Page 143 of Hard Rain
SACRIFICE
Morning light shifted through the gap in the blackout curtains when Whip eased onto his back in the wide hotel bed.
Axel had one leg tossed over his and his head buried beneath the pillow beside him.
Whip smiled and stretched, his body sore from last night. They’d burned up the sheets. Axel had wanted to take things slow and worry over every scratch and bruise, but Whip wasn’t having any of that.
It had been satisfying as all hell to show Axel just how demanding he could be.
Axel shifted beside him.
“You awake?” Whip murmured, running his fingers through Axel’s dark, messy hair.
“Coffee,” Axel croaked.
Whip chuckled. “Shower.”
“Ohhh…okay.” Axel’s head popped up, blue eyes locking onto him, the light in them gleaming.
Whip rolled from the messy sheets before Axel could grab him and sauntered naked into the bathroom. He had just enough time to turn on the shower before Axel crowded in behind him, lips brushing over his shoulder.
Grabbing the toothpaste tube, Whip squeezed some onto his toothbrush, then Axel’s. They brushed quickly, but between kisses, Axel managed to get more toothpaste on Whip’s jaw and neck than his own teeth.
“Stop,” Whip laughed, rubbing at the foam on his jaw as he shoved Axel away and stepped beneath the shower.
“Just wanted to give you something to clean since we showered last night.”
Whip gripped Axel’s arm and yanked him beneath the hot water.
“I’ll give you something to clean,” he said huskily.
Beneath soapy hands, no more words were needed.
An hour later, Whip stepped into the small kitchen barefoot, wearing only a pair of US Marshal joggers and a t-shirt.
Axel yawned and walked to start the coffee.
“Let’s see…there’s eggs and frozen sausage.” Whip looked through the contents of the freezer, stocked courtesy of the hotel.
“Um—”
A knock on the door interrupted Axel.
“I’ll get it,” Knox yelled, coming out of his room.
The door swung wide, and on the entryway stood Alvarez and Cho holding eight boxes of pizzas.
“Oh, hell yeah.” Axel slapped his hands together. “Let me help you with that.”
Whip had to laugh.
It was fucking perfect.
Axel, friends, and pizza for breakfast.
What more could a guy ask for?
The pizza was spread across the low table in front of the couch alongside bottled water. And yeah, he still had his coffee. So sue him.
