Axel

by Kaitlyn Ewald

  Why was she torn in any way?

  Laney didn’t know if she could ever love a man again, and Ashley was giving her an insight to her own situation she hadn’t even thought about. It was nice to make a promise, it was nice to imagine it could hold true, but the truth of the situation was that she didn’t.

  “We should get back to the clubhouse,” Laney said softly.

  Ashley grabbed a hold of her hand, held it tightly.

  “You should ask Axel to explain it to you, Laney. Get him to talk to you. You need to hear the whole story, the one even I don’t have all the details of.”

  “If I ask him to tell me the truth then I have to face whatever he tells me head on. I made a promise to try to open up, to stick around, but Ashley, I don’t fuckin’ know if I can.”

  She didn’t argue anymore, she didn’t say a word. No, she just took a hold of the cart and led them both towards the checkout line.

  The entire way there Laney wanted to speak up, to reassure her, because that’s what Ashley wanted. That’s what she needed. Laney wasn’t trying to be selfish or cruel by telling her that hearing about Axel’s obviously impressive dead-list would change things. It would.

  At the moment, all they did was kiss and touch and share some secrets in the dark. Nothing major. They were exclusively exploring and that was fine, but all it meant was that neither one would be fucking anyone else in the meantime.

  So, what kind of commitment could she make? The better question really, was what kind of commitment did she want to make? That’s what Laney needed to decide. Could she stay in Bryson City with the Lone Rangers and create a life here, or did she want to start over somewhere else?

  “Laney, come on. Axel called wondering where we are. Let’s go home,” Ashley said. It wasn’t lost on Laney how eagerly Ashley held out her hand; she knew that at the end of the day, Ashley would want her brother to be happy. She would want Laney to stay, but Laney appreciated more than anything that Ashley was being realistic about the reality of whether or not she actually would.

  “Okay, yeah. Let’s go home.”

  Home.

  It’s not a place, it’s a feeling, and I haven’t felt ‘at home,’ in a long, long, time.

  Chapter 11

  The tree was up, the clubhouse was decorated, and both Laney and Ashley had two cups of hot chocolate each.

  Now, The Seven Deadlies were coming to their lot for a party, and Laney was busy trying to make herself presentable. There wasn’t much she could do, put on some make up, straighten her curly hair, put on a pretty pair of jeans that made her ass look good.

  But, she was still trying to avoid Pierce and Ashley and Axel and…well, everyone.

  It wouldn’t be acceptable to run away now, would it?

  She could practically see her brother frowning in her head and decided no was the answer to that.

  “Laney? It’s Rayna,” She heard, as a knock sounded on her bedroom door.

  “Come in!”

  Rayna stepped inside, something slung over her arm. She held her arm out with a smile, her blue eyes sparkling, “I brought you a little somethin’ somethin’.”

  Curious, Laney stepped towards her, one hand outstretched. Rayna dropped the bundle of fabric into Laney’s hands and as she unfolded it, a smile came to her face.

  “Where did you find this?,” She asked.

  In her hands was Rider’s favorite t-shirt, a shirt she’d purchased for him herself. It had Lez Zeppelin on the front and he’d worn it for an entire summer as he prospected.

  “Emily found it and saved it for you. She kept forgettin’ to get it to you, so I brought it with me.”

  Laney hugged Rayna close and laid the shirt out on the end of her bed.

  “Thank you.”

  It meant more to her than she really knew how to say, so she poured her emotions into her hug. Rayna squeezed her back, patting her shoulders gently.

  “I knew you’d love to see it again. I know being over here is hard, but I truly believe that this is what’s best for you. Being closer to his memorial would have torn you to pieces, and you’re already so fragile.”

  Laney didn’t argue because she couldn’t, so she nodded and released Rayna.

  “Let’s get to the party, huh? Spend any more time in here and Ashley is bound to come pounding on that door,” She joked.

