Axel (Ride Series Book 3) (23 page)

“Baby, that thing is like ten feet tall,” Axel groused, craning his neck to look at the tree I had in mind.

“So?” I queried with my head cocked to the side.

“You gonna lug it through the lot into the truck and then into the house?” he demanded.

“Well, no,” I replied, biting my lip and eyeing the tree again to see if maybe I could somehow do just that.

He chuckled, shaking his head at my antics. Maddox whined in the backpack I had him strapped in. He was over it too.

“Fine, we can find a slightly smaller one,” I gave in, giving him my best dejected expression.

“Christ,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Fine.”

“Yay!” I clapped my hands together.

“You and those damn big eyes,” he lamented. “If we have a girl, I’m seriously screwed.”

“Yeah you are,” I agreed, suddenly wanting to give him just that.

******

“That’s a big fucking tree,” Sal commented when he and Kat came over later that evening.

“It’s gorgeous,” Kat smiled, elbowing Sal in the ribs. She scooped Mad up off the floor trying to position him over her burgeoning belly.

“Jesus, babe, don’t try to hold him. He’s too heavy,” Sal argued, seeming stressed as he pried my son from her arms.

She rolled her eyes but let him take Maddox. I was surprised my brother hadn’t had a heart attack at some point during her pregnancy. He was constantly prying things out of her arms or making her sit down. It was sweet, but I knew Kat was at the end of her rope.

I winked at her from the kitchen where I was attempting to cook an edible dinner. I was determined not to poison everyone.

When Ry and Jill let themselves in, they were in the middle of an argument, not an uncommon occurrence for them. They’d become good friends and often bickered like siblings.

“Do you know how hard it is to find good childcare?” Jill was saying as they swept into the room. “Hi,” she paused to greet Kat and me with a hug before continuing her rant. “Seriously, Ry,” she huffed. “Piper works at the best daycare in town. There are so many willing chicks in this town. Can’t you go try to screw one of them? You can’t pull your typical shit with Piper. She’s not like that and then I’ll have to find somewhere else for Mason.” Jill added, looking stressed.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he looked hurt by the accusation. “Maybe I don’t want to just fuck her,” he muttered.

Well, that was just plain shocking. The weighted silence in the room confirmed as much.

“Are you sick? Do you need a doctor?” Sal goaded him.

“What’s this now?” Axel asked, coming into the room.

“Ry seems to have a boner for Jill’s babysitter, Piper,” Sal muttered, stifling a laugh.

Axel’s brows rose in surprise. “Piper Owens?”

“You know her?” Jill asked, confused.

“Sure, Ry went to school with her. He was pulling her pigtails in second grade,” Axel chuckled. “She and Ry were thick as thieves ‘til she moved away after high school. I didn’t realize she was back in town,” he added, coming to put an arm around me and dropping a quick kiss to my temple. “Haven’t seen her since the funeral,” he added somberly. “That was what, a year ago now?”

Ry looked up at the ceiling with a clenched jaw. “Yeah, I didn’t realize she was back either until I dropped the Mace man off for Jill.”

“She won’t give you the time of day?” Axel guessed with a quirked brow.

“Ah, the way many epic romances begin,” Kat grinned.

Ryker’s eyes shot downward, looking uncomfortable, a rarity for Ryker.

“Shit, is that a blush? Is he blushing?” Jill demanded. “I’m so screwed,” she groaned.

I’d say that was a very fair assessment.

“Let’s have dinner,” I cut in, wanting to save Ryker from his apparent misery.

He shot me a grateful look and nodded enthusiastically at my suggestion.

We sat down for dinner with no more talk of Piper and no one outwardly grimaced as they began to eat which I took as a good sign.

When the doorbell rang, I was surprised since we didn’t expect anyone else. I rose to answer it but Axel stopped me with a look.

“I’ll get it,” he said gruffly, scooting his chair back with a screech as he moved to the door.

I couldn’t stop my intake of breath when I saw who was on the other side of the door.

My mother stood underneath the porch light, clutching her jacket around her uncertainly.

“Please don’t turn me away,” she rushed to say.

Axel just stared at her in shock, unsure how to respond.

“What are you doing here?” Sal growled as he glared at our mother.

