Axel

With uncertainty and nerves twisting my stomach, the night was an emotional blur. The entire ride to my place, was filled with relief to have Quinn sitting safely beside me, mixed with confusion and pain I couldn’t quite shake off. I didn’t know what to expect when we got home. My mind working in overdrive, I closed my eyes to try to clear my thoughts.

Quinn reached for my hand, and the soft touch made my heart leap out of my chest. I didn’t want to face the woman I so desperately loved only to see betrayal. I couldn’t give her reassurance, so I gently pulled my hand free. Silence was the only thing I could offer.

“Axel? I’d really like to show you something if I can.”

I didn’t want to be dramatic and continue with my fury, call off the relationship, or do any other rash action that ran through my head. At the end of the day, I loved her completely. Seeing her hurt only intensified my feelings for her. She was everything I could ever dream of. I wanted to make this work. Quinn had already surrendered her love and given her entire heart. It was obvious. And she was sorry. That much was obvious. But could I trust her?

She reached into her purse and pulled out a bunch of papers wrapped in a rubber band.

“What is all that?”

“I’ve been keeping these in my bag ever since… well ever since in hopes to show you why I do what I do. They’re all of the magazine and newspaper articles, and small essays I’ve ever written.” She pointed to her name on one of them, and then pointed to her name on another. “See that?”

I read her written name, confused. “Your name?”

“Yes, my name. Quinn Sullivan.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When I was a child, my grandmother always told me that I had a name that should be lit up in lights. I had a name worthy of a queen. She told me that with a name like Quinn Sullivan, I was destined for success.” She paused to take a deep breath. “Every time I place my name on something I write, I feel like I am honoring my grandmother’s memory.” She took another deep breath and continued on. “There was not a lot of love in my home growing up. My parents weren’t affectionate and rarely offered praise. It wasn’t a bad childhood or anything. Just cold. But things were different with my grandmother. She made me feel like the most special person in the world. Her words and encouragement made me feel like I could do whatever I wanted. She actually made me believe I was destined for great things.” She paused as she wiped at a falling tear. “She made me promise to do something special with my life. She made me promise to make Quinn Sullivan a name not to be forgotten. She made me promise to shoot for my dreams, because with a name like mine, dreams would come to reality. It doesn’t excuse my lies…”

I reached for Quinn’s hand and linked my fingers through hers. I offered a smile, finding it impossible to be angry at the woman before me. She squeezed her fingers tightly between mine, and a shiver of satisfaction went through me. The simplest touch confirmed that Quinn was the only woman I would ever need.

Quinn was here… fighting. Confiding in me like she’d never done before. Deep down I’d hoped she would come to me, that the bond between us was as powerful as I believed. It had been weeks and I had tried my best to forget all about her, blocking the painful memories of her lies from my mind.

But here she was, sitting before me with her face shadowed in the dim light of the passing streetlights. She was a woman of such beauty that she took my breath away. Her skin was smooth, golden—gorgeous even with the bruises and cuts. Her hair an enchanting brown, richer and deeper than any woman’s I’d seen. It fell over her delicate shoulders with a slight curl at the bottom. Her eyes were closed, her lashes lying thick and dark against her cheeks. I needed to see into her eyes… into her heart. But she kept them shut, her face saddened by her memories.

I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to her. It seemed like an eternity since I last touched her. I skimmed my fingertips along the edge of her swollen jaw.

She gasped, but instead of pulling back, she leaned closer, her eyes fluttering open. “I know I don’t deserve you,” she murmured. “I wish I could do it all over…”

I slid my thumb up over her chin and then across her bottom lip. On a shaky sigh, she parted her lips. She stared directly into my eyes.

“Axel…”

I leaned down and closed the distance between my mouth and hers. My hands still cupping her face, I tipped her chin up. Then I brushed my lips gently across hers in a whisper-soft kiss.

“I’m sorry. I came here to get a story that could really make Quinn Sullivan a name people had heard of. I saw the possibility of a book deal, and I saw potential success. I came here, and I met you, for all the wrong reasons.” Quinn wiped at a falling tear. “But I swear to you, that somewhere along our path, everything changed. I fell in love. I gave you my entire heart. I gave you the entirety of my soul. Not because of a book, but because I truly fell in love with you.”

