Don't Drink the Holy Water (16 page)

“Too much?” West asked, voice slurred from sleep.

Axel gave him a quick kiss. “Just enough.” He curled up beside West and knew he’d be asleep in seconds.

* * * *

“Do you think they’re naked under there?”

Axel woke with a start. He opened one eye and squeaked when he encountered a face entirely too close to his own.

Hot breath gusted over him as Joseph yelped and stumbled backward.

“What—?” West sat up suddenly, sputtering and blinking furiously.

Case had a grossed-out look on his face. “Ew. Yeah I think they might be naked.”

“Out!” West bellowed. It was the first time Axel had heard West lose his temper. “I will ground you both for life!”

“Jeez,” Case muttered, but he and Joseph both ran out of the bedroom in a flash.

“Grouch!” Joseph added before slamming the door.

Axel did a quick check. The sheet hadn’t dipped down, but he supposed being white and all, it might be obvious neither him nor West had anything on under them. “Sleep shorts.”

West growled and flopped back on the bed, one forearm over his eyes. “Door lock.”

“That’d work too.” Axel rubbed his face. His cheeks were warm, probably with a blush. “That was kind of embarrassing.”

“Oh, god, I know,” West groaned. “I’m sorry.”

Axel laughed. “I meant for them. They were a bit horrified by the naked part. Case might be old enough to figure out what’s what.”

“Joseph too. Kids these days.” West clicked his tongue. “But I hope not. Then again, sex is everywhere. Just, they won’t be seeing anything more than what they saw, not with us.”

“No shit. I’m going to sleep in full body armor from now on.”

West popped one eye open and gave him a mock-glare. “Uh, I don’t think so. We’ll lock the door and go over privacy rules. The kids don’t need to barge in here.”

Axel would leave that up to West. “I don’t have any child-rearing experience so, well, and they’re your family.” Was that the wrong thing to say?

West wrinkled his nose. “I don’t have a lot of it myself, and…and if you agree to be my mate, they’ll be your family, too. I wouldn’t want you to think you didn’t have the right to add your opinion in the mix.”

Axel shrugged. “Maybe, but the kids would probably feel differently on the matter. They aren’t going to take to me as quickly as—”
Oops.

“As I did,” West finished. He smiled and reached for Axel’s hand. “They’ll come around, though. They’re good kids.”

Axel thought they probably were, though a little creepy, lurking around the bedroom. “Does Joseph do that in-your-face wake-up often?”

West laughed. “Well, yeah, he gets a kick out of startling his siblings like that, but I think you scared the crap out of him.”

“I sounded like a mouse,” Axel grumbled.

“Joseph hates mice. He’s borderline phobic about them.” West squeezed his hand. “I’ve got to get up and spend time with them. You want to rest some more, or…”

“Or.” Axel eyed the door. “Is it safe to kick the sheet off?”

West got up and locked the door. “Yup.”

Axel almost drooled, looking at West’s pale, muscular ass. He licked his lips and started to think about all the wonderful things he could do to that piece of perfection.

“Axel, don’t look at me like that,” West protested.

Axel realized he was staring at West’s stiffening cock. He shuddered. That was too skeevy to do when there were kids in the other room. “How do parents ever have sex?” he asked. “I mean, with the kids in the house.”

West dug a pair of sweats out of a dresser drawer. “Well, I think maybe they don’t at first, then desperation kicks in and they realize they’re being silly because there’s nothing wrong with sex when the kids are asleep. Not sure about other times. Guess we’ll figure it out as we go, if you’re interested.”

“That’s twice you brought it up, me deciding what to do about us,” Axel pointed out. “We have a week.”

“We do.” West put a shirt on then tossed another pair of sweats and a tank top to Axel. “You can borrow those, and here’s some new briefs.” A purple, silky pair came flying at him. “I guess because I already know what I want. So it’s really up to you.”

Axel bit his bottom lip. He knew what West was saying. “Are you going to get mad at me if I take the whole week? Would that hurt your feelings?”

West studied him for a moment then lit up Axel’s world with a smile. “Nah. You take the whole week. I’ll woo you or court you, whatever it’s called now. You deserve that.”