“Everyone just relax,” I commanded, holding up my hand for them to be quiet as I stood to move to Axel’s side. “Come in,” I beckoned after a moment more of deliberation. I was curious what she wanted, and despite how she’d treated me, I wasn’t prepared to turn her away cold on our doorstep.

She gave me a small nod and stepped into our great room, her eyes darting warily around the space.

“I can come back another time. It looks like you’re having dinner,” she nodded to the dining room table.

“We are,” I replied, noticing how her eyes clung to Maddox as she took him in. “But come in,” I added after a pause.

“What do you want?” Sal cut in again, having far less patience for her and her presence here.

Suddenly, her eyes shot wide before she composed herself. “You’re…expecting?” She swallowed, looking at Kat.

Kat nodded as Sal put a protective arm around her.

My mother clenched her hands more tightly around her coat, seeming at a loss for what to say. “You didn’t come to the funeral,” she commented finally, her eyes shifting to me and then to Sal.

“No,” I shook my head simply, as though daring her to challenge us.

“I understand,” she nodded, surprising me. “He’d alienated nearly everyone we knew toward the end. But he was my husband,” she shrugged dejectedly, showing a rare moment of vulnerability. “He was my husband,” she repeated quietly as though to herself. She took a moment, straightening her shoulders and clearing her throat.

“I told you the last time I saw you that I’ve had time to reflect since you’ve been gone,” she murmured, looking to me. Then her eyes swept to Sal. “And for you,” she swallowed. “I lost you so long ago.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realize how important it is to make that right. You two and the families you’re building, well, you’re all I have left,” she spoke quickly, as though rushing to get the words past her lips.

“Is this because you’re broke?” Sal cut in harshly.

“Sal,” Kat murmured in an effort to calm him. I was relieved she stepped in. Though I understood his hostility, it wasn’t helping at the moment.

“After everything your father did, that’s fair,” she allowed. “But no, I’m not broke. I started saving my own money years ago when I first suspected Richard was doing some questionable things,” she shared, referring to my father. “I had no idea you weren’t getting your money,” she shook her head.

“We know,” I assured her.

She sighed, her body deflating in relief that I seemed to believe her.

“I went to see your father,” she shared, turning to look at Sal.

Well, that was certainly a surprise. Sal’s father lived in Spain. I didn’t know the whole story other than she’d had some type of affair with him when she was young and fell pregnant with Sal.

“Why the fuck did you do that?” he demanded.

“Sal,” I murmured in a quiet plea for him to lighten up.

“That’s between him and me,” she answered defensively, her crisp demeanor returning in a bid to protect herself, no doubt.

In a weird way, I was relieved to see that cool attitude return. It was what I was familiar with at least.

“What I want you to know is that I’m trying.” She cleared her throat demurely, looking uncomfortable with so many eyes on her. “I’m trying to repair the damage I know I’ve done. It started with Gael and the way I treated him. It was important to me that he knew I’ve always regretted it.”

I’d never heard my mother admit regret or admit wrongdoing. The fact that she’d flown all the way to Spain to apologize to Sal’s father really said something. It was then I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe she’d really changed.

“I want a chance to be in your lives,” she stated firmly. “I’m your mother. I’m the only surviving family you two have. You’re certainly all I have.” She clasped her hands together, standing stiffly as she looked to me and then to Sal. “Please,” she finished, her tone strong despite the fear in her eyes.

You could have heard a pin drop as the tension coiled thick. Even Maddox who constantly babbled and squealed was silent, seeming to sense the strain in the room.

Hurt flickered over her face as the silence stretched. “Okay,” she nodded, seeming to accept our silence as rejection. “I’ll go,” she swallowed, turning to leave.

I looked to Sal, my eyes pleading. A silent understanding passed between us. If we were doing this, it would be together and it had to come from him.

“Fuck,” he muttered, hanging his head for a moment. “Wait,” he instructed her gruffly.

She turned on her heel looking at him wearily.

“I don’t know if it’ll work after all the shit you put us both through,” he began, looking to me briefly before his eyes shot back to our mother. “But I know something about needing redemption.” He pulled Kat close and I knew he was thinking about having to fight his way back to her. “So I’m willing to give it a shot,” he added brusquely.