I nodded as the pain in my heart subsided. Quinn reached out unexpectedly and gripped her hand around my neck. In one swift movement, her mouth came down powerfully on mine, her tongue plunging past my lips as if she were claiming me, possessing me as hers. I clutched at her arms, deepening the kiss, leaving nothing but overwhelming love.

Arousal sparked in my body as if Quinn had lit me on fire. I parted her lips with the force of my tongue, my hands desperately clinging to the fabric of her shirt. Our tongues danced together as electric currents rippled through my body, my cock hardening at the sensation of Quinn’s body pressing against mine, my mind spiraling out of control with the knowledge of the erotic gratification we could bring each other.

She cleared her throat. “I will apologize every day if you’ll let me. Just don’t walk away.”

I wiped at the tears streaming down her face. “I’ll never give up on us again.”

The one thing that was clear was what I wanted, what I’d always wanted. I wanted her back. The only woman I’d ever truly loved. Being without her for even this short time made me realize that. The question was if I could trust her. Did I truly believe her about the book? I wondered if I deluded myself into thinking she wouldn’t use me now that we were in love. That things had changed since she first arrived. Her intentions were different. Was she really in love like she claimed?

I couldn’t stop believing that we had this love at first sight: crazy love. A kind of love that no matter the insecurities or the anger, never lessened. There had been a time when it would have been impossible for me to admit to myself, much less say out loud, how much I was in love. But I could clearly see that I’d fallen hard—she was all I wanted.

It hurt. It hurt badly to have Quinn lie to me. But I had to forgive in order to move on, and it did appear as if she felt truly sorry. I knew this was love. I felt it in every fiber of my being. I loved her. I always would. And I was sure that she loved me, too. But even as I thought it, doubts assailed me. This is what we needed to work out. This is what I needed to work out.

As we walked into the loft, I glanced around, grateful I hadn’t left the place a mess. Immediately, nerves formed a tight knot in my stomach, my heartbeat slamming against my rib cage. I tossed my keys on the granite counter and immediately went to grab a bottle of red wine.

“Can I pour you a glass of wine?” I asked as I popped the cork.

“Yes, please.”

At the sound of her voice, inches from my ear, I spun around to see Quinn leaning against the counter with a smile. With a thud, I dropped the bottle on the counter, grabbing her, hauling her close and covering her mouth with my own, running my hands all over Quinn’s body.

With a soft moan and a light giggle, she broke away from the kiss, a frown creasing her forehead. “This is for real, right? My heart can’t take it if you compare me to a groupie again,” Quinn said, her voice cracking slightly.

I shook my head, continuing to run my hands over her back. “I shouldn’t have said those things, or acted that way. I was mean and wrong. I was hurt, but that doesn’t excuse me lashing out at you.” I stopped, shaking my head, closing my eyes briefly. “I know I hurt you, too.”

“I thought I lost you,” she said, looking away briefly.

“I don’t want our love to be delicate like you said. We’re strong enough to get through anything. Even if I did a horrible job of showing you that.” My heartbeat harsh in my chest, I looked into Quinn’s eyes. “Do you forgive me?” I asked, my eyes searching hers.

I saw regret cloud her eyes before she turned away. I felt everything in my body freeze as I gazed at the woman I loved, attempting to read the emotions in her eyes, trying to determine their meaning.

With tears releasing from her eyes, Quinn placed a hand on my arm. “Axel, please don’t apologize—” She broke off, swallowing hard. “I’ll never doubt your love for me… for us. I’ll always trust in you… as long as you can trust in me.” She stopped, wiping at her tears. “I love you. I always will.”

Any other words were forgotten as I brought our mouths together.

Quinn laughed around the kisses as I led her to the room and kicked the door to the bedroom open, bundled her in my arms, and with long strides, placed Quinn down onto the bed.

“I want you,” I said. With a groan, I rapidly began to undress her, only to be rewarded with Quinn doing the same to me.

“God, I want you, too,” she said, her voice breathless, as she frantically pulled at my pants.

I felt my body burn in eager anticipation as I stared down at the vision of Quinn splayed out in front of me. I ran a finger down the line of her throat, down the midline of her body, before stopping at the juncture of her thighs.

