Forbidden Love(20)
Dylan’s jaw ticked slightly and I knew I had him. He didn’t want to think about me touching her anymore than I liked him being near her.
“You listen and you listen good, ‘cause I’ll only say this once. My kids are not your toys, so long as you’re fooling her, you keep as far the fuck away from me and mine as you possibly can. You don’t breathe in my direction, or theirs.” I glared and finished on a bark. “You hear me?”
“Sure, Jude. You might want to go check on your son though. His knee is pretty scraped up.”
The moment his words registered, my red haze turned into boiling lava. I reacted on instinct, my body on autopilot. Pulling my fist back, I let it go. The thump when it connected with his nose was loud in the otherwise quiet room. My knuckles protested and blood ran down his face, splattering over my hand. “You’re one dumb bastard.” I snarled. Dylan turned his face back to me and pulled his hand up to his bloody nose.
“The fuck are you doing?” Mace’s voice boomed from the doorway. “Jude, outside now.” Right at that moment, Haven walked into the room, followed by Jaxson.
“Dylan!” she cried, running to his side. “What is wrong with you, Jude?” She turned to look at me with disappointment and confusion marring her pretty face.
“Outside,” Mace said in a deathly stoic voice, reminding me for the last time I was sure.
“Jax, go ahead outside with Mima for a bit, buddy,” Jude soothed his son. He looked confused and a little scared with all the commotion. The last thing I wanted was for him to be upset by my stupid actions. I hadn’t even thought twice about decking that asshole when he’d insinuated I wasn’t concerned with being a good father. The truth hurts sometimes and he’d called it straight on me being a selfish prick.
The blood roared in my ears once again as I watched Jaxson wander out the sliding glass door, before I followed Mace out the front away from everyone. I hadn’t even descended the steps before he was on me like white on rice.
“You hit your head or something?’ Mace crossed his arms over his chest.
“He’s a jackass. I—”
“You’re being a jackass. I told you no bullshit. You want Ma to come in and whoop your ass?” He cleared his throat. “You know damn well what she’d have done if she caught you fighting in her house.” I dropped my head slightly. Ma didn’t deserve disrespect and that was what I’d done, regardless of that douche deserving it or not.
I raised my head and threw my angriest glare directly at Mace. “He’s not good enough for her. He doesn’t deserve her and he’s a cocky son of a bitch. You gonna stand there and tell me she should be bringing that fuckstick in here?”
“I don’t give a good god damn if you think he’s not good enough. I don’t either, but I’ll sort that out myself, and you will keep your bullshit testosterone in check while we’re here, asshole!” Mace gave me no option to argue, turning his back and storming back inside. I hung around the front of the house for another few minutes before I headed inside and collected up the kids and our stuff. With much argument the boys, they finally made their way to the truck and we waved as I pulled out of the driveway and headed home.
Haven
“I’m so sorry, Dylan,” I apologized again. “I should have known he’d pull something stupid.”
“Stop, sugar.” He reached over and grabbed my hand, holding it in his. “You don’t apologize for that. I’m alright. He got it off his chest. It’s fine. “
“How’d I manage to find the world’s sweetest guy?” I sighed, lifting my feet up underneath my legs on the passenger seat. I reached in the glove box and grabbed a napkin. "Your nose is still bleeding." I reached across the console to wipe his face. "Are you sure you're okay? Should we go to the hospital?"
"Nah. I'm good. Nothing a little TLC from a beautiful woman can't fix." He looked over at me from the corner of his eye, a slight twinkle to go along with his smile. It caused a stirring in my belly that I never thought I'd feel again.
Butterflies?
"You know, we didn't get to eat much. Are you hungry?" Dylan kept both eyes on the road, his hand reaching up to mine, taking the napkin and finishing the job of cleanup.
"I'm not too hungry, but I could definitely use a drink." As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. The last thing I needed was a drink…drinking lead to other cravings I’d rather not have.