Axel put his arm around my waist pulling me closer, telling me without words that he’d accept any decision I made.

“Me too,” I spoke up when the eyes in the room had turned to me. Axel squeezed my hip in support.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“How long are you in town for?” I asked.

She gave a small shrug. “Indefinitely. Things are a bit up in the air right now.”

“Why don’t you come by tomorrow?” I offered. I wasn’t ready to invite her for dinner. We’d need to do this a little bit at a time. “We could have coffee or something.”

Her eyes lit with a spark of hope. “I’d like that,” she replied. “I’ll let you get on with your evening,” she added, heading toward the door. I followed her toward the door opening it to the chilly evening air. I watched her thin form move to her rental car and sent a silent plea that she wouldn’t make us regret giving her a chance. It was huge for Sal to give her this opportunity – I didn’t want to see him hurt.

She gave a small wave before driving off down the road.

That evening, Axel and I cleaned up together. Dinner had been a success, well no one had died anyway and the meal had been somewhat edible. After my mom left, we hadn’t talked about the visit; instead, we kept the mood light.

“It was good, babe,” Axel’s deep voice assured me as he moved in behind me to kiss my neck. He smelled like beer and pumpkin pie, a surprisingly delicious combination. “You taste good. I’ve been waiting all night to get my mouth on you,” he growled against my skin.

I froze mid-rinse from my place at the sink and leaned into his mouth.

His arms wrapped around my middle pulling me back against his firm body.

In one quick movement, my leggings were pulled down and off. He moved us quickly to the opposite counter, his large body imposing and deliciously hard behind mine.

“Spread,” he ordered, his mouth against my shoulder.

I shuddered with anticipation as I followed his demand. His hand immediately moved to my core, his fingers sliding through the moisture that he’d immediately created as his other hand moved to my covered breast.

His fingers moved expertly, bringing me to the brink of orgasm within seconds. I leaned my head back against his shoulder and moaned.

“That’s right, baby. I want to hear you,” he rasped in my ear as he quickened his movements.

His other hand found my nipple through my clothes, squeezing with just the right amount of pressure. The man could play my body like an instrument.

I erupted with a cry that echoed off the walls, shuddering in his arms.

He held me for a second before pushing me back to the counter guiding me to lay my top half down. I spread my arms out in front of me and pressed my cheek against the cool counter top.

The anticipation was heady as he moved in behind me. Hearing the sound of his zipper was just about the sexiest sound I’d ever heard.

“Oh, God,” I croaked, more than ready for him.

He moved my legs farther apart seconds before he entered me in one fluid thrust.

He felt impossibly big and deliciously deep as he found a rhythm set to make me lose my mind.

I loved the feeling of his jeans against my bare thighs, of his hands at my waist in a grip so tight it was sure to cause a few bruises.

They’d be worth it.

His hands moved to my shoulders pulling me back into him as he thrust deeper and faster. “Fuck,” he bit out, his breathing labored and harsh as he took me hard.

I groaned low and loud, close to another climax.

“That’s right,” he responded, knowing I was close. “God, you’re so fucking hot, baby,” he rasped.

His words were enough to send me over, pulling him with me.

He collapsed on top of me, pressing me harder into the counter as we caught our breath.

He kissed the side of my neck before he lifted off me, leaning down to pull my leggings back up my legs. “You should wear these more often,” he commented as I turned to watch him tuck himself back in his jeans.

I smothered a smile. “Oh?” I asked quirking a brow.

He nodded. “I get to stare at that sweet ass all night and then…easy access,” he grinned, pulling me in for a kiss.

“Right,” I laughed, throwing my arms around him. He lifted me so my legs followed suit.

“Let’s hit the shower,” he said, walking us toward the bedroom. “I’m not done,” he added, biting my earlobe before licking away the sting.

“No?” I asked breathlessly.

“Far from it,” he growled into my neck, making my tired limbs come alive once more.

He spoke and my body answered; it was that simple.

It was hours later and we were lying tangled in each other’s arms, satiated and exhausted. My eyelids were heavy as I moved closer to sleep. “You think I did the right thing?” I asked quietly, my hand moving over the plane of his chest.