Helios Renewed (The Helios Chronicles #3) Read online

  “Why would you think that?”

  Callie sat up on her elbows and twisted her lips before speaking, “Well, shouldn’t I feel like crap for having a good time without Ellie? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love her to death but,” she scrunched her face even further. “I’ve missed being around adults.”

  Callie looked down as if she had spoken some horrible truth.

  “Well, I think that’s normal, Callie. I’m not a parent or anything, but it’s okay to want to have grown up time. It’s not like you leave her at the drop of a hat. In fact, you spend all your time with her. You are an excellent mom, so get that nonsense out of your head.”

  Callie giggled just slightly. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Have you thought about going back to work?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Ellie seems so little still. I don’t want anyone else watching her. Even my mom had me watching my brothers and sisters.”

  “I can understand that, but maybe you could just try part time. You know, to get out of the house.”

  “Jayden doesn’t want me to work. He said his dad took, I don’t know, Jayden made it seem like six months or something to watch him.”

  Madison laughed. “That’s probably an exaggeration.”

  “I know.” Callie smiled. “But, yet, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. Liam seems the type.”

  Madison shrugged and then nodded. In the time she had known the Bennett’s, it did appear that Liam was likely the caretaker when Jayden was little. She couldn’t see Elias leaving his practice, and as protective as they both are of their son now, she knew they were undoubtedly twice as bad when he was younger, which meant they probably didn’t trust anyone. But that was a pretty high bar that Callie was trying to live up to.

  “Callie, listen,” Madison sat up to look at her properly. “It isn’t what the Bennett’s did or what your mom did. It’s what you feel comfortable doing. But know that whatever you decide you are a kick ass mom and if anyone says different you just steer them my way,” she finished with an arch of her brow.

  “Oh Madison, thank you so much,” Callie said, leaping at her friend to hug her.

  “You know Ellie is getting totally pampered right now.”

  Callie let out one of her trademark, high pitched, screeches of a laugh as she nodded. “Liam has probably already replaced all her formula with some completely natural concoction that he made from scratch” Callie said with a snort.

  “Would he really do that?” Madison laughed.

  Callie shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe. Jayden said when he was little Liam had them eating everything all natural. He said his dads rarely let him eat any processed food when he was a kid.”

  “Geez, really?” Madison said, not at all surprised.

  “Yes, Jayden said he didn’t eat fast food at all. I guess Liam was like obsessed with fitness and wellness.”

  “Well, hell, him and Elias are seriously still hot so whatever they are doing they should market 'cause DAMN!”

  “D.I.L.F., for sure,” Callie giggled at the slang usage and wagged her brows.

  “Oh my God! I can’t believe you just said that,” Madison laughed and covered her mouth. Of course, the Bennett’s certainly were worth lusting after, by most people’s standards. Both girls were beat red at the turn their conversation had taken.

  “What are you girls laughing about?” Jayden asked as he and Andrew approached.

  Madison turned and was momentarily stunned. Andrew looked sinfully sexy. His low-slung board shorts were clinging to his strong legs while water glistened on his wet chest and abs, making the hair on his toned stomach stick to him. The water was luminous on his tattoos and made them appear more vibrant and sexier than normal. The elegant tribal tattoo, that Madison had traced many times, beckoned her as did the sun over his heart. The one she was the most gentle with as it still caused him pain. His fingers went through his hair as his lip twisted up into his deadly, I own you, smirk.

  “Come with me.”

  Madison heard Andrew say in his pure sex voice as he pulled her now limp body up, drawing her lips to his. His mouth enveloped hers as Madison’s body vibrated against him. Once she was completely out of breath he abruptly stopped and practically tossed her on his back. Instinctually she wrapped her arms around his neck as her legs locked on his waist. Her head dropped on his shoulder, nestled in his wet hair.

  “HELIOS!” she screeched as the contrast from the blistering sun and cold water shocked her out of her Helios induced trance.

  “You seemed like you needed to cool off,” he chuckled as he pushed his hair out of his face.

  Madison splashed water on him, “You just ruined my perfectly lust filled fantasy.”

  He yanked her close to him. “No need to fantasize, baby, I’m right here.”

  Madison didn’t respond as her eyes fluttered closed, lost again as she felt his long fingers slip inside her bathing suit and press against her. He started moving them over her languidly. Her mouth parted as she breathed out, her face distorting in pleasure.

  “Do you like that, Madison?” he asked deeply.

  All Madison could do was nod. Her body was his and he knew it. Andrew smiled and continued his ministrations. He and Jayden had decided the girls had stayed dry long enough. But when they both approached, both girls looked guilty as they giggled and whispered to one another. Their intent was to take them on the jet skis, which they would probably still do, but for now he was going to take care of his girl, who was looking so flustered and sexy and wet.

  ~*~

  “Madison, have you met Connor yet?” Callie asked, watching Jayden add a few more logs to the fire.

  “No, not yet, you?”

  Jayden rolled his eyes as he sat back down and brought Callie onto his lap. Callie had been dying to meet Connor and had made an unplanned trip to the shop with the pretense of bringing them lunch. She had brought them lunch alright, but he knew she had an ulterior motive. He and Andrew had then spent the entire time watching Connor and Callie battle in a verbal tennis match, both fighting for who could get the most words out.

