His Unexpected Lover (The Thorpe Brothers) (9 page)

Well, truth be told, Axel had found the love of his life as well.  He just hadn’t figured out how to convince that stubborn woman to love him back. 

“Hey, are you coming back to the office tonight?” Ash asked. 

“I’ll be there in about thirty minutes,” he replied, still distracted by his situation with Kiera.  It didn’t help that Ash was disgustingly happy with his new fiancée and he was still livid with Kiera. 

“Mia’s car isn’t working properly.  I just had someone pick it up and tow it to the shop but can you pick her up from yoga class?  It’s right on the way from where you probably are right now and the office.”

“Sure.  Send me the address and I’ll bring her to you.”

“Thanks bro!” Ash said and hung up.

A moment later, a text came onto his screen and he plugged it into his GPS.  It was right on the way, so he didn’t even need to alter his route.

Ten minutes later, after parking and walking into the yoga center his brother had sent him to, he was even more furious than he had been when he’d taken his brother’s call.  He definitely didn’t mind picking Mia up.  She was sweet and made his brother happy so, as far as he was concerned, Mia was family already.  He’d protect her just like he would his brothers.

No, he wasn’t angry at the issue of picking up Mia.  It was that Mia was in a yoga class with none other than Kiera.  And the way Kiera was moving was nothing short of….eroti
c.  He hated using that term to describe a form of physical fitness but the downward dog had Kiera’s adorable but going straight up into the air.  Axel swallowed painfully as his mind conjured up all the things he wanted to do to Kiera while she was in that position. 

Position after position, Axel watched with rapt attention, fixated on Kiera’s long legs and round, amazing butt, her s
trong arms and her slender body.  After each movement, he wanted to yell at her for making him hard as a rock but he couldn’t speak, could only stare in rapt fascination. 

And that was before she arched her back with her le
gs flat on the floor.  She looked like some sort of snake with her face up towards the ceiling. 

Axel remembered the expressions on Ash’s face as well as
Ryker’s last night after the softball game.  Had his youngest brother set him up?  They’d both known, just from the way he was treating Kiera, that she was significant to him.  When Kiera moved into yet another yoga pose, he had to tear his eyes away.  Either that, or storm into the room, grab her delectable body and carry her off to some place private so he could ravish her. 

He stepped away so his voice couldn’t be overheard and dialed Ash’s number.  When his brother answered, the tone in his voice confirmed his suspicions.  “You did this on purpose
didn’t you?” he demanded. 

Ash’s only response was to laugh through the phone lines.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.  But isn’t Kiera in that class as well?  I saw her walking out with Autumn earlier and they both looked determined to get out of the office
in a hurry.”

“You’ll pay for this,” Axel groaned, watching with fascination as the group stood up, then hung down from the hips with their fingers to the floor.  Yet another perfect position for him to observe Kiera’s derriere.  He turned away.  “Why don’t you do your matchmaking with Autumn and Xander!” he snapped.  “Lord knows something needs to be done about those two
before they kill each other.”

“What, do I suddenly have a death wish?” Ash asked with
amusement.

“Leave me out of this,” he barked in the lowest tone his aching body could handle. 

He heard a chorus of “Namaste” and snapped his phone off.  Turning, he tried to appear casual, but the wary expression of the four women when they saw him told him that his casualness wasn’t working. 

“What are you doing here?” Kiera de
manded, her eyes scowling at him as she confronted him on behalf of her friends. 

He looked down into Kiera’s eyes, trying to get his body back under control.  She stood in front of him with pink cheeks and sweat glistening
on every inch of her perfect, pale skin.  He took a deep breath, but that didn’t help since all he could smell was Kiera’s sweet scent and it made him ache even more. 

“I’m here to pick up Mia.  Ash said he towed your car in for repairs.”  He spoke to Mia, but his eyes remained on Kiera, noting the sweat glistening on her chest and shoulders where the yoga outfit didn’t cover her skin.  “Are you ready to go?”

