second you stepped out of the truck.” he said as he carried me through the house and put me down on the couch.

“What’s going on?” Charlie asked as he took in the sight of us.

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” he added as Nix began unwrapping the layers of clothes I had on to keep me warm.

I reached for Nix’s face, pulling his attention to me. “Really, other than a bruised ego and a bruised ass, I’m okay. I promise.”

His head fell forward and his forehead landed on mine. He closed his eyes and his hands reached up, holding me in place.

“Charlie. Let’s give them a minute.” I heard Mrs. Stratford’s voice as they shuffled out of the room.

“I swear, Hattie, you are going to give me a nervous breakdown one of these days.” Nix whispered only loud enough for me to hear him.

I ran my hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He pulled back and reached for my hand as he stood. “Come on, let’s go lay down.”

“I have to get ready to go. My flight leaves in a few hours.”

“No, it doesn’t. I called and changed it. You aren’t leaving until Tuesday morning. I’m flying out with you and shipping my bike back.”

“What?”

He shook his head slowly and tugged on my arm. I stood carefully, testing all the body parts I insisted were okay, then followed him upstairs to his room. He closed the door behind us and I didn’t even care that his entire family knew I was in there with him.

“Get undressed and go lay down.” he said as he made his way to his closet and started pulling his clothes off. I knew I should say no. In fact, I should be pissed he took it upon himself to change my flight, but after the last two days surrounded by memories and the love of family, I didn’t want it to end. I pulled my sweater and jeans off, leaving on my panties and bra, and crawled under the covers as I watched Nix strip out of his clothes. The man was beautiful in every way possible, from his tight ass and muscular thighs to his back, which was covered in the most detailed piece of artwork I had ever seen. I loved his tattoos. They accentuated his style and grace and, for a man the size of Nix, grace was scarce. He turned, and I felt as if the air was sucked right out of the room. His long, thick cock was hard and ready as he looked down at me, taking it in his hand.

“I thought I said take your clothes off?”

“I did.”

He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head as if he was daring me to challenge him.

“Okay, fine,” I said as I reached behind myself, letting my large breasts free and then reaching for my panties, dropping them on the floor next to the bed. “Let it be noted that the only reason I’m complying is because my ass is sore from my fall and a spanking wouldn’t be ideal right now.”

Nix smiled and crawled into bed, pulling my body to his. “Let it be noted that I can make sure that ass of yours is well taken care of tonight.”

His warm body wrapped around mine as his hand caressed my ass. Being held by this man was everything. There was nothing in the world that could hurt me when he had me, and I loved everything about that.

“Come here. I want you on top of me so I can see you properly.”

I cringed internally, but complied. Nix was the only man I didn’t hide from. He wouldn’t have it. Instead, he loved every crease and bulge and soft spot my body had to give him, and today was no exception. I straddled him, my pussy already wet with need as I slid onto his hard and ready cock.

“Damn, you are so wet already. I didn’t even get to play with you yet.”

“What can I say? You have that effect on me, Nix Stratford.” I moved slowly, rocking my hips forward and enjoying the feeling of him stretching me.

“Fuck, you are so beautiful.” His hands came up to my breasts, and he ran a finger between them. “Let me tattoo you again. I have something that would be perfect for right here.”

I groaned, closing my eyes at the thought of him running his tattoo gun over my skin and creating a piece of art that would forever be a part of me. “Tell me what it would be.”

“An eagle with open wings. It would represent your strength, and your freedom from the past.” he said in a husky groan.

I ground my pussy into him harder and gasped when he pressed his hips up into me. “Yes, that feels good, again.”

“Only if you agree.”

“Yes, yes, you can tattoo me.”

“Promise me, Hattie,” he said as he leaned up and captured my breast in his mouth, sucking and pulling at it nearly making me come.

“Yes, Nix I promise.”

“Good.”

My movements continued, and he began fucking me from below. He had one hand on my hip, holding me still so I wouldn’t fall as he pressed up into me, again and again. I was so close. Every time his cock bumped that sweet spot deep inside of me, I felt like I had seen stars. Then his fingers slipped between us and circled my clit, massaging it in rhythm with my movements and at that moment, all was lost. My head fell back, and I groaned, biting my lip to keep from screaming as my climax shook my body, exploding from my core to my fingertips and at the same time I felt Nix let go, coating my insides with his seed as he grunted and pumped up into me.

I fell forward, unable to hold myself up any longer, only to be caught by the one man who stole my heart at eight years old and then did it again and again until we tore each other apart.

“I’m so sorry.” I whispered as we caught our breath. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucked up that we could never make it work.”

Nix didn’t say anything, his arms just wrapped around me a little tighter as we laid there covered in sweat, surrounded by memories of our past that hurt so much it brought tears to my eyes.