Page 25 of Wild Card (Foster Bro Code #2)

Dalton

Axel sat in one of my rusting metal chairs, long legs stretched out in front of him, while I threw a couple of steaks on the grill.

They sizzled as the meat met the hot grill plate, and my mouth watered almost as much as it had when Axel tried to climb into my lap in the car. Never had I come so close to indecent acts in a patrol cruiser. He made me break all my rules, but I had to maintain some boundaries.

“So, why the junkyard?” I asked him as I laid a couple of foil-wrapped cobs of corn on the grill beside the steaks.

“What do you mean?”

“Your brothers mainly work at the auto shop, right? And they live together. So, why are you out in the junkyard?”

“I’m a mechanic too,” he said, almost defensively. “But my foster dad and I didn’t really get along. He stuck me out there as punishment, at first, but I realized it was good for me.”

“How so?”

“It reminded me that you can only rely on yourself.”

I half turned from the grill to look at him directly. “You really believe that? Don’t you and your brothers look out for one another?”

“We do,” he said, “but…”

“But?”

He lifted his beer, took a slug, and shrugged. “Well, Gray left once. Who’s to say he wouldn’t leave again? Hell, Bailey is gonna go off to college soon. I can’t rely on anyone but me to be there for the long haul. That’s just not how my life works.”

He said it all matter-of-factly, but there was a hint of something in his voice…a ragged edge he was trying to hide. Axel hid a lot, I was coming to realize.

“Well, I know everyone has their own life to live, but you’ve got three brothers. I’d say your odds are pretty good there will always be someone in your corner.” I hesitated. “And they’re not the only ones who would be there for you.”

His gaze met mine, searching. Had I said too much too soon? Probably. Axel was like a wounded dog, wary of any hand coming near him.

He took another gulp of beer, then got up. “I’m grabbing another. You want?”

My beer was still half-full, but I nodded anyway. “Sure, thanks.”

Axel slipped inside. I wasn’t a fool. I’d pushed, and he’d run. But at least he hadn’t left. I’d just have to be a little more patient. He didn’t ever date. He’d told me as much. And even though I didn’t either, our reasons were very different.

I hadn’t wanted conflicts that would complicate my job. But Axel had been hurt by so many people. He was afraid of getting close to someone. If I pushed him too hard, he might just tell me to fuck off.

Hell, maybe we’d both be better off that way.

There was just something about him that I couldn’t ignore. The wild streak should have turned me off. His reckless attitude was the last thing I needed in my line of work. But beneath it all, there’d always been this wounded man that called out to my urge to protect and serve.

Axel would tell me to get fucked if I admitted I wanted to take care of him. But damn it, someone needed to do it because he was doing a shit job of it on his own.

I checked the steaks and turned the corn over. It only needed a couple of minutes more. By the time Axel returned, I was ready to plate our meals.

“Just put my beer on the table,” I said. “Food’s ready.”

“Damn, that looks great,” Axel said, joining me by the grill.

We’d set the table while I was still grilling, so everything was ready to go. We each plated up and dug into the food. I’d seasoned the rib eye with a smoky rub and seared it to a nice medium rare. It damn near melted in my mouth.

Axel rumbled a sound of pleasure that tempted me more than all those come-ons ever had. Damn. I wanted to know him better, wanted more than a fuck buddy, but I was still looking forward to the inevitable conclusion of us getting naked and sweaty together.

“I guess this dating thing isn’t so bad if it comes with steak,” he admitted.

“I can feed you other things too,” I said with a wink.

He snorted. “Oh, now he brings out the flirting.”

I grinned. “Gotta make sure you want me for more than my grilling prowess.”

He gave me a searing look. “There’s no question about that. But you put me in the hot seat earlier, so it only seems fair I get to do the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you asked why I’d want to be alone in the junkyard, but you’re even more isolated out here.”

“Mm. Yeah, guess so. I deal with people all day. Not the most pleasant interactions sometimes. It’s relaxing out here. Peaceful. I can decompress.”

“But that’s not the whole story.”

I popped another bite of steak into my mouth, chewing slowly to stall. I hadn’t counted on Axel pushing for more than the story I gave to everyone.

And it wasn’t un true. It just wasn’t the whole story, like he said.

“You said you got this place to hide out,” he reminded me.

Shit. I’d been so distracted in the car, with his hand creeping up my thigh, that I’d been a little too forthcoming.

“Left a job in Phoenix. It wasn’t a great time for me. That’s all.”

He leaned in. “So you want to know all about me, but that’s all I get?”

