“Fine, he’s agreeable to sitting down and discussing everything. He just wants to make up for what he did.”
“Don’t defend him.” He dropped his fork and shoved his plate forward.
“I’m not,” I said flatly. “I’m explaining why he does the things he does. It’s out of guilt.”
“Bullshit. It’s because he wants you back.”
“I’m not arguing with you about this, Jaxon.” Getting down from the barstool, I cleared our dishes to the sink. I leaned against the counter, watching as my man tried to cover holding his side. Macho idiot. GSWs hurt. “Can we just agree that we need to do a better job talking to each other, and running things past each other first before we do them?”
“Deal.” He stood and walked over to me. “Leave the dishes, let’s go to bed.”
“Jax…” I started to admonish him but he stopped me by snaking his sexy tattooed arms around my back and pulling me close.
“Lei, we are gettin’ in bed and I’m gonna hold you and talk to our daughter. That’s all I wanna do right now. I haven’t gotten to hold you in months.” He leaned forward and kissed me quickly before turning and pulling me out of the kitchen.
Just as we got halfway up the first set of stairs there was a knock at the door.
“You expecting anyone?” I asked.
“Go upstairs and stay up there until I tell you it’s okay.” Jaxon descended the stairs and grabbed the Beretta nine millimeter he kept tucked away in the foyer closet. “Go, Lei.”
My palms started to sweat as I reached the second floor and decided to tuck myself near the bathroom, away from view of the stairs. I heard knocking again then the door opened.
“For fuck’s sake, what do you want?” Jaxon asked the unexpected visitor.
“I tried to call Lei and tell her I was going drop Ruger off, but she didn’t answer.” Brody’s voice calmed the insanely ridiculous fears running through my mind. Coming down the stairs, I saw both men in the foyer of the three-story Victorian home Jaxon built for me. “Hey, Lei.”
“Hey, Brody, thanks for bringing him home. Sorry I didn’t answer, my phone’s in my bag, probably on vibrate.”
“Damn it, babe, I told you to stay upstairs.” Clenching his jaw, Jaxon was not happy.
“Excuse me?” Brody misunderstood.
“Wait, Brody, it’s not what you think.” I turned and looked at Jax. “We need to tell him.”
“No fuckin’ way in hell.”
“Jaxon, he knows you were shot. He knows some less-than-savory characters are involved in your business. He deserves to know that you’re worried someone in your club might be up to no good.” Jaxon’s face relaxed when he realized I wasn’t suggesting he disclose his undercover status.
“Ugh…fine. I’ll go take Ruger to the backyard and leave you two to talk.” He emphasized “talk” a little too much and glared at Brody on his way out the door.
“Thank you, dear.” Smiling sweetly, I batted my eyes at him.
I got the glare.
“Okay, would you like to tell me what the hell that was about?” Brody stepped inside the door and closed it.
“Which part? The part where Jaxon thought you were a lone gunman or the part where he willingly left us alone in the same room without threatening you with the gun he’s got tucked in his waistband?” Yep, sarcasm had come to play.
“Okay, smart-ass.” Brody looked put out. “Both.”
“I told you, Jax is just worried about someone from the club. This guy fucked up royally and Jax knows it. He doesn’t think the guy knows that he knows. There is probably nothing to worry about, he just wants to be cautious.”
“You could always move back in,” Brody offered at the same time I scowled. He threw his hands up. “Just want you to know you have options, if you don’t feel safe that is. What about the other part? What’s the deal? Why’s he suddenly acting like a big boy?”
“Stop, Brody. Jaxon’s trying to be civilized and agreeable for my sake and for our daughter. Speaking of which, we need to make arrangements for the three of us to get together and come up with a plan. There is no reason we can’t have shared custody without a bunch of lawyers getting involved.” I prayed silently that Brody felt the same way. “I want you to be a part of her life. I always have.”
“I agree. We don’t need anyone else involved and telling us what to do with our child. We want the same thing where she is concerned. She needs both her parents.” He reached out and slid his hand down the side of my large belly. “I will never try to cut you out of her life.”