Kiera stepped in front of Mia, shaking her head.  “Mia didn’t do anything to make you angry.  I’ll drive her anywhere she needs to go.”

Axel was having a hard enough time not pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she didn’t have the strength to argue
, so her belligerence only sparked his anger hotter.  “Kiera, so help me, after this morning, I’m likely to toss you over my shoulder and finish our argument.  So just let me get Mia and get out of your way, or prepare for a battle you won’t be able to win.”

Kiera considered his words, not really sure how to handle him like this.  She’d never seen him so furious but she wasn’t going to let her friend get into his car.  “I’ll take…”

“It’s okay,” Mia said behind her, laying a calming hand on Kiera’s shoulder.  “If Ash sent him, I’m sure everything is okay.”

Kiera thought about that for a moment.  “Are you going to behave?”
she demanded of Axel, getting angry herself, nervous that he was too angry to drive. 

His eyebrows went up at her challenge and he was intrigued that she would even dare him in such a way. 
“What are you going to do to stop me if I don’t?” he challenged, actually stepping closer to her and glaring down at her. 

She told herself that she wasn’t afraid of him, and fervently hoped that she was faking it well. 
“I’m not going to let you take Mia.”

He almost chuckled at her brave words, noticing the
rapid pulse throbbing at the base of her throat.  “And you think you’re big enough to stop me?” he asked, his voice silky soft and smooth now. 

“I think I could take you down,” she replied, but the words didn’t have any force to them now. 

“Everything okay?” a new voice called out to everyone.

The new voice was the instructor who was busy gathering up the next class.  Kiera looked over at the kind woman and smiled.  “Everything is just great,” she said and looked up at Axel.  “Isn’t it?”

“Great,” he replied back at her.  “Ready to go Mia?” he asked, still watching Kiera. 

Mia smiled and nodded brightly, understanding the underlying tension between these two people.  “Very ready,” she replied
, trying to stifle her laughter as she watched the two combatants try and intimidate each other.  Axel was so similar to Ash in this way that she wasn’t worried in the least.  She knew that Axel wouldn’t harm anyone and Mia also knew that Kiera was pining for this man quite urgently herself.   

Axel turned and looked at Mia, forcing a smile to his face.  “Let’s hit it then,” he said and put a
gentle hand on her arm to lead her out the door. 

Mia’s smile broadened and she started walking, but right before they reached the door, she turned around and winked at Kiera before running ahead and pushing the doors open to precede Axel. 

Kiera watched, furious for some unexplainable reason.  When the two of them were out of sight, she turned around with a low growl and started stuffing her towel and yoga matt into her gym bag, trying to ease the anger out of her body.  She’d felt so good after her yoga class, then she saw the man who only infuriated her further.  Every time she saw him her emotions became extreme!  Why couldn’t she just remain calm and unaffected? 

Autumn and Cricket had remained back about a foot during the entire confrontation.  Even now, they glanced at each other then back at Kiera as she furiously stuffed clothes, yoga mat and water bottle into her gym bag. 

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Cricket asked Autumn.

Autumn nodded her head, her eyes wide with surprise.  “Pizza?” she suggested to Cricket who immediately agreed.  “And ice cream,” she added in, just in case. 

“Maybe even chocolate,” Cricket sighed, completely understanding what Kiera was going through. 

Kiera didn’t hear the others, but was
totally in agreement when they pulled up to a pizza place instead of going back to the office.  She ate two pieces before she could even see straight.

Kiera looked outside, sighing as she realized that she was still in the office later than anticipated.  But why should she care?  It wasn’t like she had anything special to do tonight.  Mia was going out to dinner with Ash, Autumn had a repair person coming to her townhouse to fix something and Cricket had some mysterious dinner to attend.  Kiera was slightly concerned about Cricket since her friend didn’t seem to be looking forward to the event, but there wasn’t much she could do about it at this point but maybe call her later and make sure she was okay. 

