Page 259 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Kai is right. We are a family, and together we will figure it out.

I finish up before getting out and drying off. After getting dressed, I head towards the kitchen, drawn in by the enticing smell of bacon and coffee. Picking up my pace, I find Axel alone.

“Morning, Princess.” Axel has his back to me as I move closer. I glance over at the food he’s making. Bacon, eggs, pancakes with syrup, and coffee.

Axel turns around, his shirt open, revealing his lean torso with an…eight pack. My mouth waters, wondering what it would be like to lick the syrup off each one.

“Do you want to help or are you just going to stare?” Axel smirks at me with a knowing look.

“Hmm, I don’t know. I’ve got a really good view from here.”

Axel’s grin grows, glancing up at me, his eyes darken. “Get that ass over here.”

I move around the long counter, glancing around at what to do.

He raises a brow when I pause. “Have you ever cooked?” I narrow my eyes on him. “I know the basics…” He scoffs. “What? Boiling an egg?”

I place my hand on my chest in mock outrage. “It’s a damn skill and you know it.”

His gruff chuckle slides down my back like warm liquid. “You can’t even do that, can do?”

“I never said I was perfect, but let’s not be picky. What can I do that won’t burn the place down?” I glance around at the food, wondering if I can sneak something in my mouth before he catches me.

“How about you flip the bacon? That can’t be too hard, can it?” He looks at me as if expecting an answer, but the hell if I know.

I turn around, ignoring his growing smirk, and flip the bacon slowly. I was not going to burn it, if only to prove to him I could manage this little task.

I’m concentrating so hard on this one little sliver of bacon that I don’t notice the thick piece beside it bubbling up to attack me. The oil spatters across my fingers, making me hiss.

“Let me see.”

“It’s fine, it’ll hea—” Axel takes my finger into his mouth and sucks, cutting off what I was about to say.

Fuck. Now I’m imagining what else that tongue can do.

“You know I can heal.” I tell him, but I’m more focused on his tongue as it slides around the length of my finger.

“True… But that’s not going to stop me.” He sucks my finger one last time before releasing it.

I have to mentally shake myself before speaking, my complete focus still on the sensation and pleasure of his tongue wrapped around my finger. “If you wanted a taste, all you had to do was ask.”

Turning around, he quickly turns off the food before focusing back on me.

Axel’s smile turns smug. “We both know I wouldn’t have toaskfor anything.”

“Well, I won’t be begging for—” Axel slams his lips to mine, dragging a moan from me and cutting off what I was going to say.

I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck. Without breaking the kiss, he lifts me up and places me on the counter.

Opening my legs, he pulls me to the edge of the counter and grinds into me, making me gasp.

He drags his lips down my neck to my ear as he runs his hands up my thighs. “Tell me, Princess…What did Jax do to make you scream like that? That sound was fucking delicious. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.” His low, husky voice makes me shiver.

“He knotted me,” I breathe, focusing on the way his hands drag up and down my thighs.

“He…” Axel leans back, looking down at me with a stunned look before narrowing his eyes. “That fucker. Of course, he fuckingknottedyou.” He shakes his head, scoffing.

His pissed off expression makes me laugh. “Jealous?” I run my hand down his bare chest and watch as his muscle flex beneath my fingers. I glance back up, seeing a challenge light up his eyes.

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