Best of 2017

by Alexa Riley

  I gasped as his mouth crushed passionately against mine, taking control over the kiss. I clung to his shoulders, pulling him closer. Opening my mouth to the smooth feel of his tongue, I ached to feel his bare skin against my own. Sitting back, I slowly unbuttoned my shirt, my eyes never leaving his as I shrugged it off my shoulders and tossed it aside. His fingers easily undid the front clasp of my bra, parting it to stare at my breasts for a long moment that had my nipples going rock hard even before he pulled it off and threw it after my shirt.

  A shudder rippled through me as Axel pulled his shirt off as well and then reached to gently caress my breast. He continued to ravish my mouth as his hands explored every part of my now exposed chest. I moaned as a hot surge of hunger rushed through me. I joined in by running my hands across his chest, softly moaning as my fingers stroked his nipples.

  He pulled me closer than I thought possible. The heat between our bodies aflame, he groaned, “God, I want you. I need you.” Placing hot, wet kisses along my collarbone, Axel whispered, “I’ve wanted you all day. I’ve needed you. I hate being without you for even a second.”

  I clung to him, panting for air. The heat of the moment, the fervor between us, was almost too much. My mind spun and my body pulsated.

  “I’m taking you right here, right now. I can’t fight this any longer. I want the taste of you against my tongue.”

  I looked into his blazing eyes and nodded. “Yes… yes. I don’t want you to stop.”

  In an instant, I found myself lying beneath Axel on the soft leather of the couch, both of us completely nude. He kissed his way down my body inch by inch until his lips made contact with my yearning sex. I arched my back as he eased my legs further apart. Little by little, he began to place soft kisses along the inside of my thigh, gradually making his way to his ultimate target. I tensed as his tongue flicked the sensitive bud, causing me to moan in pleasure.

  A wavering burst of intensity slid into my stomach. He continued to suck and lick, pleasuring to my very core as he used his fingers to part the folds of my sex, heightening my bliss, bringing me closer to complete ecstasy.

  I tensed again. Wary of letting go completely, I tried to fight the wave of passion threatening to overcome my entire being. Having Axel in such an intimate position battled against my insecurities.

  He continued to circle his tongue along the outer edges of my moist entrance. With a thrust of his finger deep within my heat, Axel whispered, “It’s okay. Let go. You’re safe with me. Trust me.”

  His soothing words, mixed with his sensual ministrations, brought me over the edge. Light flashed, heat conquered, and hunger satisfied. I could do nothing but release a heavy gasp.

  With greedy need and a mischievous smile, I managed to roll Axel onto his back so I could trace a hungry trail down his body. I kissed, I licked, I tasted my way down to the hardness waiting between his legs. I moved my way lower and lower until the tip of my tongue touched the tip of his cock.

  With Axel’s hips rising to meet my seduction, he moaned. “I want to feel your mouth wrapped around me.”

  I followed his command and took his cock past my lips, and gently sucked, swirling my tongue in small circles as I took in the scent of Axel’s intoxicating desire. His groan, his shudder, and the way his hands grabbed at my hair only drove my need to please even higher. I worked my lips up the slickened skin, then drove them back down in a rhythmic motion. I pushed myself to meet Axel’s demands. Licking lightly, I worked his body, intensifying his pleasure. Slowly up, then plunging back down, I worked until Axel’s control snapped. His breath hitched and his moan reverberated through his entire body as he climaxed in my mouth.

  The moment ebbed, satisfaction blanketing us both. He pulled me in close as I wrapped my arms around him and clung. I was his. I would always belong to Axel Rye.

  A knock on the door had us both jumping up and scurrying for our clothes.

  “Just a minute!” Axel called out.

  I quickly buttoned my shirt and pulled on my pants. “Were you expecting someone?”

  Axel pulled the last of his clothes on. He leaned over and placed a quick peck on my lips. “I’ll get rid of them.”