I set down my fork and reached for my beer. Axel was right. It was only fair I share too. It just wasn’t easy for me to think about Shane.

“My partner died on the job.”

“Shit,” Axel said. “I had no idea.”

I nodded. “I don’t like to talk about it. When I got here, I was a mess, and I wanted space.” I glanced back at the falling-down cabin I’d purchased. “It might not have been the best investment, financially, but it was what I needed.”

Axel reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry for prying.”

“No, you were right. Not like I haven’t done my share. Hell, I really put my foot in it when I talked to the mayor about the animal abandonment issue. I called him this afternoon, by the way. Asked him to put the brakes on any changes to the law for now.”

He pulled his hand back. I missed his touch, his warmth. “Thank you. I know I overreacted.”

“You gave me an honest reaction, which is all I’d ever ask of you.”

He stared down at his plate, his hair obscuring most of his face as it swung forward like a curtain. “I fell apart like a fucking child, is what I did. It’s embarrassing.”

“Axel,” I said softly. “Darlin’, please look at me.”

He lifted his head, glaring. “When are you going to get that I’m not some soft, sweet thing for you to love on? I’m fucked-up.”

I stared him down. “When are you going to get that you can’t fool me? I know how to read people, and you are overdue for some sweetness.”

He shook his head, a brittle laugh escaping. “Fuck sweetness. I want your dick, not your heart.”

“Well, you’re going to get both,” I said.

I was pushing him again, but if I didn’t, Axel would relegate me to nothing but my dick, damn it. And he might not want more than that, but he needed more. He was just too damned afraid to admit it.

I pushed back my chair and stood. Axel got to his feet, a wary expression on his face.

“I don’t want your fucking heart,” Axel said. His voice was edgy, but I could sense the uncertainty underlying his words.

“Well, it’s part of the package.” I came around the table and reached for him. I wasn’t sure if he’d fall into my arms like earlier today or shove me away. “Take it or leave it.”

“Why do you have to do this shit?” he demanded.

“Because you deserve it.”

“I don’t.”

“Darlin’, you deserve everything you want in this world. I’d be lucky to give it to you. Don’t you see that?”

“Fuck,” he snarled, eyes wild.

For a split second, fear struck me. Not fear of Axel, but fear I’d ruined this fragile connection between us. Pushed him too far. Run him off for good.

Then he lunged toward me. I got my arms up in time to catch him as our mouths collided. He kissed me savagely, so aggressive I could hardly keep up. I tried like hell, though, grabbing hold of his hair and tilting his head so I could plunge my tongue deep into his mouth.

He groaned, one hand snaking around to grope my ass. “Tell me we’re done with this dating bullshit.”

My heart sank. “No.”

He pulled back, eyes bright. “No? How much more steak do I have to eat before I can eat your ass?”

Jesus. The man had a way with words. My hole clenched in anticipation. “None. You can put your mouth all over me. It’s all part of the date.”

“Hell yeah.” He kissed me again, yanking me hard enough against him I could feel his raging hard-on grinding into my hip. “Drop your pants.”

My heart lurched. “What, here?”

We were outside, though it was so remote there was no danger of anyone seeing. Axel grinned, more relaxed now that we were in his comfort zone.

“It’s polite to eat at the table, I hear.”

Ah, god. I was powerless for this man. I fumbled open my jeans and pushed them down. He turned me toward the table, pressing a hand between my shoulder blades until I bent over it.

Then he went to his knees behind me.

Cool air brushed my skin, making me shiver. But when he parted my cheeks and his hot tongue licked my hole, my entire body quaked.

Axel worked my hole open, licking, nibbling, even tugging at my rim with his fingers. Every minute of my teasing was being repaid in full until I was grinding my ass back on his face and begging for his dick.

“You want it here or inside?” Axel asked.

“Bed,” I gasped. “Please.”

He stood, running a soothing hand up my spine. “All right. Lead the way.”

I stood up, hiking up my jeans so I could walk on shaky legs through the sliding door. Luckily, my place was small. I staggered into the bedroom on the right, Axel following, and sank onto the edge of the bed.

Axel placed a knee on each side of my hips, straddling my lap as he clasped my face and kissed me long and deep. “You sure you want my dick? You topped me pretty damn good for a bottom.”

“I’m vers,” I said. “But if you prefer me topping…”

He put a hand to my chest, shoving me down to the bed. “Nah. I like it every which way.”

“Thank god. I need you inside me.”

