"I understand that. Could you finish the contracts you were working on yesterday? After that, take the rest of the week off. Get some rest, get your nerves calmed and spend some time with your young man. We'll see you next week."
"Thanks, Edward. I appreciate this more than you know."
"Angela, you almost lost someone very close to you. I don't think you'd be able to concentrate even if you were here. Give Dax my best, and I hope he has a speedy recovery."
"I will, and thank you again. I really feel as if I need to be there for him when he gets home."
Angela went to her office with a cup of coffee and immediately began working on the contracts her boss had asked her to finish. When she had finished, a few hours later, she told everyone goodbye and headed home. When she walked into the apartment, she let out a big sigh.
After getting a glass of iced tea, she sat down on the couch and called Annie to see if there had been any further news.
"Angela, I was just getting ready to call you. Dad called, and they're on their way home. Brenna's going to wait for them at the apartment. She wanted Dax to stay with them, but he insisted on going to his place."
"He's okay, then?"
"Yes, he's to take the rest of the week off and get some rest, but he'll be fine. Are you going over to the apartment to wait for them?"
"I'll wait, to give Brenna and Dane a chance to talk to him first. I'll go over later. I plan to stay and make sure he's following orders to rest."
"I'm at work, but I'm going over when they get home. Angela, good luck," she added.
"Thanks, Annie."
Angela went into the bedroom to take a much-needed nap. The waiting had worn her down, and she was both physically and mentally exhausted. She set her alarm so she wouldn't sleep past the time she wanted to get up and get ready to see Dax, then she settled under the covers and slept peacefully for three hours.
When the alarm went off, she showered and packed a bag to take to Dax's apartment with her.
"Mr. Daring, here I come, ready or not," she said as she zipped her bag, after throwing some toiletries in at the last minute. "I guess I've come around to your way of thinking, after all."
When Annie phoned to tell her that Dax was home, she thanked her. "I'll be over in a little while."
"Should I tell him you're coming over?"
"Let it be a surprise."
"He may ask where you are."
"I won't be long. I promise."
She waited a full hour before driving to his apartment. She couldn't stand it any longer and hoped she'd given him enough time with his family. When she arrived, Dax was on the couch, surrounded by all of them. He was eating a light meal that had no doubt been prepared by his doting mother. Brenna had taken charge, and Angela was impressed with the strength she had shown when things had looked bad for Dax and the rest of them were falling apart.
"Look who I found standing on your doorstep when I answered the door," Dane said as he led Angela into the room.
Dax looked up at her, and they locked gazes for several minutes. Finally, he grinned and said, "Angela, I wondered if you'd come and see me."
"You gave me quite a scare. You really didn't have to stand under a falling building to get my attention, you know."
"But it did get your attention, didn't it?" he teased.
"Dax, don't tease the poor girl. She was with us the whole time we were waiting for word," Brenna said as she smiled at Angela.
"And now, I intend to stay here and make sure you follow the doctor's orders," Angela informed him.
"You're in trouble now, brother. When they get that look in their eye, you'd better know to keep your mouth shut and do as you're told," Dane said, winking at Angela.
"I think that's our cue to leave the lovebirds alone," Annie said as she took Dane's hand.
Brenna looked at Ted. "You heard our daughter-in-law. Dax is in good hands."
"Son, take it easy. We'll check on you tomorrow."
"Thanks, Dad, for staying at the hospital with me. And, Mom, thanks for taking care of things here and fixing my dinner."
"Anytime, son, that's what family is for," Brenna said as she kissed her youngest son's forehead.
Dane walked over to Dax and said, "Don't ever scare me like that again, do you hear me?"
Dax just grinned.
Annie kissed her brother-in-law on the cheek. "Take care, Dax. We all love you."
"Thanks, Annie."
Annie turned to Angela. "Call if you need anything."
"I will, but I think we'll be fine." She smiled at Annie as she walked them all out.
After they'd all gone, she walked back into the living room, where Dax sat waiting for her to enter the room.
"Come here. I want to kiss you properly without anyone around."
She immediately went to him, then she sat down and put her arms around his neck. As she raised her face up for his kiss, she parted her ready lips and accepted what he offered. She wound her fingers in his hair and moved closer as he put his arm around her and pulled her to him.
When the kiss ended, she said, "I agree with your brother. Don't ever scare me like that again."
"I'm sorry, Angela, for a lot of things."
"Let's not talk about that now. You need to get into bed and rest. Come on, I'll help you." She stood up and, when he stood, he was slightly unsteady on his feet, so she put her arm around his waist and walked with him as he led her into his bedroom. She got him under the covers and sat down next to him on the edge of the bed.
"I finally get you into my bedroom, and you're just going to sit there?" he teased.
"You're supposed to rest, Mr. Daring," she replied in a serious tone.
"But you can rest with me," he suggested as he patted the empty spot next to him. "This spot's reserved just for you."
Giggling, she kicked off her shoes and walked around to the other side of the bed. She climbed in under the covers and said, "Just hold me close, Dax. I need to know you're here, with me, not under a pile of rubble."