  Axel opened the door to Teddy and Knox standing with beer and hot wings in hand.

  “Are we interrupting something?” Knox chuckled.

  They both walked past Axel in the doorway and went straight to the kitchen. “Did you forget about the game tonight?” Teddy asked.

  “Ah, shit. I forgot.” Axel turned to look at me apologetically.

  I nodded and smiled. “It’s fine,” I mouthed to Axel.

  “Hi, Quinn. You look… glowing right now. It’s a good look for you.” Knox laughed, continuing the tease.

  I tried to fight back the blush threatening to conquer my face. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Hi, guys.”

  Teddy grinned. “If we are interrupting something, we can leave.”

  I stood up and walked to the kitchen. “No worries.” I opened the box of wings to see how many they had brought. “As long as you don’t mind me crashing your party.”

  Knox had already grabbed the remote from the table and was flipping through the channels. “Help yourself.” He looked back at Axel. “Come on, grab a beer and settle in. Tonight’s going to be a good game.”

  Axel glanced at the TV and then at me. “Are you sure?” he whispered.

  I winked at him and nodded. “It’ll be fun.”

  Axel and I grabbed some wings and made our way back to the couch. We settled down, snuggling close. I had never really been into sports before, but I tried to follow along as best I could. Though Axel didn’t make it easy, with all his continual kissing and groping.

  I pulled away giggling from Axel’s ear nibbling. “Axel, I’m trying to pay attention. You’re distracting me,” I said while I laughed.

  “Cut it out. You two are like a Hallmark card over there,” Teddy ribbed.

  Before I could counter, my cell phone rang. I reached for my purse in a hurry. “Sorry, let me silence it.”

  “It’s fine, sweetheart. Go ahead and answer it,” Axel offered, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

  I waited to answer the phone as I walked toward Axel’s bedroom so as not to disturb anyone. The men in the other room cheered loudly, and I started to cover my free ear to try to hear better, but by the time I got to the room, the call had already gone to voicemail. It was Harrison, reminding me that my first draft of the book was due. I had set a deadline for my own accountability and clearly was being anything but accountable.

  When I walked back into the living room so quickly, Axel’s eyebrow went up. “So quick? Who was that?” he asked casually.

  “I missed the call. It was Harrison.”

  Axel smiled and patted the empty space on the couch next to him. “What’s going on with him?”

  I bit my lip, cringing, thankful that Axel focused on the game at the moment. I had promised myself that the next time Axel asked about Harrison I’d admit that he was my editor and I was writing a book, but now didn’t quite seem like the right time. It shouldn’t be a big deal, and yet for some ridiculous reason, I couldn’t get the courage to confess.

  I walked over and sat down next to Axel again, picking up my glass of wine. Careful to not further the already growing lie, I thought carefully about my wording. “Harrison was just saying hi. I’ll call him later.”

  Axel’s eyes narrowed a little. “I don’t want to keep you from talking to him. I’m sure you really miss having him around.”

  “It’s no big deal.”

  “Okay, I’m just making sure.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “I like having you all to myself, anyway.”

  I was getting nervous about not admitting what I did for a living… or wanted to do for the rest of my life. I should be able to share one of my greatest passions and dreams with the man I love, and yet I was keeping it a dirty little secret. Axel should know how much I wanted to be an author. I hated
how this was turning into a huge lie right before my eyes.

  I nodded my head in agreement and snuggled in closer.

  Knox eyed us. “You guys really are sick. You know that?” he teased. “So who’s Harrison?”

  I took a long drink of my wine and looked at Teddy and Knox. They were both eyeing me. “My best friend, from home.”

  “You should have him come up for a visit,” Teddy offered.

  “We won’t scare him away. Promise,” Knox added with a soft chuckle. He got up and walked to the kitchen, grabbing another beer.

  I sank in my seat. My nightmare of a lie was getting even worse. Now I was deceiving Knox and Teddy in addition to Axel.

