Panther Protection (6 page)

“Is she awake?” Axel asked him without turning around.

“Yeah,” he answered, then sat down waiting to see what he was cooking.

“I made some chicken soup. Mom use to make it for us when we weren’t feeling good. It was a simple recipe so maybe I didn’t mess it up. I tried some and it tasted okay. You should try some before giving it to her.” He went and made him a small bowl before setting it down in front of him then taking a seat next to him. “How is she?” For the first time Axel seemed uneasy and maybe this is what he needed to shake him up and get him to open up and be, well normal, whatever that is with Axel.

“Still tired, and hungry,” he said between bites, which he had to admit was really good. Axel could cook, and it was a good thing because between the three of them, they would never starve or have to do takeout.

“I went for a run earlier and was thinking.”

“And?”

“Well, I need to try, hell, I need to work on being nice. I just get stupid around her and I can’t seem to think straight. I just know I don’t want to see her like that again. I don’t know how to open up, Gage. Shit, the only one who really knows what happened and what we saw were you and me, and hell, you aren’t talking. So what do we do?”

At least he was trying to help.
It was a start,
Gage thought as he finished drinking down the rest of the soup. He could have gone back for more, but now that he knew Axel didn’t mess it up, Millie would need something to eat. “We need to tell her.” It was that simple. She deserved to know why Axel was pissed all the time, and why he didn’t want to talk. She deserved that much from her mates.

“Okay, well take some food up to her, along with some juice and when she is feeling better maybe we can try. I don’t want to scare her any more than we already have.” Gage nodded and headed up the stairs.

Millie was sitting up when he walked in the room. She looked half asleep just looking down at a book in her lap. She didn’t seem to be into the book, or if she was, she wasn’t reading very fast. He just stood there watching her. Her normally kept hair was all over the place and falling out of her pony from earlier. She had no make-up on, and she looked the cutest he had ever seen her. Millie had also changed into some type of night shirt as well. He frowned, but as long as that is all she did, he would live with it. She seemed to have smelled the food because she inhaled and then looked up. Her green eyes held a warmth in them as she looked at him. He liked the way she looked at him now, it was as if she could see right through him. She shifted some as he carried the small tray of soup and juice to her. He found a tray next to the microwave while he hunted for something for her to use to hold her food. She smiled at him and grabbed the juice. She drank half of it down before he said anything.

“Thank you, I didn’t realize how out of it I was. Thank you for the soup. Did you make this, or just heat it up from a can?” she joked.

“Axel,” he answered honestly.

“Axel heated it up, well that was nice.” As she took a bite of the soup he clarified it for her.

“No, he made it. Mom’s recipe.” He wanted to make sure she knew Axel had taken the time to make something just for her. She deserved the best, and both of them would do what they could to make sure she did.

“He made this, really. It's fantastic. My Gran could cook, and when I got sick as a kid, she would make me soup. Tell him this is delicious for me please.” She went back to eating the food until the last drop was gone, and her juice glass empty. Her eyelids started to droop again and he knew with a full belly, she would feel the need to sleep. Taking the tray, he set it on the floor before tucking her under the covers and kissing her forehead as she fell into a deep sleep.

He stood there and watched as Millie breathed in and out, and he was finally happy that she was sleeping. He didn’t know how long it would last, and between him and Axel, they would make sure she was taken care of every night to help take the nightmares away, permanently.

Chapter Seven

Axel lay awake in his bed and wondered what to do tomorrow. Millie had fallen asleep after eating and he was happy she liked it and ate everything, but she didn’t come down to talk. He understood, especially since she hadn’t been sleeping at all the last couple of nights. Gage was sound asleep, the soft snore from him being his indication. He padded down to the kitchen thinking maybe some milk would help him sleep. Finding a small mug, he poured it in and warmed it in the microwave. He looked around the house in the dark and was happy at how used to his surrounding her house was now. When he first started to stay with her, he found the house too old and stuffy for his taste. But after a while it started to feel homey and cozy. The feeling of love was almost overwhelming at first, but he seemed to welcome and wanted the love to continue.
Love, where the hell did that come from?