She saved her document and shut down her computer, clearing off her desk as best she could so she could start up again first thing in the morning.  She sighed miserably, knowing t
he only thing she had to look forward to was a lonely, depressing apartment and a microwavable dinner or a bowl of cereal. 

With a sigh of resignation, she packed up her bag, intending to work on her brief once she got home and could snuggle up into a pair of yoga pants and a soft sweatshirt.  The nights were cooler now and she could open her balcony doors and let the night air in.  It was a welcome relief from the painfully hot summer heat they’d been experiencing over the past few weeks. 
It was a sign that the fall really was finally coming and she loved the anticipation of the cooler temperatures. 

She’d heard several people talking about a boxing gym that was down the block.  She smiled at the idea of learning to box.  Yoga was good at relieving stress, but perhaps she could add boxing to the weekly agenda.  It was different, probably good cardio and she could work out her aggressions.  Maybe she could pretend that
her partner or punching bag was Axel!

She grabbed her gym bag and walked
out of the building, turning right down the street instead of left to head to the parking garage.  She felt better now that she had a new purpose to the evening.  There was a skip to her step as she anticipated learning a new skill and getting rid of some of this tension caused by worry over seeing Axel in the hallways. 

When she entered the gym, she was surprised at how many people were
still there working out.  It was noisy with music and lots of people doing their best to kick or punch large, black bags that looked to be painfully heavy.  Most of the people there were men, but she saw several females working out as well which was a relief. 

“Hi,” she said to the clerk.  “I wanted to ask about a trial membership.”

The man was more than eager to sign her up for a free week of classes.  He showed her around, introducing her to the kickboxing instructor and the boxing instructors that were on hand.  The gym even had the normal exercise equipment which was an added bonus.  She went through to the women’s locker room and changed, getting ready for the next kickboxing class which was scheduled to start in ten minutes.  She walked out feeling very proud and brave, selected a pair of boxing gloves and stood by, watching the end of the current class.

She was looking around, noting the different boxers in the rings. 
Over in the far corner, there were two men in particular that looked especially buff and amazingly determined to knock each other out.  She didn’t realize her feet were taking her closer, but something about the way one of the men was moving or shifting on his feet drew her closer.  Peering through the elastic bands that enclosed the boxing ring, she squinted at the two men, one in particular. 

As she got closer, she started trembling as her suspicions grew.  And sure enough, when she was cl
oser, she recognized Axel.  Her mouth dropped open, stunned at the strength behind each punch and jab.  The other man was grinning like an idiot and taunting him and she recognized Xander as Axel’s opponent.  Their heads were almost completely covered by a safety helmet, but she’d recognize Axel anywhere and she couldn’t believe how glorious he looked as he and Xander boxed and danced around each other.  Their shots were well placed and determined, both men working hard to win. 

Kiera didn’t realize that others were now watching her as she stared, open mouthed, at the two combatants in the ring.  Her hand touched the bands while her eyes remained transfixed on Axel
’s amazing, bulging and sweaty muscles.  Although Xander was no slouch, in her mind, no man had ever compared to Axel in both strength and perfection.  He was like a Roman statue, all perfectly toned and tall, looking even more fascinating by the sweat making all that glorious skin glisten in the overhead lights. 

What happened next was completely her fault.  She was still watching but she must have moved slightly because Axel was suddenly distracted.  Just as he looked over in her dire
ction and their eyes caught, Xander’s left fist swung out, catching Axel’s jaw.  Kiera watched in horror as Axel’s head snapped to the right, then his body fell, almost in slow motion, to the mat. 

Kiera had no idea how she’d gotten through the ropes so quickly, but by the time she reached him, her own boxing gloves
were torn off and thrown to the side in her effort to get to her man. 

“No!” she screamed, running towards him, bending down to take his beaten face between her hands.  “Are you okay?” she cried, feeling like her stomach was going to toss out everything she’d eaten earlier today. 
“Speak to me, Axel,” she begged, her fingers shaking as she tried to get the helmet off of his head.  “Just say something.  Anything!”