“I’m glad we are on the same page then,” Jaxon’s deep gruff voice resonated from the back of the house. “There’s no reason we can’t make this work. Just as long as you get that you and Leila are over. She’s marrying me and I’m really not tryin’ to be a fuckin’ prick about it, but I want you to know where I stand.”
I turned to look at him and couldn’t help but feel the heat in my cheeks. Jaxon stood in the hallway in all his alpha glory.
Brody’s jaw tightened. “I know exactly where you stand. My position is that she’s the mother of my child and that,” he nodded to my stomach, “is my child. I will do whatever I have to do to protect them, even if that’s from you. With that said, Lei and I have come to an understanding on our relationship. I’m sure she will enlighten you.”
“Really, Brody? Did you have to poke the bear?” Sighing, I shook my head. “Okay, time to go. I need to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”
“Right. Good night, Lei.” Brody smiled and nodded to me then cut his eyes to Jax. “Glad you’re home.”
“Right. I bet you are,” Jaxon grumbled under his breath just loud enough for me to hear.
Shutting the door behind Brody, I turned to glare at Jaxon. “I heard that. Please don’t feed into him. We will end up right back where this whole mess started.
“I picked you, not him. I love you in a way I never loved him. You have me heart and soul. What we have is true, strong and unbreakable.” Walking up to him, I wrapped my arms around his perfect waist and whispered in a sultry voice, “Now, take me to bed.”
“Fuck. That just made me so fuckin’ hard, babe. You might not get any sleep,” he growled at me as I took off up the stairs.
That night Jaxon did exactly what he said he would do: he laid me down in our bed, rubbed my back, and held me until I feel asleep. That’s not to say he didn’t try like hell to get a blowjob. His reasoning was that he didn’t have to exert any energy that might compromise his injuries. My answer was in the form of a pillow to his face.
Chapter Eight
Leila
Two weeks had flown by in the blink of an eye. It had been a tough, but good, couple of weeks. Jaxon was the world’s worst patient, but he was recovering. He pushed himself too hard and didn’t take any of the restrictions seriously. The only restriction that was left intact was the no-sex one. Only because I flat out refused. Which didn’t mean he hadn’t tried. Like every hour. On the hour. Every day, for two weeks.
Yes, I am about to explode, and I know he is too. I’d decided, today, I was going to give in. I was already thirty-seven weeks along, and didn’t have much time left before the baby was born and we couldn’t have sex for several weeks.
Jaxon was in the shower when I put on a black lace bra, which barely fit, my breasts spilled out of the demi cups, and I slipped on a matching thong, which was really a joke; I couldn’t see the damn thing below my belly.
I wished I had something sexy that would cover my very large, very round belly. But I didn’t. And I certainly wasn’t wasting another fucking second. Bra and panties would have to do. Oh, and of course a sexy pair of red patent leather heels.
I was leaning back on my elbows in the center of our king-size bed when he strutted out of the bathroom with a towel swathing his perfect hips. Water still beaded across his tanned, muscular pecs, now marred by scars that would always remind me that I almost lost him.
He looked down as he walked o
ut, toweling off his blond hair. He started to speak before he looked up.
“So, babe, whatcha wanna do—” His chin lifted and he finally saw me. He stopped dead. The towel in his hands dropped behind him. “Holy. Fuckin’. Shit.”
“I have a few ideas.” I leered at him as a seductive smile spread across my face. I sat up and slid off the bed. And surprisingly, I did it gracefully. I wanted to stop right there and thank the sex gods above, but I had more on my mind.
“Really? What kinda ideas?” He played along. His voice was rich, full of lust and need.
“Well, first I was thinkin’ it’s been a really long, long time since I’ve been able to wrap my lips around that big, delicious cock of yours.” I sucked in my bottom lip and slowly dragged it through my teeth, because I knew how it drove him insane. “Then I was thinking you could bend me over the side of the bed,” I reached for the towel wrapped around his waist, “and slide that beautiful, hard cock into my hot. Tight. Wet. Pussy. I was thinking you might want to fuck me. Soft and slow, then hard and fast. What do you think about that?”
