Page 42 of Axel (Belles & Bratva Beasts #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

AXEL

Ruby wears French fashion; it doesn’t wear her.

She stands with the Chanel fashion advisor, who’s summoned their tailor. The three stare at the mirrors, the staff admiring how the brilliant navy bouclé suit highlights Ruby’s sapphire eyes and fits her perfectly.

“Fuck,” Grant huffs, sitting in the chair beside me, admiring her, too. “Brother, I mean this with all due respect; don’t fuck this one up.”

She’s so beautiful, my heart hurts. It pounds, staring at my future.

“I don’t want to initiate her,” I admit. “I can’t offer her to another king. Not even once. Even though I have to.”

“I get it,” Grant mumbles back. “I only like sharing Delphine because it’s what she wants. She finally has control over her body. She decides who and how many, because we always choose each other in the end. And for too long, she had no choice.”

My mother rescued Delphine from a high-class Parisian brothel—the most exclusive in Europe. Delphine was the young, chosen prize of some of the most powerful men, including politicians, to the point that she held powerful secrets. To the point that she was worth more dead than alive.

Mom brought her here to hide, like we do.

Or did.

Grant was the first man who wanted to talk to Delphine, not fuck her. He learned French for her and taught her English, using the show Friends , and somewhere between Ross and Rachel, they fell in love.

While the tailor adjusts Ruby’s skirt hem to be shorter and sexier than usual, I ask Grant, “Has Mom been acting weird to you lately?”

He huffs, “You’re asking her son who just got shot. Sort of. She texts me four times a day to remind me to put arnica gel on my bruises. You mean that kind of weird?”

“I mean like she’s hiding something.”

“Big brother, my king.” He slaps my shoulder. “Our mother hides a lot. Like, I really didn’t want to hear the rumor that she’s the hottest dominatrix in town. But, that’s what I get for secretly being her son.”

“Hand me Clorox,” I growl. “I need to bleach that image from my mind.”

“Amirite?” he mutters.

It can’t be Grant. He’s the third oldest. He remembers too much about our father, too. He’d never sell us out.

“Michael?” I stare at Ruby. “Michael? Hello?”

Oh shit. She’s talking to me.

“Yes?”

“Can I speak with you, please?”

I rise and smooth my dress pants, remembering to play the Southern lawyer, not the suspicious Bratva son. As I approach Ruby, the Chanel staff retreat, leaving us by the mirrors.

“Yes, ma’am? ”

“Can I speak with you? In private?” She nods toward the lavish dressing room, and I follow, hoping this is about to be a naughty sub moment.

“You know,” I tease, “that suit pairs perfectly with the black lace bondage hood and blindfold you’ll be wearing tonight.”

She blinks, batting her thick lashes, processing before she frets, “But this suit doesn’t have a price.”

“Because you’re priceless.”

“Axel,” she huffs, “I can’t let you buy this for me. Because no price tag means it’s more than my annual salary.”

I tsk. “Reminds me; I need to give you a raise.”

“I need to punch your balls.”

“Promise? You know I love a good fight.”

“I’m serious.”

“So, am I. This suit is one of many that my queen will wear. Because you look breathtaking in it and because I said so.”

She lifts her chin. “I’d rather be naked than bought.”

“We can play that kink, too, Wildfire. Whatever my queen wants.”

“I’m not wearing this.”

“Well,” I say, “not all night. I’ll take it off when I fuck you. It is expensive as shit.”

I’m pushing her buttons, and she’s spewing lava.

It’s so hot when she’s hot.

“Listen.” I cup her cheek. “I’m giving you everything, Ruby. Everything I have, body, soul, and wallet, is yours. I’ve already signed the contracts, making it very real. You’re sexy as fuck in Daisy Dukes. You kill me in NASCAR pajamas. And you’re my goddamn queen in Chanel.

“And tonight, you’ll see what that means to me, to us. Most of our queens wear Chanel, Prada, whatever. We dress formally for our rituals. But you’ll be my queen, the first queen in ranking after my mother, so wear whatever you want, as long as you wear it for me.”

She blinks. “Wow. That was some speech.”

“Mic drop.”