Locking my eyes on hers, I stroked a finger deep inside her, her walls clamping tight against my invasion. With a groan, I withdrew, my finger covered with Quinn’s sexual desire.

I loved how good it was between us. She was always so responsive to my touch. I closed my eyes briefly, my desire growing thicker.

“I’ve missed this,” I said with a groan, fighting the urge to spread Quinn’s legs and press my cock deep inside her willing warmth.

But I wanted to take my time. Separating her pussy lips, I watched in heated fascination as she lost control. With every drag and pull of my finger, Quinn’s walls clenched and released in rhythmic pulses, her cream easing down and covering my hand. All control was lost.

“I’ve got to taste you,” I said, spreading her legs farther apart.

I tasted.

I devoured.

She was mine again.

* * *

Quinn

The first stroke of Axel’s tongue against me had me rearing my body up and off the mattress, a cry tumbling from my lips. I moaned softly, my hands coming out to brace myself on the bed as Axel flicked his tongue over and around my clit, toying with me before surrounding my pleasure point completely within the warm cavern of his mouth.

On and on it went, alternating between stabbing flicks of his tongue and long sweeping kisses, driving my passion to a whole new level. When Axel drew his tongue completely out and nibbled gently, an orgasm washed over me—gentle at first but then intense as it grew. His fingers slid into me, going deep, causing stars to flash behind my tightly closed lids as I came, crying out as the tremors rocked my entire body. Entirely wrung out, my body collapsed onto the mattress, my muscles weak

“I’m not done with you yet,” Axel promised, his voice dark, as he began to sink into me. But before pressing inside me fully, he paused, his breath coming out coarsely. “Tell me you love me, Quinn. That you’ve never stopped.”

I moaned, grinding my body against his, my face flushed with hunger. “I—I love you, Axel,” I cried when he inched farther inside me.

He pressed his hand between us, finding my clit and working it as he delivered small, shallow thrusts. “Tell me you want me,” he demanded.

“I want you!”

At my admission, Axel slid all the way in. Grasping my ass, he lifted me and began to thrust. His fingers dug into my hips as he held onto me, alternating the thrusts between long and deep, and shallow and quick, angling my body along his for our mutual pleasure.

I wrapped my legs around Axel’s waist, digging my heels into his back. “Faster,” I panted as his fingers scored deep into the globes of my bottom, his head thrown back, eyes shut.

Soon our mutual groans echoed in the room, bouncing off the walls as his strokes became softer, easier, eventually subsiding.

Sweat poured off our bodies. I opened my eyes and released a sigh, the afterglow of perfect lovemaking seeming to wash away any hurt of the past.

I felt Axel’s hand feather across my breasts, and I smiled. “That was really nice,” I said, hissing slightly when Axel’s thumb ran over my overly sensitive nipple.

Axel laughed, a thoroughly perfect sound.

“I have something to ask you,” he said, as he grabbed a piece of my hair and played with it between his fingers. “Did you really mean it when you said you were planning on staying in LA?”

“Yes. I can’t imagine my life without you. I decided—”

My words were cut off when Axel surprised me by covering my mouth with his. I succumbed instantly to the touch. Slowly, he drew away from me.

He placed his hands on either side of my face. “I can’t imagine my life without you, either.”

***

* * *

Quinn

The apartment was shrouded in darkness when I finally awoke from the best sleep I had had in days. Eyes still adjusting to the lack of light, I peered at the digital alarm clock on Axel’s nightstand and was surprised to discover that it was almost three o’clock in the morning. The events of the past days had thoroughly worn me out. Sighing in contentment, I stretched my arms out above my head, still relishing the afterglow of the most amazing sex. The tension that had weighed me down had all but disappeared, replaced by a sense of serenity.

Moving to get up from the bed, I realized Axel was nowhere to be found. I quickly padded out of the room toward the kitchen. Passing by the bathroom, the sound of running water grabbed my attention. Pushing open the door, I smiled at the sight of a very naked, and extremely handsome man drawing a bath.

“Axel?” I asked curiously, stepping further into the room. His head whipped around at the sound of my voice, and my heart melted when Axel smiled at me sensually.

