Paxton brushed a lose strand of hair from my forehead and smiled down at me. “Don’t call me Pax. Go clean up the juice. I’m going to run back to the work garage for a minute. Get ready.”
He did take my hands and help me to my feet. He kissed my neck while he repositioned the string in my ass. One hard pull. I started to speak, to protest his stupid, one-sided ways. A shhhh and his lips stopped me.
The urge to call him a dick was so strong. Right on the tip of my tongue. Afraid that he really would make me miss the game stopped me. I hated him. Paxton Pierce was nothing but a low-life prick.
Not getting a response from me, Ophelia yelled for her dad next. I pulled my shorts up and tucked in my shirt just as he opened the door. The dry swallow stuck in my throat while I watched him scoop her up, tossing her into the air.
Who the hell was this guy? Who did he think he was? I messed with my hair, fixing it while trying like hell to stop thinking about it. Pretend the vivacious ache wasn’t there, that I wasn’t ready to explode. I couldn’t do it. I needed relief. My fingers were already on the snap of my shorts as I walked to the door. I closed it, turned the little lock, and leaned against it.
A long, deep breath filled my lungs when my fingers found the source of the problem. The buildup was ridiculous, and just like Paxton, I was freed within a few seconds. My fingers rubbed circles around my slippery-wet clit, and the energetic pulse multiplied. Tenfold.
After going to the bathroom, mostly to soak up the arousal, I walked out. Back to the family I didn’t know, but feeling much better.
Ophelia was seated on the island and Paxton stood right in front of her, tying white sneakers. He lifted her to the floor and my heart skipped a beat. Her little white baseball pants with the blue shirt was too darn cute. She was adorable. I smiled after her, reading the back of her shirt. Pierce Pools and Lawn Care. Building your dreams. Creating your reality. His website scrawled just below the number three. I guessed Rowan won the number five.
Ophelia rambled some long story about Collin and sparklers. I half listened while searching Paxton’s eyes for the mood. Using my brass balls, I walked over to him and swiped my thumb down the corner of his lip.
“Lipstick,” I quietly said.
His hand went around my wrist with a tight grip, and his eyes held mine.
Shit!
He brought my fingers to his nose and breathed in.
“Lavender soap and *?” he questioned in a whisper.
“What?” I said while trying to feign ignorance.
“And he’s going to let me have one tonight at dark. Can I, Daddy?” Ophelia asked.
“We’ll see. Go find Rowan. We’ve got to go.”
“Her went outside because she can’t find her whistle. This one is mine,” she explained while showing us the shiny silver whistle. “Mommy put a O on it. Right, Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie. I did,” I lied. Well, not lied. Just not remembered. I saw O’s and R’s on lots of things. As much as they fought, labeling their things was a must.
“Go help her,” Paxton ordered, his hand still holding my wrist. Ophelia walked away, marching to the tune of her whistle.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Paxton questioned as soon as she was out of earshot.
“Me?” I countered with a snort and a thumb to my chest. Really? He wanted to know who I thought I was?
“You think you can do whatever you want? You think that * belongs to you?”
“Well, yeah, I sort of do. What the hell do you expect?”
Paxton’s hand went around my throat in two seconds, my back crashed against the refrigerator, and his words were sharp, cutting me down to size. His size.
“You think you can use this to your advantage. This whole, ‘I can do what I want, because I don’t know anything’? You can’t, Gabriella Pierce. We had a deal. One that you’re not going to break. I own you. You do what I say. When I say it. If you come, it’s because I let you come. Nothing else. You need to get that, and you need to get it fast. I’m beginning to get annoyed with the whole thing. Learn your place and stay there before you get hurt.”
A tighter grip around my throat kept me from speaking. That and his lips. Paxton kissed me, sending my head into a whirlwind of emotions with a light bang against the fridge.
“Answer me, Gabriella. Tell me you understand what I’m saying to you.”
“Okay, yes,” I lied. I had no idea what the hell he wanted. I mean, I did, but I didn’t. I understood what he wanted. I just didn’t understand why.