“I’m okay,” she heard him groan. 
She couldn’t believe it, but his groan almost sounded like laughter but that was impossible! 

Kiera sobbed out her relief.  “Where are you hurt?” she asked
, running her hands over his body and his skull in an effort to find out if anything was broken.

“Only my pride, honey,” he said, lifting his hand and touching her face gently but his fingers were still wrapped up in the boxing glove so it wasn’t a very effective caress.  “I’m sorry if you were worried,” he said so only she could hear him.

She laughed, shaking her head.  “You took a pretty hard fall.  I think you should see a doctor.”

Axel laughed as well, putting his arm around her shoulder.  “
No need but you can help me up,” he offered.

She wrapped her arm around his waist and lifted, feeling his enormous weight
produced from all that height and those muscles.  “Let me take you to the emergency room, just to make sure your head is okay.”

She heard several chuckles behind him and Axel smiled lightly.  “Really, I’m fine except for my
pride.  I got distracted and Xander took a good swing.  It’s happened before.”

She tilted her head as she looked up at him.  “And it really doesn’t hurt?” she asked.

He smiled down to her, genuinely touched by her concern.  Hell, he’d take several more hits if it got her running to him like she’d just done.  “No.  There’s enough safety equipment.  I’m fine, really.”

He stood up, but kept his arm around her shoulders.  It felt too wonderful having her close again and he forgot, for the moment, all of his anger at her perception of her job, and him, as temporary. 

She watched him walk, noting that he wasn’t limping and didn’t have any trouble weaving or falling into her.  “Well, I guess that’s a good thing,” she grinned, even smiling at Xander as he approached, taking off his helmet.  “If it doesn’t hurt, that gives me a bit more confidence that I can handle boxing.”

“Why is that?” Axel asked, unsnapping his own helmet.

“Because I got a week long pass to try out the gym.  I thought it would be fun to try boxing,” she explained. 

The two men stared at her for a long, suspended moment.  When
Xander actually took a step back, Kiera looked up and caught Axel’s furious expression. 

“What?” she asked, glancing back and forth between the two
men. 

“You will NOT be doing any boxing,” Axel almost yelled, thinking he would take apart any man who stepped into the ring with her.  He would not allow her to be beaten and punched by anyone. 

Kiera stepped back, looking at him strangely.  “But you just said that there’s a lot of safety equipment and you didn’t get hurt.  You even went down, almost knocked out, by Xander’s last punch.”

Xander
chuckled as he walked away quickly.  Axel, on the other hand, moved so he was standing right in front of her.  “Kiera, listen carefully, I will not allow you to take up boxing.  It is too dangerous.”

She squared her shoulders, not intimidated by him at all.  “Oh, so you’re saying it’s a good enough sport for you, but when a little woman gets into the picture, it’s too dangerous?”  Her voice was low and ominous.

“It’s not too dangerous for me because I’ve been training for years.”

“And yet you still almost got knocked out.”

He threw up his hands in frustration.  “Will you stop saying that?” he growled, irritated that she kept bringing that up.  “I told you.  I was distracted.”

“
By what?”

“By you!” he came right back.  He looked around and noticed the other men who were watching, amused by their argument.  “Let’s get out of here.  We don’t need to continue being a spectacle for the rest of the gym.”

Kiera glanced around as well and saw the other men.  She pulled back and stepped out of the boxing ring.  “Don’t worry,” she snapped at him.  “I’m in the other class.”

“What other class?” he demanded, right behind her. 

“Kickboxing,” she replied and stepped into the area where there were fifteen or twenty black punching bags hanging down from the ceiling. 

The instructor was calling out instructions already and Kiera took up her position, refusing to look at Axel as he glared at her from the sidelines.  In the end, he turned and headed towards the men’s locker rooms and Kiera took out all of her frustration on the punching bag, irritated that she’d let her feelings for him show.  Again!