Page 19 of Brax (Voodoo Guardians #36)

“Hey? Are you okay?” asked Brax, coming up behind Stephanie in the kitchen. She was staring out the window at the incessant rain.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m actually pretty good. It all makes sense now. I mean, it makes sense why someone would be after me. She needs me, and I’m not sure I can refuse to help her.”

“I get that. You’re here partly because of her,” he nodded. She turned in his arms, smiling up at him.

“Thank you for saying that, for understanding,” she said, kissing him.

“I’m not always good at this stuff, but I get it right on occasion,” he laughed.

“You’re better than you think,” she smiled. “Brax? When will it be time? For you and me?”

“It will be time when you tell me you’re ready and not before. I will not push you in this. I know we’ve both been with other people, but I love you too much to risk this relationship for sex.”

“Is that what it will be? Sex?”

“No. No, absolutely not. It will be love. I will make love to you, and you will make love to me. I will be the last man you will ever be with. Tell me when you’re ready for that.”

“I’m ready for that.”

“Wait. What?” he asked with surprise.

“I’m ready, Brax. I’ve been ready for a while, but wanted to make sure my head was right. Mama Irene and Claudette have helped me so much. Them and those damn gardens,” she laughed. “I can’t believe flowers, plants, and trees somehow make your head clear, your heart to beat correctly, and your body strong.”

“Stranger things have happened here,” smiled Brax, kissing her softly. “We’ll be expected at dinner.”

“I know,” she nodded. “I think I can wait until after dinner to make love to you.”

With a large umbrella between them, they made their way toward the cafeteria, following the stone paths to avoid the mud and puddles of water. Alvin seemed happy with the water lying in the middle of the large pathway lined with live oaks.

Ahead of them, they could see Victoria and Hayes arguing.

“Oh, no.”

“Trouble in paradise,” frowned Brax. “Looks like they need to be separated.”

“I’ll take her.” Stephanie walked closer to the couple. “Hi. I’ve been looking for you. Will you walk with me to the cafeteria, Victoria? I need to ask you some questions.”

“Uh, yeah. Sure. I don’t have all the translations done yet,” she said, wiping her tears. Brax waited until they walked off and then looked at Hayes.

“It’s not what you think,” said the younger man.

“What is it you think I think?”

“I wasn’t going to hit her.”

“Fucking right you weren’t, but it damn sure looked like you were angry enough to do it.”

“I wasn’t. I swear. It’s her obsession with not leaving the property. I mean, she’ll do short little trips into the city or if Angel, Miller, or Trak are with her, but that’s all.”

“She’ll get there, Hayes.”

“I want to get married and have her living with me off-base,” he frowned.

“Why?”

“Why? Because I love her,” he scoffed.

“No. I mean, I know you love her, but why would you do that to her? You bring her across the country, away from everything she knows, leave her in an apartment by herself with nothing and no one. Why?”

Hayes frowned, shaking his head.

“You’re fucking selfish, that’s why,” scolded Brax. Hayes stared at the other man, offended by the statement. “That’s right. I said it. It’s selfish of you to want that. What you want is a woman there for you when you are home. Someone easily accessible to satisfy you.”

Hayes said nothing, continuing to get soaked in the rain.

“Are you tempted?” frowned Brax. “Are you thinking of cheating on that girl?”

“No! No, I’m not,” he said quietly. “Girls approach us all the time, but I haven’t done anything.”

“Yet.”

“It’s not like that, Brax. I don’t want anyone except Victoria, but I need her to not be afraid to get off the damn property now and then. I want a life with her, but I want a life where we can travel together, do things other than walk the gardens here.”

“Hayes, that girl has had a miserable life. Just like you. But she’s absolutely terrified that someone out there will know who she is and take her. She’s watched all the others, Marilisa, Katelyn, Chelsea, and now Stephanie. Their past is following them.

“She sits here worrying herself to death over you every damn day. She tries to keep track of where you are, but you’ve obviously figured that out and turned off your tracking devices on occasion.”

“I have to,” he frowned.

“Bullshit. The military can’t see them or find them. You do it because you don’t want her to know where you are. Let me guess. Strip clubs? Bars? Partying with the boys?”

From Hayes’ silence, Brax knew he’d hit a chord. It wasn’t that he blamed him. He was a twenty-four-year-old young man, alone, with urges. He was doing what every young man in the military tended to do.

“Listen to me, Hayes. If you’re gonna fuck around, you tell that young woman that you need a break. You want a break from her, and you need her to date other people to be sure that you’re actually the one.”

“Date other people! No fucking way!”

“Oh, I see. So, you want to play with the strippers and hookers, but she’s not allowed to have dinner with someone?”

“I’m not seeing hookers and strippers!” he yelled. Before they knew it, six men were standing around them. Luke, Cam, Hex, Eric, Pax, and Saint stared at the young man. Luke pointed across the path.

“Office. Now.”

“I haven’t done anything,” frowned Hayes, shaking off the water from his hair and clothes.

“Yet. You haven’t done it yet,” said Luke. “You’re obviously tempted.”

“Of course I am! Weren’t you?”

“No,” said Luke. “I was not. I knew that the only woman for me was Ajei. End of story.” Hayes looked at Eric.

“Sorry, buddy. Sophia Ann was always the woman I loved.” He looked at Cam.

“I was a man-whore,” he said, frowning. “I’m ashamed to say it now, but it’s the truth. I was lucky that Kate saw the real me and loved me. I’m grateful.” He turned to Hex.

“I was an older man when I found Gwen. I’d been with other women, but not while I proclaimed love for one back home.”

“Well, I guess you’re all boy scouts,” he frowned.

“We didn’t say that, Hayes. Listen, you’ve had some time out there in the world now without anyone hanging over your shoulder,” said Luke. “We get it. We get being tempted. The problem with that is that Victoria hasn’t been out there in the world. She doesn’t know how beautiful she is, how enticing. We see it when the men at The Well look at her.”

“You take her to The Well?” he yelled.

“Fuck, yes. The girl needs to get away from here. We agree with you on that,” said Eric. “But there is always a half-dozen men around her when we go, and she does not move. She won’t even take a piss without two women going with her and a man outside the door. She is terrified, Hayes. Have you thought about that at all?”

“Of course I have! I mean. I know she’s scared, but she has to get over it.”

“She really doesn’t,” said Brax. “You need for her to get over it, but she doesn’t have to. She loves her life here, Hayes. She loves living with all of us and working here, and she loves you. But asking her to do something that will cause her immeasurable pain before she’s ready is not okay.”

Hayes stood and shook his head, heading toward the door.

“What will you do?” asked Brax.

“I don’t know. I have no fucking clue, but I can’t be trapped in one place forever, and I can’t live without her.”