Axel Read online

  She almost said yes, but then realized she’d rather go with Axel. She had no preconceived notion that they’d be spending any time together in the city, but the male intrigued her, as did the thought of spending more time by herself. In comparison, Beverly, Olivia, and the day’s plans seemed boring, and she was done with that.

  “I’m going to have to pass, Beverly, but thank you.”

  “What’s wrong?” Olivia asked. “I thought you couldn’t wait to get into the city.”

  She nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m very tired. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much fun.”

  Beverly crossed her arms over her chest and furrowed her brow. “Are you feeling okay? Do you think you’re getting sick?”

  She averted her gaze back to her sandwich as heat rose in her cheeks. She’d never been a very good liar. “No, I’m fine. Just tired. Thank you again for the invitation. Please let me know the next time you’re going.”

  Olivia squeezed her arm. “We will, honey. And if you change your mind, we’ll be leaving about noon.”

  After putting away the peanut butter, she glanced at the two of them and smiled. “I’m just going to take my sandwich down to my room and then take a nap.”

  “How’s the new room working out for you?” Olivia asked.

  As she recalled her horrible night, she realized she’d have to lie again. “It’s fine. Great.”

  Eden took the sandwich and headed for the elevator, her face now on fire. When she stepped into the lift, she shut her eyes. How she hated lying, but she’d been determined to do things her way, not when it was convenient for others.

  Axel seemed to be her ticket to doing just that.

  Her escape from the silo had been so easy, she almost found it laughable. Most of the women had gone into town to see the play, and most of the men had gathered down in the gym for some testosterone-driven workout stuff. There had only been a few people she’d needed to dodge, but overall, getting to the SUV had been nothing more than a short walk.

  As she laid down in the back seat, she noted the car had been parked outside of camera range, and she wondered if Axel had moved it, or if it had been sheer luck.

  She knew he had always watched her from afar, but the past few days, he’d seemed reluctantly determined to help her and be there for her. Last night, she’d been so caught up in her own fear and memories, he had really been quite a comfort. She found that funny as she’d never considered Axel anything but distant and unreadable, yet, he’d proved her wrong.

  While she waited, she closed her eyes and wondered why she could see his aura now. What had triggered it? Every day, his colors seemed a little more pronounced, and she found it exciting. It almost seemed as if she watched someone emerge into the light, and she wondered what had happened to put him in that dark place to begin with.

  The driver’s door opened, then slammed shut. The engine started, and they took off down the bumpy dirt road. When they hit pavement, his hard voice met her ears.

  “You can come up front if you want.”

  She sat up from the luggage hold, crawled over the middle seat, then to the front seat. As she buckled herself in, she glanced over at him and smiled. “Thank you again, Axel.”

  The sides of his mouth tugged upward. “You’re welcome.”

  They rode in silence for miles as she snuck glances at his strong jaw, thick beard, and full lips. Under that well-maintained scruff, he truly was handsome.

  His aura signaled tranquility, something she’d never seen around him.

  “What are your plans in Phoenix?” she asked.

  He didn’t answer for a few moments, and she wondered if he ignored her, or if he hadn’t heard her.

  “I’m visiting a friend.”

  She nodded and looked out her window, wishing she had someone to visit who didn’t live in the silo.

  “What are you doing today?” he asked. “You look like you’re going to work out.”

  She wore a pair of running pants, a light sweatshirt, and running shoes. Her plan had been for Axel to drop her off about a mile or so from the silo so that when she entered, she could claim she’d been out for a jog.

  As for what her plans were in the city, she really hadn’t given it any thought. There wasn’t anywhere she particularly wanted to see, but it was a beautiful fall day and she just felt happy to get out of the silo for a bit. “I think I’ll just wander around for a while. Maybe grab a cup of coffee or an early dinner.”

  “Okay.”

  She sighed, not expecting an invitation to join him, but still feeling disappointment all the same.

  However, an idea began forming in her mind.

  They pulled into a parking garage and he killed the engine. After jamming his hand into the front of his jeans, he pulled out a wad of bills and peeled off a few for her.

  “This is the parking garage for the mall,” he said, not meeting her gaze. “They’ve got a lot of restaurants and you can shop if you want.”

  “Okay.”

  “Be back here at four, okay?”

  “I will.”

  He opened the door, slipped out of the car, and she watched him walk away until he was almost out of sight.

  Chapter 13

  As Axel walked down the city street, he contemplated Eden. He didn’t understand why his chest ached when around her or when he thought about her, and he once again rubbed his sternum.

  Those damn running pants she had on hugged every curve, and he’d spent most of the drive fighting an uncomfortable erection. Now, that, he completely understood. To him, her looks could rival no other, but as they had spent more and more time together over the past days, something else had taken root.

  The first time he’d seen her all those months ago, he had wanted to get between her legs and rut on her. But now, he wouldn’t even think of it. She deserved better than him. He had too much respect for her to even consider having sex with her. He would try to keep his distance and shield her from his head-fuck.

