Taivon: Book Three of the Cantrell Brothers Series

Chapter Seventeen

She and Taivon went on more dates after that kiss in her apartment. He took her to a lot of places, from fancy restaurants that they got dressed up for to simple walks in the park. She still hadn't seen his house yet, and he hadn't stayed at her apartment past ten at night, but she found herself perfectly fine with it.

Better than fine, actually, considering that Taivon was genuinely the sweetest man she'd ever met. His kisses – even with their occasional fumbling – were something she looked forward to, every second of the day. Each one that they'd shared barely went up with intensity. Alix didn't mind. Taking it slow was its own work of art.

As she looked at him now, from the soft glow that the movie cast into the theater seats, Alix felt a swelling in her chest and deep somewhere in her gut. They were in one of those older movie theatres that showed black and white movies. Almost nobody else was there.

With his arm around her and his long fingers playing with her shoulder, Taivon looked about as comfortable as she was – which was really comfortable. Her head rested against the firmness of his shoulder, and their hands were linked together, not a word being said as this lady with floppy hair cried over her dead lover.

The movie had started awhile ago, not really capturing her attention. It was more just background noise, something to fill in the silence as Taivon held her. Just a few minutes before, he'd turned his head and kissed her with that quiet intensity that Alix was becoming addicted to.

This was their official ninth date, about a whole month together, and Taivon still kept his hands to himself. She, on the other hand, didn't. Even now, she used her other hand to trace invisible patterns up and down his arms. She let her fingers tap against the soft fabric of his t-shirt and massaged in between his shoulder blades before repeating. Again and again.

“Mmm...” he let out a content groan and leaned into her touch. “That feels good.”

The low notes of his voice all but caressed her skin. Whatever attention she'd had on the movie was now gone, completely focused on one man. With his eyes closed and his head tilted to the side just so, the junction of his neck could be seen, showing her just how fast his heart was beating.

A man in this good of a shape wouldn't have one nearly that high. It must be her.

“Why are you so nervous?” she whispered, close enough that her breath blew across his neck.

He shivered but kept his hand in hers. “It's your fault.”

“But why?”

“I'm not used to being touched.”

The way he said it, so simply put, almost shocked her. The fact that he wasn't used to physical contact shouldn't have surprised her, but it did. With her family, it'd been all hugs and kisses, all the time. Whenever somebody had left, her mom and dad had made sure that each of their children hugged the guests, kissed them on the cheeks, and waved as they drove away.

From what Taivon had said about how close his family was, she would have guessed it was the exact same thing.

“How come?” Alix asked.

“I've just never been like that, I guess.” He was silent for a few moments, still that small smile on his face. “My brothers are all touchy and feely and that sort of stuff, but I don't know...I'm better at handshakes than I am at hugs.”

“I like your hugs,” she told him.

“That's just 'cause you're a girl.”

“I'm pretty sure guys like your hugs, too.”

He looked at her. “I don't hug guys.”

“You hug your brothers,” she said, even though she'd yet to meet another Cantrell.