  “He’s in San Francisco,” Axel said, getting up for more wings.

  Teddy clapped his hands. “San Francisco, baby! Let’s go for a trip to see him! The club scene is hot there.”

  Axel laughed, sitting back down next to me. “Like you don’t party enough here. You don’t need San Francisco to corrupt you.”

  Teddy shrugged and took a swig of his beer. “Don’t ever say I didn’t try to help.” He smiled and winked at me.

  A fight broke out on the television that pulled everyone’s attention back toward the game. I was grateful for the interruption and the distraction from the conversation, but I sat next to Axel feeling defeated.

  Axel rubbed my back before asking, “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

  I just shook my head and did everything I could to force a smile. I had allowed the whole Harrison thing to get completely out of control. I had misled everyone, and I couldn’t sugarcoat what I was doing. I was holding back, and that was just the same as a lie. I could lose Axel over this. My deceit could end our relationship. I needed to come clean… but I was scared.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  HALF-TRUTHS ARE STILL FUCKING LIES

  QUINN

  AFTER EVERYONE LEFT, an impulsive rush of courage hit me, and I suddenly wanted to come clean with the man I claimed to love and who also loved me. It was long overdue. “Axel?”

  He looked up in response.

  “I need to tell you something. And I really hope it doesn’t change how you feel about me.”

  Axel sat in silence, raising one eyebrow.

  “I haven’t been completely honest with you about what I did for a living in San Francisco.” I took a deep breath, suddenly wishing I hadn’t started this conversation. “I write. I write for several different magazines, and I do some other freelance writing gigs. But my main dream is that I also hope to have a book soon.”

  Axel’s expression turned skeptical. “Why haven’t you told me this? Aren’t you proud of being a writer? I’d think that would be something you would love to share.”

  “Harrison’s my editor.”

  “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you tell me this? What’s the big deal?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know why I felt the need to… lie.”

  Axel sat in silence, his eyes darkening. “You lied to me?”

  My heart stopped. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. I sat in place, paralyzed in fear. Axel’s voice sounded so serious. God, was he going to break it off with me for lying? The devastation began to take over, and the tears that had threatened since I had decided to tell the truth fell freely.

  Axel rushed over and put his arms around her. “Why are you crying?”

  I tried to get the words out between sobs. “Please, Axel. I don’t want what you and I have to end. I love you.”

  He pulled away to look at me in surprise. “Why would you think we would be over? I love you, Quinn Sullivan. You need to understand that breaking up is never going to be an option for us. I might get mad. You might get mad. But ending what we have is not going to happen. Are we clear?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I shouldn’t have hidden that part of me from you. I wanted to… I just didn’t.”

  Axel embraced me and rubbed his hands on my back. “It’s okay. We’re still learning about each other. I don’t like that you lied to me, but I wouldn’t leave you for something so stupid.” He gave me a warm smile. “I would love to hear about your writing. Maybe you’ll let me read some of it.”

  I realized he had no idea of the entire story, and didn’t assume I was working on a book that involved him. Looking at the man before me, I decided right then and there that I wouldn’t tell him, because I no longer planned to use his name. Maybe I’d still write about the LA nightlife, but I wouldn’t do it at Axel’s expense.

  QUINN

  THE NEXT MORNING, I called Harrison early to inform him I wasn’t going to do the book on Axel Rye. If I were to write one at all, it would not involve him in the slightest. His name was off the table. Hopefully, Harrison would understand and agree with my choice. I’d just got done leaving a message on his voicemail when Felicity walked into the kitchen.

  “So, have you told Axel that you’re working on a book yet about him?” She walked to the fridge, pulling out a container of juice. Her question was becoming her morning routine.

  I looked down at my feet, and shook my head.

  “You should tell him already, Quinn,” she said. “Axel’s fallen for you. If you guys are really as strong as you keep saying you are, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “I know, I know,” I said. “I admitted to him last night that I’m a writer, and I even told him that Harrison is my editor. But I stopped there. He has no idea that I came here to write a book that involved him.”

