Chapter Seventy-Four
Idon't know if it's gotten easier to be a parent over the last few weeks.
On the one hand, we're getting into a routine but on the other hand, I'm more tired.
Axe is looking after Cash tonight while I'm visiting my mum.
This is the first time I've really seen their house.
It came together well, considering the resources they had.
My mum and I are talking over what's been happening: Cash, her and Creed.
“Do you think you'll get married anytime soon?” Mum asks.
“No. I told Axe we've got too much going on.”
“Well, it will be Axe's decision when he proposes.” Mum smiles.
“If he does, that engagement ring will be on my finger for years before he sees the wedding band on there,” I say, and she laughs. “Are you and Creed married?”
“Not lawfully, but we're married in every way that matters.”
“I know it must have been hard living as a rogue but being free with your mate sounds like a dream,” I claim.
I remember when I used to think how great it would be if Axe and I lived in isolation.
“It has its perks.” She grins.
The front door opens and Creed walks in with pieces of wood in his arms.
“Isn't it a little warm for a fire?” I ask.
“I'm just getting it now to prepare for winter. Once the rainy season begins, the forest will be too damp to get wood,” Creed answers. “I'm going for a shower, Liz. No news today either.”
“News?” I look at Mum.
“Elora,” she starts, biting her lip and looking nervous.
“What?” I frown.
“I ugh...”
“Just tell me.”
What is she hiding? Is it something bad?
“Creed and I are looking for your father,” she lets out with a heavy breath.
“Oh.” I look down. “Why?”
“Elora, I don't want you to know the violent rogue side of me. But I can't let your father get away with what he did.”
“What do you want to do to him?” I ask.
“First, I want to ask him what the hell he was thinking. Then I'm going to beat the shit out of him.” Her eyes are dark as she thinks of him.
“I suppose it's a thin line between justice and revenge,” I murmur.
“Screw justice. I want revenge on the man I trusted with my daughter's life who took that role as a joke,” she growls.
“I guess it's none of my business.”
“Do you think I shouldn't look for him?” she asks.
“I don't know.”
“Elora, every day I think of what you told me about growing up. It haunts me that I was the one who pushed you into your father's arms.” Mum sighs sadly.
“You feel guilty,” I state.
“I always will,” she says solemnly. I grab her hand.
“Do what you need to. If I left Cash with Axe and years later found out he mistreated him, I would raise whatever lies in the depths of hell to hurt the man who hurt my child... that sounds a bit maddening but having Cash...”
“I know, Elora.” She nods.
There really are no lengths I wouldn't go for Cash. My love for Axe is powerful but my love for Cash will always be unconditional. A mother's love for her child is the purest thing in the world.
***
When I wake up, Axe isn't in the bed with me and Cash isn't in the cot. I get out of bed and tiredly walk downstairs. Axe is in the living room reading a book to Cash.
“Werewolf history, really?” I question.
“I don't have any kids' books and yes, it's never too early for him to learn.”
“I'm going to make some breakfast.” I walk to the kitchen.
“Elora.” Axe walks into the kitchen, holding Cash against him. “Dash and Ryleigh are babysitting tonight. I'm taking you out to dinner.”
“Really? Why?” I ask.
“Remember what you said when you told me you were pregnant. You made me promise we'd make time for each other.” Axe smiles.
“Oh.” I smile.
“It's been a month since we've had Cash, so I thought once a month we will have a night to ourselves. The older he gets, the more time we'll make for each other.”
I go over and hug Axe, leaning up and kissing him.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
I'm literally hankering all day for the dinner.
Once the sun starts going down, I rush upstairs and decide to pretty myself up to the extreme since I've been in pyjamas for so long.
I have a quick shower and wash my hair. I choose the prettiest dress I have and add a face full of makeup to liven up my tired features.
My dress is a floor-length maxi dress, light blue with a floral print, spaghetti straps with a low neckline.
It's flowy enough for me to wear since I've still got a bit of belly.
I haven't had the energy to get back into shape.
I put on a pair of shiny sandals since I don't want to wear high heels.
When I go downstairs, I see Axe standing at the bottom wearing a white button-down shirt, the top couple buttons undone, with black dress pants. He looks gorgeous. My mouth waters at how handsome he is. His eyes look up at me and he smiles beautifully.
“You look amazing.” He reaches for my hands when I step down the last stair. “You look like a mum.” He smiles.
“Really?” I look down with a frown. I want Axe to think I look sexy.
“Elora.” He pulls my chin up so I look at him. “I mean you look beautiful in a dress like that. It's classy and you have a mum glow.”
“Oh, thank you.” I smile. “I guess I want to know I still turn you on.”
“Elora, of course you do. You don't have to dress sexy for me to be turned on. But if you're worried, I won't complain if you go lingerie shopping.” He grins.
I chuckle. “Let's go to dinner.”
“Dash already picked up Cash. We have till midnight.”
“Then let's make the next five hours the best they can be.”
We're seated at a table as soon as we arrive at the restaurant. I look around the dimly lit room, the place giving off a romantic atmosphere. The place is full of couples sitting across from each other, just like us.
“Can I start you off with some drinks?” the waitress asks politely.
This is going to be great; being served since we've been too tired to cook.
