I was there, though. Stumbling across the parking lot like a newborn pup, sidestepping beer cans and other things that I didn’t care to look at twice. There was obviously some kind of party taking place inside. I’d managed to come later in the day and there were way more people than I hoped to see moving towards the door.
Catcalls and whistles were thrown my way and I got more than a few scowls, but I was on a mission. I owed Axel an apology and an explanation. I still wasn’t sure if I was right or wrong in thinking that it was impossible for us to be together, but Muddy was right. I at least owed it to him to give him the choice.
There were a couple of guys at the door, and I quickly tried to think up an excuse that would get me inside. Fortunately, a fight broke out a few feet away that stole their attention. I stepped around a woman stumbling out of the club and snuck in the door. Instantly, I was engulfed in a world so foreign that I never would have imagined it existed. The live sex party I’d broken up at Muddy’s was nothing compared to this.
Straight ahead of me there was a large bar, packed with both leather-clad men, and women, some dressed, some not. Music, heavy metal and angry sounding, blared from somewhere. There were couches scattered everywhere, pool tables, and other tables that were all full of people in different states of disrobement. Men and women were going at it all over the place, in front of people, in front of entire groups. It was shocking, to say the least.
There were poles spread out with live shows happening on them. I just stood there, looking around, feeling like a twister dropped me a long way from home. It was almost enough to send me running back out. I wasn’t a prude, by any means, but this…
“You lost, honey? This isn’t exactly Target.”
I looked over at the woman talking to me. She was probably about my age, but hard looking with tanned, leathery skin. I shook my head. “I’m looking for Axel. Axel True.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you want Axel for?”
My wolf bristled, but in the position I was is, starting a fight was a bad idea. I came for an important reason. “I just need to see him.”
She stepped in closer and I winced from her stale beer breath. “Last I saw, he was balls deep in Sarah. Who knows? Maybe he’ll have some left for you, Target. After doin’ me, and now Sarah, who knows? You might get some left-over cock from him. Man’s a regular battering ram.”
I growled before I could help it and stepped closer to her. Taking a deep breath, all I smelled was beer, weed and human. It was what I didn’t smell that told me she was lying. She was human and probably didn’t realize that if she’d slept with Axel, I’d be able to smell him on her. Bitch didn’t know how lucky she was. “You’re lucky I know that you’re lying.”
Pushing past her, I waded into the party and searched for Axel. I just prayed he was in the open, somewhere. I’d worked up the courage to come all this way and sneak into a biker clubhouse, but I was pretty sure my bravery fell short of searching through private back rooms.
Fortunately, it was only minutes before I picked up a trail of his scent. Relief overpowered any apprehension I had of what I would find when I reached him. Regardless of whether he yelled, screamed, gave me the cold shoulder, or welcomed me open-armed, I still needed to say my piece. Then, I’d get the hell out of there.
What I found was more shocking than what my imagination cooked up. There were plenty of sleazy looking women near him, but there was no way he was screwing anyone. He wasn’t even coherent. Head back, mouth open, he was seated on a couch, passed out cold. A group of people were partying hard all around him, but his head rested on the back of the couch and his eyes were rolled back in his head.
Even over the scent of him, I could clearly smell liquor and other drugs that made my skin crawl. I swore and leaned over him to grab his neck and pull him forward. There were a couple next to him fucking on the couch and it was all I could do not to extend my claws and shank them both. As soon as I got Axel’s head tipped forward, he gagged and jerked to the side like he was going to throw up.
The people next to him groaned and moved away, clearing some space for me to maneuver him, but it also drew the attention of some of the men around us.
Axel tipped backwards again and emitted a few strangled coughs. I was terrified he’d choke on his own vomit. I’d heard of that happening before. Fortunately, his head rolled to the side. My heart was pounding so hard. I was terrified of how messed up Axel was.