  “Oh yes, he’s a little cutie,” Callie said, bringing Jayden out of his thought. Callie continued. “Like, I don’t know, a little taller than you. He has this little boy face with all this wild hair, and, oh my gosh, he’s so hyper. I couldn’t get a word in at all.”

  Madison laughed. “That must have been hilarious to watch.”

  “It was,” Andrew chuckled as he and Jayden shared a knowing glance.

  “Yes, he is a good guy but a little, ummm, high maintenance,” Jayden said with a smile.

  He looked at Andrew, who was also smiling. In truth, they had both liked Connor immediately. He was a small guy, in comparison to them, who didn’t look much older than sixteen although they both knew he was well over that. He had a wild head of hair that he was constantly pushing out of his face and he talked a mile a minute. But, he had a cheery disposition. You couldn’t help but smile whenever you were around him; he just seemed to bring that out in people. Jayden remembered thinking that he was almost the male equivalent of his Callie. Jayden still couldn’t believe he had been in jail. They all hit it off immediately and he has been a much needed addition to their shop.

  “We should have him over,” Madison suggested, bringing Jayden out of his thoughts.

  “That’s a great idea,” Callie said excitedly.

  Andrew kissed Madison’s temple. He loved that about her. She had such compassion and never judged anyone. She rested her head against his chest as his hand gently combed through her hair. The bright embers of the fire crackled in the pit as the two couples held each other, Madison on Andrew’s lap and Callie on Jayden’s. Madison was lost in the hypnotic cadence of the fire, which was magnified by the steady thumping of Andrew’s heart. Soon she found herself drifting off.

  “Madison, baby, wake up,” Andrew whispered, nudging her slightly.

  Madison’s eyes slowly started to open. She lifte
d her head and saw that Jayden and Callie had already gone into their tent. She looked up at Andrew, who was watching her. He gently stroked her face, pushing her hair behind her ears. They had all been talking, and when she didn’t answer a question, he realized that she had fallen asleep. Shortly after, Jayden had thrown more wood on the fire and he and Callie went to their tent. Andrew had meant to wake her sooner but he didn’t have the heart to. He felt comforted having her sleeping in his arms. It was the little things like this that made him love her so immensely and made his heart feel at peace. So instead of waking her, he watched the fire and held her close to him, thinking about how much she meant to him. The many ups and downs over the past couple of years and what might lie ahead for them. He finally decided he had to wake her when he realized he needed to throw some more wood on the fire.

  “How long was I asleep?" she asked rubbing her eyes.

  “About an hour.”

  “Really.”

  “Yes,” he said with a light kiss on her forehead, “Let’s go to bed.”

  She nodded and slid off his lap while he walked over to the pile of wood that they had for the fire. She watched him in the light of the fire as he arranged some more logs on the flames. He was so very handsome in only his jeans and one of his old ratty t-shirts. Feeling her eyes on him, he turned his head. She mouthed the words I love you and was rewarded with a smile that could make the coldest of hearts melt. He positioned two more logs on the fire before walking over to her and taking her small hand in his. As they entered the tent, Madison instantly shed her jeans and slipped onto the bed. Andrew dropped his jeans as well and pulled off his tee before sliding in next to her. Madison immediately draped her arm over his chest and snuggled next to him.

  “Are you real tired?” he asked softly, running his fingers along her lower back.

  Madison hummed as she laid a kiss on his chest and then crawled on top of him, bringing her lips to his. His hands moved up her back and into her hair as their kiss deepened. Suddenly, without notice, they were both sliding off the air mattress. Madison screamed as Andrew wrapped his arms around her and twisted so that she would land on top of him. Madison involuntarily giggled until she saw Andrew wince.

  “Helios, baby, are you alright?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  “Well, that woke me up,” Madison giggled.

  “Hmm,” he breathed in and then slapped her rear, before sliding her off of him.

  He stood and stretched, arching his back. He then reached for the comforter and blankets atop the bed. Madison realized what he was about to do and leapt up, snatching the pillows from the air mattress as well and tossed them onto the comforter he had just spread out on the floor. It was a smaller area since the bed took up most of the space but neither cared. Andrew lay down and reached for her, bringing her on top of him again. His lips hovered close to hers.

  “Let’s try that again,” he said with a smile.

  “Yes, let’s,” Madison answered as her lips touched his.

  3 Birthday

  SEPTEMBER

  It had been a few months since hiring Connor and things seemed to be going well. He was definitely a handful, but in a good way. Andrew liked having him around. As strange as it sounded, Connor made him feel as if his heart was somehow expanding, growing to allow another person to enter it. He had become a regular fixture at outings and dinners. The girls absolutely adored his manic energy. Andrew would never forget the look on Madison’s face the first time he had come to their place to eat. She had told him afterwards that it was like witnessing a tornado of words and energy in human form. All in all, things had settled down. Andrew worked hard to tame the insecurities he felt. He had some lingering doubts that he surmised would probably always be there, but for the most part, he felt good. He felt happy. He felt whole.

