As I tried again to apologize, Pierce held up a hand. “Please, Max. It’s okay. I knew what you meant when you said it. And that you didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Still. I’m so sorry. It just kind of popped out. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t seem all that turned off by my chair or the fact I’m missing a leg. You never ask, but you also never give those weird sympathetic looks strangers give me like they’re sorry for me but glad at the same time that it isn’t them.”
“No, I’d never. I don’t know what happened, but your injury shouldn’t define you. You’re still a man. You look fit. You obviously take care of yourself. I’m sure there’s still a lot you can do despite your missing leg. I have to admire how strong you are in the face of all the adversity you’ve had to overcome. It takes a great strength to come back from a terrible injury like yours and keep your independence. I admire that.”
“Don’t admire me too much, Max. I’m a cranky old man who’s gotten too set in his ways to remember what it feels like to live.”
“Maybe you just need someone to show you how.” Not expecting a response, I moved the ladder to the next spot, unfolding it and lining it up with the empty section of the eaves. It was the last section in need of lights.
Making sure the ladder was steady, I climbed up, grabbing the section of lights hanging from the last clip on my way up. I made quick work of the few remaining lights until the last three. It was stupid, but I didn’t want to take the time to climb down to move the ladder for three little lights. Reaching out, the next light was easy to clip to the roof. I had to stretch further for the next one. The last light was too far out of reach no matter how hard I tried. As I eased back, my foot slipped. Everything afterward was a blur as I let loose of the lights, grabbing the ladder as it rocked under me.
The ground came up on me faster than I expected as I twisted in an attempt to land anywhere soft that wasn’t right on top of the ladder. My lungs burst as the air was forced out of them, making breathing a desperate thing I needed to do to get air, but my body forgot how for a split second. Fear crept in even as I tried to force it back and remember how to breathe.
Chapter Seven
Pierce
For a moment, I wondered what it would be like to make the young omega mine. Each time we met, that inner glow that lived inside the man shone brighter, making me want some of his warmth. It didn’t matter that I was too damn old for him. It didn’t even matter that he deserved someone more than me. Someone whole. In that moment, I wanted Max even though I shouldn’t.
Max moved the ladder, climbing on as I grabbed the wheels on my chair. I couldn’t watch as the young man decorated his home. He was so full of joy and happiness. He had yet to learn how life could kick you in the teeth when you least expected it.
“It’s getting late. I need to go back inside. Be careful up on that ladder,” I said before turning away, making a swift retreat. The man was too good for the likes of me. Somewhere out there was some young buck who’d make it his mission to make Max happy. It sure as hell couldn’t be me. I was too broken.
My wheels hadn’t even left Max’s driveway before the sound of something hitting the ground reached me. Turning, I saw Max’s body lying on the ground next to the ladder. His hand reached for his chest, grabbing at his shirt as he tried to suck in a breath. Not even locking my wheels, I threw myself from the wheelchair, hopping to Max because it was faster. As I sank to the ground, it became apparent he’d had the wind knocked out of him as he tried and failed to get any air into his lungs. His groans filled the air as I sank to the ground next to him.
“Max. Max!” I shook him to get his attention. Fear emanated from his eyes as he looked into mine. Grabbing his hand, I spoke with my most reassuring voice despite the fact he’d scared me so much and my heart was racing. “It’s okay, Max. You just got the wind knocked out of you. Concentrate on breathing. Slow and steady. It will right itself.”
Max relaxed as I grabbed his hand, making soothing motions as my thumb stroked his skin. Slowly, he caught a breath, then another, until soon he was breathing normally and the small moans he made faded off.
“Are you hurt anywhere? It wasn’t much of a fall, but you could still have sprained something.”
“No, nothing hurts. Well, ’cept maybe my pride. I shouldn’t have tried reaching so far out.”
“It’s okay. Do you think you can get up?”
“Give me a minute. I don’t want to move quite yet.”
“Take your time.”
The omega looked at me as I sat on the ground before his eyes drifted over to the wheelchair several feet away. “How did you? I mean… what did you do? Fly?”
“No, I hopped. I can hop pretty well on one leg if I’m motivated. Seeing you on the ground was a lot of motivation.”
“Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. I’m glad you’re okay. It could have been much worse.”
I looked into Max’s eyes, saw the pain there, and I wanted to take it all away. It was a dangerous thought, taking Max’s pain as mine. He already meant so much more to me than I expected. Before I even knew what I was doing, my lips were covering his. Soft.
