I spit out a few of the seeds into the trash. “Fine. Can you at least get me her schedule?”
Max stood up, dumping his shells into the trashcan. “Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
I started to walk away when he called back to me. “Oh! One more thing… I do know that one of the other corrections officers has the hots for her. He’s been trying to get her to agree to go out with him for a few months now, but she keeps turning him down. He’s getting pissed. Said something about being sick of her ‘hard to get’ act.”
I growled under my breath. “Which. Officer?”
“Jimmy Westmore. Sits in the control room mostly.”
I made a mental note of the name so I could deal with him later before heading down to the visitation room.
***
My face lit up when Pops and Rogue came in. Man, only a few days gone, and I missed them. It was hard for me to understand how some people get by without this kind of family, having no one to lean on when shit hits the fan. No support whatsoever. Must be pretty lonely. I wouldn’t give up the life for anything.
“Good to see you, son.” Pops sat slowly, leaning heavily on the table. His knees must be actin’ up again.
“You too, Pops. You two are a sight for sore eyes.” I tapped my stitches ironically.
Rogue chuckled. “The Aryan’s treating you okay? I hate those white trash fuckers, but in times like these, they’re a necessity.”
I nodded. “Yeah, no more issues. You guys get any answers as to why the Almas are playing loose and fast with all that blow in Brooks Landing?”
“Money troubles,” Pops explained. “Apparently, their safe house is under heavy surveillance by the FBI, and they couldn’t risk being caught with the stuff. They were trying to liquidate before they got raided, and it backfired.”
I rolled my eyes. Fuckin’ idiots.
Rogue cracked his knuckles. “But that’s their problem. We had our own issues pop up this week. You’ll never guess who turned up out of the blue.”
I glanced over at my pops who had a shit-eatin’ grin on his face. “Who?”
“Sawyer.”
I shook my head, disbelieving. “Sawyer Lennox? That Sawyer?”
Rogue laughed. “The one and the same.”
“Well, shit.” I rubbed my jaw. Sawyer’s dad, Buck, was a founding member of the Fallen Idols, and she’d grown up in the club. That was, until she disappeared one day with no notice, leaving everyone—including her fiancée, stunned. “How’s Ryder takin’ it?”
“Not gonna lie,” Pops chimed in. “The kid’s havin’ a hard time. Sawyer’s not talking about what happened. Not even to Cruz.”
“Man, that’s gotta be hard. Why’s she back?”
Rogue leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in front of him. “Supposedly because Maria’s so sick.”
I furrowed my brow. “Why supposedly?”
Pops shook his head, letting out a slow breath. “That’s the other thing we need to discuss. We got word from one of our guys at Homeland that they’re opening an investigation, looking for the proprietor of CWR Inc. The warrant is apparently pretty broad, like they’re on a hunting expedition. And, don’t you know it’s headed by our favorite fed.”
I balled my fist. “Victor?”
“The one and the same.”
“Shit. That fucker’s had it out for us for years. How close is he?”
Pops waved it off. “We have it buried under a ton of shell corporations, but the fact that they’re even looking into it makes me a tad nervous.”
“So, how exactly does this involve Sawyer?” I questioned. “You think she’s involved with the Feds? Never! She’d never rat. Buck raised her better than that.”
Rogue sighed. “I want to believe that, but it’s too much of a coincidence. Maria’s been sick for a while, but Sawyer chooses the same week we find out about Homeland opening up a new investigation to come back. After five years? We gotta at least consider the possibility.”
I nodded, reluctantly. “I get it. I just can’t see the kid being a rat.”
“And, none of us saw her leaving like she did either. Who knows what she’s been doin’ all this time? For all we know, she could be a Fed herself.”
I shook my head at the very idea. “Jesus, Ryder must be going crazy.”
Pops huffed. “That’s an understatement.”
A guard called the five-minute warning before visitation ended. Pops and Rogue stood, getting ready to leave.
“One thing before you guys go. I need you to get a Prospect to do some research for me.”
“We’ll give it to Cruz. He needs something to keep himself occupied with his sister back. Whatcha need, son?”
I palmed a piece of paper containing Paige’s name, and slipped it into Pop’s hand nonchalantly. “Anything he can find on this. As much as possible.”
“A problem?” Rogue inquired.
I plastered on a shit-eatin’ grin. “Only the best kind.”
Both men rolled their eyes. “Shit, kid. Leave it to you to wind up in an all men’s prison and still find some pussy.”
“Time’s up!” the guard yelled. “Prisoners! Back to your cells. Now!”
I got in line with the others, and made my way back to my cell, daydreaming about the next time I laid eyes on Paige Morrison.
FOUR
PAIGE
I called off for the next two shifts that I was supposed to work, pretending to have come down with the flu. I felt bad for Hannah, who had to pick up my hours, but I knew she needed the money, and I just couldn’t set foot in that place until I got my shit together. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get Axel out of my mind.