The microwave beeped and he pulled his mug out. The sweet smell of milk instantly started to calm him as he sipped it sitting down on the couch. He was almost done with his milk when the sound of a scream echoed through the house. Instantly he dropped his mug and ran up the stairs. Millie was in bed thrashing back and forth crying out for help. Gage was right next to him. Without thinking, he jumped on the bed and pulled her to him trying to calm her down.

“Shhh, baby, it's okay, I got you. No one will get you, I promise. It’s okay, you’re okay. I got you.” Over and over he spoke to her, trying to calm her. Her eyes opened and instantly she reached out and clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck crying. Rubbing her back, he worked on her, letting her know he had her and she was okay, and safe. Soon her crying stopped and turned into a small hiccup. Gage had left at some point and gotten her a bottle of water. He took it and made her do small sips. She released her hold on him, but he couldn’t let her go. He looked up at Gage and thanked him for the water. He nodded and kissed her forehead.

“You can go back to bed. I’ll be fine.” Gage shook his head, indicating that he didn’t want to leave.

“I got her, Gage, you get some sleep. Maybe we can get her to go back to sleep, before we have our talk in the morning.” This seemed to please Gage as he smiled some and left shutting the door behind him. He scooted down in the bed, pulling her with him.

“Axel, I don’t think I can sleep. You might as well go to bed too.” She was trying to push him away, but he needed her to know he wasn’t going to leave her.

“No, I got you. You don’t have to sleep, just lay down with me. We can talk if you want.” She sounded half asleep as she laid down next to him, resting her head on his chest. He instantly wrapped an arm around her holding her to him. She sighed and then spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hmm, sorry for what?” he was confused.

“Sorry for what happened in the kitchen this morning. I don’t know what happened, well yeah I do, and I flew off the handle. I should have acted like an adult and just talked to you.”

“Baby, it was my fault too. I didn’t mean for it to sound the way it came out. I want you as a mate. I admit the thought of a mate at first pissed me off, but also scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t ready to settle down. I didn’t want to have to have someone rely on me to protect them, but then I got to thinking about you. And the thought of something or someone hurting you makes me sick. You have been through so much, and are incredibly strong.” She snorted at his comment.

“No, I mean it, Millie. What you went through, what you did for your friends is amazing. You risked so much to help them. And for you to be standing here, getting ready to start a job, and hell, even throwing pancakes at me is amazing. You are fighting to live. I just don’t want that fight with me anymore. I admit I’m an ass, but I will try. Baby, I will try. And I am so sorry for what I said. Please forgive me.” He held her tighter breathing in her sweet smell. His panther was now purring and laying down sleeping, content having his mate in their arms.

“Okay, I will try harder too. Just…” before she finished she was asleep. He smiled, maybe Xandria was right and she did need them. She slept fine when Gage was with her, and then Gage left to run and when he found them sleeping he went to his own room to sleep. The connection to them was more important than he realized. He would have to talk to Gage, and Millie about it in the morning. Closing his eyes, Axel suddenly felt tired and content.

*****

Millie woke up warm. Really warm and comfortable. She blinked and realized she had slept all night. She felt good, not groggy or sick as she had been the previous morning. Stretching, she realized why she was warm. Her arms went out and scratched along an incredibly hard chest.
Shit, did I sleep with him?
She mentally did a body check and realized she still had clothes on, so no, they didn’t have sex, and for some strange reason she was actually disappointed.

“For someone who just woke up, you sure do think a lot in the morning.” Axel chuckled as he ran his hand up and down her arm. She had to close her eyes again and breathe, the way he was playing with her was sending her in a whole different direction, one that included them without clothes. “Princess, whatever your thinking took a turn in a naughty direction.” Crap, how did he know? She went to say something looking up at him, but he smiled at her and for the first time she noticed a slight dimple on his right cheek.

“You forgot, being a panther I can smell everything. Wanna share with me?” She knew her face had flushed as he leaned down and kissed her forehead again.

