Page 77 of Fractured Future

Axel’s lips are firm, all-encompassing, the swell covering my mouth and leaving no room to second guess the risk I’ve taken. His kiss betrays no hint of hesitation nor concern for what we’re doing.

The initial kiss dissolves into another, then another, until his mouth is moving confidently against mine. I kiss him back with the same enthusiasm, desperate to relieve the ache inside me.

His fingers thread into my hair, pushing loose tendrils back where they’ve escaped my braid. Fingers press against my skull, holding my head in place as his tongue darts out to swipe across the seam of my mouth.

With a gasp, I relent and grant access. His hot tongue thrusts into my mouth, dancing against mine as he catalogues my taste. Explosions have begun to detonate in my belly, creating intense waves of need.

I bunch my hands in his baggy shirt, the over-washed cotton soft and worn. He has zero regard for Sabre’s smart dress policy. Just like he has no regard for what anyone else thinks about him.

The kiss softens, our lips entangled and breath trading places. Somewhere along the way, my leg has hooked up on his hip, bringing us flush together. The hard press of his muscles send heat flooding straight down south.

“Axel,” I moan languidly.

“Yeah.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I know. We should get back before they come looking for us.”

His raspy voice is barely audible through the roaring in my ears. Distantly, I realise this was probably incredibly stupid. Not to mention crazy after all I’ve seen since a man last touched me like this.

But I don’t care.

Not when I’ve lost so much.

For the first time in so long, I’ve taken something for myself. Something I wanted. And it felt fucking amazing. I want to take more and fill this aching chasm inside my chest.

“I guess so.” I release his t-shirt. “Um, what exactly do you need to convince everyone of?”

Excitement widens his smile.

“You joining Sabre Security.”

CHAPTER 10

EMBER

HAPPY WITHOUT ME – JJ, SHANE REEVES, LIL RAVEN & YOUNG LIONS

You joining Sabre Security.

Axel’s words ping-pong around the inner confines of my skull, providing a relentless taunt. I’ve thought about little else than the possibility to join their fight since then.

Lying on my back, I toss my new mobile phone up and down in the air. Two weeks. Two fucking weeks since I gave every last name, description, location and piece of evidence I could recall.

Two weeks.

Two weeks!

While the Anaconda Team investigates Gael, his henchmen and the potential location of his estate, Tom reluctantly agreed to go back to his office during the day. His firm’s contract with Sabre is only one aspect of his job, and he has other cases to attend to.

My phone vibrates when it lands in my palms. I know who’ll be texting me without having to check. The day that Warner delivered the phone after I went to buy clothes, Axel started spamming me.

Sighing, I check our conversation.

Axel:

Ember: What the fuck?

Axel: That was me telling you I’m hungry.

That damn-fine kisser has a brain full of monkeys. His messages vary from out of context thoughts to random selfies and even the odd request for a photo back.