Page 34 of Stains of Desire

7

Penelope

When I wake up,Axel is gone. Heat rises to my cheeks, thinking about how he pulled me on top of him, then flipped me over. Every breath, every touch, every word he spoke electrified me. It's left me hungrier for him. I'm craving to feel the weight of his body on me again. And his kisses...

Oh God.

His kisses were full of possessiveness and greed. He wanted all of me and could have taken any part he wanted. His heat seared into my core, mixing with the ache in my loins. But even in his need, he didn't claim me when he could have. He stained me with his desire, leaving me tainted by his touch. It surprises me, and I'm not sure how I feel about this new longing I have for a man I hardly know.

Oliver and I had passion. We were attracted to each other instantly but dated and fell further into our longing for the other.

Axel is a supercharged turbo race car on the Autobahn going full speed. And he lit me up in a way I didn't know was possible.

He could have had all of me. I wouldn't have said no or stop. He made it clear I could have. And I wanted every inch of his skin and flesh. No matter who was in the room, I didn't care. Embarrassment would have plagued me today when I had to look everyone in the eye, but at that moment, I was desperate for him.

Hours later, the need only burns deeper.

I shouldn't be doing any of this. Millie is out there. I need to figure out where she is. She could be in more trouble now that I'm not with Santiago.

Fear replaces my lust, and guilt pounds into me. My ache for Axel turns into my longing to see and hold Millie.

I blow out a big breath of air and turn. Julieta has her hands over her face and is breathing deeply.

"Morning," I whisper.

She removes her hands. Guilt is all over her face.

"Are you okay?" I ask. I'm not sure what was going on with who last night. Vanessa and Hunter were having sex. They had to have been. Hunter's groan ricocheted in the air just as I hit my orgasm. I'm not positive about the others. But Julieta's face looks like she did something she regrets.

She forces a smile. "Yeah."

"I need to wee," I tell her.

"Me, too."

We quietly get up. There are two toothbrushes and a bottle of water at the end of the bed. We each grab a brush and the bottle and tiptoe out of the tent so we don't wake Vanessa and Zoe.

Axel and Ryker are sorting through large containers around the fire. Their backs are to us. Axel's camo-green T-shirt fits his body just right. His broad shoulders, bulging biceps, and back tapering into his muscular ass is perfection.

He's a magnificent specimen of sexy flesh.

I need to concentrate on Millie.

I tear my eyes away, and Julieta and I sneak behind the tent to do our business and brush our teeth. I don't have shoes on, and the cold mud sinks through Axel's socks. Julieta is in the heels she got abducted in and gets stuck several times, so we don't venture into the woods.

Julieta nervously asks, "Should we go talk to Ryker and Axel?"

Millie is my only focus.

I can't ignore him all day.

I sigh. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you think they know about the Global Leaders?"

She swallows hard. "I asked Ryker if he was part of them, and he didn't seem to have any idea who they are. If he's lying, he's a master con artist. But I know I shouldn't have brought it up. We know how they lie."