And all the thoughts in my mind were dirty. So very, very deliciously dirty. Downright filthy.
The way he looked at me, so intense and with such passion. No one has ever looked at me like that before. The way he touched me, soft and rough at the same time. And the way he felt. God, it felt so good.
I came home after my shift last night, dusted off B.O.B, and brought myself to orgasm at least four times while I imagined it was Axel. Wishing it was Axel. Calling out Axel’s name.
I shook the thought from my head. This was exactly why I couldn’t go to work yet, and even have the possibility of seeing him. It was like he opened me up, splicing away at all my defenses, and exposing live wires. Now, just the thought of him makes the current sizzle, sparking my hormones once again.
And, no matter what I did, there was nothing that could diffuse how intense those sparks were. This kind of unbridled lust was something for those cheesy romance novels, not real life. Not my life. I needed to figure a way to get over this, because I couldn’t keep calling off work for the next few months just to avoid him.
I decided I’d transfer my focus these next few days to Gina, once and for all getting her to leave that bastard. I was sure, with him hours away and not around to poison her thoughts, she’d finally be able to do it for good this time. We packed our bags, and headed up to the Napa Valley for the weekend, hitting a spa and several wine tastings.
Twenty-four hours, three bottles of wine, and two spa treatments later, Axel was no longer at the center of my thoughts.
“I’m telling you, Gina. You deserve better. You can’t just settle for a guy who thinks it’s okay to hurt you, and leave you bruised and broken. Move in with me. I’ll change the locks, get a security system, get a dog if we have to, and we can file a restraining order. He’ll move on to easier prey once he realizes you’re serious about leaving this time. And, then, this whole ugly relationship will be behind you, and you’ll never have to worry about whether the next fist he makes will be intended for you.”
Gina took another sip of her Merlot. “I know you think he’s the devil, Paige, but I promise he has good qualities too. He loves me. I know he does. He just had a messed up childhood and— ”
I cut her off. “Fuck that, G. A lot of people have messed up childhoods. That doesn’t mean t
hey can go around punching, kicking, and basically beating the crap out of whomever they want. That gang he’s in only exacerbates the problem. They all revere him like he’s some kind of god, so he thinks he can get away with anything.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “It’s a motorcycle club, Paige, not a gang. You act like people who ride motorcycles are devil worshippers or something. They’re just a group of guys who like to ride.”
Now, it was my turn to roll my eyes. “Pfft! Yeah, a club that has the police on their payroll. Tell me, Gina, what kind of club of upstanding citizens has dirty cops on the take? It’s pretty obvious they’re doing something illegal. And, whatever it is, I certainly don’t want you caught up in that too.”
“Hey, don’t act all high and mighty. We all know you have dirty little secrets too, Paige.”
I set my glass down, and seeing that the bartender was distracted, I reached behind the bar for a new bottle of white, Pinot Grigio this time. “What secrets do I have to hide?”
“Why don’t we start with whoever Axel is?” I fumbled with the bottle opener, caught off guard, as heat flushed my face. Gina smirked. “Yeah, exactly. I heard you crying out his name last night. Walls aren’t soundproof, ya know. And I know you don’t go out and meet people regularly, so that only really leaves one place you could meet a new guy to fantasize about while you flick the bean for hours upon end.”
I squeezed my eyes shut in embarrassment. “It’s not—”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, sweetie. Good for you for getting yours. Mazel Tov, really. I’m not judging. I’m just saying you don’t have all the facts about Chubs, and you shouldn’t throw stones.”
I sighed, pouring myself a big glass, and taking a gulp before replying. “I know you love him. I know he’s probably not all bad all the time, and I only see the worst of him. But, it’s that worst that scares me. You’re my best friend and I love you. I don’t want to see you go through this anymore. Do you remember the night he fractured your eye socket? If he’d hit you a little to the left, you’d be blind. Please, just… let me help you.”
She was quiet for a long time, almost an hour. I knew this was really hard for her, so I just sat there and let her work through it as we drank our wine silently, listening to the band playing across the bar. As the sun began to set, she finally turned to me. “I can really stay with you?”
I set my glass down and turned, grabbing her and squeezing tight. “For as long as you want.”
Tears trickled down her face. “You may end up regretting that. I buff the muff more than you do. And I’m not very quiet.”
I laughed, squeezing her a little tighter. “I’ll buy earplugs.”
***
When I finally made it back to work, almost a week had passed since I’d seen Axel. I was fairly confident I’d gotten my crazy hormone-ridden lust phase behind me, and could focus on my job.
It was a full house when I got into work. The doctor for the prison system was in today, accounting for the extra bodies. Dr. Weinstein only came once a week, due to budget cuts system wide, so when he did show up, every prisoner with an ache or pain demanded to see him. I was going to be very busy until lights out, that’s for sure. I was working the seven to seven shift, owing Hannah for calling off.
