It’s not like I have a clue what to do with a damn crying woman in my room.
So I do the only thing I do know how to do, and risk her clawing out my eyeballs.
The second I reach her, I spin her around, see the wet eyes that peer up at me in confusion, and kiss the hell out of her.
She’s rigid, tense, and definitely not up for the kissing. I still continue trying, slowly, gently running my hands over her back. My tongue glides along the seam of her lips, trying to coax them open.
Even though her body stays tight, her mouth finally gives in, and she moans into my mouth as I slide a hand into her soft hair.
When she finally softens against me, I relax a little, trying not to think about how good she feels or how easily she seems to get wet for me. Because I’m a little too close to wanting this. All of this.
To wanting her.
And that shit can’t end well.
CHAPTER 19
MAYA
Five days ago, I was reminded how human I really am. Axle brought up memories I’d rather not think of. Ever again.
Then he fucked me until I suppressed them again, which was definitely appreciated.
Four days ago, we spent most of the day in bed, still forgetting the past, both of us using the other to do that with.
Three days ago, there was a rowdy party. Axle went down for about an hour. I peeked out, but when I saw him chatting with Drex, Dash, and Jude, I decided to stay in the room. It didn’t take long for him to join me for the rest of the night.
Which was a surprise, but then it involved a lot of being naked, so I shouldn’t have been too surprised.
Two days ago, Axle found me a whole new set of expendable goons to do my bidding. Well, he found me numerous candidates, and I spent the day sorting through the files to find the ones that would work. And I set up the new deal, paying them via wire transfer, and only giving them a burner number to text. They only know my stage name—Tyler Loyd—and what to do.
Pictures are required, and then my actual guy—one of my Family’s loyalists—takes over once the girls reach the dock. He’s the only Blackbird member they deal with in person, and no one knows who he is. Blackbird is not tied to this operation. At least, not officially.
One day ago, Axle left for most of the day, and I spent the bulk of the day on the phone making private calls to the other heads of the Families, filling them in on everything, then talking down Carlisle when he wanted to fly down and just blow the place to hell.
Fortunately, he’s only a co-head, and not a full head. His sister—Kendra—sided with the rest of us mostly sane ones, reminding him that it’s not the middle east and we can’t just go to war like we own the country.
Today, Axle is wrapped around me, his body tangled with mine. Since he’s not a cuddler, I’m betting on him freaking out and jerking away when he wakes up. We sort of fell asleep after the shower we took two hours ago…because I’ve awoken the beast.
Axle is a lot of pent-up sexual frustration, and he’s unleashing it on me. I love it, even if my vagina is begging for a break.
He never holds me after sex. Never does any of the sweet shit I didn’t think I wanted.
But I sort of want at least a little sweet shit, damn it.
This is the sweetest thing that’s happened, and it happened by accident while we were asleep.
As predicted, the second he wakes up, he stiffens, probably realizing just how entangled we are.
“Spooning won’t give you cancer, you know,” I quip when he starts to move. “I’m almost positive it won’t cause heart disease, either.”
He grunts, and I expect him to pull away, but instead, he slides his arms around my waist a little tighter, resting his face in the crook of my neck from behind me.
A slow smile spreads over my lips, and I test the waters, sliding my fingers over his. He doesn’t move away, and I think I sigh. Pretty sure it’s a dreamy sigh, too.
“We’re supposed to be getting ready for the strip club,” he mumbles against my neck.
“Yeah. I’d hate to miss seeing a girl with all the same body parts I have as she gets naked in front of you. Sounds like a prize of a night. Sharp objects should probably be left behind for the safety of others.”
I almost pinch myself when he laughs. Axle laughs. He knows how!
It’s a quiet, barely-there rumble, but it totally counts as a laugh.
He doesn’t say anything, so I take it upon myself to fill the silence. “Does Eve not get pissed at Drex for letting another naked girl rub all over him? And does she not get pissed that he pays her to do it?”