Page 19

Chapter nineteen

Afterburn

Axel

G od, she fit incredibly well in my arms. As if it was where she belonged. It rattled me to my core. I wasn’t a gentle man. In the Marines, I was the best at hand-to-hand combat and was a weapons specialist. If there was an opponent to take down, I was your man. Hell, I’d been an ultimate cage fighter and won ninety-nine percent of my matches.

She sighed resting her head against my shoulder, igniting a wellspring of obsessive desire inside me.

Even knowing the four of us would share her, deep down I recognized the simple truth that she was mine. That meeting her had been destiny at play and I was meant to care for her all the days of my life. In all these years, I had never been this possessive of any woman we’d shared.

But Kylie was different. She chose me first. It counted for something when she could have gone to any of the other guys.

I didn’t know what it meant for us, nor if there was a future with Kylie beyond this case. What I did know was that I hoped for more.

Protectiveness swamped me as I carried Kylie to her room. She appeared fragile and yet had taken the storm of my need last night as if she had been born for it, crafted especially for me.

There was a sadistic part of me that had been relieved by her tears when she made her confession. Earlier today, Gideon had informed me they slept together. When we all agreed to share her, I hadn’t expected jealousy to viciously grab me by the throat.

I had only known Kylie for a few days. It was far too soon for my emotions to get involved. We had only had one night together. But deep in my heart of hearts, I craved all her nights. I had already gotten emotionally involved. This woman touched the dark corners of my heart and soul with her light.

After hearing about her time with Gideon, I worried all day that she didn’t want me. That our one and only night together had been a fluke. That I couldn’t possibly matter to such a beautiful woman.

And yet the tears she shed, her willingness to confess had been music to my ears.

She couldn’t comprehend what it meant that she considered me important enough to cry over. Hell, I realized I was a brute in words and deeds. I wasn’t good with hearts and flowers, nor had someone had ever accused me of being charming. That was Chase’s department. I was better at actions rather than words.

But Kylie stirred me. I ached to claim her. I wanted to confess my secrets, all of them, including why we were really here. That we orchestrated our entrance into her life. That she was in more danger than she realized, but that I would never leave her to fight this battle alone, orders be damned.

But I couldn’t do any of that. Instead, I would show her how much she meant by giving her a night she would never forget, one suffused with pleasure.

I stalked into her bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us with my boot, my dick hard and aching—because she chose me . Kylie selected me to be with her tonight. Her choice spoke volumes regarding her desire and trust in me.

I’d make damn sure she didn’t regret them.

I carried her through the bedroom and straight into her bathroom. What she needed was seduction. And I had every intention of lavishing her with pleasure. “I’m gonna set you on your feet, Angel. Then I want you to strip.”

Then I lowered her onto her feet beside the huge tub. Her bathroom was a study in elegance and grandeur, with a feminine flare in shades of ivory and mauve. The jacuzzi style bathtub was large enough for me to join her.

“Why are we in the bathroom?” she asked with a small pout I thought was fucking adorable.

Goddamn, the wicked things I wanted to do to this woman. That she was this hungry for me dropped a metric ton of lust inside me, snapping at my control.

“Do you trust me?” I held her gaze, willing her to admit she did. Because tonight wouldn’t work without her trust, not with what I had arranged.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

Warmth spread through me. “Then do as I say. I swear you won’t regret it.”

She eyed me, quirking a brow in question but began stripping. I turned away for a minute while she disrobed to gather my control. Because what I really wanted was to fall on her like a ravenous beast and fuck her sweet pussy to my heart’s content. Lust thundered in my being. My cock tented my cargo pants, aching to fill her tight heat.

I had to keep my shit together for a little while longer.

Leaning over the lip of the tub, I switched the faucet on, adjusting the dial until the water was the right temperature.

“You want me to take a bath?”

She sounded a little pissy. I hid my grin and shot her a lustful glance over my shoulder. “No, Angel, we’re taking a bath.”

“Oh really?” She sounded surprised.

“Yep. Haven’t you ever had a lover bathe with you?”

“No,” she whispered, appearing so young and inexperienced I wanted to cuddle her something fierce.