“Okay, I’ll wear the suit. It’s pretty. Thank you. And you had me at blindfolds and bondage hoods, but I have a question.”

I smirk. “Yes, you may kneel and suck my cock in this dressing room.”

“Axel.” She slaps my chest. “Who’s going to be Vale’s second king tonight?”

I hate where this is going. “I can’t say. You know that. Only a queen can tell you or … show you.”

“Because the queens pick their second kings?”

“Yes.”

“If you make me queen and?—”

“ When I make you my queen.”

“Okay, when you make me your queen, can I choose Grant as my second king?”

MURDER must flash in neon across my face.

“Axel, I trust him, too,” she explains, “and you know that’s hard for me. No offense to the other kings, but if…”—I glare—“I mean, when I become your queen, I would be honored if Grant is my second king. Like you, he makes me feel safe.”

Suddenly, it’s not about petty jealousy or primal possession. Since my father has found us, it’s about protecting Ruby.

This is why I fell in love with her. Fuck yes, it can happen at first sight. With her bloody knee, proud chin, fiery hair, jeweled eyes, and plump lips that wouldn’t stop talking, she blazed through me. I was done. I was hers.

Now, together, we’ll fight back. We won’t live afraid of my father.

I’m tired of running and hiding. His tyranny is over .

Will that make me stupid? Careless? Fuck no.

I’ll sharpen our defenses. I’ll find out who betrayed us. It makes me sick if it’s one of my brothers, but I’m sure there are two, so far, who never would.

One, Nash. He’s my best friend. He’s proven his loyalty through actions, not blood. Besides, my father doesn’t know him. He’d be the least likely.

Two, Grant. When he was nine, he went on a hunger strike after he witnessed our father beat our mother. For three days, he refused to eat. He hated our father that much. He wanted to shame him by dying in front of him.

But I couldn’t watch him suffer, so I snuck him pelmeni, Russian dumplings, his favorite food and he was too tempted by hunger. He finally ate.

Would Grant spit in my father’s face today? Certainly.

Would he starve to protect Ruby?

“Alright,” I answer. “When you’re initiated, Grant can be your second king.”

She rushes, her curiosity pure, “Does that mean we like DP or?—”

“Jesus, Ruby.” I half-laugh, half feel homicidal. “Don’t fucking push me on this. Just let me get used to not murdering my brother for even touching you.”

“Okay. Okay.” Gently, she palms my chest, caressing my pecs. “Thank you. I just… For the first time in my life—don’t laugh at me for saying this—but I know why they call it ‘making love’ because that’s what it feels like between us. And I want to be your queen no matter what and?—”

“Goddamn,” I press my forehead to hers, “I want to take you home right now.” I urge her against the wall. “Or have you right here.”

“Not yet.” She grins. “Tonight, I’ll prove I can be your queen. I’ll be quiet and support Vale. This is her night. Just as long as you promise, I get my night, too.”

“So you’ll just sit here and watch?” Ruby trails her fingertips over my throne, worrying, “You won’t initiate Vale, too?”

“No.” Her tender jealousy turns me on. “Nash will barely let her second king touch her. We all did for her test, but tonight?—”

“Her test ?”

“Yes, it’s the first ritual. It’s your chance to decide if it’s what you want before you agree to be a queen.”

“When will I be tested?”

“Tonight will be one of them.” I gesture toward the black leather tufted platform. “Kneel.”

I had it custom-built for our new throne room. The boardroom table was kinky but uncomfortable. We also couldn’t style my boardroom to honor our history and rituals.

But then I saw this room on Delta’s third floor, with its high ceiling and plaster walls, all black with ornate gilded gold leaf designs.

So, I made an agreement with Stacey Evans, Delta’s owner, that if I helped her step-daughter, the female athlete being bribed, I could have this lavish room for my private use.

I moved the thrones here, along with antique tables and golden candelabras, and it felt like our new home. All it needed was this large, padded platform, a comfortable place for bodies to forge bonds.

We can enter Delta’s, looking like curious customers. We can meet in privacy with Jace or Grant, guarding the door. We can conduct our rituals without moans or shouts, drawing attention. We have extra guards posted outside; a team we’ve trusted for years .

We’re safe here.