  Rayna nodded and held out an arm for her, which Laney took gratefully. As they stepped into the hallway both women were bombarded by the sound of laughter, music, and the obvious sound of glasses clinking against one another. It was an all-out rager of a party, but Laney was prepared.

  She needed to blow off some steam after her earlier conversation with Ashley, anyways.

  “Limit and Scarlett showed up too, make sure you say hi. They rarely come to parties, those little recluses,” Rayna said as they stepped outside. Right away, Laney spotted Limit, Fury, Ox, and Axel chatting across the way. She tried not to let her face heat, tried to ignore how damn good Axel looked, but her eyes were glued to his handsome face and broad shoulders.

  He was imposing, sexy, altogether far too dangerous for her little heart to even begin to comprehend, but Laney couldn’t resist. Like a magnet, she was drawn to him, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  “If you stare any harder you’ll get a headache,” Rayna joked.

  Laney pinched her arm gently and laughed.

  “I can’t help it.”

  “Yeah, baby, I know how that goes. Don’t worry, it will…never mind, my attraction to Fury still hasn’t faded and we’ve been together for what seems like forever,” Rayna said with a giggle.

  The man of her dreams showed up out of nowhere, too, and swept Rayna into his open arms.

  Fury was a kind man, had a bit of a temper, but when it came to Rayna, he was a veritable prince.

  He proved how gentle he could be every time he fought in the cage and stepped right out of it only to wrap his woman in his arms and kiss her like a woman ought to be kissed.

  Deeply, and all-consuming.

  Laney found herself staring longingly in Axel’s direction, wishing more than anything that she could just let go and touch him the way she wanted to. That she could let her guard down for a solid two seconds so she could actually enjoy him, enjoy what he had to offer, enjoy him.

  Axel’s dusky eyes caught hers and held, stirring that warmth between her thighs again, making her blush.

  “Now’s your chance, go give him a little kiss,” Fury said with a wink.

  He made a lewd motion with his hands that had her and Rayna laughing together.

  If only I could.

  Well, Laney knew full well that she could, but she decided against it….

  Why, why, why?

  Limit stepped into her line of vision and held out one arm to her. She raised one eyebrow and looked at him skeptically, but he only smiled wider.

  “Walk with me, little flower.”

  Laney blinked at the strange compliment, but she took his arm anyways and they pushed through the throngs of people. Limit remained silent for longer than she expected him to, but finally, he spoke. They rounded the side of the cage and his fingers gripped the metal and tugged.

  Without any prompting, he started to laugh.

  Laney was starting to wonder if he was drunk-

  “You’re goin’ down, Laney.”

  She blinked, confused.

  “Excuse me?”

  Limit smiled at her and nodded towards Scarlett, who was standing with Emily across the lot.

  “That woman over there saved me from myself when I didn’t know I needed it. Being with her is magnetic, and there ain’t shit I can do to combat it. I tried. Damn, did I try, but nothin’ helped. I needed her. She needed me. We work together like magic.”

  “Why are you telling me all of this?,” Laney asked.

  Limit pointed a finger at Axel.

  “That man looks at you the same way I looked at her. He’s just a lot more discreet about it
than I was. My reaction to her was a complete fuckin’ shit-show, but she accepted me anyways. Do you accept Axel?”

  Laney’s eyes fell to the ground and she slowly shrugged.

  “I have no idea,” She said truthfully.

  Limit didn’t look happy, but he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and sighed.

  “I was afraid of that. Look, Axel won’t ever push you to do anything you don’t want to do, but you’re playin’ house. Laney, ya gotta realize how this life works. Everything here is instant. Whatever he feels about you, he’s damn sure about it. Trust me. It ain’t fair to give him half of what he deserves, ya know.”

  Laney did know, she knew very well that Limit was right about everything he was saying.

  “I know, I just-”

  Limit shook his head.

  “No.”

  Laney’s mouth fell open as Limit glanced back at Axel, who was watching them with an intense stare that had her entire body heating all over again.