“A bottle of wine,” Axe orders.
“Any preference?”
“White wine, thank you.”
“I'll be back in a moment to take your order.” She walks off.
“This is perfect.” I smile.
Axe grabs my hands in his and presses a kiss to both.
“You deserve it.”
We both order our food, going for a pasta dish for our entrees and then juicy steaks for mains.
When I look around I notice a difference between Axe and me and all the other couples here.
They're all talking, giggling, eating neatly.
Whereas Axe and I are silent, scoffing down our meals like we can't get enough.
I guess that's what happens when you have a newborn; we're going to eat like crazy when we get a date night.
When the waitress comes back we order dessert.
“If you were expecting sex tonight, having a three-course meal wasn't a good idea.” I chuckle.
“I didn't realise you were ready for sex.” Axe stares into my eyes.
“Oh, well, I'm not. It just came to mind.” I chuckle again.
There's no way I'm ready for sex one month after having a baby. I should talk to Dr Cindy about how long I should wait.
“What do you want to do after dinner?” he asks.
“We could just go for a drive,” I suggest.
“You don't want to do something fun?”
“Like what?”
“Wow, it seems when someone asks to do something fun, you realise how boring everything is.” Axe chuckles. “I can't come up with anything.”
“How about a relaxing night? We can do something fun when we're not half asleep.”
“A drive it is.”
When the dessert comes to the table, my sugar levels go up just by staring at the piece of chocolate cake covered in chocolate sauce with chocolate filling layered in the middle.
Axe and I share it. When it nears the end of dinner, what my mum said shoots through my mind about Axe proposing.
Did Axe plan this dinner to propose? I nervously bite my lip as I think of Axe getting down on one knee.
When Axe pays for our meals and stands up, grabbing my hand to pull me along, I realise he's not proposing.
If he were, he would have done it at the restaurant.
Axe and I go for a drive. The rolled down windows let the wind flow through the car and make my hair fly everywhere.
Axe lightly taps his fingers to the beat of the song on the radio.
He drives through the forest area so tall trees surround us.
It's peaceful, driving along the dark road, nature surrounding us instead of skyscrapers.
“We should head back. It's nearing midnight,” Axe says.
“What?” I turn to him with a frown. “It feels like we've been driving for five minutes.”
“Time flies when you're having fun.” Axe grins at me.
“I guess our definition of fun is going for a drive.” I laugh. “We shouldn't be acting like old people already.”
“Don't worry about us becoming old. When you're healed, I'm going to fuck you for hours.”
“How does sex make us feel young?” I question.
“Well, our young stamina will let us go for hours. Old people would go for five minutes.” Axe laughs.
Axe pulls into the driveway and I get out, making my way to Dash's to pick up Cash.
Just as I'm about to knock, Axe grabs my waist and plants an amazing kiss on my lips.
He kisses me deeply, slipping his tongue in my mouth.
I wrap my arms around his neck while he leans his body into mine.
His hand slides through my hair and he tugs on it, making my nerves go crazy.
“Axe,” I moan into his mouth.
He pushes me up against the door. I claw at his neck, needing more of him but he pulls away.
“Fuck. If I have to wait till our next free night for a kiss like that, I'm going to go mad.” He breathes heavily.
“We can kiss like that anytime you want,” I whisper breathily.
“Good.”
I knock on the door and Dash opens it. He's in his pyjamas.
“Cash is sleeping,” Dash says quietly. “How was your night?”
“Great,” Axe answers.
“Do you really want to take Cash home? Isn't waking a sleeping baby a bad idea?” Dash asks.
“We could hang out until he wakes up. He usually wakes up every few hours anyway,” I say.
Dash invites us in and we go to the living room.
“I'll let you guys continue your alone time. When he wakes up, come on up,” Dash says, and goes upstairs.
Axe turns on the tv and I lean against him. He wraps me in his arms and pulls me to lie on his chest. Axe's hand travels down to my dress and he tries to pull it up.
“No sex, remember?” I whisper.
“I just want to see some skin.”
Axe pulls up my dress to reveal my thighs. He runs his fingertips along my skin, teasing my inner thigh every few strokes. It feels nice. Knowing he can't fuck me, I turn over and reach for his pants. His eyes go wide as I pull down the zipper and yank them down. I take him into my mouth.
“Fuck,” he groans.
I suck him back and forth, taking in as much of him as I can.
I moan as I feel him throb in my mouth. Until he can be back between my legs, I will satisfy my needs by pleasing him.
His hand grasps my hair and he pulls against it, making me moan.
He thrusts up in my mouth, cursing to himself.
His grip on my hair goes tight and I feel him stiffen while he comes down my throat.
I look up at him, seeing his eyes dark with lust and satisfaction.
“I fucking love you,” he breathes.
“I like when you grabbed my hair.” I bite my lip, still feeling pent up.
“Is that right?” He smirks and grabs a fistful of my hair, pulling me in against his lips.
“I definitely need to ask Dr Cindy when I can have sex,” I say when I pull away.
“Yes, you do.”
Cash starts crying so we both sit up and fix our appearances. Axe grabs my chin to hold me in place and kisses me again.
“If you make me wait too long, we'll be having another one of those once I'm finished with you,” Axe grins, gesturing upstairs where Cash is.