“She’s quick on her feet,” he muttered sarcastically. “How’re you feeling?” His tone was softer as his eyes swept over the visible cuts on my arms and my swollen lip.
“I’m okay,” I assured him as I rummaged around trying to make coffee.
“I can take him,” Ryker offered, cocking a brow at Mad.
“Really? Okay,” I shrugged, passing off my son. He seemed perfectly content in his uncle’s arms.
“You’re really okay? That was a fucked-up night,” he pressed, dodging Mad’s attempts to grab his lip.
“I’ve been better,” I admitted. “But I know your brother’s gonna take care of it.” I realized how much that soothed me as I said it. I had a man at my back who would willingly take on an army for me.
“Yeah, he is,” Ryker agreed. “Never thought I’d see the guy be such a goner,” he commented, but the look on his face gave me pause.
“Is that a bad thing?” I cajoled with a grin.
He shrugged. “Just can’t see one chick doin’ it for me.” His eyes shifted to the side and I was sure I detected something there.
A lie?
I cocked my head to the side.
“Except for one,” he allowed so quietly I barely heard him. “Don’t ask.”
I studied him for a moment. “Okay,” I agreed, biting back my intense curiosity.
“Whether it’s this mystery girl or someone else, when you meet your lady I’m gonna give you so much shit,” I promised, lightening the mood.
“Did you just cuss, sis?” he teased. “And fine, if I fall off the cliff like my brother has, you can give me all the shit you want.”
“I’m counting on that,” I nodded with a grin.
******
Axel didn’t get home until close to lunchtime. He walked in with a dark expression, scanning the room as though searching for a threat. My eyes shot to his bloody knuckles and back to his eyes trying to find the man in there I knew.
The man I loved.
“Hey, honey,” I greeted softly, moving to greet him by the door where he still stood, his posture stiff and unwelcoming. I was in unfamiliar territory with him and I hoped like hell I could pull him out of this mood. “You hungry?”
He shook his head. “Where’s Maddox?” he asked in a hoarse murmur.
“Napping. Your brother’s downstairs on the computer. What is it?” I asked quietly, placing a tentative hand to his chest.
He pulled me to his chest, lifting me up so that I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. “He’s gonna be on the computer a little while longer,” he stated gruffly, carrying me to his –our –room.
My entire body hummed as he carried me briskly back to his room. “Ry! Stay downstairs,” he barked.
“Yeah, man,” I heard Ry reply through the walls as Axel strode into our room and all but kicked the door shut.
He really needed to learn to be quieter with a baby in the house but now definitely wasn’t the time to remind him.
“What?” I tried to ask but was cut off by his lips covering mine with a kiss that made me forget all thought. His hands were all over my body, tearing at my clothes as his chest heaved.
“You good?” he demanded, his tongue finding the spot behind my ear that made me crazy. Who would have thought?
“Yeah,” I replied breathlessly. I wanted to be the balm that soothed him. I knew he needed this, needed me and I was more than willing.
I pulled his shirt up over his head, my hands roaming the chiseled muscle and warm skin I found underneath. Then I shocked myself by dropping to my knees, looking up at him as I unbuckled his belt and pulled his jeans down his legs.
