Page 23 of Behind the Mask

My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean,again?"

Lindsey's blue eyes grew in fear as if she just spilled the world's deepest, darkest secret. She stumbled over her words. "I mean, uh..."

Ignoring her stammering, I grabbed her hand and pulled her up. Without another thought I did what I knew needed to be done. "Take me to him."

Chapter Eighteen

Axel

"Are you sure about this, man? I can cancel the fight if you decide you don't want to do this." Mason looked at me with concern, but I disregarded it.

I wanted to do this. I needed to prove a point. Olivia didn’t trust me enough with her secret. She didn’t think I could protect her. I was doing this so she knew what I would do if anyone tried to harm her again. I wouldn’t let it happen twice, and I sure as hell refused to let her go.

I nodded as I grabbed the hem of my shirt and lifted it over my head. The dog tags Olivia got me were still securely fastened around my neck. I refused to take them off. They were a reminder of the good times Olivia and I shared. It was a reminder that my grandfather watched over me.

My phone started ringing but I ignored it as I threw it in the locker. I heard Mason shuffling out of the locker room as I continued to get dressed. Sliding off my jeans, I put on a pair of shorts and tied the string so they wouldn't fall off in the ring. Sitting on the bench, I grabbed hold of my tags and took a deep breath. I could do this. I was one of the best MMA fighters in the country. I could handle being in the ring again.

"Where is he?"

My head snapped up when I heard Olivia's voice. Her gaze met mine as she entered the locker room. Gone was the broken girl I left on the floor last night, in place was a strong Olivia, one that I had fallen in love with a long time ago.

She took a few steps toward me and put her hands through my hair roughly tilting my head up to meet hers. Tears gathered in her eyes as she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. "How could you keep this from me? Why would you hide your world from me?"

I sighed and studied her expression. As if she knew I was looking for something, the mask was firmly back in place. She didn't want me to see what I did to her, and how I broke her. The woman I loved was pregnant with my child and lost the baby while some dick took advantage of her in the worst fucking way. How was I supposed to feel about that?

As I took her face in my hands, I brought my lips down to meet hers. I needed her to know how I felt. Our kiss deepened as I drove my tongue into her mouth.

Her hands tightened in my hair as she straddled me, placing herself directly over my straining shorts. With her, it wasn't about sex. It never had been. When I was in high school, I was a player. I wanted to replace her because I knew if I felt something for her it would eventually be used against me. My feelings for Olivia were raw and real. She changed me for the better. She was my angel in the darkness, she kept a light shining for me so I could find my way home.To her.

My lips trailed away from hers as they trailed down her cheek to her neck, sucking and nibbling along the way. "I love you," I whispered. "It's only been you." I placed another soft kiss against her neck and heard her moan.

Rubbing my cheek against hers, I pulled away and watched her lips part for me to take advantage, but I didn't. I kept my steady gaze on her as she straddled me waiting for me to make the next move. "Open your eyes."

Her hazel eyes met mine and there was a mix of desire, lust, anger, and sadness in them. "I kept this from you the same way you kept your secret from me. To protect you. You can hate me, curse at me, tell me to leave, but I'm not going anywhere. I made the wrong decision leaving you on the floor, it wasn't right, and I know that. But I can't say I'm not hurt and in shock that you kept it from me."

A tear slid down her cheek as I wiped it away with my thumb. Her bottom lip quivered telling me she was just as messed up as I was. That's why we worked so well. We both had issues, we always have, but we were always there. "I don't want sex from you." Her eyes looked for truth in that statement. "I don't want to use you. I just wantyou."

My fingers touched the hem of her shirt, as I bunched it up and took it off. Her black bra securely held her breasts in place, making me groan at how beautiful she was. I let my fingers trace her chest slowly moving to her back where her battle scars laid. "I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I wasn't there to fight him off of you. I'm sorry you had to go through everything alone."

The mask fell as tears roamed freely down her face. Goosebumps scattered her perfect skin as she shivered and rested her head against mine. My fingers continued to outline each scar showing her that I wasn't repulsed by her back. I leaned away from her and tilted her chin up.

"I know things are messed up. Truth is, I have no idea what to do. Vanessaispregnant."

I could almost hear her heart shatter when I told her.

"I'm going to be there for my kid, but that's all."

She tried to move from my grasp. She wanted to run away, but I wouldn't let her. I tightened my arms around her.

"She'snotyou. I was wrong to think I could replace you with her. I was wrong to think my love for you had gone away. Because the truth is, you're the only one for me. And I will fight day and night to make sure that you trust me. I will fight for your forgiveness."

I tucked some hair behind her ear. "Don't shut me out. Let me see your scars, and let me see the woman I fell in love with years ago." I caressed her face with my thumb.

"You hurt me," she paused and closed her eyes. "I don't know if I can keep going through this."

A slight pain to my chest appeared with her words, because they were true. She opened her eyes and our gazes locked. "I will fight for you. Even if it takes years to gain your trust."

Someone cleared their throat and I pulled away to see Mason standing in the doorway with his hand covering his eyes. "It's time to go."

---