“I’m just glad everything is okay.” Tears inexplicably stung my eyes and I squeezed them shut.
“Hey, someone get me a bottle of water?” Xander asked softly.
Xander sat beside me and put an arm around my shoulder. “It’s okay. Have some water. Everything is okay.”
“Hey.” Elen was on the other side of me. “It’s okay to cry. You don’t have to hold it in. We came too close to losing her this time and this is the second time you’ve saved her.”
Samaria came and hugged me. “You saved my little girl—again. I don’t know how I ever thank you.” She had a thick accent I hadn’t noticed before, but it was hard to miss right now because she was crying.
“It’s okay. I’m glad I got here in time.”
“From now on, I lock her in her room.” She shook her head. “Six kids, this is first one always trying to run away.”
“She’s curious,” I said with a soft smile.
“She bored,” Samaria said sadly. “Not used to being inside. I have to take her home now, but I owe you everything. You ever need anything, you call me.”
“It’s not necessary but thank you.” I squeezed her hand and finally took my leave, a little drained after the ordeal. Joe fell into step beside me.
“You did a good thing today,” he said. “You’re becoming quite invaluable around here.”
“Thank you.”
“What are your plans, Solange? Are you interested in staying on with us?”
“I am, but I’m not sure in what capacity. I’m happy to work at the school but…” My voice trailed off.
“But you want more.”
I met his eyes. “I do. I don’t know what that means, though.”
“Xander told me that you asked about becoming a Royal Protector.” Joe looked at me intently. “Is that something you really want?”
“I… I’m not sure.” I shook my head. “I don’t know that I have those kinds of skills, to fight and shoot and protect others.”
“Well, I think you’ve got the protecting others part down, it’s the fighting and shooting and spying parts that might give you trouble. Military training isn’t optional. A college degree isn’t necessary, not really, but on-the-job training takes years. Natalia’s been with us for over a year now and even with three years in the military and a college degree, she still isn’t ready. There’s so much more to this than just being smart and brave or proficient with weapons. Have you spoken to Axel about it? What does he say?”
I frowned. “I haven’t, no, but I don’t need his permission.”
“That’s not what I meant. He can give you insight.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to talk to him about it, but I’m afraid he’ll be…overprotective. Being a protector is part of who he is.”
“It’s also part of who you are. You’ve made that obvious since we first encountered you when Xander stumbled into your café. You helped him, then you found a way to help your father and brother, and now you’ve saved Elena twice. There’s something very special about you, Solange, and while I don’t know exactly what path you’re going to follow, there’s definitely a place for you here with us.”
“Thank you.”
“Talk to Axel. Secrets are never good between couples.”
I was in bed reading when I heard the door’s lock disengage. I sat up straight.
“Axel?”
“Hey, baby.” He came in and put down his duffel.
“You’re home!” I jumped out of bed and ran to him, throwing myself in his arms. He winced and I was instantly alarmed. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“I’m fine, just took a knee to the ribs last night. It’s fine.”
“Liar.” I quickly lifted his shirt to examine his torso, and though I was focused on the bruising, the V of his oblique muscles instantly jumped out after my conversation with the ladies the other day, and I smiled.
“I’m gonna need to know what made you smile just now,” he rumbled, lifting my chin with two fingers.
“I was imagining what I’m going to do to you later. After I’ve checked your ribs and put some ointment on them.” I unconsciously licked my lips, looking down at his crotch, my mouth suddenly watering.
He dug his fingers into my hair, forcing me to look at him. “We haven’t done that yet… I didn’t think you were comfortable.”
“I was afraid I wouldn’t do it right.” As we talked, I watched his erection spring to life and I ran my hand over it. “But stop trying to distract me. Take off your shirt and let me look at your ribs.”
He chuckled but obligingly took off his shirt. I moved him into the bathroom, where the light was better, and shook my head at the bruise forming on the right side. “Does it hurt?”
“A little, but it’s just a bruise. Really. They’re not broken. Believe me, I know the difference.”
“How many times have you broken ribs?” I asked him.
“Three or four? I broke four the first time, one the second, and I don’t remember how many the third. That was a bad one.”
I shook my head. “I’m going to worry when we’re apart,” I whispered softly, pulling a tube of ointment out of my toiletry bag. It was something Mrs. Freela made for bruises and pulled muscles. It was all natural but worked well, made with lemongrass and a few ingredients I wasn’t familiar with. “This doesn’t smell great but it’ll ease the soreness and help you sleep tonight.”
He didn’t respond as I spread it over the affected area and then washed my hands.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
“Of course.” I smiled. “Now you can kiss me properly.”
He didn’t hesitate, sweeping me against him and finding my mouth with his. It was so lovely and familiar now, I lost myself in his touch. It was like coming home in more ways than one and I recognized a familiar longing building between my legs, the ache for that connection with him that went beyond the sexual. That was a huge part of it, no doubt, but it was more than that.
“So…you mentioned trying something new tonight?”
I smiled. “I practiced on a banana.”
He let out a bellow of a laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, baby, I can’t wait to see what you’ve learned.”
My cheeks burned a little and I bit my lip. “You can’t laugh at me.”
He instantly sobered. “Not a chance in hell. I was laughing at the visual of you and the banana. I would never laugh at you.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “And I hope this wasn’t driven by girl talk with the others… I know how that goes and it’s absolutely amazing if you want to, but not necessary.”
“No, I asked them,” I admitted. “No one said anything to me. And then Elen had a banana with her…” I giggled.
“So…how do you want to do this? I can lie down if it’s easier for you?”
“When you watch it in porn, the woman is always on her knees.”
“Porn is technically correct, like Peg A goes into Slot B or C, but that’s all for show. That’s not always real. I can lie flat on my back and you can suck my dick just fine without adding the discomfort of being on your knees.”