Chapter Nineteen
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ADDISON
What the hell kind of game is he playing? Here I am trying to apologize and he’s laughing at me and calling me stupid. I mean, yes, he’s been shot, so I’m willing to give him a little leeway, but that doesn’t allow him to act like an asshole.
I stand from the chair and stalk over to the closet where my still-packed bags rest. I didn’t bother unpacking after that horrible, terrifying night, knowing that I’d be leaving in a matter of days. Memories of waiting in the emergency room for word on his condition make chills run down my spine. And the promises I made to God if he’d just let Alex be okay will now require me to spend every minute of my free time at homeless shelters and remain celibate for the rest of my life. But Alex is okay—a little worse for wear, but okay.
And it’s time for me to go.
He can laugh his ass off all by his lonesome; I’m not staying for this. His strong hand on my arm stops me and spins me toward him. His laugh has dimmed to just a smile, and I swear his brown eyes twinkle at me—damn magic eyes. They have the power to stop me in my tracks and make my panties explode on cue.
“Honey, don’t be mad.” His tone is way too light.
I jerk my arm out of his hand. “How is this funny to you?” I demand.
He keeps smiling, the big jerk. “Don’t you understand? I went to your place to get all those people off your back. I wanted you to be free of the responsibility so you could choose for yourself where you wanted to be—if you wanted to stay when money wasn’t an issue anymore.”
Perhaps his head injury hasn’t fully healed yet. I shake my own head. “Alex, listen, it was wrong of me to expose you and the boys to any possible danger. I understand your motivation to eliminate that danger—it’s so like you to do something like that to protect your family. It was sweet, and I’m sorry you got hurt. Sorrier than you’ll ever know.” I release a mirthless laugh. “And, hey, thanks to you taking a bullet, Keller’s in jail and we’re all off the hook.”
His eyes bore into mine. “Honey, I think you’re missing something pretty important here. I want you to stay—with me, with us—and not because you have to, but because you want to. I want to be with you, Addison.” His joking tone is gone.
I reel, not fully comprehending what I’m hearing. “But…I almost got you killed!”
“You didn’t do anything except try to take care of the people in your life. It’s something you’re extremely good at, by the way.”
“Let me get this straight,” I say, still confused. “You actually want me to stay and be your nanny?”
He sighs and narrows his eyes at me. “No. I want you to stay and be my woman.”
“Your woman,” I repeat, flabbergasted.
“Mine.” It’s practically a growl.
“And…and that would make you…?”
“Your man.” Heat fills his expression.
Is this really happening?
I take in his possessive look again. Yup, this is absolutely happening.
I pull in a shaky breath. “My cave man is more like it,” I manage to say, making him grin and bringing that twinkle back to his eyes.
“I’ll answer to that too.”
“Are you serious about this?” I have to ask. It’s all so preposterous.
“Deadly. I don’t fuck around when I know what I want, Addison. So, what do you say?” He brings his hand up to lift my chin.
What can I possibly say? In answer, I wrap my hand around his neck, pull his face down to mine, and practically tackle him with my kiss. He grunts and goes back on a foot. It seems I took him by surprise. I jerk back after a kiss that’s way too short, suddenly remembering his injuries.
“Oh, god—I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?”
“Worth it,” he murmurs, his eyes fixed on my lips.
I grin and go back in for another taste, this time remembering not to assault him. Our mouths meld in a wet slide of tongues, and he grabs my ass with his hand, pulling me into him until I feel his hard length against my stomach. I moan into his mouth and then whimper in protest as he pulls away to look down at me.
“So, I take it this means you’re staying?”
I burst out into laughter and pull him back down to me. “You bet your sweet ass, Mr. Noble.
~THE END~