Axel was sure of his answer, but he wanted time with the kids for them to get to know him before it was a done deal.

West nodded, as if he knew what Axel was thinking.

For that matter, maybe he did. Axel was fairly certain he was besotted with West, and the man couldn’t miss it.

“The kids,” he said, just in case there was any doubt. He wouldn’t want to hurt West regardless.

West nodded once. “And I want to date you before we tell Herve our answer.”

That sounded like a perfect plan to Axel.

Chapter Thirty

Desperation really
was
a great inspiration. West had to let go of his insecurities and go for what he wanted—a lifetime shared with someone he was growing to love. If he were honest, that emotion was already there, a small, growing seed that was pushing at the heavy ground covering it.

There was some symbolism he couldn’t miss. His fear and past were the things that would cause that burgeoning love to falter if he wasn’t careful. West would be very, very careful with Axel. The way he saw it, he could either keep letting his past control him, own him, or he could break free of that crap and
really
live.

He was going with that last one.

So he took the week he had and spent every moment he could with Axel, doing just what he’d vowed to do. Much to his surprise—and possibly to Axel’s—West had learned that he had quite a romantic side to him. He wasn’t quite the type to serenade his love outside the window, but he did like to whisper sweet words in Axel’s ears.

Fortunately, Axel was pretty romantic himself, and he’d extended his stay in Portland. They still hadn’t decided what he’d do about his career, and West was afraid to press him on the subject. On the one hand, Axel was in his prime. On the other hand…West wouldn’t be able to survive without him for very long once they became mates, and traveling all over the world was impossible for him.

That one wrench in his life’s plan kept him stymied and wrestling with guilt. It wasn’t like he was trying to trick Axel, though. Axel was aware of what becoming a mate to West would entail. While Axel seemed very willing, West worried he wasn’t thinking of what he’d lose.

“Flowers? How charming.”

West blinked then looked at the mixed bouquet he’d hand-picked. Red carnations were for love, yellow irises for passion, white calla lilies for beauty and magnificence, and gladiolas for honor and faithfulness. He’d had them all wrapped in an elegant blue and purple tissue paper with a pretty twine bow topping it all off.

And now he was standing there holding the bouquet, lost in his own head space, while Herve watched him with one eyebrow quirking higher by the second.

“Um.” Well, wasn’t he eloquent? West wanted to close his eyes but he forced himself to get over being embarrassed. “I selected each one specifically for Axel.” He was going to be proud of it too.

Herve smiled. “As I said, how charming. He’ll be impressed. Is he any closer to his decision? Tomorrow I will require an answer.”

West nodded. “I know. I…” He gulped but pressed on. “Can he really not have a little longer? He has a career—”

Herve’s expression said it all.

West nodded again. “I don’t want him to hate me because he has to give it up.”

Herve sighed as if he were disappointed with him.

West tried not to cringe.

“West, stop looking like I’m about to kick you,” Herve said firmly. “Tell me why Axel can’t have a career if he’s your mate? Granted, he’d have to end it when the average athlete would, but until then, what’s to prevent him from competing nearby or perhaps even starting his own event here? He could also teach others to sandboard. I’m sure the coven would vote to invest in such a business. We do like to diversify our income.”

West knew he was gawking at Herve, but really, he felt like a moron for not considering any of those options.

“You can tell him about this discussion,” Herve prodded. “If you ever leave and meet up with him tonight.”

“He’s coming over here,” West said distractedly, thinking about the possibilities just laid out to him. “Axel likes seeing the kids in the mornings. And evenings. He only went out to see Jukie and Yolanda. He should be back any minute now.”

“Ah, his human friend with the drug issue,” Herve murmured. “Has he regained consciousness?”

West almost asked why Herve would care, but the fact was, Herve
did
care because Axel was likely going to be joining the coven. And Herve wasn’t a heartless asshole.

“No. It’s not looking good, either,” West replied. “The longer he’s out, the less likely the chances are of him ever coming out of the coma, the doctor said.”

Herve tutted and gently patted West’s shoulder. “Well, but miracles do happen.” Then he winked and left West standing in the hall, holding the flowers.

