He needed to change the subject, to shift away from memories and feelings that lingered too close for comfort.
Suddenly, Daisy darted out from beneath the shade of an old cork oak tree and disappeared into the neighbouring forest, her energy a stark contrast to the heaviness in Nick’s chest.Her sudden burst of energy snapped him out of his thoughts, a reminder that life kept moving whether he was ready or not.
“Sad about Sam though,” Nick said, his voice rough with emotion for a man he’d never met but had hoped to know.He swallowed hard.There was grief for a man he’d never met, grief for the dog who’d lost her world, and grief for Jenna who kept losing people she loved.
“Yeah, that’s a bit hit for Jenna.I was looking forward to meeting him,” Axel replied.
Nick nodded.They got quiet again, each lost in their own thoughts again.
A couple of minutes later, Nick cleared his throat, determined to push past the emotions before continuing.
“When you were in the bathroom with Jenna, the lawyer mentioned Sam’s nephew.Apparently, Sam didn’t think the nephew would be interested in receiving anything from him.That Sam and his brother had had a falling out when they were young.Sam and his wife didn’t have kids, so he felt Jenna was the right fit for his farm.Maybe the lawyer shouldn’t have told me all that, but she got all flustered when Jenna fell ill and she just started spilling things.”Nick shrugged, rolling his shoulders to ease the muscle aches from the day’s labour.
“Let’s hope she doesn’t make it a bad habit of sharing personal details between her clients,” Axel mumbled.
Nick nodded.
Speaking of personal business, did you not figure out Jenna is pregnant?he almost asked, but he pressed his lips together.
The question hovered on his tongue, heavy and dangerous.He knew one slip could shatter everything.He’d promised to keep his mouth shut about it and he’d meant it.
How will you react when you find out?Nick wondered, watching Axel’s gaze linger on the barn door.It was clear Axel’s attention was fixed on Jenna, who was now leading a horse back out, saddled and ready.In a single, effortless motion, she mounted and nudged the horse toward the trail.
Will you welcome the news, or will you turn away?Like my parents turned away from me, favouring drugs and alcohol.
Nick ran a finger over the rough edge of the plank, tension climbing his spine at the thought of his parents.A familiar darkness crept in.The sting of neglect, the bruises, the cigarette burns hidden beneath his tattoos, the shouts or silence where love should have been.
He had no clue what had happened to them after he’d been put into foster care.He didn’t want to know.As far as he was concerned they’d abandoned him.They were dead to him.
One thing was certain: he would never let an innocent child feel unwanted.He knew that pain intimately.Knew the sting of careless words, the absence of affection, and the bruises left by neglect.He’d never been given hugs or kisses.At least none that he could remember.Only sharp slaps and whippings.
No, Axel wouldn’t turn his back on Jenna or her baby.Nick was sure of that.
“Hey, let’s get a move on.If this heat keeps up, we’ll get rain tonight,” Axel said, reaching for his shingle stripper.
The simple command steadied him.Axel always knew how to pull him back from the edge.
“Damn workhorse, aren’t you?”Nick teased, finishing his water and grabbing his own tool.The hot plank pressed into his hands as he pushed himself upright, eyes following Axel’s strong, confident movements as he pried up the shingles.
Magnificent muscles flexed in the man’s arms and sweat darkened the back of his white t-shirt.
Nick grinned, feeling the spark of anticipation hum beneath his skin.Heat curled low in his belly.This man was a walking temptation.
Tonight, this man is going to be in my bed.
A slow, wicked thrill unfurled inside him.The promise of having Axel’s body against his was enough to make his pulse quicken.He almost groaned out loud as his cock quickly swelled at the thought of having Axel in his arms after a hard day of labor.
“Don’t hear any complaints when this workhorse is pleasuring you,” Axel said, throwing Nick a wink.The wink hit him like a spark.It was playful, familiar, and charged with everything they didn’t say out loud.
Nick shook his head, laughter spilling out of him, pushing away those dark thoughts of his dysfunctional parents as he joined Axel in ripping up the shingles, his hands working in rhythm with his partner’s.
No, he never had complaints about Axel.The man was a force, bold and generous with his pleasure.It made him wonder if Axel might ever make the fantasy of a threesome come true and invite him to share in his intimacy with Jenna, if and when they got together.The fantasy wasn’t just lust for Nick.It was longing, the hope of belonging to something bigger than himself.
Would he be welcomed, not as an outsider, but as part of something new.A part of them?
Heat rushed through him.It was a wicked pulse that settled low and urgent.He fought the desire to press his palms against his burgeoning erection.Forced himself to focus on the work before him, letting his anticipation blend with the sweat and sun and the promise of tonight’s hot literal roll in the hay with Axel.
Chapter Sixteen