"I'm not going anywhere, Angela. Come here, baby," he said as she willingly went into his arms.
He held her until he fell asleep. While he slept, Angela smoothed his brow and caressed his cheek, thankful he was here, beside her. She watched him sleep for a while before finally dozing off, herself. She was still tired, and since relief had finally set in, she slept soundly.
Around four the next morning, he woke. Seeing Angela, asleep next to him, he smiled. He gently kissed her closed eyelids. "Oh, my beautiful baby girl, I love you more than you can imagine," he whispered. He watched her for several minutes before falling back to sleep.
At seven, Annie got up and went to the kitchen to make coffee. When she returned to the bedroom, Dax was awake. He sat up as she handed him a cup of coffee.
"What would you like for breakfast?" she asked as she sat next to him on the bed.
"You," he replied.
She laughed. "Besides that?" she asked.
"I think there's bacon and eggs in the fridge. Is that okay with you?"
"You're the patient. If it's bacon and eggs you want, it's bacon and eggs you'll get," she said as she took a sip of her own coffee.
"Oh, so does that mean I get you, too?"
She smiled but didn't answer.
She enjoyed her first cup of coffee with him, and after making sure he was comfortable, she went back into the kitchen. By the time she returned with their breakfast, he was walking out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. He was wearing a pair of boxers.
"Dax, what are you doing out of bed?" she asked as she set his plate on the nightstand.
"I was taking a shower. I didn't know you wanted to keep me in bed all day. You should have said something," he said with a low chuckle.
"Why didn't you wait until I could help you in there?"
"Because if you'd helped me in there, it would have been too tempting to drag you into the shower with me, and I can't make my nurse mad, or she might
leave."
"You're impossible. Eat," she ordered as she handed him a glass of juice.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied humbly.
"Tell me what happened at the site, Dax," Angela said as she took a bite of toast.
"I don't remember much of it, other than hearing a loud noise and the men yelling. I remember going in looking for the two men who were trapped, and that's it. I don't remember anything else until I woke up in the hospital."
"How are the two men? Dane said they were in critical condition on Monday night."
"When I went to see them yesterday before leaving the hospital, they were both doing better. They'll recover, but they'll be off work for a bit. Terry will be okay too. He has a broken leg."
"Will this cause a lot of problems for the company?"
He winced. "Yes, it will. We'll not make our schedule, and that whole part of the building will have to be rebuilt. We'll need a new foreman, and the other two men will have to be replaced as well."
"Will you have to go back up there?"
"Possibly, but they may send someone else. I really won't know until I get back to the office next Monday. Gerald said he'd be in touch after I'd had time to recuperate."
They finished their breakfast in silence, each of them thinking about what could have happened and how lucky Dax was to be alive.
Angela cleared the dishes and washed them before returning to check on her patient. Annie and Brenna had both phoned to make sure he wasn't giving her any trouble and to see if she needed a break yet. She assured both of them that she had things under control.
He was sitting up watching television when she came into the room. "What are we going to do today?" he asked as she sat on the bed next to him.
"You are going to rest. And I am going to make sure you do."
"Do you want to talk?" he asked as he twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers. "I seem to remember a talk we planned to have when I got back home."
"No need to worry with that now. We have time. We both have the rest of the week off, and you need to get your strength back."
"You really think I can just lie in bed all week?"
"Today, you rest. Tomorrow, you can get up."
"You're bossy, do you know that?"
"And I'm sure you hate that, don't you?" she asked. "A Dom having to let his sub take charge is a new concept for you, I bet."
"No, actually, I kind of like it," he teased as he leaned in for a kiss.
"I need to change my clothes. I'm sure Brenna will be stopping by to check on you."
"And we can't have Mom seeing you in the same clothes you had on last night, now, can we?"
Angela laughed. Her blue eyes twinkled as she grabbed her bag and headed for the bathroom. When she returned, fresh and rosy-cheeked, she leaned over the bed and kissed him.
The doorbell rang. They looked at each other and laughed. "Mom," he said.
"I'll get it." Angela walked to the door and let Brenna in. "He's awake, he's had breakfast, and he's being ornery about staying in bed another day," Angela said as they walked into the bedroom.
"Sounds about right," Brenna said with a laugh. "At least we can be thankful he's well enough to be his old ornery self."
"Very thankful," Angela agreed.
She left mother and son alone to chat and busied herself in the kitchen by baking a cake. She took coffee in to Brenna and Dax while the cake was in the oven.
"What smells so good out there?" Dax asked.
"I'm baking a cake," she replied with a grin.
"Chocolate, by any chance?" he asked with a little boy grin on his face.
"As a matter of fact, yes, do you like chocolate? I guess I should have asked. You brought chocolate cake to our picnic, so I just assumed—"
"He loves chocolate. You couldn't have chosen anything better, Angela," Brenna answered for him.
"See, Mom, you have nothing to worry about. My girl can take good care of me." Then he looked at Angela and asked, "I had ingredients for a cake?"
"I brought some things with me," she said. "I knew better than to think a bachelor would have many groceries on hand."