And while I might not have been the first man to take her to bed, the fact that I could experience this with her first filled me with sublime satisfaction. This woman had had no one cherish her, and I wanted to be the first to do that.

“I want to take care of you, Angel. Will you let me?” I had this burning desire to see that she was pampered and treated with infinite care, to show her that not all men hit or were absolute bastards. But I wanted this experience to be her choice. Her rat bastard of a husband certainly hadn’t given her any choices but had ruled with brutal force.

At my words, she softened. A blush stole into her cheeks. “I’d like that.”

With the water filling the tub, I rose to my full height and stripped under her watchful gaze. Reaching over my shoulder, I yanked my shirt off. Her eyes hooded with desire. Her gaze smoldered, caressing my bare chest as she bit her bottom lip. She curled her hands into fists. Like she was holding herself back until I gave her the signal to proceed. Like she wasn’t sure if I wanted her hands on me.

If she understood how much I fucking craved her, she would bolt in the opposite direction. Because I’d never wanted another woman so much in all my life.

After toeing off my boots, I shucked my pants and boxers. My erection sprung forth, hard and aching to sink into her wet heat. Kylie lowered her gaze to my shaft and licked her lips. Carnal desire splashed across her gorgeous face.

Fuck me.

My control hung by a thread. But I was determined to see this through. I held out my hand when what I wanted to do was bend her over the vanity and fuck her tight pussy until my knees buckled. “Come on, Angel.”

Kylie didn’t hesitate. Just put her delicate hand in mine without question. Fuck, but her trust in me was a heady thing. It made me want so much more with her—like a future. I realized it was fast, and it left me fucking vulnerable. We barely knew each other, but I ached to uncover everything that made her tick. I wanted a commitment with her. I even, heaven help me, imagined what she would look like with her belly rounded with my child.

But I tamped down those impossible dreams. It was too fast. And I had been burned before. Dreams like those would cause me nothing but pain and disappointment.

I helped her into the tub, then followed her in. Sighing, I reclined in the sinfully hot water and towed her down, sitting her on my lap with her back pressed against my chest. My larger form surrounded her, reminding me how small she was, how breakable, but she had a reserve of strength inside her that amazed me. To have survived what she did and remain sweet and giving made me ache to claim her for all time. She was a woman worth fighting for.

“This is nice.” Kylie sighed against me, her body softening by degrees. She snuggled against me, her ass shifting against my hard shaft. I grimaced at the exquisite torture. If I didn’t tighten a lid down on my lust, I would blow my load before the festivities really began.

I shut the water off once it reached our chests. “Yeah, it is. I don’t want you to do anything but relax.”

“M’kay.”

My hands caressed her. Even with scars, she was fucking gorgeous. I cupped her generous tits, kneading and massaging the mounds. Her rose tipped nipples hardened into stiff points. I licked my lips because I fucking ached to suck them.

But I had other plans and was merely prepping her body for the sensual delights to come.

“Tell me, Angel, have you ever considered being with more than one man at a time?” I kept touching her, teasing her breasts, listening to her quiet gasps.

“Why do you ask?” she asked quietly.

“I’m curious about you. I want to know your fantasies. I want to understand what gets you hot. I want thorough knowledge of those dark fantasies that you masturbate to, but haven’t told anyone about. I fucking want it all.” My cock fucking ached like a son of a bitch. The plump globes of her butt were snug against my shaft. Every time she shifted, she rubbed my dick, and I throbbed to fill her tight heat.

I pressed my lips against her neck, kissing my way up to her ear. “And if being with more than one man at a time is something you desire, I’ll give it to you.”

Kylie shifted on my lap until she looked at me. Brought her hands up and cupped my cheeks, searching my face. I dropped my shields. None of this would work without mutual trust. And I recognized she had a harder time with it because of everything she experienced at her husband’s hands. Her breath expelled in a rush, and she planted a soul stealing kiss upon my lips.

Christ, this woman!

I growled into her mouth as I gripped the sides of her head and drank from her lips. There’d never been a woman who made me feel the way Kylie did. I wanted to drown in her. I wanted to make her come screaming my name again and again until she promised me forever, until I put a baby in her belly and claimed her for all time.

