Page 34 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Axel

Savvy is curled up on my couch, watching us at the kitchen table.

“Considering the photographers at your place, you should probably stay here tonight.”

She sighs. “At this rate, I should just move in.”

Piper turns in her chair and glances at Savvy and then at me. She grins big. “Moving fast. I like it.”

Savvy’s cheeks flush pink. “I mean because I’ve been here so much. Not because we should live together. I was joking.” She grabs a pillow from the couch and buries her face.

Piper’s eyes widen, and she looks at me. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was only joking.”

I, on the other hand, can’t wipe away the stupid grin I know I’m wearing. The idea of her living here doesn’t scare me like it would have with any other woman. No, I really like the thought. And I don’t want Savvy ever feeling uncomfortable sharing her feelings.

I move over to the couch and sit next to her. She lifts her head, and her entire face is red.

“You’re blushing,” I say.

She nods. “I was joking. I’d never be that forward.”

I stroke her cheek. “It’s all right to be forward with me and to speak your mind. I know it’s too soon to talk about taking next steps, but I want you to know I’m all in with you. And when the time is right, I’ll ask you to move in.”

Several expressions cross Savvy’s face. Before she can answer, Piper yells from the kitchen.

“So presumptuous. Maybe she wants you to move into her place!”

I hadn’t thought of that.

“Is that?—”

“Or maybe she wants to get married and not live in sin!” Piper continues.

Savvy’s eyes widen, and then she closes them. “Wow, getting it all out there, aren’t you, Piper?”

Piper walks over to us, grinning. “I like you two together. He’s less cranky now.”

“Hey,” I say. “I’m not cranky! Durango is.”

Piper hoists her laptop bag over her shoulder. “He was. He isn’t anymore, thanks to Willow. And I think Savvy is good for you. Now, the video is up. I sent you both links so you can monitor them. Good luck.”

Piper helped us get the video of Peter from the café online. It’s time his fans know his true motivations. And they can see how he so weakly connected Savvy and Reed to the cartel.

Once Piper’s gone, Savvy gets up and goes into the kitchen. I follow her. She grabs a glass and fills it with water.

“We should order in for dinner,” I say, opening the drawer where I have a few takeout menus.

She turns and leans against the counter. “Do you think we would have dated if you had never protected me?”

I abandon the drawer and step up to her. “Yes.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

I take her glass and set it on the counter away from us.

Then I lift her up onto the counter and step between her legs.

“Because the chemistry is undeniable. I’ve been drawn to you since I met you.

Yes, at first we argued, but I think that’s because we didn’t know what to do with this. ” I wave my hand between us.

“This?” She’s smiling.

“Yes, the heat between us.”

She laughs. Not exactly the reaction I was going for.

“You disagree?” I ask.

“I do. At least about the meeting part. When I met you, I was too closed-minded to see beyond you being a military man.”

“True. But you could have ignored me. You didn’t. You made jabs. Face it, you couldn’t resist me.”

She wraps her arms around my neck. “Maybe you’re right. ”

“Oh, I’m right about this.”

I lean in and kiss her, slowly at first, teasing. Her lips are soft and warm, and when she deepens it, I don’t hold back.

My hands slide under her shirt, up her smooth back. She moans against my mouth and pulls me closer, wrapping her legs around me. Her fingers roam under my shirt.

I lift her off the counter and carry her to the couch. I lower her, never breaking contact. Her shirt comes off, then mine. My mouth moves down her neck, and she gasps when I nip at her skin.

“Bedroom?” I ask.

“No time,” she whispers. “I’ve been wanting to do this for days.”

I pull her pants off, then mine. I touch her thighs, hips, stomach, exploring, memorizing every inch of her. I slide down and taste between her thighs. Her fingers tangle in my hair.

I kiss my way up her body and then slowly enter her. She moans. Everything about her feels right, like we were made for each other.

I tighten my grip on her hips, grinding into her. She gasps when I shift her slightly for a better angle. I thrust in and out. It’s fast, hungry. We both need this. Her nails scratch down my back as her moans grow louder.

Finally, she cries out. “Hunter! Yes!” She squeezes her legs tightly around me as her orgasm hits. That’s all it takes, and I come hard.

I don’t move as we both stare at each other, breathing fast .

“That was… Wow,” she says.

“Yeah, me too.”

Then I realize we forgot the condom.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry,” I say. “I forgot a condom.”

She glances down and then back up at me. “I have an IUD, so there is no worry there. And I haven’t been with anyone in a really long time other than you.”

“I’m clean,” I say.

“Well, we are good then,” she says.

After a few kisses, I get up, grab a towel, and help her clean up. Then I lie back down with her and hold her. This is a feeling I don’t want to end.

“You know this is more than just chemistry for me,” I say. “The way I feel when I’m with you is… I’m not even sure how to put it into words.” I turn on my side so we are facing each other. “I wake up thinking about you, and I go to sleep thinking about you.”

She grins. “Well, you had to. I was your assignment.”

“No, it’s more than that. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m home.” I roll onto my back. “That sounds cheesy.”

She cuddles up next to me. “No, I get it. Because I feel the same way.”

I hold her close and close my eyes.

“Hunter?”

I open my eyes. “Yeah?”

“We fell asleep.” She yawns and gets up. “And now I’m hungry. We never got dinner.”

My stomach growls. “You’re right. Let’s go take care of that.”

We both get dressed. I call in an order for dinner .

“It will be delivered in about half an hour.”

My phone buzzes with a new notification. But this one isn’t about our dinner.

My stomach turns. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What?” Savvy asks as she sits up.

I show her the text from Piper.

Piper: Wrongly Accused put out a third episode. Title is “The Real Puppet Master.”

“That was fast,” she says.

I tap the play button, and we listen to Peter’s smug voice.

“You’ve heard how Savannah Williams worked alongside a known arms dealer. You’ve heard how Reed Hawthorne Security was involved with the cartel. But in this episode, we ask, Who’s pulling the strings? Who profits when good people go to prison? And who’s next?”

I pause it. “He’s not just doubling down, he’s escalating.”

Savvy leans against me. “He’s trying to destroy everyone.”

I nod. “And now we know, he won’t stop until someone stops him.”