  But, that plan really wasn’t working out too well. Hell, he’d practically spent the night with her last night as they’d sat on the couch. A pleasant shiver traveled down his spine as he thought of her head resting on his shoulder. Honestly, he couldn’t remember a time in his life when everything had seemed so perfect, especially after he finally began to relax.

  The thing that frightened him the most, yet secretly excited him, was the fact that she could see his aura, and probably knew what he felt before he could even put a name to it. He never had to try to express himself, to even say a word, and she could see him. She knew him.

  He sighed and rubbed his chest again. Maybe he should have Cohen check him out and make sure he was in good health, but the thought of the male touching him made his stomach turn. He happened to think of Cohen as a good male, but that didn’t mean he wanted his hands on him.

  He reached Foster’s, opened the door, and stepped inside. Once his eyes adjusted to the low light, he realized the front room was empty. Just as he was about to call out to Foster, the male came down the short hallway, his sawed-off shotgun, Betsy, pointed in front of him.

  Axel remained still, figuring Foster still had problems with the gang.

  Foster lowered the gun and shook his head. “Dammit, Axel! You need to call me when you’re coming by!”

  The two met in the middle of the room, clapped hands and each other’s back.

  “Sorry, man. I promise I will from now on.”

  “I don’t get a lot of walk-in traffic, and a few members of that damn gang came around again. I told them I’d blow them away next time.”

  Axel looked down at the carpet and noted it had been changed again, but didn’t say anything.

  Foster grinned. “What can I do for you?”

  Axel met his friend’s gaze. “I think I’m ready for my new tat.”

  “Okay. I’m assuming you know what you want.”

  He nodded, suddenly feeling a bit unsure of his decision. “I think s
o. Can we look at pictures on your computer?”

  “Sure, man, come on back to the office. I just got a new bottle of Fireball, as well.”

  He had a feeling he’d need the drink to give him the balls to go forward with his plan. “Sounds good.”

  Two hours later, they’d constructed the perfect picture, and Foster had started on the design. It would take many hours to complete as it would cover his full back, but he felt much more confident now that the process had been started.

  Foster had another customer come in, so he told Axel to call for an appointment when he was ready to continue on the tat.

  Axel had an hour to kill before meeting Eden, and he headed for the Black Cuff.

  Eden trailed after Axel, wondering where he headed to now. She had considered going into the shopping mall, but at the last second, she’d run after Axel, curious about what he did when he came to town.

  He’d spent almost two hours in the tattoo shop, but of course, she hadn’t been able to see what he’d been doing in there. The only logical explanation could be that he was getting a tattoo, but she couldn’t see anything under his long-sleeved black shirt.

  He seemed to be deep in thought, which was good for her. She had no idea how to follow someone in a professional manner so that she didn’t get caught. She stayed about a half-block behind him and kept a watchful eye out for doorways that she could duck into if he were to turn around.

  When he disappeared down some stairs, she waited a moment, then followed. He’d entered an establishment called the Black Cuff. At first, she worried he’d see her if she walked in, but this wasn’t a small tattoo shop—this seemed to be a large place. As she opened the door, she allowed a moment for her eyes to adjust, and then realized she stood in a nightclub. Her nerves titillated at the thought, and she moved inside, looking for Axel. She’d heard this establishment mentioned in conversation among the Warriors, and she had a feeling Hudson would lock her in the bathroom and toss the key if he knew she’d stepped into such a place.

  A few waitresses milled about, placing menus on tables and righting chairs. They’d dressed in leather corsets and shorts, showing as much cleavage as possible without all the goods spilling out everywhere. A large dance floor stood to her left, and across the room to her right was a small set of stairs leading up to a bar. That’s where she spotted Axel.

  She took off after him and watched him walk down a hallway. At the end, he opened a door, stepped in, and shut it.

  Completely intrigued and nervous, she glanced around to see if anyone paid her any attention. No one looked her way, and she walked down the hallway.

  As she opened the door with shaky hands, she felt as if she were about to enter a place that should be completely off-limits to her, and it excited her.

  She heard Benedict’s voice in her head. You have to be careful when around the humans, Eden. If they find out you’re different, they will do terrible things to you.

  She also heard Hudson. You need to become more aware of the way the world around you works before you can set out on your own, Eden. You’ve been sheltered your whole life. Take things slow and let us help you.

  Then, Axel’s words rang in her ears “Quit asking people what you can and can’t do. Just fucking do it.”

  No, she knew at her core that opening this door would be an absolutely terrible idea, but she couldn’t resist, and she wondered what Axel would say when he realized she had just followed his advice.

  Pushing the panel open, she looked up at the sign. Welcome to the BC Sex Club. Choose your flavor, the topping, and abide by the rules.

  Heat slowly traveled from her neck up to her cheeks, and she imagined her face looked like an apple. A sex club. Oh. My. Goodness.

  She tried to push past her complete embarrassment and concentrate on what the toppings and flavors meant. The man behind the table stared at her while fingering his blue boa.

  “I haven’t seen you around here, sweetheart. This is a members’ only club.”

