Page 31 of Bound By Temptation

“Oh, she is happy to help you, Ax. And you are real good at leaving me; keep at it.” Her glacial eyes locked on mine. “I’m sure you two will have a lovely night.” She bit off the last word. “Now go away so I can work.”

“You’re here!” A female voice I knew all too well yelled over the music. Bella, my mother, brushed past me and cupped Indie’s arms, then pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for doing this. You have no idea how you’ve made this day special.”

Indie had to hold her arms out as not to get frosting on her or step in it on the floor.

Mom pulled away, smiling wide at Indie. She’d always loved that girl. My mother took it harder than I had when Indie disappeared from my life. Or, at least, a close second. She’d kept in touch with her but wasn’t as close, but she never really let Indie go.

My mom released Indie and came to me, wrapping her arms around my stomach. I leaned down for the kiss on the cheek she loved to give her boys. “How’s my boy?”

“Good,” I replied as her eyes kept moving between Indie and me. She could probably feel the vibe. It wasn’t a good one. The tension could be suffocating.

“You botherin’ this young lady, Ax?” my mother asked me, her brow quirked. She was doing that mom thing where she was trying to worm her way into my head and know all my secrets. Sad thing was, she was actually good at it. Not that I’d admit that shit to her. I’d never hear the end of it.

“Nah. Just admirin’ her work.” I nodded to the cake, giving her my lame excuse she no doubt didn’t believe one bit.

My mother then turned to the cake and gasped as she took it in, stepping away from me and growing closer to the cake in admiration. “Oh my God. This is beautiful. So much more than I imagined. You have such a gift with this. I’m in awe.”

A blush crept up Indie’s cheeks which was sweet. “Thanks, Mrs. Monroe.”

At that my mother turned, her eyes changing, “I told you to call me Bella. You call me Mrs. Monroe one more time and I’m gonna lock you and Ax in a room until you figure your shit out.”

It was Indie’s turn to gasp, and her eyes went wide. Her hand went to her chest, squeezing the frosting bag and putting hot pink frosting all down the front of her. She didn’t even flinch about it. “What? No we don’t have anything to sort out.” Indie shook her head adamantly.

Mom gave her the “mom look.” You know, the one that would bring a man like me to his knees. She didn’t pull it out often, but when she did, she meant business. She knew. Of course, she fucking knew. She wouldn’t be my mother if she didn’t. After all these years Indie had been out of my life, my mom fucking knew. Dammit.

“You do, but that’s for another time.” She turned back to Indie. “You keep up the Mrs. shit and it’ll be sooner than you’re both ready for.”

Her words hit me in the gut. Both ready for? What the hell did that mean? And she really wanted to lock us in a room together? She had a plan. What that plan was, I had no idea, but it was there, forming in her brain. She was planning on sticking her damn hands in this mess, and she needed to stay out of it.

This didn’t sound good on either end.

“We’re cool, Ma. Just seeing her creation. She’s very talented.”

She huffed. “Yes, but whatever. I’ll deal with that later.” Mom kissed Indie on her cheek and took off to the kitchen, dismissing me. No doubt I’d be getting an earful later.

“Ummm … is she serious?” Indie asked me, watching Mom leave.

“Do you remember anything about Mom?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“Of course,” she clipped back.

“Calm down.” Indie closed her eyes and breathed in deep. She opened them again and reined in the panther for a moment. “Mom has become way involved with her boys’ lives. Or as much as we’ll let her. So yes, she’s serious. Not sure what she’s thinkin’, but she’s stirring up a plan. That I do know.”

“We have nothing to work out. What’s done is done,” Indie commented, looking down at her hand and seeing the bag of icing. Then her apron. “Shit. I need to get this done. You need to go.”

Indie turned her back to me, slipped off her apron, and used it to clean up the floor. It was so fast I didn’t have a chance to help. Then she started on the cake once again, giving me another dismissal. That shit was getting old.

She had a shirt on that hung off her shoulder, showing her creamy skin, the bra exposed. Beautiful hair up in a ponytail, and her long neck was a temptation I couldn’t resist.

Slowly I moved up behind her. She must’ve not heard me because she kept busy. Leaning down, I brushed my lips across the collar of her neck, sending a bolt of lust down me. Indie’s body stilled then shivered.

Before she could turn around, I was gone, the taste of her buzzing my lips.

She would forever be the drug I couldn’t stop craving.

12

INDIE

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