Page 89 of Bound By Temptation

Bella’s gaze went from her son to me then back again. “Glad to hear that has worked itself out.”

“Oh. We’re still trying to figure that out.”

Ax glared at me. “Figuring what out?”

“Us … or…”

His finger came to my lips, halting my words. “Don’t, because I’ll take you in the back room and show you exactly how there’s nothing to figure out.”

My core quivered, and wetness pooled between my thighs. How he did that with words I’d never know.

“Stop it,” I said low.

“Then cut that shit out. If I need to remind you at any time, I have no problem doin’ it.”

“What the fuck is goin’ on here?” Raid came in the door and stared all four of us down with question in his gaze.

“Indie.”

I turned to Ax. “Indie? Are you kidding me right now? How about Ax?”

“Would you two just give in to each other and be done with this back and forth already? The sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll be happy. This bickering is fun and all, but seriously you two are made for each other. You can do the back and forth about other shit. But you two are somethin’ a lot of us only hope for.” Raid burrowed past us, leaned down, and kissed his mother then moved into the house.

Me? My mouth was hanging open as my gaze followed the man.

Did he really just say that? Did he really feel that way?

A strong arm wrapped around my waist, and Ax pulled me into him. His lips were so close and he whispered, “See, even Raid sees it. Ma sees it. Dad sees it. GramO sees it. You need to see it.”

He brushed his lips acrossed mine, and I could barely breathe.

A small hand grabbed mine. “Come on, Indie. Help me,” Bella said, pulling me away from her son and leading me into the kitchen. Ax followed.

“Sit that down and go,” Bella ordered Ax.

“Fine.” Ax set the platter of sweets on the island, kissed my cheek, and moved out of the room. Bella who came to me and wrapped me tight in her arms.

I followed suit, just needing that comfort for a moment as my head spun. Bella pulled away and said, “Enough of that. You’ll come to know what you want in your own time. Don’t let my boys pressure you into anything.”

I licked my lips. “That’s the thing. I don’t feel like Ax is pressuring me. He honestly believes we are supposed to be together, and he shows me. Helping my GramO, making me dinner, playing with Gizmo—all of it.”

Bella squeezed my arms and then let go. “You’re scared. Totally get it. Love my boys to the end of the earth. But…” This caught my attention. “Remember… He’s a biker. Grown up in a biker family with a lot of men who knew who their women were immediately. When Ax is absolute about something, he doesn’t waver. Won’t waver. He tells you that you’re it for him, then you’re it for him. Buzz came at me like a raging bull, but I knew I loved him. Made him work for it, but I knew. When you know, you’ll know.”

Bella stepped away and moved to the other side of the counter. I rested my palms on it and hoped it would help me from falling to my knees.

“I do know. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t scare the hell out of me.” I’d never admitted that out loud. That I knew he was it for me, and here I was telling his mother.

Bella smiled warmly. “Then you tell him. But that doesn’t mean you don’t keep him on his toes.” She winked at me.

For the first time in a while, the binds that held me back from Ax began to fall away.

“Come on. Let’s get the food to the table.”

We began to do just that but were halted with the first dish as three hulking men came into our path. Ax held out his hand, and I put the dishes in it. “You go sit. I’ll bring it.”

I blinked rapidly and looked over to Bella who had Buzz doing the same thing. Holy shit. Even Raid went to the counter and picked up bowls, bringing them to the table as both Bella and I sat down.

“Are they like this all the time?” I whispered to Bella. “I mean, Ax cooks and cleans up, but I thought he was just trying to impress me.”

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