I hope.

“Kneel?” Ruby asks. “You’re testing me right now?”

“I’m testing you all night.” Something about Ruby in my throne room thickens my cock. It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for this. “So, before the others arrive, I need to prepare you.”

Gently, I fist her hair, guiding her to face me on the platform. It’s centered between our row of black velvet king’s chairs, facing our white velvet queen’s thrones.

Obediently, Ruby kneels, watching as I retrieve a gift box from the antique Russian credenza. Soon, the caterer will arrive with full platters to serve on it, though only the kings and queens may enter, so I’ll meet them at the door.

For now, I planned this time alone with her.

“I bought this for you.” I open the box and present Ruby with a dainty, black collar, its gold chain leash very Chanel and chic. “Will you honor me by wearing it?”

“Yes, my king.” She lifts her hair as I wrap the leather around her neck, my cock aching for this.

I’ve never wanted a sub until I met Ruby. What was the point? Every woman submitted to me, but not her. That’s why this feels special, locking a collar around her throat. I finally have her trust, long after she claimed my heart.

“Now, bend over,” I command. “Rest your cheek on the platform.”

“But… but…” she stammers, complying, “you’re about to see my surprise for you.”

“My surprise?”

She lifts her navy skirt, revealing white lace panties, tied with ribbons over her hips. “They’re vibrating panties and?—”

“Vibrating panties?” I’ve died and gone to Dom heaven. “My dirty girl. ”

“There’s a little bullet that goes in them and you hold the remote and?—”

“Fuck, Wildfire. You’re the one testing me .”

“No, my king. I wanted to show you how I can be good for you. How I’ll edge all night for you.”

“That makes two of us,” I mutter, kneeling behind her to untie her panties. “I’ll put them back on, but for now, I have another surprise for you.”

She giggles, all throaty and aroused. “This feels like kinky Christmas.”

“Exactly.” I give her ass a playful spank. “Now, reach around and hold my gift open. Let me stare at the pretty ass and cunt that belong to me.”

I love making her do this. I watch for minutes as she submits, swelling and glistening before my eyes. Her breath labored with lust, her will fighting to stay silent.

“You should see how good you look right now.” I finally praise, “Such a good girl, showing me her sweet ass, so let me give you this.” I circle my tongue over her tiny, puckered hole, making her gasp fall into a wanton moan. “This is how you’ve always wanted to be bad for me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, my king,” she sighs.

Using my spit, I tongue and tease, rubbing her clit, too, until she’s begging, “Axel, please. Do it now.”

“Hot, little brat.” I smirk, spanking her other cheek. “You’re not in charge. I am.” From the same box where I kept her collar, I raise a purple, crystal rose butt plug. “Now, look over your shoulder,” I order. “I want to watch your eyes while I prepare you to be a greedy little sub for me.”

“Yes, my king,” she sighs.

“This little bottle of lube?” I show her the tiny, palm-sized one I bought. “I’ll use it now and keep it in my pocket for later.”

“Later? ”

“If you’re a good girl, I’ll fuck your ass tonight.”

Drizzling the lube, I mix it with my spit.

She trembles as I tease and probe with the plug, confessing, “I wasn’t lying at the mountain cabin.

This has always been my fantasy with you.

” Slowly, I press the toy inside her and she moans while I demand, “When you wear my collar, you’ll let me dominate you any fucking way I want. Do you consent?”

“Yes, my king.”

I gaze at my gift, her beautiful, lewd purple rose, waiting to be opened later. I secure her panties and smooth her prim skirt down.

“Now, stand up and be my good girl. Prepare your pussy for me to control, too.”

“Yes, my king.”

Her teeth grab her bottom lip when she sees my erection for her.

With hesitant steps, her body adjusts to the erotic intrusion, reaching for her handbag on my throne.

I lick my lips when she lifts her skirt and tucks a little silver bullet into her panties, right over her clitoris, before she hands the remote to me.

“Good girl.” I slide it into my pocket before grabbing her leash. “Now, all night, I’ll test you. I’ll make your pussy drip but you can’t come. No matter what you feel or what you hear.” I tug her chain. “You don’t come for your king until I fuck your ass.”