“Well, look at this.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see the asshole who’d been handsy with Sonnie the night of the St. Anon meeting. He was bad news for sure. I shook my head. “I’m just here to talk to Axel.”
“It doesn’t look like Axel’s gonna be doin’ any talkin’.”
“That’s because he’s so drunk that he’s practically choking to death on his own vomit.” I pulled as hard as I could to get Axel forward again. I held him with my arm wrapped around his neck and tried to grab his hand to keep him up, but it was no easy feat. “Come on, Axel. Wake up!”
“How about you talk to me instead, little wolf bitch?”
An icy chill ran up my spine and I tugged harder at Axel. I had a feeling this whole plan was going downhill fast.
26
Charlie
I looked back at the asshole that, in my head, I was calling Shit-for-brains because he was standing there, letting his so called brother pass out and potentially die of asphyxiation while he participated in god only knew what type of vice. “I have no interest in talking to you. I’m here for Axel and only Axel.”
“Well, I’m afraid you’re gonna hafta settle for me, honey.” He moved closer and reached out to touch me, but I dropped Axel’s arms to slap his hand away.
“Don’t touch me.” I wasn’t one to back down, ever, and I knew that if I had to, I’d fight the entire club before I’d surrender. I also knew that the odds of that ending well were not in my favor.
I looked down at my mate and silently apologized before slapping his face. Hard. “Axel. Wake the hell up. I wondered how much a bear had to imbibe to get that intoxicated.”
He groaned, but that was all. Not looking good, Charlie. I didn’t know what Shit-for-brains wanted with me, but I knew it was nothing I’d agree to. I wasn’t going out without a fight and I was severely outnumbered.
“Come on over here, Sims. This here is the bitch who tried to turn Axel against us.”
I glanced back and my mouth went dry when I saw that there were more of the men gathering behind me. Some of them weren’t dressed. If I shifted and ran, I could possibly make it out, but no way would I leave Axel in the state he was in. He looked on the verge of death and there was no one there gave a shit. Who was going to take care of him?
“What the hell is she doing here? Trying to finish the job?”
“Looks like it. Like the bitch hasn’t done enough damage.” Shit-for-brains grabbed my arm and squeezed. “You made a mistake coming here, bitch.”
I tried to pull away from him, but he easily tugged me against his chest. His breath stunk and made my skin crawl, but there was no getting away from his iron grip. I looked back at Axel and saw that he’d fallen back, flatter than ever. If he got sick and puked, he’d choke to death.
I had to do something. The only thing I could think of was something I used to do when I was real young and my brothers picked on me, before I learned to kick their asses. It always made Mama Jean come running to save me.
I sucked in a big breath of air, tipped my head back, and let out an ear-piercing scream that shut the whole party down. Shit-for-brains shook me hard enough to clank my teeth together and lifted his hand to smack me when a wild, thunderous roar shook the room. It was nearly deafening from where I was standing.
Shit-for-brains loosened his grip on me and took a step back, his hands immediately raised in the air. “Nothing happened, man.”
I stepped back, eager to put some distance between myself and Shit-for brains, and bumped into a furry wall o
f towering steel. An immediate feeling of safety and warmth washed over me and I reached back and held on to a furry leg to steady myself.
Axel roared again, louder and angrier. He stepped forward, pushing me with him, but stopped suddenly and moved me to the side. After I was out of the way, he surged forward, and before Shit-for-brains could shift to defend himself, Axel had already batted him across the room like a ragdoll.
It was easy to see that he was a hair away from going into a blind rage and shredding all who were in his path. I couldn’t allow that. No matter what I thought of the people in the club, he thought of them as family. I’d never forgive myself if protecting me caused him to do something he’d regret for the rest of his life. I needed to get him out of there.
“Axel, I came to talk to you. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
My big furry mate looked back at me, baring his teeth, readying himself to go on a rampage. Somehow, my voice must have gotten through to him. He looked at me as though he almost understood and I watched as his rage calmed to a gentle storm.