With my last word, I released the towel and all of my dirty talk was rewarded. Jax was hard as a steel beam and already weeping.
“I think you better stop talkin’ and start actin’.” He gripped the back of my neck and pulled me to him. His lips slammed down over mine. He walked me backwards to the backless settee at the foot of our bed. I sat down and wrapped my hand around the base of his throbbing, hard dick. I bent forward and licked the thick head from its underside all the way back around, earning a deep groan. I took him in my mouth and continued to pump along his base in perfect rhythm.
“Fuck, babe, your mouth is amazin’ but I want that pussy. Now.” He pulled back. He shoved his hands under my arms and lifted me to my feet. “Bend over. Hands on the bed, knees on the bench. And don’t move ’em.”
Oh hell yeah.
After I perched myself on the bench just as he demanded, he stood behind me. Gripping himself, he slid his dick up and down my slippery folds, coating himself in my wetness. He continued to drag the head of his cock back and forth over my clit, apply just the right amount of pressure. Just as I thought I might come, he pushed into me and his hand grabbed my thigh.
“Put your foot up here.” He grabbed my heel and placed it where my knee had been. Spreading me. He reached around and his fingers found my aching clit. The moment he slipped over it I came with a scream.
“Oh fuck, Jaxon.” I threw my head back in ecstasy. He tilted his hips and continued thrusting into me. He was controlled and slow, dragging out my climax. As I rode out the last few quakes, he began to pick up the pace, driving farther into me, gripping my hips as he slammed into me over and over. Before I knew it, again, I was falling into that sweet oblivion.
My body was starting to tire. “Babe, I need to lie down.”
He quickly pulled out and moved me to the side of the bed. He laid me down on my back and wrapped his arms around the back of my knees and pulled me to the edge of the bed. Without hesitation, he drove into my pussy.
I hated this position. I could see him looking down at me. All I could think about was how fat I must look.
“Don’t, babe,” he growled. “You’re fucking gorgeous. Don’t even think it.”
Damn, this man was perfect. He read me like a book.
He reached up and pulled the lace cups down, releasing my tits. He rolled both nipples between his fingers. Tweaking them with just the right amount of pain to cause the utmost pleasure.
“Oh God, baby, you’re so fuckin’ tight. Damn, you feel so fuckin’ good,” he moaned between thrusts. He looked down at me with hooded eyes. “You have any idea how fuckin’ sexy you are?”
I closed my eyes as his thumb began working my swollen, needy clit. “Eyes, babe.” He angled his hips up slightly, causing my eyes to fly open. “I’m there, baby. Come with me, Lei.”
“Oh fuck, Jax, harder.” I reached down and started rubbing my clit. He loved watching me.
“Fuck yeah, baby, let me see you make yourself come.” He was now thrusting wildly as I came all around him.
“Ahhhhhhh,” I screamed out as he drove into me hard one last time. I could feel as he swelled and stilled inside me.
“Damn, I missed you, baby.” He leaned down, gripped me around my neck and pulled me up to meet his mouth. “I love you, Leila. Then, now, tomorrow, always.”
“I love you too, Jax,” I whispered between his soft, sweet pecks.
*****
Later that night he took me by my hand and led me into our closet. On the back wall behind his suits, near the top corner was a discreet button. As he pressed the button, he pulled the rod holding the suits toward us. Behind it was a thick, black metal door with a keypad. He pressed a series of numbers and pushed the door open. We had a panic room in our house. Really. A panic room. I didn’t know if that was reassuring.
The room was outfitted with security monitors, a couch, a tiny bathroom, a fridge, and a pantry stocked with food. Once it was activated it could only be opened from the inside. Jaxon made me remember the code.
0624198704212015
My birthday, and my due date. Then we chose a word that would mean it was safe for me to open the door—only if he were on the other side. Quantico. It was where he went to school. Sniper training.
I prayed I’d never see the inside of that room ever again.
Chapter Nine
Leila
Lying in bed the next morning, I finally got the courage to ask Jax about quitting.
“Honey,” I whispered, dragging my hand across his chest lightly to wake him.