"I have no doubts this girl can put you in your place, son. I just had to see for myself that you're doing okay. I'll be going now. I'm sure the two of you have things to talk about." Brenna winked at Dax. On the way to the door, she thanked Angela for taking such good care of her baby.
After Angela came back, she asked Dax, "What was that wink about?"
"What wink?" Dax asked innocently.
"You know what wink. The one your mother gave you when she left."
"Nothing to concern yourself about; that's just Mom. When's the cake going to be done?"
"Oh, I'm glad you said something. I need to go check on it." Angela jumped up and ran to the kitchen.
"Did you burn my cake?" he teasingly asked when she returned.
"No, I most certainly did not. It's cooling now. I'll put the icing on it later, and you can eat the whole thing if you want to."
"Come here. I think we can find something to do while it's cooling," he said as he reached for her.
She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"You call that a kiss? If I have to stay in bed all day, you're going to have to do better than that, beautiful baby girl."
She climbed in beside him and allowed him to give her a proper kiss. As his tongue explored the deep, moist cavern of her mouth, heat began to spread through her limbs. She was powerless to stop it. Dax Daring had her right where he wanted her. And it was right where she wanted to be.
Dax gazed into her sparkling eyes when he'd finished kissing her. "Angela, I couldn't wait to get home to you."
"You couldn't?" she asked breathlessly.
"It was the longest week of my life," he whispered as he leaned in for another heated kiss. This time, he began caressing her back, and when she didn't resist, he hesitated for just a minute before moving down to her lush bottom.
As Angela moved closer to him and wound her arms around his neck, he sighed deeply. He kissed her neck and her earlobe. She threw her head back and closed her eyes.
"Baby girl, tell me to stop."
When she didn't answer, he moved down to her breast. He unbuttoned her blouse, threw it open, and looked at her lacy pink bra. "Pink," he said with a grin.
"Pink," she replied.
He looked at her again with a question in his eyes. She smiled shyly up at him.
"Angela, tell me to stop now, or—"
"I don't want… you to stop," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Angela?"
"Don't stop, Dax," she said with a smile.
"Oh, baby girl, my beautiful baby girl." He captured her full, parted lips in a kiss that took her breath away. She ran her fingers through his hair again and moaned as his hand roamed freely down her heated body.
As he helped her out of her jeans, she lay next to him, clad only in the pink lacy bra and matching pink panties. He looked at her and grinned. "What a homecoming."
"You need help with those boxers, or are you planning to leave them on?" she teased as her hand found the elastic waistband.
"Am I still unconscious, or am I dreaming?" he asked as she slid the boxers down his leg.
"Oh, I can assure you that this is very real, Dax," she replied.
"I believe you're right; it feels very real," he said as he unfastened her bra and threw it to the floor before leaning down to take a protruding bud in his mouth. As he suckled, his hand roamed until it came to her panties. He hooked his finger in the elastic and had them off before she could say another word.
He moved to her other breast before he made his way downward.
Angela gasped. "Dax."
"Hush, baby girl," he said in a hoarse voice as his hot tongue made contact with her most intimate parts.
At that moment, Angela surrendered completely, giving herself freely to his expert lovemaking. As she thrust her hips upward, he looked up at h
er and grinned. "You like that, don't you?"
She shook her head and guided his head back to where it had been seconds before. He chuckled and continued until he knew she was almost on the brink of ecstasy. Looking up again, he said in a low voice, "Let it go, baby girl, just let it all go."
He returned once more and plunged a finger inside her. Angela began to shudder as the orgasm overtook her entire body, shaking her to the core. Heat spread down her limbs, curling her toes. She'd always thought that was a joke. She never knew toe-curling delight could actually exist before today. Never had she experienced anything like it. She didn't want it to stop; she wanted more. She wanted him.
When he raised himself up to face level with her, he brushed back her hair with a gentle hand and looked deeply into her eyes with his own blue ones, now darkened with passion. He whispered, "I love you, Angela Vaccaro," before devouring her mouth with his.
After reaching into the drawer next to his bed and grabbing a condom, he hurriedly put it on. He kissed her again, moving until he was where he needed to be before ending the kiss. He guided himself inside slowly while he watched her beautiful flushed face as he began to move.
Her eyes closed, she had a look of sheer rapture on her face. Satisfied that she was ready for him, he began to thrust in and slowly back out. He moved slowly for several minutes, watching her facial expressions the entire time. He smiled as he witnessed the pleasure he was giving her. When Angela quickened the pace, hungry for more, he obliged her, and they began to move in perfect sync with each other. And as she cried out once more, he held her as she met her release, before allowing himself to join her in the divine splendor they'd created together.
He held her close to his body afterward, basking in the glow of her perfect love.
Angela could hear his heart beating fast and grinned at the thought of it beating for her and her alone.
Dax kissed the top of her head. "Angela?"
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
She looked up at him as she replied, "Never better, how about you?"
He hugged her to his chest and said, "Baby girl, you have no idea."
"I guess you won this one."
"What?"
"The stalemate, I guess you won."
The Daring Doms Page 14