“Now, baby. I want to go now. Change back.”
After a few seconds pause, the bear became the man. He was still drunk as a skunk, and thank god for my shifter strength, because all his nearly three hundred pounds of muscle slumped against me as dead weight. I held him up as best I could. He smelled terrible, but he was still the best thing I’d smelled in over a week.
When I finally managed to lead him through the clubhouse and get him out to my car, I realized we were going to have another problem. Axel was a mighty big man to fit in my little compact car. The front seat was completely out of the question. I’d have to try to maneuver him into the back.
I propped Axel against the side of the car and pressed my body against his to try to keep him upright while I struggled to open the rear passenger door. My plan didn’t work so well. He started sliding down the side of the car, I tugged at his waist trying to pull him back up, but to no avail. He was just too damned heavy.
Just before he hit the ground, another set of hands came from behind me and lifted him up. I turned, ready to shift and kick some bear ass to defend my mate. It was one of Axel’s biker buddies. The one who stood up with him against the rest of the guys after the St. Anon meeting.
“Relax.” He grunted as he went to work pushing and shoving Axel into the tiny backseat area of my car. “I come in peace. I saw you and just figured you could use a hand with him.”
“You’re the one was talking to Luna that night in Helen’s Corner.”
He smiled a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Name’s Pratt.”
“So, Pratt, do you have any idea what he took? Drugs? Alcohol?”
“No idea. He’s…” Pratt hesitated. “He’s been like this a lot since we got back from Smith. Staying drunk all the time. He’s been in pretty bad shape. His business will start to suffer real soon if he doesn’t get himself straightened around.”
I felt guilty. It was my fault Axel was struggling. He practically begged me to give him a chance and I straight out rejected him. Just like his mother had.
Against all laws of physics, the two of us got a naked Axel into the back seat of my Prius. I was so grateful to the man. I never would have been able to do that myself.
“Have you seen her, Pratt? Luna, I mean.”
“Not since that night. I’ve been kind of… well…”
“You should go see her. At least talk. She’s probably feeling the same thing you are.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything, and I let it go. You can give the best advice in the world to someone, but ultimately, it’s up to them to take it. I was the perfect example of that.
I wasn’t sure where I was going. I didn’t know where he lived. Should I take him back to Helen’s Corner with me? Axel made groaning sounds from the back seat as I drove and I decided I didn’t like the idea of him being alone back there the whole drive back to Helen’s Corner. I pulled over and booked us a cheap motel room several miles out from the clubhouse.
Getting him out of the car wasn’t easy, but it was a hell of a lot easier than getting him in had been. He was able to help a bit, but he was still barely coherent. Eventually, I got his naked body inside the room and bolted the door closed. I grabbed all the pillows, even the ones off the cheap chair in the corner, and propped them around Axel to keep him on his side.
I spent the night watching over him. He was obviously in the clear, no signs of vomiting, and sleeping soundly, but my nerves were frayed from the whole experience. I sat on the bed next to him and just watched him sleep.
He was dirty. His hands were stained with grease. His hair was a tangled mess. He smelled like hell, he looked like hell, but he sure was a sight for my sore eyes.
Eventually, I slumped against the headboard and fell asleep. The room was cold and I shivered all through the night, but I was exhausted.
I didn’t know how long I’d slept, just that when I awoke, the sun wasn’t up all the way yet. I sat up and groaned when my muscles protested. I stretched my arms above my head and realized that Axel was no longer in the chair. The shower was running.
I sucked in a deep breath and looked around. The bathroom door was slightly ajar and I noticed clouds of steam rolling out into the room. My girly parts tingled with the realization that my naked, wet mate was just a few feet away. Too bad my stomach knotted as soon as I remembered what I’d come to talk to him about.
I stood up and crept towards the bathroom. I needed to see him. I reached for the doorknob and, with a shaking hand, slowly pushed the door open. “A-Axel?”