  “So, what are you saying?”

  “Make a fuckin’ choice, little flower. The man is falling for you, and after that, you’ll be stuck. He won’t let you go. Make sure this, make sure he, is what you want.”

  Laney let those words settle on her skin for a second, let them sink in, took into account who was speaking them.

  Limit- Limit- was giving her dating advice. He obviously knew what he was talking about or he wouldn’t have bothered.

  “Okay, I understand.”

  “Good,” He said with a grin.

  With a flourish and an almost curtsey, he motioned for her to head back to her man.

  Her man.

  He can’t be mine if I’m looking at everything with a time limit.

  Not just any man, either; Axel was strong and reserved, but she could feel the danger on his tongue every time they kissed.

  It sparked, sparked like an electrical shock every time their lips met.

  Maybe that was why she was so scared, or maybe it was because she loved it. Maybe it was because she craved him in a way that didn’t make sense to her.

  Either way, when she got closer to him, Axel yanked her into his chest and brought her close, brought her mouth to his in front of the entire lot full of people. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and just like that, she was lost. It felt like slow motion, the combustion between her thighs and the heat that poured from her pores.

  Just when she didn’t think she could get any hotter, his lips landed on the shell of her ear…

  “I’m gonna fuck you tonight, Laney. I’m gonna slip between those sweet thighs of yours and leave my mark on your skin.”

  ✽✽✽

  The crowd was thinning and Laney was a little drunk, but her and Rayna and Esme had just watched a good fight between Axel and Fury. Fury won this time, and Laney was waiting for Axel to leave the cage so she could help him get cleaned up, but he stayed pressed up against the chilled metal links.

  It made her nervous.

  Not to mention his earlier promise was practically simmering in her brain, and all that that entails…

  “Axel? Are you okay?”

  He glanced up at her, and the angle of the moonlight made him looked like a bloody beast. Covered in sweat, his hair hung in his eyes, and to her they looked like to two magical beams of moonlight that could enchant her with only glance.

  “Come here, baby.”

  Laney hesitated, mostly because he didn’t look at all happy.

  He lifted his head a little higher, his eyes roving over every inch of her skin. Her pants and halter top didn’t leave much to the imagination, but with him, it was almost like he could see right through her clothes anyways.

  Laney looked down to see if maybe a nip was showing, but she saw nothing out of place.

  “Now,” Axel practically growled.

  Laney stepped up her pace and climbed into the cage, careful to avoid the puddles of blood from earlier fights. Axel stood to his full height, his long hair falling into his face again. This time it was almost completely dark, the moonlight tucked behind them.

  “Are you okay?,” She whispered.

  Axel didn’t answer, but he did stare at her.

  More.

  His dark eyes started at the tips of her toes and worked their way north, stopping only once he’d taken in every millimeter of her.

  “I’ve been thinkin’ about the way you moan all fuckin’ night, Laney. Do you remember the way I spanked that perfect ass of yours?”

  Before she could answer he was stepping closer to her, sweeping the hair off of her shoulders, baring her warm skin to him. It was far too cold for her to be standing outside in what she was wearing, but next to him, it felt like she was stepping onto the sun.

  His hard body was on display for her, and fuck, did she like what she saw. Laney was trying to entertain the idea of self-restraint, but Axel was making it…impossible.

  “I remember the way your tight pussy squeezed my fingers as you came all over my hand, too. I wish you’d have come all over my mouth as I ate that sweet pussy, but don’t worry. That’ll happen soon enough. I have big plans for that sexy body of yours,” Axel promised.

  Laney swallowed audibly, her body heat moving into overdrive, practically melting her skin from her bones.

  Axel smiled at her like he knew exactly what he was dong to her and she had no doubt that he did. He was a master at seduction, he’d proven it to her more than once. She’d been able to stave him off thus far, but not tonight.

  Tonight, she would let him have her.

