So it's been a while since I've posted, so I knew my post had to be good! Harper released a bonus chapter about a month ago! I am so stoked for the release of Cage so we can get more Hot Corps Security Boys!
BONUS CHAPTER <do not read unless you have read the full story of Axel!>
“Baby?” I have been searching through the house for the last fifteen-minutes looking for my boys. I swear Axel does this just see me laugh when I finally find them.
“Axel Reid, you come out now…I missed my boys today.” Shaking my head in fake exasperation, I continue down the stairs with my soft laughter trailing behind me. “Nate baby…mama’s home. Where is my handsome man?”
I trip over a few of Nate’s toys and almost take my head off when I slip on his favorite toy motorcycle from Maddox. Axel must have brought it into the kitchen to keep Nate busy while he fixed for lunch. I would be willing to bet he skipped Nate’s naptime, again, so that he could keep playing with him. My man loves his son.
I stop my search for a few moments to pick up the blocks that are scattered all over the floor, then continue my mission to find my men.
I walk through the kitchen and out the back door. Looking around the deck and our property beyond in search for my boys. The sun warms my skin and the reflection from the lake blinds me momentarily. Now that Nate is mobile we have been spending more and more afternoons enjoying springtime in Georgia. Today is no different. The sky is a dazzling blue with not one cloud in the sky. The flowers we had planted along the pebbled path that leads down to the dock are in full bloom. Everything about this once barren house screams life. Our home.
A shiver of déjà vu wraps around my spine and whispers up my back when I see movement down at the end of the dock. Sitting down with his legs dangling into the lake is my Axel. His bronzed, naked back is the only thing I can see from my angle but judging by his soft swaying, my little man is nestled tightly in his strong arms.
I follow the pebble path, slipping off my shoes before continuing down the wooden planks. I make sure to keep my steps slow and steady; careful to keep them unnoticeable. I’m only a few steps behind him when his voice reaches my ears.
“…and then your mommy made me the luckiest man in the world. Never thought my heart could get bigger until she told me you were coming. You don’t know this now but one day you will, your mom…she thinks she is lucky to have us, but it’s the other way around my little man. Blessed to the max. So blessed, Nate.”
My foot hits a loose board that moans in protest, earning me Axel’s attention. “Damn, I was trying to sneak up on you.” His smile is blinding in the late afternoon sun, his happiness is infectious. And the best part, I helped put it there.
“Hey Princess…have fun on your search?” His teasing tone causes my suppressed laughter to bubble out; shaking my head I crouch down and press my front tight against his warm skin. My legs don’t even come close to falling off the side but I can still wrap my arms around his powerful frame.
“Hey you. I missed my boys today.” I kiss his cheek before looking over his shoulder at Nate. “Ax, you can’t keep letting him chew on that…it’s so dirty!” Reaching around, I gently remove Axel’s dog tags from Nate’s chubby fingers and gummy mouth. “There’s mama’s handsome man.”
Nate starts squirming in Axel’s hold to reach me, obviously impatient with his father’s slow transfer.
“One of these days he will be happy just hanging out with his old man.”
“Don’t be such a baby,” I tease, “You know he loves his daddy, his mommy just happens to have his endless food supply!”
Axel shifts his position so he can pull me into his lap, holding both of us within his arms. The instant rush of safety and love that always pours out of him wraps around us.
I cradle Nate in my arm and bring my shirt up so that he can reach my breast before laying my head down against Axel’s shoulder. He brings his hand up and caresses Nate’s soft cheek, “I love you baby, but right now I am insanely jealous of our boy.”
“I can tell and if your jealousy doesn’t stop poking me in the rear I’m taking our baby inside.”
The vibrations of his laughter tickle my skin before his lips press lightly against my neck.
“Missed you today, Princess.” His whispers against my skin, “What kept you away so long?”
“Ax, I’ve been gone for three hours.” I laugh.
“Three hours too long. I thought we decided weekends were spent home, just us.”
“We did but you know I had to take care of some wedding stuff and Dee is always so busy this was the only time we could get together. Then Greg came over and we all just lost track of time.”
“I got it babe, doesn’t mean I don’t miss you when you aren’t around. Plus Nate missed you so much he wanted to skip his nap and wait up.”
“Oh he did, did he?”
“Yup. He said he would rather pass his time building block towers.”
“Ax, baby, you are ridiculous sometimes,” I rush out past my laughter.
“I know. So, you ready to be my wife Princess?” His question warms my ears right before he nips my lobe lightly between his teeth, “You ready to finally be all mine.”
“I’m already yours and you know that.”
“Not until your last name matches mine and Nate’s.”
“I don’t need to have your last name to prove anything.”
“But you will.” His voice loses some of his joking tone. I know this is a sore subject but we had both agreed it would be best to wait until Nate was born. Then we started planning and things just started taking longer. With Nate just turning nine months old I know he is getting frustrated.
I ignore his question and lift Nate up to my shoulder.
“Da-da”
“See I told you, he only wants me to be his live in walking refrigerator!”
We both laugh and enjoy a few quiet moments sitting down on the dock. It’s times like this when I realize just how lucky we are. Axel was right, we are truly blessed. Times spent with my soon to be husband and this perfect product of our love really bring that home.
I shift a sleeping Nate in my arms and snuggle closer to Axel.
“Princess, I need you to be mine.” His softly spoken words break out silence.
“I know, Axel. That’s what took me so long today. Dee and I finished everything up. Booked, paid for and confirmed. Can you wait one more month?”
“What’s one month when we have waited this many years?” I can tell he isn’t thrilled but still happy-ish knowing it is going to be soon.
“Ax? The day I become yours will be right up there with the birth of our son as the best day in my life. I can’t wait, baby.”
His arms go solid for a second before he speaks, “I know.” The smug tone in his words erase all signs of his earlier impatience away.
Cocky bastard.
Beck by Harper Sloan
.JPG)