Through a cheap, clear plastic shower curtain, I saw him turn and face me. His face was blurred, but it was him. All of the shit I’d been feeling and fearing crashed down like a huge weight on my shoulders and I slumped against the door.
“Get that dress off and get in here, Charlie.”
I couldn’t help but do as he demanded. I slid my dress over my head, and stepped out of my panties and into the hot shower. Facing him, I shivered and bit my lip. My back was to the shower head, and warm water pelted me.
In just a week Axel had developed dark bags under his eyes and his cheeks looked sunken. Tears of guilt filled my eyes. I wrapped my arms around myself and choked on a sob.
“Come here, baby.” His chest muscles quivered and his biceps flexed as he reached out and pulled me against him. His body felt like the most perfect place in the world, but it was equally as terrifying a place, not knowing if, after he heard what I had to say, I’d be able to stay there.
He gently turned me, so that I was under the hot stream of water, my back to him. As the water pelted my face and chest, his hands rubbed from my upper back to my thighs while making soft sounds to sooth me. His fingers massaged my skin hypnotically. I closed my eyes and pressed my hands against the tile wall of the shower, trying to anticipate where his hands would move next. Fingertips stroked my inner thighs, his hands sliding up and down the length of my legs.
As his thumbs met the bottom of my ass, I felt his erection dig into me. With his hips pressed against my butt, and his chest against my back, his hard cock nestled itself between my ass cheeks. I bent my knees slightly. His left hand slid around to my stomach and slowly up to my breast. Cupping my breast in his hand, he pinched my nipple between his thumb and forefinger. I gasped.
I felt the pressure of his cock against my backside. His right hand reached around my hip and slid between my legs. As his finger began to massage my clit, my legs started to tremble. His fingers slid back and forth between my folds, and then one slid inside, penetrating me, sending tingles of pleasure to the tips of my toes.
His beard was soft against my face as he lowered his mouth next to my ear, his whisper thick and needy. “I’ve missed you, Charlie.”
27
Axel
I didn’t know why she came, how we ended up in the hotel room together, or what she wanted from me, but all that shit could wait. She was like a fucking dream standing in
front of me, and I wasn’t going to waste a single second of it asking questions. I ran my fingers over her, learning every inch of her body, watching her facial expressions, memorizing her reactions.
I skimmed my hands down her back and squeezed her ass, using it to lift her slightly. Raking my teeth down her neck, I growled at the feel of her sweet pussy teasing my cock.
I could tell by her breathing that my fingers had worked her close to the edge. Her pussy was hot, and slick, and ready, so I shifted my hips back and then slowly slid my cock into her all the way, filling her. I stayed there, letting her body adjust to me, and pressing my face into her shoulder. Fuck, she was everything.
Charlie reached her arms over her head, behind her, lodging her hands in my hair, holding me close. Her cries and moans were desperate and needy.
Hot water pelted us, beading and running down our faces as I pumped my hips. Slowly at first, then and hard and fast.
As I picked up speed, her tits bounced and jiggled with each thrust, her stiff nipples begging for more attention. She bit her lip and tugged harder at my hair, arching her back to take in every inch of me.
God, she felt too damned good. I wasn’t going to last for long. Two more thrusts, and I pulled all the way out, reached down, and turned off the water.
Sliding my forearm behind her knees, I scooped her up. She startled and I kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t wiggle, you’re slippery.”
Her arms wrapped around my neck as I stepped out of the shower. Laying a towel down first, I sat her on the counter and pulled her legs up, spreading her pussy open. Gently stroking her swollen bud with feather-light, teasing strokes I watched her squirm. Bending, I flicked one of her hard, pink nipples with my tongue before taking it into my mouth. I sucked and gently bit it before moving to the other one.
My hands continued massaging her tits as I kissed back up her throat and neck. When I ran my tongue over her claiming mark, both of us shuddered.
Bear Outlaw Page 11
