Page 40 of Before the Fall
I'm so close that I know it will only take a few more thrusts of his cock. Jaxon groans, and for a split second, I worry I’ve done something to aggravate his injuries, but then I feel him flood my body with all he has.
A few moments later, my orgasm tears through me, and I scratch my fingernails across his upper back as the most perfect feeling in the world takes over. I can’t think of anything but how much I adore this man.
We still against one another, the two of us breathing hard as the remnants of our release linger and my thighs quiver. Jaxon slowly rolls off me and turns his head to smile at me.
“I think near-death experiences have an effect on us.”
Nodding, I lean forward and kiss him softly on the lips. “Let’s never have them again, okay?”
With an uncharacteristic sweetness in his eyes, Jaxon sighs and pulls me to him. As I rest my head on his chest, I hear him say, “I can live with that.”
He may not be the typical knight in shining armor everyone wants in a man, but I’ll take the bad because there’s no much good in him too.
“I love you,” I whisper against his bruised skin.
Jaxon kisses the top of my head and sighs again. “I love you too, Tia. I promise our life won’t always be like this. Just give me a little time to get things straightened out, okay?”
He doesn’t have to ask. I’d give him forever if I knew it would mean being with him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jaxon
Ryker is alone in his office when I walk in, and I don’t know why, but it’s still strange to see him without that skull mask he wore for so long. I know why he stopped wearing it, but it’s still odd.
He looks up from his desk and shakes his head at the sight of me. “Feeling any better? I mean, you look like shit warmed over, but I’m hoping you’re feeling better.”
I shrug as I sit down in the chair across the room from him. “Nothing I can’t come back from. Where are Cason and Kane?”
“They went to get Lily and Lukas. I think they’d be safer here, so Kane went with him since that kid’s toys could fill a house by themselves. They took the goddamned Suburban because they need the space,” he answers, laughing at the thought of Cason and Lily’s kid and all his shit.
“That’s good,” I say as I look around Ryker’s office and see some of Maxim’s toys lying around. “They can be added to your kid’s.”
He sees the alphabet blocks on the couch and sighs. “I’ve told Kaia I just want this room to be kid-free. Just this room. I guess that’s too much to ask.”
I laugh out loud at his predicament, sure he’s got much more pressing concerns to deal with than his son’s toys getting into everything. “So this is what having kids does to a guy. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ryker gets up and walks around his office collecting Maxim’s toys before walking out of the room. No wonder we haven’t moved on Victor yet. We’re too busy playing romper room.
When he gets back, he sits down at his desk again and sighs. “Just wait until you have some. Then you’ll know what it’s like.”
I don’t bother telling him kids aren’t in my plans any time soon. Maybe when I’m his age, but for now, Tia and I are far too busy enjoying one another to be focused on a baby.
Jesus, that sounds awful. A baby. Those things need to be fed and cleaned and diapered. And the burping. Then there’s the spit up and the crying.
No, thanks.
In an effort to get him to focus on something that doesn’t smell or shit its pants, I say, “I need to get a phone and contact my guy in Italy. I’m sure Tia’s parents are fine, but I want to check, all the same.”
Ryker’s expression lights up. “Oh, about that. I have your phone right here. It was in the car. Victor’s guys must not be very good at their jobs. I would have looked for your phone first thing after grabbing you.”
Thrilled to see my phone, I take it from Ryker and sit back down to go through my texts. “Dickie wasn’t exactly top level.”
Just as I say that, my ribs on my right side send a message of their own as pain shoots through my torso. “Ugh, but he’s got a hell of a right cross on him. I’m looking forward to the day I get to pay him back.”
“Do you need to see the doctor?” Ryker asks, all concerned like I’m his kid too.
“No, I’m good, Dad,” I joke, looking up from my phone to see a look of real worry on his face. “Seriously, I’m fine. Like I told Tia, I’ve dug bullets out of my own body before. This is nothing.”