  Her mouth seemed to have grown its own cotton plant as she battled with the urge to run, then the desire to stay. She’d come this far, and although completely embarrassed and mortified, her curiosity only grew.

  “Axel said I should come here,” she blurted, feeling her cheeks heat even further.

  He flipped the boa over his shoulder and grinned. “Well, why didn’t you say so? What’s your flavor and topping?”

  Having no idea what the best answer would be, she stared at the menu. She’d only be with one man, and she’d never found herself curious about sex with women.

  “Men only, please,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I guess I’m open to being either dominant or submissive.”

  He arched his eyebrow. “Hundred bucks, honey.”

  With shaky hands, she reached into her jeans and pulled out the bills Axel had given her. She dropped a hundred on the table.

  “Your name?”

  “Lisa,” she blurted. For some reason, she felt better about entering this place with a fake name.

  As he wrote on the nametag, she felt the urge to run again, and her imagination raced with images of what she would find inside.

  “Have a good time, Lisa,” he said, handing her the badge.

  She smiled at him, then took a deep breath and walked down the rest of the hallway and through the black door.

  As she glanced around the room, her knees shook. Three archways stood on the other side of the dark, wooden bar. She slowly walked around the bar, her heart pounding in her chest. The reds and pinks of the few patrons in the room were intensely bright and beautiful. People sitting around the bar remained clothed, and as she got closer to the arches, she glanced inside, where she found a totally different story.

  Low neon lighting like one would find in a fish tank served as the backlight.

  Light moans and groans filled her ears before her eyes could adjust to the dimness. When they finally did, she gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. She counted about fifteen men and women in all sorts of sex acts, all naked and all in the throes of passion. The vibrant auras almost blinded her, and she stepped away, backing into the bar.

  “Can I get you something, honey?”

  She turned to find a shirtless woman with a skirt on. Long, chocolate brown hair cascaded across her breasts, while her blue eyes studied Eden curiously.

  “Are you okay, sugar? Is this your first time here?”

  She nodded, completely unable to speak. The moans from behind her begged her for attention, but she continued to look at the bartender.

  “Relax. It’s just sex—nothing but a bunch of horny men and women who don’t want the intimacies of a relationship. You want some water?”

  She nodded again, sat down on a stool, and took a long drink of the cool liquid. Then, she remembered why she’d ended up in this place to begin with.

  Axel hadn’t been anywhere in sight when she’d first walked in. She glanced around at the other bar patrons and didn’t see him, which meant he’d either left, or he was one of the ones inside the arches.

  She finished her water, slowly turned around, then slid off her stool. Each step she took toward the blackened room both titillated her and filled her with complete dread. If Axel caught her spying on him, she couldn’t imagine his reaction. However, if he didn’t, she knew she would see him at one of his most vulnerable times.

  As she leaned against the archway, she scanned the room. The vibrant auras made it difficult for her to make out the faces, but she found if she squinted, she could see some features.

  After a few moments, she saw him. He stood upright, his eyes closed. He hadn’t removed his shirt, but his hips moved at a languid pace. Someone was in front of him, but she couldn’t see who, or what position they were in through the rest of the bodies. If she moved, she’d be able to, so she slid over to the next archway, her gaze never leaving Axel.

  Finally, she could see. A man was bent over a couch while Axel took him from behind. She’d
never imagined Axel as gay, but the proof stood in front of her. Heat flooded her core as she watched him move, each thrust seeming to drive him closer to completion.

  His aura had tinges of red and blue, which she pegged for his masculinity and perhaps he loved the man in front of him. A bit of jealousy and sadness washed through her as she realized she’d hoped that possibly, she and Axel could become better friends, and maybe move on to more. God knew she’d always thought of him as handsome, and also one of the most intriguing people she’d ever met. She could never understand him, even now with bits and pieces of his aura coming through. He still remained a mystery to her because his colors never fully revealed themselves.

  Watching him having sex proved to be the most erotic thing she’d ever witnessed. Not that her life had been one sexual escapade after the next, but seeing Axel in the throes of passion made her heart beat wildly, and a deep ache developed in her lower belly.

  His big hand gripped the man’s shoulder, his hips now pounding at a fast pace while the muscles in his neck tensed.

  Turning away, she decided to leave. She didn’t want to see the big finish, to see his colors explode around him.

  “Hey, Lisa.”

  She came face to face with two men, both most likely in their forties, one with blond hair, the other bald. Both still wore clothes, and she was about to tell them that they had the wrong person, but then she remembered her lie when she’d entered.

  “I see you like men, and you’re up for being submissive.”

  “Nothing in there that you like?” the other one chimed in.

  She tried to push past them, but they didn’t move and crowded her against the wall.

  “So, a submissive. It just so happens that my friend here and I love submissive women. What do you say we head under the magical arches and the three of us have a good time?”

  Bile rose in her throat at the thought of these two laying a hand on her.

  “You don’t talk much, Lisa,” the bald guy said as he caressed her cheek.