“You’re not supposed to be awake yet,” he admonished me playfully, moving away from the claw-foot bathtub as he came to stand in front of me. “I wanted to let you get a bit more sleep before I woke you up for your surprise.”

“My surprise?” I asked in confusion, looking past him at the rose petals floating atop the water’s surface. He had lined up bath oils and salts along the bathroom sink. He had a terrycloth robe folded neatly on top of the vanity and a glass of red wine sitting beside it. I glanced up at him in confusion. “What is all this?”

“We’re celebrating a very special day today,” he said, as he reached out to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.

“Axel…” I sighed. I didn’t deserve all this. Not after the way I had treated him. I should be doing all the romantic gestures. “What day are we celebrating?”

“The day you moved into my home,” Axel whispered, cupping my face in his hands as he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. When we parted, his hands traveled down my sides until both palms rested against my nude bottom.

“What?” I squeaked, my voice catching in my throat as I pressed my naked body against his. “Did you just say—”

“Shhh,” Axel silenced me, smiling as he kissed me gently again. “Just relax and enjoy your bath while the water’s still hot. We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, offering him a reassuring smile as he moved past me and turned to leave the room.

“Enjoy the bath,” he said with a smile, stepping out into the dimly lit hallway and closing the door behind him.

Sighing in contentment, I carefully lowered myself into the tub. I hissed as the hot water enveloped my skin. Closing my eyes, I tried not to overthink the comment Axel had just made. It was almost cruel that I had to wait and see what he meant by that. Did he really want me to move in?

I stepped out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, dressed in Axel’s soft robe. My stomach growled as I entered the kitchen and my nose was immediately assaulted by the sight of freshly sliced strawberries and the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

“You look beautiful,” Axel commented, pulling out a chair and helping me take a seat in front of the lavishly decorated table. I giggled at how easily he could just walk around naked. He still hadn’t put a stitch of clothing on.

“I can’t believe you’re doing all this. It’s too much.”

“I told you that we’re celebrating a special day,” he insisted, leaning over the back of my chair to whisper in my ear. “This is the day you agree to move in with me.” His warm breath tickled my skin, causing a shiver to course through my body. I turned my head to face him, searching his eyes for clarity.

“I’d love to,” I whispered, reaching out to stroke Axel’s cheek.

“I don’t want to spend another night apart,” he said in a low voice, pressing his face into the palm of my hand as we gazed at each other with love in our eyes.

We stayed like that for a while, both of us absorbing what we had just agreed to while trying to get a handle on our emotions. I brought Axel’s hand up to my lips, placing a gentle kiss as I offered him a warm smile.

“I thought I lost you,” I said softly, fighting back the tears. “This is like a dream. I have you back.”

“My heart has always been with you. But, Quinn,” Axel said, grabbing my chin in his hand and forcing me to meet his gaze. “No more secrets. You can tell me anything. You don’t hold back anything anymore.”

“I promise,” I agreed, nodding my head with conviction. Leaning forward, he placed a gentle kiss against my lips. “I love you,” I declared, wrapping my arms around Axel’s waist.

“And I’ll always love you,” Axel promised me sincerely, burying his face into my hair as I laid my head down against his chest. “And I swear to you that things are going to be different from now on. You and I together, forever.”

“I like the sound of that,” I whispered, snuggling closer in Axel’s hold.

He lifted me out of the chair and pulled me closer into his embrace. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding onto him as tightly as I would forever hold onto our love: a love that was anything but delicate and scarred.

I suddenly needed Axel like I’d never needed him before. It didn’t help that he stood naked tempting me with his every move. I wanted intimacy, connection, and love. I wanted to please him once again completely.

Without saying a single word, I kissed my way down his toned chest until I reached his large, erect cock. I stopped to stare at his manhood, never before finding a man as enticing. I pressed my lips to the tip of his cock, and gradually worked my tongue to the base. I picked up the pace, moving up and down while squeezing tight with my hand. I moaned as I scraped my teeth along the sides of his tightening cock. I moved my hand to his balls and began to sensually massage. He pumped his cock deeper and began to fuck my mouth with fury, removing all traces of sensuality. He grabbed me by the hair and raised my head up and down, driving towards orgasm. Suddenly he stopped and tried to pull away.

I shook my head and murmured, “No, I want to taste you,” and continued to suck up and down his entire shaft.