  Felicity poured two glasses of orange juice. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, you need to come clean before it gets worse.” She sat down across from me. “Do you plan on writing a book that paints Axel in a bad light?”

  “No! I would never do that to him. There’s nothing negative to say.”

  “Well, it doesn’t look that way with how secretive you are being over something pretty stupid, which is why you need to stop with these games. Axel deserves better.”

  “I decided I’m leaving Axel’s name out of any book I write… if I even write one at this point. So it’s really a non issue now,” I defended, feeling my irritation grow.

  Felicity rolled her eyes. “So you think you don’t have to tell Axel the rest of the truth. Come on, Quinn. Don’t try to fool yourself.”

  I winced. She was right again. I knew that I owed Axel the entire truth. If the tables were turned, I wouldn’t be okay with Axel withholding any information. I knew I needed to fess up. Half-truths were still fucking lies.

  But how could I do that? I also still had a book to write. Could I still write it without using Axel’s notoriety? Would it even sell without his name? Did I really have my heart in it at all? Harrison had already questioned me a few days ago if I really thought I could go back to San Francisco and leave Axel behind. I had assured him I could, and that was still the plan. But in my heart, I knew I would never be able to leave Axel. My life was spinning.

  “I’m going to tell Axel the truth. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and I have no plans of upsetting him. This book could give Axel the voice that’s been lacking in the media.”

  “If you truly believed that, then you would’ve already told him.”

  I saw the disapproval on Felicity’s face. “I know all of this. It’s that I’m scared. I don’t want to upset him. Things are going so well.”

  Felicity got up and grabbed a box of cereal as she spoke. “It’s time. I may not know everything about relationships, but I know that you keeping on this way will make you lose Axel.”

  QUINN

  ALL DAY I got a strange vibe from Axel. Something just felt a bit off. My shame in keeping a secret had started to play with my mind, and the conversation I’d had with Felicity that morning didn’t help. I kept wondering if maybe Axel knew about my secret and just didn’t say anything. Maybe he was waiting to see how long it took for me to come clean. Maybe his crew had gotten wind of it. Especially since Harrison was already trying to shop the book, and it
was about to blow up in my face. This lie made me sick to my stomach.

  After we finished having a quiet lunch at a café and got in his car, Axel leaned over and kissed me passionately, instantly putting my mind at ease. This wasn’t an act of a jealous or angry boyfriend.

  “That was nice,” I purred after the ravenous kiss. “I get the feeling that something is on your mind, though. You don’t seem yourself today.”

  “I have a surprise.” He smiled before leaning in and giving me another small peck on the cheek.

  My mind raced, searching for clues in Axel’s facial expression. Thankfully, it didn’t appear as if he knew anything about my deception. So, from this point on, it could be anything and I would be happy.

  “What? I love surprises!” I clapped my hands together like an excited little girl.

  “You’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I want to take you there.”

  I squinted my eyes and pushed out my lips in a pout. “Fine.” I buckled my seatbelt. “But you’re driving me crazy.”

  As soon as Axel parked the car in a large lot by a warehouse building, he turned the car off and leaned against his door to face me.

  “Where are we?” I tried hiding my anxiousness.

  “Okay, you know I get photographed a lot for my… profession… if you call it that.”

  I nodded. “Yeah?”

  “There’s a photo shoot inside that I have to do.”

  My eyes narrowed a bit. “And this is a surprise? Why didn’t you just tell me that you had to work?”

  “We both have to work.”

  I stared at him, clueless.

  “The photo shoot is for both of us. The magazine wants a spread of us as a couple.”

  I sat motionless, stunned by the idea.

  “I knew you’d be nervous. But trust me, okay?” Axel said while reaching for my hand.

  My eyes widened. My face burned as if on fire. “No way! I can’t do that. I’m not a model.”