  Andrew had arranged with Jayden and Connor to leave work a few hours early since today was Madison’s birthday. He had been planning this evening for several weeks and Madison had no suspicions thus far, which was a feat in and of itself as he had to enlist Callie’s help with some of the details. He carefully rearranged the living room, moving their coffee table near the bay window. He placed a large bouquet of roses in the center of the table, along with four crystal bowls, two on each side, that had rose petals and floating candles in them. He placed one large candle and four smaller ones on each of the end tables and then lined the mantel of the fireplace with smaller candles in pretty crystal holders. He walked to the iPod docking station, making sure that it was already set on the right playlist and then looked at the clock. He smiled. He had another hour before Madison would be home. He walked to the kitchen and checked the food one more time before glancing into the dining room.

  “I’ll set the table and then jump in the shower,” he thought aloud.

  Madison was tired as she pulled up to the house. It had been a long day, a dreadful day, to be exact. But, then again, that probably had more to do with it being her birthday than anything else. She had done her best to smile at Jaimie and Liam as they sang happy birthday to her and gave her a small cake with sparkling candles on it. She clapped and laughed with them but inside she wanted to hurl. She eyed the box of half eaten cake and twisted her lips. She then looked in her rear view mirror and practiced her smile.

  “Callie said he was doing something special for you so whatever he did,” she arched her brow at her reflection, “you will like it and not act like a bitch.”

  She scowled. She remembered how horrible she had been in New York when he tried to do something for her birthday. Last year he had kept it low key. He had taken her out to her favorite restaurant and then to the theater to see one of the indie movies she had been talking about. Madison had loved it but Andrew seemed a bit uncomfortable. She had told him this year that she didn’t want to go anywhere. She could tell he had been disappointed but she simply wasn’t ready to do all the happy birthday party celebrations that others did. She still struggled with separating her birthday from her father’s funeral. With a heavy sigh, she grabbed the box on the seat and got out of her car.

  She walked slowly to the house, nervous. She was desperate to like whatever he did as she knew it would hurt him if she didn’t but she just wasn’t sure if she could pull it off. She breathed in deeply as her hand reached for the door knob. Before she could actually turn it, the door opened. Madison’s mouth dropped as Andrew stood before her, clad in only a pair of low slung, black silk pajama pants. His bare chest was glistening like it did when he would exit the shower. Her eyes wandered up and down his beautiful body. He didn’t seem real to her. More like a work of fiction. As if someone had plucked her fantasy straight from her mind and made it a real person.

  Her lip entered her mouth as she brought her eyes up to meet his darkened ones. He had the same expression on his face that he had when they first met. That whole, I’m gonna devour you whole and you’re gonna enjoy it, look.

  “Happy Birthday, Madison.”

  He brought his knuckle to her face and traced it along her cheek bone and then over her lips, forcing her to release it from her teeth. He smirked as he took the box from her hand, a box she had completely forgotten about. His hand moved to her lower back as he guided her inside their home. Madison gasped when she saw what he had done. The flowers and unlit candles were beautiful but what her eyes were drawn to was what looked like a massage table in the middle of their living room. It seemed to have some kind of blanket on it, or maybe it was a towel, she couldn’t tell for sure. There was also a small tray table, similar to the ones used in hospitals, near the bed with what looked like rolled towels and a jar of oil on it.

  “What did you do?” she whispered.

  “First, I’m going to feed you, and then,” his lips touched hers lightly, “I’m going to take care of you.” His heated words ignited her core.

  “You always take care of me,” she replied in a barely audible whimper.

  He smirked and led her to the dining room tab
le where he had their meal already out. His previous failed attempts at making her dinner made him nervous but he felt he had done it right this time, following the directions to a tee for roasted duckling and new potatoes. He set the box on the counter and helped her out of her jacket, laying it over the back of the sofa. He then pulled her seat out just as Madison looked up at him.

  “Sit, Madison.”

  She did, without hesitation, looking over everything he had prepared for her. She felt the tears already starting to form and held them back. Do NOT cry! She told herself. He poured her a glass of the wine that Elias and Liam had given him for tonight. He smiled as he remembered stopping by one night last week after work. He knew from being around the Bennetts’ that certain wines were used with certain dishes. But what wine was best with what, he had no idea. He told them what he was planning and asked for a recommendation. They ended up handing him a bottle from their reserve, and even though he tried not to take it, stating he only wanted to know which wine would go best with what he was making, they insisted. When he got to his bike and inspected the bottle further, he had seen that it was a five hundred dollar bottle of wine. Not wanting to damage it in any way possible, he had driven exceptionally slow that night. It was the slowest he had ever driven his Harley before. He sat across from her and raised his glass.

  “To the day you were born,” he said with a smile.

  Madison, unable to stop herself, smiled in return as she touched her glass to his and took a sip. She looked down at her food. It looked amazing. She wanted to ask if he actually made it or bought it or if he had someone else make it for him, but she realized that she didn’t care. He was doing his best to make her day special. She breathed in deeply before she took a bite of her roasted duck, moaning around her fork.

  “Is it okay?” he asked, hopeful that it turned out like Mr. Bennett promised it would.