that you’re starving.” My fingers dive into the bowl of fresh cut pineapple split seconds before he adds, “Almost as much as I hate the idea of not spending my life with you.”
The ring of fruit nearly slips from my grip.
He places his plate on the nearby nightstand and pulls my engagement ring from his dress pants pocket. “I want you to put this back on, Brooklyn. I want you to put this back on and know that I am willing to go toe-to-toe, board-to-board, with whoever and whatever I have to for you, our future, and our family.”
My mouth cracks open, although I’m not sure if it’s for the fruit heading towards it or for a rebuttal.
“I want to spend the rest of my sunrises and sunsets with you, Brooklyn. Nothing anyone says or does or believes changes that. And, the only person who can stop me from making that a reality is you.”
A chomp is had of my fruit. “Is that really how you want to spend your life, Ax?”
“With you? Absolutely.”
“No. I mean defending us.” The refreshing food is tossed back into the bowl. “Defending our children. Living under scrutinized stares and harsh whispers and side eyes and snarky racial comments. Those are all not just possibilities, they’re guarantees. They are battles to fight with no known dates or ends. Waves and storms that will do everything they can to tear us apart. Drown us. Drown…our kids.” My own harsh words threaten to undam the tears. “So, I ask you again, Ax Maxwell, is that really how you want to spend the next twenty…thirty…forty…years of your life?”
He extends the ring my direction, expression hardened, gaze unwavering. “Without a single fucking doubt.”
Relief doesn’t hesitate to wash over me.
“The only thing I ask of you, Brooklyn Headley, is to stop this hide from me shit.”
His words strike the chord they were intended to.
“Fight with me. Yell at me. Scream at me. Do whatever you have to do to communicate how you’re feeling, but stop shutting me out.” The firm tone only grows harsher. “You put this ring back on, and you’re telling me the next time we get into a situation like this that’s what you’re going to do.” Ax’s head tilts a little higher. Stronger. “I’m willing to make any jump overboard, dive through the darkness, and go however deep I have to for you…for us…but I need to know you’re going to be there when I climb back on portside. I need to know that you’ve got a lifesaver ready for me if I’m flailing out there. I need to know that I don’t have to worry about losing you permanently every time our ship rocks a little too rough.”
Knowing what he’s requesting isn’t outrageous or even unreasonable, I quickly nod my consent. “I’ll learn to do those things, bae. It may take a bit of practice like learning to surf, but I’ll get the hang of it.”
Ax slides the ring back into place at the same time he shakes his head. “You still can’t surf, so I’m not sure that’s the analogy you wanna use.”
“But, I’m still totally trying anyway,” our gazes connect once more, “which makes it perfect.”
A crooked grin crosses his face.
“I’m sorry for…ghosting you yesterday.” My apology is accompanied by me relaxing against the stacked pillows. “It was all just…overwhelming.”
His expression transposes to one of tenderness. “You handled yourself with grace and dignity, and the whole fucking thing would’ve been really sexy under other circumstances.”
It’s my turn to grin.
“It hurt watching you go through that. It hurt even more not being able to rescue you from it faster. But…what hurt the most…was not being allowed the opportunity to console you.” Ax’s hand holds mine a little tighter. “I always wanna be there for you, Brooklyn.”
The response is whispered and somewhat broken. “I know…I just…” A small shrug is presented as my stare falls to our joined fingers. “I didn’t feel I could face you. I didn’t feel I could…possibly deal with more humiliation.”
“Never again from them.”
Ax’s proclamation darts my gaze back up.
“I’m going by his office to remind him that our arrangement has come to an end and to give him the piece of my mind he didn’t get last night. To remind him of who his youngest son actually is.”
There’s an unmistakable dominance in his voice that causes a different hunger to stir.
Wonder how hot makeup, engagement back on sex is…
“Hence, why I’m wearing this Jack McCoy getup instead of something that