Fuck, even the thought of her ripe with my seed aroused me. I was seriously mental. But I’d never seen this woman coming. I thought she would be just another job. And instead, she looked at me and I wanted to slay dragons in her name.

I nipped her bottom lip as I released her mouth. “You didn’t answer my question, Angel.”

Shyness crept into her face. She lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning a becoming shade of pink.

“Yes,” her whisper was barely audible but fell like a gauntlet.

Lust punched a hole through my gut. As much as I wanted to keep her to myself, I couldn’t deny the thought of taking her with Gideon sent my blood racing. Because it was hot as fuck watching a woman come undone with multiple partners stuffing her full of cock.

“What about you? Is that something you want?” She lifted her shy gaze, laced with curiosity and desire.

“All I’ve wanted since meeting you, Angel, is to give you pleasure. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“But now you’re dodging the question,” she scowled with a pout.

She had me there. But I also didn’t want to spoil the surprise awaiting her in the bedroom. Instead of answering her query, I claimed her mouth in a blistering kiss. Imparting everything this woman made me feel into a single kiss. I could spend days doing nothing but kissing her. Dragging my tongue along the seam of her lips until she parted them. My tongue swept inside at the invitation, and I growled at her heady flavor.

While our tongues tangled in a hot, drugging kiss, I slid a hand down her succulent body to her pussy. Her skin was like silk beneath my fingertips while I sought her clit.

Kylie moaned into my hungry mouth. I swirled my digits around her nub, teasing her flesh, until she writhed on my lap. Then hissed at the torture, praying she didn’t unman me before I sank into her tight heat.

I pushed two fingers into her pussy. She groaned, ripping her mouth from mine.

“Axel.” She moaned. Her head fell against my chest. Her hands dug into my thighs as she ground against my thrusting fingers.

“My fantasy is to make you come repeatedly—with my fingers, my mouth, and on my cock. And then I want to do it all over again until you’re addicted to my dick and can’t go a day without it.”

She moaned loudly at my fantasy, at what I intended to do to her. Deafening enough, I was certain Gideon heard her.

Satisfaction blared through me. Let him hear her sweet cries. Circling her clit with my thumb, I held her steady while thrusting my fingers inside her channel. Her pussy fluttered and clenched around the digits.

I sucked her earlobe into my mouth and nipped at her flesh as she ground against my hand.

“Oh god, Axel.” Kylie writhed, straining against my plunging fingers.

“That’s it, Angel. Take your pleasure. Come for me.” My words sent her over the edge. She came hard.

Her nails dug into my thighs as she bucked and wailed. Her pussy clamped down on my pumping fingers as she came. I kept thrusting my fingers, eager for her pussy do the same on my cock. But I continued finger fucking her until she sighed in satisfaction and went limp in my arms.

Drawing my fingers from her pretty cunt, I pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Let’s get you out and dried off. Because then I have a surprise for you.”

“But what about you?”

“Not to worry, before long I will sink my cock into your pussy and fuck you until you’re screaming my name. But first, let’s get you dried off, shall we?”

Before I could move us, she shifted and took my face in her hands. “I’m glad we met, Axel, even if I am paying you to be here.”

“I’d want you without the job. I hope you understand that, Angel. Come on.” I hefted her in my arms as the water drained from the tub. Then climbed out and set her on the bathmat. Grabbed a fluffy towel off the nearby rack and rubbed her body dry. Then did the same with me.

Once we were both dry, I placed a proprietary palm against her low back and steered her back into the bedroom.

She drew up short the moment we entered the room. Reclining on the bed in nothing but his birthday suit was Gideon.

“Mind if I join you?” Gideon asked, lust infused his gaze that was trained on Kylie.

I leaned down and murmured in her ear. “Now’s your chance, Angel, to have both of us at the same time. What do you say? It’s your choice.”

“We promise you more pleasure than you’ve ever experienced before. But I get to take that sweet ass of yours.” Gideon might appear relaxed, but he was just as on edge as I while we waited for her response.

“What’s it going to be, Angel?”