West shook his head, more to get himself into the present instead of letting his mind wander. He had a big night planned for Axel. West touched the left pocket of his pressed black slacks. He should have been nervous, but he wasn’t. The guilt at having to ask Axel to give up his career had been assuaged a great deal.

Now it was time for him to ramp up the courting to a whole new level. He had the promise of Axel’s career continuing, the gorgeous bouquet, and a question he intended to ask Axel, very soon.

Chapter Thirty-One

After thinking everything over thoroughly, Axel asked West to meet him at their bench instead of going to West’s apartment. It seemed romantic and perfect for the occasion. Even so, Axel was aware that he was taking a big step, an irreversible one.

Was he really going to give up everything for West? Axel felt like he should be panicking over the immediate
yes
that popped into his head. What did he really have to give up, anyway?

Well, his career, but that would come to an end in a few years. Sandboarding was a young man’s sport, and while Axel loved it, he was realistic.

If he didn’t injure himself, he had another five to seven years of competing in him, and there was a damned good chance the last half of those years wouldn’t see him winning often, if at all.

Five to seven years of a sport he loved, versus a lifetime without the man he loved? Axel had never considered himself anywhere near being a genius, but he didn’t have to be to know what the right choice was.

He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.

Axel made sure his shirt was neatly tucked in. He fidgeted with the belt buckle, feeling awkward in the dress clothes he’d put on. He hardly ever bothered to wear anything other than jeans or shorts. Part of the reason he’d slipped away on his own for a few hours today was to buy something nicer.

Now he kind of felt like an idiot. “Stop it,” Axel scolded himself, glaring at his reflection.
Huh.
He looked way studly when he did that. Axel tried on a few more expressions then laughed at himself. He ran his hands over his cheeks and chin, down his neck, checking to make sure he hadn’t missed any stubble. Damn it, he wanted to look sexy for West.

Axel finally stopped primping and tucked his wallet in his back pocket before leaving the room. He strode to the elevator and was downstairs in a matter of about a minute. The lobby was a little crowded and Axel was aware that he received a few appreciative looks. They were a little boost to his ego, but in the end, the only person’s approval he wanted was West’s.

Outside, the night air carried the hint of a chill. If the temperature dropped a few more degrees, Axel would start shivering. He contemplated going back up for his jacket but a check of his watch throttled the idea. West was due to arrive at any time.

Axel walked to the bench and took a seat. He grimaced when his butt landed on the cold cement. “Damn.” There were just some parts you didn’t want getting cold.

Of course he warmed up through and through when he spotted West. The streetlights didn’t dim his attractiveness at all, didn’t cast shadows under his eyes and make West look haggard like they tended to do everyone else.

Axel was close to drooling while he watched West’s lean body, the movement of his hips, the slight swing of his arms. Axel wasn’t anywhere
near
to being chilled now.

West locked gazes with him. The electrical current of attraction throbbed between them, connecting Axel and West with invisible bonds. Axel’s throat went dry as need swelled within him.

It registered that West was also wearing slacks and a nice button-up shirt. He held a bouquet of pink and white flowers in one hand. The evening was important to him, too, and Axel wondered if West felt the same need to impress as he did. Probably so. They were very attuned to each other.

If Axel had been harboring any doubts about his decision, they’d have been smashed to smithereens then. There wasn’t a single cell in his body that thought he was making the wrong choice.

He stood as West drew near. Axel’s heart couldn’t beat any faster or he’d pass out. This moment was huge, bigger than his first competition, bigger than his first win. He needed West, wanted him, wouldn’t risk losing him, ever.

West stopped in front of him. “Axel,” he murmured. He held up the bouquet. “For you.”

“Thank you.” Axel took them, sniffed, and smiled. “They smell wonderful. But, I need both hands, so…” He set the flowers on the bench.

West reached for him, resting one hand on Axel’s hip, the other gripping his nape.

Axel went willingly forward, pressing his front to West’s as West kissed him.

Hunger, lust, love, hope—it all tangled into a hot, bright river flowing through Axel. He held on to West and moaned as his mouth was plundered. Axel’s dick grew erect in a matter of seconds and he rocked his hips against West’s. The answering thick bulge he felt made him tremble with desire.