We rode in silence for a few minutes. The visibility was close to zero and he crept along the empty road, going fifteen miles an hour. I toed off my wet shoes and placed my frigid feet by the floor vent spewing out hot air. A happy sigh slipped out.
“So, wanna tell me why you’re out walkin’ in this weather, all by yourself on Christmas Day, Danny?”
“Daniel.”
“Sure.”
I sighed. “I spent the day with my family. My uncle is a mean drunk and a bigot and I couldn’t keep listening to him insulting everyone.”
“He a racist or what?”
“It would be easier to list who he doesn’t hate. When I left, he’d talked shit about women, people of color, Jews, Muslims, gays, and even Christ himself for forgiving whores and other ‘white trash.’” I made air quotes with my fingers. “I tried explaining that Jesus and his people weren’t exactly white, but that didn’t go over well.”
Axel chuckled. “He sounds like a great guy.”
“You have no idea.” I leaned my temple on the headrest and looked at him. “What about you?”
“I spent all day at my sister’s house. Picked up Ma and went over bright ‘n early to make pancakes for my niece. Brought a tall stack of gifts, too.”
“I bet your niece liked that.”
The corners of his mouth turned up in a wide, happy smile, transforming him from frightening into a cuddly teddy bear. A teddy bear with tattoos, but still. “She did. She was disappointed at first that Santa couldn’t find her house, but I explained he’d left her presents at my place.”
“Huh. How come Santa could find your house and not hers?”
“I guess Rudolph isn’t equipped with GPS.”
Laughter bubbled up inside me and poured out. He was nothing like I’d expected when I’d first laid eyes on him. The way his voice softened when he talked about his niece was adorable, and I hadn’t thought it possible for a hulk like him. “You’re funny,” I said.
“I guess even serial killers have a sense of humor.” He glanced in my direction and shot me a toothy grin that made him look scarier than ever.
We were on the outskirts of town when his phone went off. He peeked at the display. “Sorry, gotta take this.” He pressed the button for speakerphone.
“Annie, what’s up?”
“Uncle Ax?” The voice coming from the other end trembled and sounded scared.
“Honey-Bee. Hey. Where’s your mom?” Axel scrunched his eyebrows.
“She went out.”
He stiffened and his Adam’s apple bobbed as if he were swallowing down a big lump of anger. “When did she leave, honey?”
“After you took Gramma home.”
His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Lemme call your mom real quick, and then I’ll call you back. Okay?”
The little girl hesitated. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Maybe you can tell Olaf a story while you wait? You can bring the phone to your room.”
“Mom says I can’t.”
“I know. But this time it’s okay. Trust me?” He cajoled her with a voice softer than freshly fallen snow.
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die, Honey-Bee.”
“Okay.”
He hung up, pulled over to the side, and stopped the car. “Sorry, Danny, but I gotta make a call.”
“Sure. You need privacy?”
“No. Stay here in the warmth.” The snowfall had increased, and the winds shrieked outside the truck. Just the thought of stepping out made me colder than Frosty the freaking Snowman, and I was happy I didn’t have to.
Axel stabbed the phone with his finger and it rang and rang, but no one picked up. He tried a second and a third time with the same result and each time his body stiffened a little more. All color drained from his face and I tensed, expecting an imminent explosion. What I got was the complete opposite.
“Would you mind a detour, Danny?” He spoke to me like he’d talked to his niece a few seconds ago. If he hadn’t been whiter than the ghost of Christmas past, I wouldn’t have guessed he was upset.
“Of course not.”
“Are you sure? I know you don’t trust me, but I’m not comfortable with Bea being on her own.” His posture was relaxed and his grip on the wheel had loosened, but he kept his eyes stubbornly on the road.
“I’m certain.” I emphasized my words with a nod. “You shouldn’t leave her alone. She sounded scared.”
“Yeah. She doesn’t like bein’ by herself.” He leaned against the headrest and his chest expanded as he drew a deep breath as if to calm himself.
I blinked. I couldn’t believe how vulnerable and small he looked. As if the weight of the world rested on his huge shoulders and he was about to crumble under it. I wanted to reach out and comfort him but kept my hands to myself.
“Let’s go, Axel. The hotel will still be there afterward.”
He twisted his head and looked at me then. I was fascinated by the stark contrast between his pallor and his full, scarlet lips. His dark—almost black—eyes shone with gratitude. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He did a U-turn and drove back in the direction we’d come from. It took us almost thirty minutes to reach his sister’s place—which gave my pants time to dry—even though we hadn’t driven far. He parked outside a double-wide trailer and turned to me.
“Come inside with me? I don’t know how long this will take.”
“Sure.”
I shoved my feet in my shoes as we unbuckled, and then got out of the truck. I ran after him with my arms over my head to protect myself from the icy snow pouring down. When we reached the door, Axel knocked.
No one answered the door and not a sound came from inside. He knocked again and bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited.
“Maybe she doesn’t know it’s you. You said you’d call.”
