Page 93 of Broken Souls

“That's what it takes to get you off the couch,” Timothy mutters.

“Excuse me?” Carson turns on her heel, placing her hand on her hip.

I look to Axe and he stares back at me with amusement. We both take another slice of pizza while Carson and Timothy bicker back and forth.

“Let's hope you don't hate the male gender by the end of your pregnancy,” Axe jokes.

“I don't think she hates men, just Timothy,” I whisper, and Axe laughs loudly. Timothy and Carson both turn to us with frowns, so we try to prevent our smiles.

“We need to celebrate.” Carson claps her hands together.

“You're not in a celebratory mood,” Timothy says.

“You are in the presence of two pregnant women. Unless you want to die, get up and make us some fresh orange juice,” Carson says in a low threatening voice and points to the kitchen. Carson sits back down while Timothy makes his way to the kitchen.

“This baby can't get here any quicker,” Timothy grumbles under his breath. He grabs some shiny oranges from the fruit bowl and actually starts making us fresh orange juice.

***

“That was unforeseen. She's always so in love in Timothy's presence,” I say quietly.

Axe and I headed off to bed when it was clear them arguing about useless things wasn't going to stop. We've just gotten into our pyjamas and are lying on our sides, facing each other, his protective arm draped over my waist.

“Yeah, poor guy.” Axe chuckles.

“You don't think I'll lose my temper with you and have you wishing to be away from me?” I ask softly.

“Try.” Axe's eyes are full of a glowing intensity like he's challenging me to go there.

“I might not be able to help it with the hormones,” I tell him.

“I know, Elora.” He pecks my lips. “I will never wish to be away from you even if you're screaming at me.”

I chuckle. “I can't imagine me getting angry at you.”

“That will be a day I long yet fear to see,” Axe comments.

“Why do you want to see that?” I frown.

“I want to see the fire in you. I got a glimpse of it on your graduation night and it's a compelling sight. I love that even after the shit you've been through, you're still a good person and so soft spoken, but I want to bring the fury I know is inside you out at times.”

“Axel, that fury stopped when I met you. I always wished I could just demolish all those who've wronged me, but you showed me differently. You showed me justice instead of revenge. You taught me magnanimity.” I smile.

“I've never even heard of that word but I'm taking it as a good thing.” He smiles, pulling me closer to him. “Did your pain really stop when you met me?” he asks, now serious.

“The emotional pain did when I decided to give you a chance,” I admit.

“I love you.”

Axe presses his lips to mine deeply before I can say it back. To hear those words come from his mouth still warms my heart every time. He rolls slightly on top of me making sure he doesn't press against my still flat stomach. His tongue slides between my lips. I slide my hand down his body and grab his length through his pants, which makes him groan.

“Should we really do this?” I moan the words. “If they hear us. They've been fighting, so I think them hearing us have sex would annoy them even more.”

“Hm give me a few more seconds.” Axe moans into my mouth.

I stroke him a few more times. I want his hand between my legs but he pulls away with a sigh. He leans over the bed and reaches into his jeans, pulling his phone out.

“What are you doing?”