Page 72 of All's Fair in Love & Wrath

The moment his tires hit the pavement, he takes off. The wind howls past us, my hair falling out of my loose braid, trailing out behind us. The roads are narrow and curve tightly, but Axel takes them like he’s done it a thousand times before, his hand reaching back and cupping around my calf. It grounds me, makes me feel more connected to him than I already am.

He races through the dark back roads, nothing but the moon and his headlights leading our way. It’s peaceful, freeing, but also exhilarating. On the next straightaway, I sit up, stretching my arms out and dropping my head back, squeezing my thighs around Axel. I close my eyes, and it feels like I’m flying. For the first time in over a decade, I feel completely and utterly free. I let go of everything holding me back, all the weight, all the trauma and fear, and I let the wind carry it all away. As Axel starts to slow, I lean forward, wrapping my arms tightly around my safety net, the man who’s given me the space to just breathe, and it feels like coming home.

Axel parks the bike at the top of a lookout point, the area scarce of anyone else. We’re surrounded by large Sitka spruce trees, the mountains off in the distance, the stars and the moon in the sky. It’s so peaceful. Before I can rest against his back, Axel rotates, gripping my hips and lifting, guiding me to spin around so I’m straddling his lap on the front of his bike.

His hands find my face, cradling my headin his big, tattooed palms. He looks down at me, eyes glinting, and my heart trips up, those butterflies back with a vengeance.

“You have no idea what you’re doin’ to me, Sienna.”

“Likewise,” I whisper, a small self-deprecating smile on my lips.

“You’re so beautiful, so consuming, so fucking strong and brave. I’m proud of how far you’ve come, how much you’re embracing.” His words bring fresh tears to my eyes.

“All thanks to you.”

Axel growls, deep and menacing. “Not a chance. Don’t do that. I just gave you the space and the tools; you did all the work, you continue to do the work.” His words mean more to me than he’ll ever know. A few months ago, I struggled just to get out of bed; that fear kept me under. I was drowning, and everyone else was simply moving me around into different bodies of water. But Axel gave me a life vest. And so much fucking more.

My hands wrap around his neck, pulling him down to me, our lips crashing against each other. I throw every single emotion I’m feeling into it, wanting him to know exactly what he’s doing to me, how gone I am for him, how much I want him in every way.

I’m in love with Axel James.

I claw at his shirt, pulling it up and over his head, tossing it to the ground next to us, my hands running over every firm muscle on his stomach and chest, wishing I could see every tattoo, every permanent design he chose to live with forever. Axel’s fingers find my shorts, easily flicking the button open and dragging down my zipper. He nudges them down just enough to get his hand in, lifting me up just enough to make more room. His fingers slide through my lips easily, and I know he’s finding the proof of how turnedon I am.

“Baby girl, your body is so fucking responsive to me. I’m obsessed with how you react to my touch.”

“Make me come, Axel, please. I love when you touch me.” He toys with me for a minute, letting his finger explore, but then he finds my clit, circling around it just the way I’ve learned makes me go crazy. It’s so good, and the moment his mouth finds mine again, it’s even better. Kissing Axel is an experience all in its own. Euphoric. Everything in me softens all at once, my head emptying of all the vile thoughts that constantly plague me, the self-doubt, the feelings of worthlessness. When Axel kisses me, I feel none of those things. The opposite, really. He’s healing me. Reminding me that I’m someone who deserves love and affection, that I’m not ruined or damaged goods.

But there’s also a fire that’s being stoked, a roaring flame that I haven’t felt since that night everything changed. A part of me returning from the ashes like a phoenix rising after death. For the first time, I want to fight back. I want to take what I want and not be ashamed of it. I want to be unapologetically me.

Axel bites my bottom lip, pulling outward until it snaps free. Then he’s kissing down my jaw, over the side of my neck that isn’t marred and scarred. I rock against his hand, chasing the orgasm I want so badly.

“Fuck, look at my needy girl. That feel good, baby? You like my fingers?”

“Axel, yes, it feels so good.”

“Mmm,” he hums, the sound so deep and sexy. I rock against him, pushing his fingers farther back, the tip of one rimming around my opening. “Can I?”

“Can you what, Axel?” The hand in my hair grips firmly, pulling just enough to arch my head backward. His head dipsdown, licking up the length of my neck until he reaches my lips. He bites down on the bottom one again, not hard, but enough to surprise me.

“Can I fuck you with my fingers, sweetheart?”

“Oh, god.” Axel swirls his fingers through my arousal, hovering right at my opening.

“That’s not a definitive statement. Can I fill you with my fingers, Sienna?”

“Yes, Axel, please. I want it.”

“Fuck, baby, anything for you.” Axel takes his time, slowly sliding a single finger into my channel, the heel of his palm rubbing against my clit. It feels so good, but it makes me want so much more. I want him. I want to feel the weight of him on top of me as he fucks me. I haven’t wanted to have sex, but I want to with Axel.

“Fuck, baby girl. You’re so goddamn tight.” His free hand curls around the front of my neck, holding me still, his eyes boring into me. It’s so intimate, so hot, I can feel the moment my core clenches around his fingers when he adds a second.

He keeps working me over, my head sagging from the pleasure, but Axel is right there, holding me exactly where he wants me, exactly where I want to be. “Don’t look away from me, I want to watch you unravel when you come all over my hand. Give me that, baby girl.” His thumb swipes against my jaw, then slides down my bottom lip before pushing into my mouth. His eyes never leave the sight as I greedily suck it between my lips, swirling my tongue around the digit.

Pleasure starts to unfurl, the ecstasy building and building until finally . . . I snap. My entire body shakes from the force, moaning out Axel’s name as I come. His hand continues to work me over until I’m overly sensitive and begging him to stop. He pulls out his hand, sticking his fingersinto his mouth and sucking them clean. It’s erotic, and I can’t look away. Then he’s kissing me, pushing his tongue into my mouth, and tangling with my own, forcing me to taste myself on him. I greedily suck it into my mouth, his hands digging into my waist, pulling me further into his lap so we’re practically flush. The hard outline of his huge dick meets my core, but he doesn’t ask for anything, just bounds his strong arms around my waist, holds me close, and kisses the hell out of me.

It may be enough for Axel, but it’s not enough for me. I want him to feel revered, desired, cared for. All the things he makes me feel every single day. I pull apart, scooching back and working the button of his jeans open, sliding down the zipper. Axel helps me get him free, his huge length bobbing against his abdomen. When I grip him, it’s heavy in my palm, my fingers unable to meet together around him. He’s so big that it’s intimidating, but I want it anyway.

I look down at him, watching as my hand slides up and down, the way his hips piston forward slightly. My mouth waters. I want to taste him. So fucking bad. I quickly climb off his bike, dropping down onto the hard ground, not giving a shit about the dirt, just wanting to make Axel feel good.