Behind the Mask

Chapter 46

Marissa's POV

Axel.

He came for me - he kept his word after all these years.

I ran down the stairs, following the sound of voices until I saw him in the doorway to the kitchen and skidded to a halt. "Axel," I breathed. He turned toward me, his face looked so haunted, so full of pain. Did I cause that?

"Angel?" he said, his knees buckling as he hit the floor. I ran and launched myself into his arms. He gripped me tightly, "Oh, angel, don't you ever scare me like that again. I can't lose you too," he cried into my ear.

My breath hitched at his words, "I'm not going anywhere, Axel. I promise."

He pulled back and cupped my face, searching my eyes. He pressed his forehead to mine and sighed. I started to ask him what was wrong, but suddenly I felt his lips on mine. As if sensing my shock he started to pull away, but no way in hell was I letting him go now. Six fucking years was too long to pretend I didn't love him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed into the kiss, my tongue running across his lips. He let out a low growl and gripped my hair in his hand pulling me tightly against him. We were both breathless when the kiss broke.

"Holy fuck, that was amazing," Gabe muttered, "I need a fucking drink just watching them."

I blushed and suddenly realized what I'd done. How could I, I mean, I was literally just upstairs with Luke and Sean?

"Get that thought out of your head this instant, kitten," Kota growled as I blinked at him. "There isn't a man in this house that has any issue with this, so you don't get to either. Communication, remember?" He gave me a smile and I nodded.

I looked around the room and instead of feeling afraid, I felt safe. Gathering up my courage I faced Axel. "I should have said this six years ago," I ran my hand over his cheek, "I love you, Axel."

I saw fresh tears build in his eyes as he grinned, "I love you too, Marissa. Now, I think we need to have a new family meeting, don't you agree?"

With a quick kiss to his nose, "Yes Daddy." He groaned and rolled his eyes, swearing under his breath as he picked me up and carried both of us to a chair. He swore again when he put his hand under me and realized I didn't have pants on. "Oops," I giggled.

"Gabe, get the girl some pants or we'll never make it through this conversation," he grumbled.

Gabe just tossed a blanket at us. "Nope, I prefer to know she's ready for a fucking punishment." I gasped at his insinuation as he just laughed and wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Besides, I'm sure Sean and Luke made sure you had a clean fucking bill of health already, didn't you husbands?"

They both smirked, then Sean cleared his throat, "Aside from this morning's activities, we did discuss yesterday. Marissa was a bit fuzzy on events, but when given them in sequence she remembered them clearly. All of her vital signs were in good and healthy ranges. She indicated it was a trauma response to hearing Chloe in her hysterical state over the phone and the pile-up of the recent information."

"Sean, honey, I love you, but the way you did that makes me feel like I should be signing off on a medical chart right now," I snickered.

"Sorry, sweetheart, the doctor instincts seem to take over sometimes," he said, cheeks flushed, "and I love you too." I smiled at his open response and declaration.

"So, kitten, while you were, um, sleeping, we had a meeting without you," Kota started. I felt Axel's arm slip around my waist and pull me against him. "I realize you haven't known us nearly as long as the Toma family, but I hope I'm not overstating when I say that we've all connected far beyond just sexually." He paused waiting for my response.