Three hours after my shift began, I finally had a chance to sit down for a second, and catch up on some charting. We’d been swamped due to a trauma involving a shiv in the showers, and with that patient, and Dr. Weinstein on their way to the county hospital, I was exhausted. I had barely finished my second chart when there was a buzz at the door.
“It never ends,” I mumbled under my breath, setting the tablet down to see who needed me.
Officer Bradley stood at the door, but I didn’t see a patient. I buzzed the door open. “Hey, what’s up? You need something?”
He looked slightly guilty as he stepped aside, revealing Axel standing against the wall behind him. “He said he just needed to talk to you for a few minutes.”
My eyes popped out a bit at seeing him again, and waves of emotions I’d spent the better part of a week packing away come roaring back.
“Five minutes. Please?” Axel pleaded. His voice was soft like he was embarrassed he had to go about seeing me this way.
I looked over at Max, who simply shrugged. “I can take him back to his cell if it’s a problem.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. Five minutes.”
I held the door open as Axel stepped through. I had assumed Max was coming in too, but he turned on his heal and began to walk away. “I’ll be back for him.”
Oh, sweet Jesus. I thought I might be able to control myself with a chaperone, but alone with him? I was doomed.
“I wanted—”
“How’s your—”
He smiled. “Please. Ladies first.”
I looked around the infirmary, not really comfortable with standing right next to the door where anyone could walk by. I led him to one of the private rooms, closing the door behind me. What was I doing? I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t stop now.
***
AXEL
She closed the door, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She looked so fuckin’ sweet standing there in front of me, all soft where I was hard. I leaned against a counter, hoping to put her at ease.
“Paige, I just wanted to apologize for the other day. I wasn’t thinkin’ clearly, and I took it too far. It wasn’t appropriate, given our circumstances.”
She let out a breath, like she was relieved. “No, it’s not your fault. It’s not like I wasn’t a willing participant in our little…tryst.” A pink hue stained her cheeks, as she looked away, embarrassed. “I just couldn’t seem to stop.”
My dick stirred at her words, and I knew I could never settle at just talking to her. I somehow needed to convince her to let me in. Not just in her pants—because fuck, yes, I wanted in there too, but I genuinely wanted to get to know her.
“I know exactly what you mean. I don’t know what it is about you, Paige, but I can’t just let this go without findin’ out.”
“Axel.” My name came off her soft lips like warm honey, slowly and thickly, drenched with sweetness. My dick began to harden, wanting those lips wrapped around it.
“Say it again,” I requested, taking a step toward her.
“Axel, we can’t.”
I continued toward her until we were face to face, her back against the wall, and braced under my body. Her ample breasts rubbed against me, causing my balls to ache. My hand lifted, brushing my fingers across her cheek. I could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
“Listen, Paige, I know there are a thousand reasons why this is a terrible idea. I know you probably think you shouldn’t get involved with a guy like me, and you might be right. But, all I know is I can’t get you out of my mind. I want to know everything about you. I want to know what your favorite movie is, and what you like on your pizza. I want to know if you have a dog, and why you decided to work in a prison. I want to know about your family, and where you grew up. And I really, really want to know what your face looks like when I finally bring you to orgasm, and what your voice sounds like screaming out my name. I want to know what you think about before going to bed at night, and how beautiful you look first thing in the morning with no makeup on.”
She relaxed a little in my arms. “This is just so crazy. I mean, you’re here.” She shook her head, looking around the room. “I’m not supposed to be meeting guys in prison.”
“If you could just see past…” I started, but Paige held up her hand.
“Let me finish. It is crazy. But I kinda like crazy. I mean, it’s not like you killed a guy. You were doing a good thing, trying to keep drugs out of your neighborhood. And I want to know all those things about you, too.”
I smiled, brushing a stray hair out of her eyes. “Ask me anything.” I traced my fingers down her cheek, her chocolate brown eyes half-lidded with thick lashes that looked nothing like those f
ake tarantula eyes the club whores wore. They were real, natural, the way a woman should be.
“I can’t exactly concentrate when you touch me like that.”
“Mmm. Like this?” I leaned in close, laying tiny butterfly kisses down her cheek. She smelled intoxicating. Like honeydew and jasmine. Her lips parted as her mouth shaped into an O, and she mumbled. Her head fell back as my hands cupped her face.
“I’m going to kiss you now. Really kiss you so hard, and for so long, you’re going to forget why we shouldn’t, and only be able to think about why we should,” I whispered, my warm breath caressing her ear. She released a soft sigh, her eyelids fluttering closed as she rose up on her tiptoes to meet me.
Weaken (Motorcycle Club Romance): Axel and Paige 1 (Fallen Idols Motorcycle Club Book 2) Page 4
