Chapter Six

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Axel

I rolled my shoulders as I made my way onto the second floor, exhaustion weighing heavily on me. I wanted to take a shower and pass out in bed for the few short hours I would be able to get of sleep. Working from home was not ideal, but I was making it work for now since I knew Novella wasn't ready to be out in public yet.

She needed more time to heal and come into her new life—her new life with me. Once I deemed her settled enough to be out in the real world, outside of this house where I knew she was safe, then I would resume going back into the office and take her with me.

I wanted her close. Always. I wouldn't care if I was in the middle of an important meeting or flooded with so much damn work I could barely fit in a meal; I wanted her in my line of sight where I could take care of her and keep her safe.

As long as Dexter was breathing, I didn't trust anyone to protect her. Not like I could.

And I would not take chances with her safety.

I headed to Novella's room first to check in on her before turning in for the night. When I cracked open her door, I was surprised to find her sitting up in bed, sweat clinging to her skin. Her hair was a mess, and tears were silently streaming down her cheeks.

"Baby..." I murmured, stepping into the room and shutting the door quietly behind me. She looked up at me through glassy, bloodshot eyes, a sob bubbling up in her throat and spilling past her sweet lips. When she reached for me, my heart wrenching in my chest. I quickly settled on the side of the bed and pulled her to me so she was straddling my thighs, my oversized t-shirt she was wearing riding up on her thighs.

"I'm here," I soothed, stroking my hand down her messy, red hair. "You're safe, baby girl."

She hiccupped, burrowing her face in the crook of my neck. "I know," she croaked, her voice muffled. "J-just—"

"Shh," I crooned, gently rocking her side to side. "Just breathe."

Her nails dug into the back of my neck, drawing blood, but I didn't mind. I'd bleed out for her if that was what she needed. "Please don't leave me," she softly begged.

"I won't," I promised. Gently gripping her hair, I pulled her head up so she was forced to look down at me. Her tears had stopped, though her eyes were still glassy and puffy. She sniffled as her eyes met mine.

"I need to get out of these clothes," I told her. "Can you give me a minute to strip down to my briefs?"

Her cheeks colored the prettiest shade of red before she nodded and slid off my lap. She scooted to the middle of the bed and laid down as I unbuttoned my shirt and worked it off my shoulders, placing my cuff-links on her nightstand. Once my phone was resting beside my cuff links and my slacks were on the floor, I slid onto the bed beside her, putting myself closest to the door just so she felt a little bit safer. Then, I opened my arms for her, beckoning her closer with a soft smile.

She immediately scooted closer, slipping one of her thighs between mine as I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her close. She sighed, her soft, warm breath fanning over my skin. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Go to sleep, baby. I won't let anything happen to you."

She surprised me by pressing a soft kiss to my chest. When I looked down at her, her eyelids were shut, and she looked peaceful. Content. Just like she always did when sleeping in my arms.

I sighed through my nose, tightening my hold on her as I let my own eyes slide shut, falling into the deepest sleep I'd had since... well, fuck—I couldn't actually remember.

~*~*~

I slowly peeled my eyes open and blinked, swallowing a groan at how badly my fucking arm hurt. It was beyond numb, but not in the good way. It was agonizing.

I looked down at the sleeping angel whose head was resting on said arm, her long lashes resting over her cheekbones, her lips parted the slightest bit in sleep, each small breath of air fanning over the bare skin of my chest.

It was comforting.

I gently eased my arm out from beneath her head before sitting up, gritting my teeth as I tried to work feeling back into the neglected, painful limb. Once it was no longer hurting, I eased out of bed and went to empty my bladder before sliding back into bed with Novella. She slid closer to me on instinct, mumbling something unintelligible. I quietly chuckled and grabbed my phone before typing out a text to Harlan.

Axel: Can you organize breakfast?

Harlan: Yeah. Anything Novella won't eat?

Axel: Not that I'm aware of. But to be on the safe side, two pancakes and two eggs for her.

Harlan: On it.

I began playing with Novella's hair, being careful not to wake her up. She didn't need to be awake until breakfast was ready. Her body still had a bit of a ways to go before she was recovered, and she needed all the rest she could get for her body to properly heal.

My phone vibrated on my pillow, and I grabbed it.

Harlan: Breakfast is ready.

I set my phone back down before gently shaking my little angel awake. She moaned and swatted my arm away. I arched a brow at her, doing it again. "Baby, wake up. You need to eat breakfast."

"Sleepy," she whined, rolling away from me.

I latched an arm around her waist, yanking her flush against me. Her eyes snapped open in alarm, but before she could even begin to panic, she settled, her sleepy eyes roving over my face.

"Being a brat doesn't fit you well," I warned her.

Her cheeks flushed. "I'm tired," she mumbled, reaching up to rub her eyes.

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know you are, but you need to eat. After you eat, I'll let you come back upstairs to go back to sleep, or you can pass out on my bed while I shower, shave, and get ready for work."

Her bottom lip jutted out in a cute little pout. "Your bed?"

"Mhm." I pressed another kiss to her forehead. "Wherever you're comfortable being."

She leaned forward and pecked my lips, surprising the fuck out of me with the bold move. My dick perked up instantly, and I growled low in my throat. She couldn't just give me that small peck and expect me to be satisfied. I'd waited to make her mine for so goddamn long. I needed a real taste.

"I, uh—was that okay?" she blurted.

I rolled her to her back before settling between her thighs, bracing my body on my forearms so I wouldn't crush her. "It was more than okay," I rumbled. She licked her lips, her eyes darting to mine before moving away again, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. I lifted a hand to rub the pad of my thumb over her lower lip. "But I need more than that, baby girl."

Her breath hitched in her throat. "More?"

"Yeah, baby. More." I nuzzled her neck, and she softly moaned. "You going to give me more, baby?"

She nodded. "You can have whatever you want," she breathed.

Fuuuuuck me.

"Those are dangerous words," I growled. "I'll remember that. But for now, all I need is this."

When I swooped down and took her lips with mine, she fucking melted. Her body went soft and pliant beneath me, submitting to me as if it were as natural as breathing for her. She softly moaned, her hands clutching at my shoulders as I guided her, dipping my tongue in her sweet mouth to taste her.

I didn't even give a fuck about her morning breath. Every damn thing about her was so fucking perfect.

Leaning up, I looked down at her, admiring her kiss swollen lips for a moment before meeting her gaze. "That's enough for now."

"For now?" she croaked, reaching up to touch her lips.

I smirked, a devilish gleam entering my eyes. "Yeah, baby. For now."

Her eyes went all hazy at my words, and fuck, it took every ounce of my restraint to move off of her and leave the bed. Because if I didn't, she'd be getting my dick for breakfast instead of the actual food she needed.

Slow. I still had to move slowly.

And goddammit, moving slow with a woman as beautiful as her, a woman I had waited on for so fucking long, was torture.