  Axel stepped closer until her back hit the springy metal of the cage and she gasped.

  “Stand still. Put your hands above your head and don’t fuckin’ move.”

  Laney followed his orders, unsure of what he wanted.

  “Say my name. Tell me who’s touching you.”

  Laney whispered, “Axel.”

  “Alexander. Say it,” He demanded.

  “Alexander,” Laney said softly.

  His real name is Alexander, it suits him…

  She didn’t have much time to think about his name because his fingers were unbuttoning her pants and suddenly she knew exactly what he had planned for her.

  “Don’t look so surprised, Laney. I told you I’m a monster. Monsters belong in cages. Why wouldn’t I fuck you where I can be my real self?”

  Laney swallowed her retort at his words because he was obviously not paying attention to anything she had to say and she didn’t mind at all. His fingers were slipping her pants down around her hips and the callouses on his fingers tickled her soft skin.

  His sexy words were rolling around in her head like a thunder storm, like a tornado, and she loved the way he spoke to her. The way he handled her like he knew exactly what she wanted, what she needed.

  Her pants hit the ground and his hands came right back up, gripping he thighs, gripping her ass, squeezing her hard. She would more than likely have bruises, but they’d sure as hell be worth it.

  “Hands up, or you don’t get to come,” He snapped.

  Laney realized then that her fingers were buried in his long hair and not where they were supposed to be; above her head.

  She rushed to do as he bid, wanting him to continue.

  His fingers played with the lining of her thong, his gaze flittering up to meet hers.

  “You’re so beautiful, I don’t know what to do with myself,” He said softly.

  It was a direct contraction to the mood, but it only made her wetter.

  Axel leaned forward and shoved his mouth against the crotch of her panties, his facial hair tickling her through the black lace.

  “You smell divine and I can’t wait to taste that pussy, Laney. I’m gonna make you come so hard it’ll be like no one else ever touched you.”

  Laney believed him, she knew he could do it, she knew that he would be the only one to give her what her body needed. She didn’t know how or when or why, but he made her whole being light up.

  “I knew
from the second your crazy ass came into my office all pissed off I’d have to have you, baby. I knew. You’re the most annoyingly beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said as he kissed his way along her thighs.

  His lips were soft and tender but his hold on her was biting.

  His fingers slipped beneath her shirt and lifted the light material-

  “What if someone sees?”

  Axel glanced at her and then continued to work his mouth north, past her navel.

  “I don’t give a fuck.”

  His words only made her more anxious to be naked, to touch him like he was touching her.

  She’d never even considered doing anything sexual in public, but with Axel?

  Hell, all the cards were on the table for this one.

  “Ain’t nobody gonna come out here, I made sure of that. Take your shirt off and let me see those perfect tits of yours.”

  Laney didn’t question him and tore her shirt off, leaving them both bare chested. He started to unsnap his jeans and she made sure to help him, her fingers gliding across his sweaty skin.

  He smelled like nicotine and sweat and whiskey and she loved every part of it.

  His eyes didn’t leave her body, not once, and it made her feel like a fucking goddess.

  “Turn around and put your hands on the cage, Laney. I’m gonna fuck you from behind first, and then I’m gonna take you home, and start all over again.”

  Laney turned as fast as she could, her chest heaving, her pussy wet. Her thighs spread of their own accord the second his hand pressed against her lower back.

  She heard his pants hit the ground, belt and all, and peeked over her shoulder for a look.

  Perfection.

  He’s fucking perfecttt.

  From his head to his toes, Axel was everything she wanted and more. Planes of muscle and tanned skin.

  “You like what you see?”

  Laney bit her lip and nodded when he wrapped his hand around the base of his dick. It looked huge in comparison to his hand, but she didn’t mind.

  She wanted to taste him as much as he wanted to taste her.

  “Spread your legs baby, I need to warm your pussy up.”

  His right hand slid between her thighs and helped her position her hips so he could spread her open.