Blinking a few times, he wiped the sleep from his eyes and rolled to his side to mirror my position. “Hey, Princess, what time is it?”
“Why don’t you quit?” I asked gently, genuinely wanting to know.
“Quit? What, the club?” He frowned and instantly I regretted asking, but I kept going. I couldn’t see him lying in a hospital bed riddled with bullets again.
“Yeah, why not have them pull you out? You almost died, Jaxon. Is it really worth you dying?”
“Lei, I’ve put my blood, sweat, tears, and almost my life on the line for this op. Spent more than three years going on runs, getting these lowlife asswipes to trust me, and watchin’ God only knows how many crimes these animals have committed. I’ve seen good people die for no reason. Those people deserve justice, Leila,” he sighed. “If I give up now, then the last three years will have been for nothing.”
“If you get killed it will have been for nothing, Jaxon. I cannot live without you. We,” I grabbed his hand and placed it on my very pregnant belly, “can’t live without you. And we don’t want to.”
“Babe, this is what I do. It’s who I am. Please don’t ask me to walk away from this.” I knew if I pressed the issue, I might not like the end results.
“I guess I don’t understand, Jaxon. I get that you want to get justice and arrest these guys but why can’t someone else do it?” I sincerely wanted to understand.
He brushed the hair from my face. “For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to make sure the bad guys go down. In this case, Drill more than Mark and the club. I feel fuckin’ awful lying to Mark, but he chose his path, the same as I did.”
“Are you going be able to put your personal feelings aside and arrest him when it comes time?”
“I’ve always prided myself on being loyal. To my country, my unit, my guys, you, but Mark is a target. He’s the president of an MC that helps the cartel traffic drugs. So to answer your question, yeah. When it comes time to bust this shit wide open, I’ll have no problem arresting him.” His voice calm, he never wavered.
“I thought you two were close.” I shrugged.
“That’s what I want him and everyone else to think. He’s not a bad guy, and he didn’t choose to be in bed with the Mexicans, but he accepted the job and hands out the orders.”
Lying there, I thought about all of the runs over t
he last few months. Mark’d had dinner with us, sat with me in the hospital.
“Jesus.” Jaxon flew off the bed. Just as I was about to ask what caused him to freak out I saw a black snout on the side of the bed. “Ruger, go lie down. Damn it, dog, keep your cold, wet nose off my ass.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth. “He probably needs to use the bathroom, baby.”
“Doesn’t mean he needs to scare the shit out of me. Fuck.” Jaxon huffed and puffed, trying to catch his breath. “Come on, ya fucker, let’s go outside.”
Ruger was already way ahead of him, dancing at our door. While the boys were outside I used the bathroom myself and brushed my teeth. I decided to climb back in bed and enjoy a lazy Sunday for a change.
Later that day, after lounging all morning, I dragged Jaxon up to the second floor bathroom and trimmed his blond locks. He obviously hadn’t cut his hair the entire time we had been apart. And don’t get me started on his face. I’d seen Wookies with less facial hair. He kept the beard, but agreed to trim it down.
“Hey, Jax,” I hollered up the stairs from the second-floor laundry room. “Can you bring the laundry down? I don’t have enough for a full load.”
“Yeah,” I heard him bellow down, followed by his loud clompy boots coming down the stairs.
“Any chance you might be able to turn your shirts right side out before you throw them in the hamper?” I glared as I turned yet another shirt before folding it. “I hate laundry and this just slows me down and drags this shit out. Because if not I’m folding inside out.”
“Damn, you’re in a mood today,” he muttered.
“What?” I asked, whipping my head around to his direction.
“Nothin’.”
“Sorry. I know I’m being a little moody. These damn hormones. I feel like I have no control over my own body sometimes.” Great, now I was crying.
“Babe.” He pulled me to his chest. “It’s all good.” He kissed my forehead then went downstairs.
Ruger was lying in the hallway as I passed by the nursery on my way down to the kitchen. “Come on, boy, let’s get you outside.” It turned out to be a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze, making seventy degrees feel more like sixty.
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