“Yeah, I forgot and no I don’t. Did you stay with me all night?”

“I sure did, you seem to sleep better when one of us is with you. I don’t know why we didn’t think about that before.”
Huh,
she thought. She didn’t think about that either, but she felt good for once. Before she could say something, Axel shifted so she was now laying on her back.

“Umm, what are you doing?” she squeaked.

“I am simply saying good morning, princess.” Once again, she knew her blood boiled and flushed, but this time it was because she realized he had called her princess twice, and not in a way that made her feel like a spoiled brat, but as a sweet pet name.

“Oh, umm…morning,” she responded, but as she did she hadn’t realized he had moved her hands to his chest, his naked chest. As she looked at him, it was the first time she realized he had a tattoo. She had seen that Gage had one, but so did Axel. Both had a panther paw print on them. Did all shifters have a tattoo, like a branding of which animal they were? She snorted, yeah it would be like a calling card, or having someone write an L or R in a shoe so you would be able to tell which on goes on which foot. Axel must have been watching her because he asked her what was so funny.

“Oh, your tattoo. It’s a panther paw, why? Is it to let others know you’re a panther?” His expression grew sad as he shook his head.

“No, it has another meaning. I will explain that later.”

“Axel, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad, or upset. I’m sorry,” she said as she petted his face, trying to get his focus back on her. He had his head bowed and soon his eye locked with hers. His brown eyes looking into her, holding her steady with his gaze, and right then she felt the connection. The zing that brings people together, the instant draw that Becky had told her about. She gasped and Axel growled before taking her lips, and this time she didn’t push him, or ask him to stop. She wanted him, wanted this. He kissed her like a hungry man searching for food in an empty trash bin. His hand started to roam her body as he pushed more of his weight on her. She welcomed it and then reached out and held onto his back.

His growl ran down to her depths, making her pussy scream with anticipation. She had been with men before, but Axel and Gage turned her on like no other. She moaned as he moved to her neck, licking and biting her softy. Arching into his touch, she felt her night shirt slide up and soon it was off. His hands automatically went to her breasts, squeezing the mounds as if trying to mold them into his hands. Axel bent and took a nipple into his mouth, sucking, and she mewled at the feel of his tongue flickering back and forth. Her body was on fire and it seemed that with each move Axel made she shivered from more desire. As his mouth moved to her other breast and with each tug and pull, he drew her closer to her orgasm. She had never been this turned on before, she had always been the one who started and took control in sex. With Axel, he took control and she could either go with it, or they would stop. Not wanting this to end she granted him access, and at this point if he wanted to claim her, she would do anything to take away the ache she had. She tried to shift so she could find some friction, but no luck. Axel growled looking at her, then grabbing her arms lifted them above her head and held them there with one hand while he kissed her stupid again and then moved down her body. He must have known what she wanted because his other hand was now on her legs and moving up to desired areas. She wanted him so much. The need grew with each touch.

“Please,” she begged. She never begged, but right now she was in need, and that need was for him and his ability to come.

“Are we hurting, my sweet girl?” he mumbled along her skin.

“Please, Axel, I need… Hell, I need something.”

“I got you, baby, just relax and feel,” as he said those magic words his finger ran along her outer lips. She moaned and tried to push him to touch her more. He took pity on her and slowly started to circle her clit as he released her hands, allowing his body to move down hers until his face was right at her sex.

“You know what kitty’s like, baby, they like their cream, and I can smell yours. I am going to just lick you up.” And with that he split her outer lips and licked her from bottom to top, flicking his tongue along her clit, making her jump. His strong hands held her down, pinning her lower half to her bed as he ate her pussy. Soon his fingers joined in and between his skilled mouth and large fingers, she screamed her released as she grabbed his hair holding on. He kissed the insides of each leg and the top of her mound before moving up and kissing her along the way until he reached her lips. She could taste her cream in his mouth, and though it normally grossed her out, with him it turned her on more. She went to reach for his cock but he stopped her by holding her wrist.