He smirked. “Yeah, your hole got a little greedy out there, huh? My tongue and fingers just weren’t enough.”

I shuddered. “Enough teasing.”

“I don’t know,” he mused. “You kept going on about anticipation. ”

He pushed my shirt up, teasing at my navel with his tongue. My muscles jumped under the light touch, and I squirmed, starting to feel desperate.

“The anticipation phase of the date is over,” I snapped, making him laugh. “Just fuck me.”

He backed off the bed to pull his shirt over his head.

I stared at the ink that swirled over nearly every inch of his body.

One image blended into another until I could hardly make heads or tails of what was there, but the patterns were mesmerizing.

The way the art curved over his muscles, encircling his biceps and dipping over his pecs, was especially enticing.

Then he took off his pants, and I lost interest in tattoos. That dick of his, adorned with its silver piercing, made my hole clench. It had been a little painful at first, but so fucking good, too.

I shoved at my clothes, getting naked as quickly as I could, while Axel prowled toward me, a masterpiece of masculine beauty.

He crawled over my body, a gleam in his eye that made me feel like prey. He braced one arm by my head, biceps muscle popping as it took his weight.

Our eyes met as he dipped down, but he bypassed my mouth, his lips grazing my jaw and neck instead.

“Supplies?” he asked.

“Table,” I managed.

Axel trailed his tongue, hot and wet, across my collarbone. “Get them out.”

I fumbled for the table without looking, barely able to reach but unwilling to push Axel away as he continued to lick and nibble at my chest.

I finally got the lube, but I couldn’t find the damn condoms. Shit.

“Ax, when’s the last time you fucked someone else?”

He drew back. “What?”

“I’m out of condoms, so I just…”

He stared at me, his face unreadable. God, what if he said two days ago? I shouldn’t have asked. We were both on PrEP, so the danger was minimal. Maybe I’d foolishly hoped he’d not been fucking around, but hell, this was our first actual date.

“Never mind—” I started.

“It’s been almost a month, I guess.”

“Really?” My pulse jumped. That meant he hadn’t been with anyone else in the entire time we’d been together. I hadn’t expected that.

“Something like that. Why? You want to stop?”

“No.” I swallowed hard, nerves fluttering in my stomach. “Uh, go ahead and fuck me bare.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” I licked my lips, anticipation replacing the nerves. I hadn’t gone bare with anyone in years. “Don’t stop. Can’t wait to feel you inside me.”

Our eyes met, tension gathering before the storm broke. Axel kissed me wet and wild, then grabbed the lube and slicked his cock.

He notched his cockhead against my rim and pressed. I was still soft and open from his rim job, and my body took him easier than it had in the bathroom the other night.

I groaned as he sank in, his Prince Albert barbell rubbing at my insides as he spread me wide and filled every inch of space within. Axel cursed under his breath.

“You’re so fucking hot and smooth inside.”

I squeezed my inner muscles around him, relishing the gasp that fell from his lips.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “You’re gonna make me come so fast.”

“Not too fast,” I said. “Go slow.”

His gaze snapped to mine, but he didn’t argue. Just slowly withdrew his hips until his cock was at my entrance, then slid forward in a smooth, gliding stroke that went long and deep.

“Like that?” he murmured.

I bit my bottom lip, my body swimming in pleasure. “Yeah. Just like that.”

He rocked in and out of me, taking his time, gaze flicking from my face to where our bodies connected and back again. He reached between us to grasp my cock, stroking it with each thrust, and I fell apart.

“Ax, fuck!”

I arched, my cock shooting. My ass tightened around his dick, making it feel even larger inside me. He caught my mouth with his, swallowing my strangled cries of pleasure.

Then, as my body relaxed, he grabbed my hips and fucked me hard and furious. His abs flexing with each powerful thrust was incredibly sexy. I was too spent to get hard again, though. I was so sensitive, the fucking was a little painful now. But I wouldn’t have told him to stop for anything.

His climax hit after a handful of thrusts.

Axel threw his head back, exposing a strong throat that looked oddly naked without the ink that covered his chest and shoulders. I lifted up enough to kiss him there, just lips against skin, nothing more.

He shuddered, cock pulsing inside me. “Fuuuck.”

He’d squeezed his eyes shut while he came, but eventually, he blinked them open, meeting my gaze.

“What now?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“I’ve never dated before. What comes after we come our brains out?”

I laughed. “Well, I’m kind of an amateur, but I think now is when we shower together and get each other off again.”

He grinned. “Hell yeah, this dating thing gets better and better.”