Page 30 of Double Take

Her eyes light up as she laughs and cradles both our faces. “You read my concern wrong. I was worried you’d gotten carried away and wondered what happens from here. Do we go back to an employee/employer relationship or what? But you answered my question anyway.” She stands on her tiptoes and kisses my lips and then Axel’s before settling back down onto her heels. “I’m not worried about what people say. I’ve already had the people closest to me treat me like trash, so I can handle a sideways look from a stranger with ease. As long as you treat me halfway as amazing as you did tonight.”

“Angel.” I wrap my arm around her waist, hauling her to my chest as Axel encircles her other side with his arm above mine. “We’re going to treat you this good all the time. In bed or out of it.”

“Yes, we won’t shy away from claiming you and letting everyone know you belong to us.” Axel fingers the collar. “We did that the second you walked into the club. This is our mark, everyone knows you’re ours, and we’re the only ones with the keys to unlock the padlocks.” He winks. “This might not be a small town, but word travels fast around here.”

“Now, let’s go home. And for now, we’ll call that your place since that’s what Sunny is familiar with, but soon, we’ll want both our girls to move in with us.”

“Wow.” Her eyes glow as she bites her lips together. “This is dreamlike. When you disappeared this week, I thought maybe you were with someone else.”

“We were.” Axel’s jaw flexes. “We flew out to California to investigate this jerk that you’re married to. We hired an investigative firm to handle all the financial and internet information that can be unearthed, but we wanted to know first-hand what we’re up against.”

“What?” Her gorgeous mouth drops open as she stares at us in disbelief.

“We’ll ensure that this asshole is out of your life as soon as possible. In whatever way is necessary.” I run my thumb in a circle on her back, loving that I can touch her whenever I want.

“Um….” She wrinkles her nose. “I’m not sure exactly what you mean, but I’d prefer no violence.”

Axel smirks. “Babe, we do own a construction company. There are ways to make a man disappear.” He laughs when her eyes widen. “I’m teasing. We’d never hurt anyone.” He kisses her lips until she whimpers.

“Speak for yourself.” My eyes narrow into slits as I glare at him. “I’ve beat up several jerks along the way. Just because you don’t like to get your pretty hands dirty doesn’t mean I won’t knock his teeth out.”

“Simmer down, big boy.” The corners of his eyes crinkle.

“Asshole.” I punch him in the side. “I’m about to knock your teeth out.”

Rylee laughs, and wraps her arms around our necks, snuggling into us. “I love to hear the two of you tease each other.”

“Who says I’m teasing?” I nuzzle her neck, drawing in her scent, and I’m rewarded with her belly pressing into my once again throbbing cock.

“Enough,” Axel grumbles, pulls back, and laces his fingers through hers. “We need to go home because I can’t wait to spend the night pleasing you but in a more intimate setting than this provides. This was for fun. Home will be for intimacy and comfort.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle that.”

“You’ll be able to handle us just fine. All you must do is lay back and receive pleasure.” I kiss the tip of her nose.

“I can do that.” Her face sobers. “Thank you for looking into Mario, but you don’t need to. I can pay for an attorney and get rid of him on my own. He’s not your responsibility.”

“You’re our responsibility.” Axel’s eyes are hard. “Which makes him our responsibility, and we’re not waiting a year to make this relationship official. And we’re sure not letting you worry about him coming to harass you or steal Sunny from you. We’ll prove that he only wants her for spite, and if we can’t…” I shrug. “We’ll pay him off. Men like him are run by money, and we have plenty of it.”

Her shoulders tighten as she straightens. “You will not give him one dime of your money. I won’t allow it. I have a lot on him already, and he won’t want negative publicity. If you have the financial means to pay for everything so I can end the marriage and keep Sunny away from him, I’ll gladly accept your contribution.” Her jaw is set tightly. “Because he doesn’t deserve to touch one hair on her head.”

“Consider it done.” My words might be bold, but I fully intend to come through with any promise I make to her. I’ll sacrifice everything to keep them safe.

Chapter Eighteen

One Week Later

Rylee

As I gather the dishes with Oliver, Axel lifts Sunny into the air to a cacophony of giggles. Hearing her laughter makes my heart swell with happiness. For every second that I worried Sunny would find it strange that two men were coming in and out of her home and kissing her mom, I wasted that time. She adores them and has grown in confidence in a few short days.

Not that there won’t be issues later. Someone will say something to her about her mom’s lifestyle choices, and there’ll be tears shed. Mostly from me because I don’t want to ever see my daughter upset again. She’s endured enough.

“It’s going to be fine.” Oliver slings his arm over my shoulder and draws me to his side. “She’s a strong girl.”

I shake my head and stare into his eyes. “How do you do that?”

He laughs and fully embraces me, causing my tension to disappear. “Babe, you’re an open book. Your face is expressive. If you’re feeling something, you telegraph it.”

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