He moaned loudly. “Oh god, Quinn, I’m going to come!”

I tightened my lips and moved my tongue with a quickened speed, driving him to climax with every flick of my tongue. I wanted him. I wanted his release. I could hear his breathing catch and felt his balls tighten beneath my massaging fingers. He drove his cock as deep as my mouth could take and released his hot seed in the back of my throat as he cried out my name.

He lifted me abruptly and turned me on to my stomach on the kitchen floor. He lowered his hard body on top of mine and began to kiss and nibble the back of my neck.

“You’re amazing.” He lowered his hand to the crease of my bottom and seductively stroked. “I want you here.” Axel stood, pulled me up and then lifted me in his arms.

“What about breakfast?”

“It can wait; I can’t,” he said, not even pausing as he carried me back to the bedroom, setting me gently on the bed and then went into the bathroom, returning with a bottle of lubricant and a phallus made of glass.

My heart fluttered and my sex clenched. I felt nervous but highly aroused. I had been waiting for this day, and now seemed so right. I wanted to please him in every single way possible. Axel applied some lubricant to my anus and pressed his finger past the entrance to lubricate further. He pumped his finger in and out and then added a second finger. I struggled for breath as he spread his fingers apart so he could stretch me further.

I panted and moaned with every movement. I pressed my ass to his fingers, desperate for more. Being on the edge of climax drove me crazy with lust. Axel removed his fingers, leaving me with an empty void. I could hear him placing lubrication on his cock and my mouth watered at the thought of him taking me in the most intimate of places.

“I want you where no one else has been. I want you completely,” Axel gruffly said as he pressed his cock against my waiting entrance.

Very slowly, Axel moved his cock past my now slick and ready opening. Kissing my neck softly, he whispered his love to me as he pressed deeper. I had never felt something so intimate, so erotic, and so passionate. He continued on, spreading my tender hole. I whimpered as I felt the pain of his possession and instantly panicked. I suddenly wasn’t sure if I was ready.

Axel paused so I could get accustomed to the feel. “Just relax, Quinn. You’re doing so well. I promise that you’re ready. I made sure you would be able to take me. You feel so tight, so hot. Press into me,” he coaxed.

I pressed back as he directed and allowed his hardness to push in further. The intensity overwhelmed me, and Axel only added to it when he reached around and found my clit with his fingers. He rolled his finger around my swollen desire as he drove even deeper. I moaned in pleasure, as well as pain, and suddenly allowed the climax to take over. I bucked against him, driving him all the way into the depths of my body. I screamed as orgasmic pulses rushed through my forbidden channel.

Axel continued to pump in and out. Suddenly I felt something else. I shuddered as the cold glass dildo slid into my pussy. The toy quickly warmed within the heat of my body. It was an incredible feeling as he thrust it in and out of my vagina as he continued to fuck my ass. Every thrust drove me higher. I felt so full, so possessed. I cried out his name as his cock and the toy moved in and out at a relentless pace. Wave after wave of incredible bliss rolled over me like a tsunami.

“Axel!” I moaned.

“Take all of me. You’re mine, Quinn. Mine,” Axel growled.

Axel continued to press on harder and harder as I pleaded for more. All gentleness and slow easing was replaced with fever and crazed desire. He grabbed both sides of my ass and drove deeper. I loved the submissive feel. I loved being overcome in such a primal way. Axel sunk his hardness deeper than I thought possible and came as his body shook in completion. He moved his cock in and out a few more times in slow, sensual strokes. He then pulled out and rolled onto his back to catch his breath.

I remained on my stomach, unable to move, gasping for air. Axel rubbed his hand up and down my back while I recovered from the most amazing sexual event of my life. Never could I have imagined something so powerful, so erotic. This was like no other sex. I felt closer to Axel than I ever had before. I was his, and I wanted nothing more.

Finally, he broke the blissful silence first. “Are you all right? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Oh, I’m better than all right. I never knew it would be like that.”

“Are you sure? I was harder than I wanted to be. I lost control,” Axel said with worry in his voice.

I simply smiled.

He brushed some of the loose hair away from my face. “You’re everything.” He paused, and then kissed me on the forehead. “You are mine.”

I silently nodded in response.