“What! That’s great!” I exclaimed, happy for my brother, while aching with regret that I’d missed so much.
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“How’s everyone else?”
“You should come home and see,” he challenged.
“How are you?” I asked quietly, ignoring his comment.
He turned to me, his hand reaching out to sweep my hair back from my neck. That slight touch made me shiver. He didn’t miss it. “I’ll be a lot better when my girl’s home where she belongs,” he answered without preamble.
Uh, what?
“Since when…?” I trailed off, utterly shocked.
“Since always, Soph,” he answered. “You and me, we have some shit to sort out. You need to tell me why you left and I need to prove to you that you’re mine.”
Oh, God, how I’d fantasized about hearing something like this from him. Now? Now I couldn’t do anything about it.
“Ax, this isn’t just about you and me,” I swallowed over the huge lump in my throat. “If it’s guilt you’re feeling or something like it, seriously, you can let that go. It’s not why I left,” I told him seriously. “I want you to be happy. I hope you will be.”
He looked at me, his eyes searching through to my very soul. “You’re telling me there’s no chance for us – none?” he demanded.
I met his gaze, knowing I needed to. “None,” I whispered.
“I don’t believe you,” he growled, vindication in his tone. No doubt he’d caught the lie in my eyes. He always seemed to be able to do that.
I looked at the time on my phone and winced. I knew Jill had it covered but Mad wasn’t sleeping so well with his teething. “I have to go,” I told him. “I’m sorry. It was good to see you,” I said quietly, sliding off my barstool and delivering a quick kiss to his cheek.
I slipped out of there before he could stop me.
“Sophie!” I heard his deep voice holler when I’d reached the sidewalk.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself before turning to meet his gorgeous face.
“What?” I asked impatiently.
“This,” his deep voice growled, pulling me into his big body with such force I had to put my hands up against his chest to stop from slamming into him.
Then his mouth was on mine with a kiss so consuming my knees literally went weak. His tongue stroked mine with beautiful skill, breaking only for his teeth to nip my lower lip, licking the sting away. His hands buried themselves in my hair tugging slightly as moisture pooled between my legs.
I wanted to climb up his body and claim him. I wanted him to lay me down and do the same.
We stood ravishing each other until I felt short of breath, until my lips felt raw and swollen.
Oh, but what delicious pain.
“You tell me now that there won’t be an us,” he challenged, his forehead pressed to mine.
I wanted to ask why he seemed so clear about things when he clearly hadn’t been a year ago. I had so many questions. Mainly when he’d kiss me again.
But this wasn’t about me.
“I have to go.” My voice was hoarse and unrecognizable to my own ears.
I pulled away, taking a deep breath, trying to pull myself together – and failing miserably.
“This isn’t over,” he replied. “You and me, we’re just starting.”
I gave him a small smile. “I wish that were true.” I replied, turning and walking away.
I caught a cab home in my rush, knowing I wasted nearly my entire evening’s tips with the fare. I tapped quietly on Jill’s door and went in to gather my boy and carry him home.
“Have fun?” Jill questioned with an excited whisper.
“You could say that, sort of,” I answered vaguely. “Night.”
I slipped out of her place with Mad sleeping on my shoulder, a blanket wrapped around his warm body.
As I moved to unlock my door, I saw movement in my peripheral vision. I gasped, dropping my keys on the ground, the clatter ricocheting off the concrete walls. Axel’s formidable frame stole some of the light as he stood towering in the hallway.
He moved closer, his expression thunderous and confused. I held my fingers to my lips praying he wouldn’t wake Mad. He nodded, his movement jerky as he eyed the sleeping bundle I carried.
I put the key in the lock and pushed inside. Axel seemed so big in our small space.
I went to put the baby to bed when he stirred. I braced, biting my lip hard. He lifted his body away from my chest and blinked, looking around the room.
When his eyes met Axel’s, I knew it was all over.
Two pairs of identical grey eyes stared back at the other.
“Christ,” Axel swore with emotion.
Maddox grinned his gummy smile and shoved a chubby hand into his mouth.
“Yeah,” I murmured. “He’s yours.”
Chapter 3
“How? What?”
For the first time ever, the imposing Axel Black was speechless.
As it turned out, you could get pregnant your first time. We’d even used protection. I bit my lip, revealing what I’d known from the beginning. “The condom must have broken.”
“But…” he stammered as Maddox grinned and cooed in my arms.
“It’s okay, Ax, why don’t you sit down on my bed?” I encouraged. He looked like he was about to faint. “Mad sleeps out here and I need to put him down,” I explained.
“Mad?”
I met his confused gaze. “Maddox,” I clarified quietly.
“My grandfather’s name?” he whispered hoarsely.
His grandparents were the only family he’d ever spoken fondly of. It was the one thing I’d felt I could give him.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“Christ,” he repeated, running a hand over his face.
“My bed, Ax,” I repeated, with a tilt of my chin in that direction.
“Right,” he muttered.
I put Maddox down, watching as his eyelids fluttered closed.
I straightened my shoulders, bracing myself for the hurricane waiting for me in my bedroom.
“How the hell could you not tell me?” he demanded in a strangled voice. He sat on the edge of my bed, his head in his hands.
“I wanted to,” I said quietly. “I couldn’t.”
“Why the fuck not? That’s my son! I missed how many months of his life?” he demanded.
“Six,” I whispered.
“Six,” he repeated. “I missed your being pregnant. Your labor. Fuck, tell me you weren’t alone.”
“I wasn’t alone,” I answered immediately.
He shot me a look.
“The nurses were really kind,” I added with a sigh.
“What the fuck, Sophie!” he exploded.
“It’s complicated,” I tried weakly.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“I know you’ll probably never forgive me but I did what I thought I had to. To protect you. To protect Maddox,” I explained passionately.
He stood suddenly, his size overwhelming as he stalked toward me. “You think there’s anything I would let happen to you or our child? Do you think I’d let anything hurt you?” His voice was raw with pain.