“Then I quit and come home to you,” I exhale against his mouth.
CHAPTER THIRTY
MILLIE
Sleep evades me.I’m not sure why. I’m exhausted, and my entire body feels like it’s on edge. I need to move. Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I stand, grab my hoodie, and pull it on over my head, then find my sweatpants.
“You running away?” Axton asks.
Turning my head, I look behind me. Axton is awake, lying on his side, his eyes focused on me, a small smile playing on his lips. He looks amazing and beautiful like that. His tattoos are on display, his smile playful. I want to crawl back in that bed, but I can’t.
I’m restless. I need to move. Or maybe I need to talk to Heidi and tell her about her future plans.
“No, but I can’t sleep.”
He hums, pushing up to sitting, shifting so that he leans his back against the wall. There’s no headboard here, no footboard either. It’s just a frame, a box spring, and a mattress. It fits this place, though. This man, too.
“I have to get up, head home so I can get ready for work,” he murmurs. “I don’t want you leaving here. I’ve already talked to Bennet, and he’s good with you taking a few days off. But I guess you’re back to work Saturday night.”
“I’ll stay here,” I whisper.
He smiles, his eyes searching mine. “Let me grab you girls some breakfast before I go.”
There is a knock on the door, and I jump. Axton practically flies out of bed. He walks over to the door and tugs it open, bare-assed and all. I lift my fingers to my lips, trying to cover my shock.
I bite my bottom lip, tugging on the flesh, then listen to the conversation. The man on the other side of the door speaks, but I can’t make out who it is. “It’s been handled. I got confirmation that all evidence is gone.”
“And there will not be a single ounce of blowback?” he asks.
“Not a goddamn one, as long as all goes well the next two years.”
“Just need to talk to Heidi. Millie’s on board.”
“Nice,” the man on the other side of the door hisses.
Axton chuckles. “I’m going to do a bakery run. See if anyone wants anything. Text me.”
Without waiting for the man to answer, Axton closes the door and turns to face me. I can’t stop myself. I burst out laughing. He’s standing in front of me, completely naked, having just had a conversation with one of his brothers… completely naked. Dick swinging and everything.
“I’m sorry, but you’re standing there having a serious conversation with your whole cock out.”
Axton looks down as if he is making sure he’s still completely naked, then lifts his head, and his eyes find mine. “I didn’t even realize it. I was focused,” he murmurs before he closes the distance between us.
I feel his fingers curl around my waist as he holds me, then he tugs me so that my chest presses against his. He lowers his head, and his lips brush mine before he clears his throat.
“I’m going to get coffee and pastries. I’ll be back, but know that I’d rather stay in bed and fuck you again.”
Honestly, I think I might rather do that too, even though I’m seriously sore. I don’t say that, though. I know he has to go to work, and I need to talk to Heidi. Thankfully, he takes a step backward and throws on some clothes, then he’s gone.
I cannot believe I’m really here, that this is my new life. I would have never imagined in a million years that this would have happened. I thought I would stay in Vegas, maybe find some guy and live with him.
Marriage was something I took off my own table the day I left Thunder Rock. I didn’t want it, didn’t want any part of it, not if I couldn’t have it with Axton. I’d given up on the idea of children, too.
Now I’m not so sure what my future holds. It feels like it could be anything. I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever been so hopeful. Even when I was eighteen and a dreamer, I wasn’t this excited and hopeful about the future.
But the glimmer of hope, the absolute excitement I feel, cannot be contained. I feel like I’m going to burst with it all. Completely and totally burst. That is, until I think about what I have to do next. That I’m going to have to go a couple of doors down and explain to Heidi that she is a new North Carolina resident, at least for the next two years.
I don’t think she’ll be angry or refuse it, but I know she doesn’t like being told what to do in the slightest. I don’t blame her there. I don’t like being told what to do, either. I don’t think anyone does when it comes right down to it.