“No, no, no, no,” he muttered and dug his phone out of his pocket. “I can’t believe I forgot.” As he called the little girl, I studied him.
Fully uncurled from the cramped cab, he stood taller than Eagle Mountain, at least six foot seven. He towered over my own six feet and was twice as wide, and I was no skinny twig. I’d never felt so tiny in my life. I inched closer to him, seeking shelter from the icy winds.
“Honey-Bee, it’s Uncle Ax. I’m at the door. Lemme in?” He hummed as he listened to her reply. “I’m sorry I forgot to call you back. I came here instead so you won’t have to be alone. Come to the door, please. Good. Okay. See you in a sec.”
He dropped the phone into his jacket pocket. “She’s comin’.”
“Great.” I clenched my teeth to keep them from chattering.
“You look like you’re about to turn into an ice sculpture.”
The door creaked open an inch before I had time to reply, and he hunched down. “Hey. See. It’s me. You recognize my ugly mug, right, Honey-Bee?” A giggle drifted out from inside and Axel opened the door enough for us to get in. As soon as we were inside in the heat, he shrugged off his jacket and lifted the tiny black-haired fairy in his arms.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you now.” She threw her thin arms around his neck—so massive she could barely reach around—and gave me a quick once-over before she hid her face in his cheek. She whispered something in his ear, but I couldn’t make out the words.
“He’s a friend of mine. His name is Daniel. Daniel, this is Beatrice. She’s my best girl.” She twisted her head and looked at me. She was fair-skinned with black eyes, a little heart-shaped mouth the same color as her uncle’s, and a curious look on her face. She was adorable.
“Hi Beatrice, call me Danny.” Axel snorted, but I ignored him. “I love your jammies.” They were bright yellow and covered in bees.
She studied me closely with a gaze that was much older than her four years. “They’re honey-bees,” she whispered.
“I can tell. They look just like you.” I smiled at her and when her mouth turned up in the tiniest of smiles, I felt like I was king of the world.
Axel tilted his head inward and I stomped the snow off my shoes and walked after them.
Bea cocked her head and gazed at Axel. “Is he your boyfriend?”
“No, honey. Just a regular friend.”
I stumbled on something invisible on the floor.
Axel the Hulking Giant was gay?
In a trance, I followed them into the kitchen and sat. They chitchatted, but I didn’t register anything they said because I was too busy staring at Axel as he shrugged out of his jacket.
He wore a tight T-shirt that looked painted on and revealed every ridge and groove of his body. He had unusual tattoos with big stretches of his skin completely black as if someone had painted on him with a Sharpie. The abstract motif was created by the blank spaces in between all the black and it was mesmerizing. But if I’d seen them when he wasn’t holding a cute little Honey-Bee in his arms, I would have run screaming in the other direction.
He was scary as fuck and hotter than hell and my dick stirred in my pants. I sat on my hands so I wouldn’t thump myself in front of the child.
“Danny is staring at you, Uncle Ax.” Beatrice’s voice—full of mischievous giggles—pulled me out of my stupor and I snapped my mouth shut. Hopefully, I hadn’t drooled at least.
“Sorry.” My voice was a pathetic squeak, and I had to clear my throat. “Your tattoos are very unusual.” His laughing eyes told me he didn’t believe my lame explanation for a second.
“I’d be happy to tell you all about ‘em.” His crooked smile and velvety voice made me weak in the knees, and I forced myself to look away.
When had I stopped thinking of him as a potential serial killer and started liking him? Before or after I’d watched him melt into a puddle in the hands of his niece? I shook my head. No, it was way before. Back on the freezing road when he’d spoken to me like I was a baby reindeer terrified of jolly old St. Nick. He’d coaxed and sweet-talked me until he’d gotten me where he’d wanted.
I sighed. It didn’t matter if I’d detected a hint of interest coming from him; we were most likely not compatible on that front. No way was he taking my cock up his ass. He was the typical top if I ever saw one.
Rolling my eyes at myself, I forced myself to stop ogling him. Great. Now I was some goddamn pervert, thinking about fucking him in front of an innocent girl. Someone should lock me up and throw away the key.
“Wanna watch Elsa with us, Danny?” Beatrice asked.
“Who’s Elsa?”
She giggled with her little hand covering her mouth. “Danny doesn’t know who Elsa is,” she said to Axel.
He threw a glance over his shoulder and smirked at me. “Be prepared. Be very prepared.” They both burst out laughing.
I huffed and trudged after them, but I did not stare at Axel’s ass. Nope. I absolutely didn’t notice how his pants were glued to his round, squeezable butt or how the muscles played in his meaty thighs as he moved.
And surely I imagined the exaggerated swing to his hips?
He wouldn’t do that. Right?
I made sure he had his back firmly at me, and then I thumped my dick. Hard. I had to bite my lip to keep the whimper inside. But when I sat down next to the little Honey-Bee and her big, scary Uncle Ax on the couch, I had myself under control. Mostly.