CHAPTER 43
MAYA
Smitty opens the back door for me, as I lean on Eve a little to help me down the stairs. My ribs are screaming at me to lie back down, but I pretend as though all is sunny inside me.
“I wish you’d at least stay here until I can bump up security protocols. No one knows you’re here. More and more people seem to know who you are in New York,” Smitty says grimly. “I need a specialist to come in and find out how Troy got you out of the building.”
I shake my head, hurting too severely to walk and talk at the same time.
Just as I reach the SUV, the loud, distinct sound of Harleys has me turning my head as the guys drive toward us, barreling down the highway.
Axle is out in front, and he pulls into the yard, parking directly behind the SUV. My heart does all its usual girly things, even as it breaks a little at the sight of him.
Hard jaw set in anger and eyes narrowed on me like he’s furious, he tosses his helmet aside as he moves to be directly beside me.
“I didn’t say you could leave yet,” Axle tells me in his gruff, commanding tone.
My eyebrow arches in challenge. “As a matter of fact, you all but shoved me out the door once already. I think, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll leave on my own accord this time.”
Proud that my voice is steady, I start to brace myself for the pain that will come when I haul my ass into the back. A breath rushes out of me instead, when I’m suddenly being lifted—very carefully.
It’s my turn to narrow my eyes as I look up to see Axle staring straight ahead as he cradles me to his chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I ask, then wince when the force of my words jostles my ribs unfavorably.
“Be thankful I’m cautious of your ribs,” he says stoically. “Otherwise, you’d be tossed over my shoulder right now.”
He stalks up the steps and into the house, and I cast a helpless glance over his shoulder at Smitty, who is closing the back door like we’re not leaving.
I start to yell at him, when Axle turns abruptly and carries me back into the bedroom before kicking the door shut behind him.
“Axle,” I groan, exasperated.
I focus on my frustration instead of all the things my heart is trying to do.
He gently places me on the bed, like he’s worried I’m a piece of glass and will shatter at any moment. The soft gesture is only temporarily distracting.
His shirt being tugged over his head is a little more distracting as he tosses it aside. I notice the blood on it, so don’t ask what he’s doing as he stalks back out and says something about a sandwich I think.
Talk about random.
Then he’s back in, leaning against the door as he stares at me in that old familiar way.
“As much as I appreciate you risking your life to come save me, I still can’t stay here until you suddenly remember how dangerous it is—”
“You’re not safer in New York,” he interrupts. “We’re raising hell, reclaiming the fear we instill that people seem to have forgotten about. It’s only a matter of time before we finally kill Herrin.”
My brow furrows. “What does this—”
“You’re staying here, Maya. You said yourself that you didn’t have to be in New York, and it’s proven that it’s not safe for you. Someone can get to you too easily.”
He pushes away from the door, undoing his jeans as he comes to me. The door opens before he gets them pushed down.
Colleen steps in with a plate and a sandwich, and my stomach growls as if it’s calling dibs. Axle smirks like he expected that, and Colleen hands me the sandwich that I can’t refuse.
“Thank you,” I mumble around a mouthful, and she smiles tightly at me.
She deliberately avoids looking at his back as she walks out and shuts the door behind her. Axle drops his jeans the second she’s out, and I shake my head.
“No sex for me. I’m too sore. And I need to be leaving,” I tell him, biting another piece of the sandwich and telling myself to eat slowly so I don’t get sick. “Right after I finish this.”
His lips twitch as he climbs into the bed beside me, careful not to jostle it too much. Meanwhile, I eat like a starving lady.
When he leans over, my breath catches and the mouthful of food stops getting chewed, because his lips skim the side of my neck.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss just under my jaw.
I almost shiver. Almost.
“Axle, I have to—”
“You’re not going anywhere,” he says again, a little more forcefully this time as he kisses his way down the column of my throat.
I swallow painfully at the barely chewed food, putting my plate in my lap as I tilt my head to the side.
“See, I’m keeping you whether you want to stay or not. Because I’m not going to be able to be that far away now that I know you’re not safe there,” he goes on, his words not as seductive as his tone as he kisses another spot on my neck.
A small sigh passes through my lips as he drags his lips up my neck, nipping my ear when he reaches it. “And I don’t do well with fear. I hate it. It doesn’t have any room in my life, but apparently I’m going to fear losing you no matter where you are. I’d rather you be here so I can at least put myself out of my misery when I’ve got you in my bed.”
I feel his smile against my neck, and it stupidly infects me, forcing my lips to reluctantly mimic the same motion.
“If I stay, you can’t kick me out again,” I say when he just continues to kiss my neck, trying to soften me to his will.
“I’ll have you chained to my side as often as possible,” he says as though that’s a perfectly acceptable response.
I roll my eyes, wishing my lips weren’t so sore. Or that I had a toothbrush.
He sticks to my neck though, so that keeps me from worrying about the latter.
“I’m trying to figure out if you’re crazy or romantic,” I murmur absently.
“Both,” he deadpans without hesitation. “It’s a side effect of loving a girl who likes tiny condiment bottles as collectibles and skates when she’s waiting on a death tally.”
My grin crawls up, but then it falls immediately as his words sink in. He draws back, eyes intense as he studies mine.
“Tiny condiment bottles are a perfect collectible,” I state flatly, my heart still thundering in my ears as he slowly smiles that devastatingly perfect smile so few get to see.
His gaze flicks to my lips, and I start worrying about that toothbrush again. He stops himself from kissing me, his eyes probably assessing the damage there.
“Are you staying?” he asks, his gaze flicking back up to mine.
“Are you really giving me a choice?” I muse.
His smile only grows. “No.”
“Then why bother asking?” I ask on a mock sigh of frustration, though I can’t stop the smile that spreads again. “Besides, Mr. Surly just said he loved me. I suppose I need to stick around so I can taunt you for it.”
A small rumble of laughter escapes him, and he slides his hand up my neck, gently cupping the lower part of the side of my face that isn’t beaten to hell.
When his lips brush over mine, barely ghosting them, a tear rolls down my cheek. I’m not sure why. There’s no pain. And there’s no such thing as happy tears, right? I mean, I’ve never actually cried from being happy.
But all I feel is—
“So if she’s staying, does that mean I get a free pass if I make Blackbird my bookie and bet too much?” I hear Drake calling through the door.
Axle groans, and I sniffle as I bat the weird tears away. His lips move to my forehead, kissing me there.
“Go away, Drake,” he calls out. “Before I make you look like me.”
“You need to stop threatening my face. It’s the only thing too pretty for ink, let alone a butcher knife.”
Axle laughs lightly even as I scowl at the door.
“You just wish you were as pretty as him,” I defend, then feel stupid when everyone, including Axle, bursts out laughing. I’m glad that door is shut, that way no one can see my red face after being a little overly defensive.
“My little protector,” Axle murmurs, sliding his lips back down my neck. “Eat your sandwich. We need to get you healthy.”
I turn and look at him, arching an eyebrow.
“It’ll be a while before you can have another blowjob, because of the ribs and all.”
A snort comes from the other side of the door as Axle just grins at me.
“But you might be able to sit on my face in a few weeks.”
That has me biting into the sandwich just to keep from thinking about my favorite thing to do, and he grins as he lies back beside me.
“I’m going to drink myself into forgetting I ever heard this conversation,” I hear Smitty say from the other side of the door.
And I almost choke on my sandwich as the laughter restarts.
A small grin plays on my lips when I see the light peeking through those pale eyes of Axle’s. That light is reserved for only me.
And it’s really freaking special.