We're among the first people off the train, and Axel hustles us out of Union Station and into a cab within minutes after our arrival. I was somewhat still sore from the recent pounding I'd received just minutes ago.
"Just a quickie before we get off the train," I'd said, my hand already wrapped around his thickness. He'd fucked me up against the window, my breath fogging the glass each time I moaned. It had been amazing, wonderful. The thrill that we might be spotted by some random stranger made the sex all the better.
But a small part of me regretted it. Not because I didn't enjoy it. I placed a hand on my pelvis as I felt another cramp. It was a dull ache, not at all like the sharp pain I normally felt before my period. Maybe Axel and I could try not to fuck each other so hard next time. Slow and steady should do the trick just as well.
"You alright, darlin'?"
"Hmm? Yeah, just a cramp. I think my period's coming soon."
Axel placed his large hand on my pelvis and rubbed gentle circles there. Of course, this does nothing to alleviate the pain, but it did comfort me greatly. He put the other on my back and did the same right on the arch, and kissed my cheek.
"Do you need to stop for Tampons or pads?"
I laughed, his endearing behavior doing funny things to my insides. "No, it's fine. I've got some in my bag. And some ibuprofen too, for the pain. I'll take one with some water if it gets worse."
He nodded, but didn't stop his soothing. The anxiety I'd been feeling all day eventually eased, and I relaxed into Axel's embrace.
"Where are we going?"
He pulled his face away from the curve of my neck and whispered the answer against my cheek. "A friend of mine. She's going to put us up for the night, and then we're all going to put our heads together and try to figure out a plan."
The only friends Axel had mentioned were the crew he'd told me about earlier. So unless he'd joined a book club right after Magnus beat him, I could only assume the "she" Axel was referring to was Layla.
"Any reason in particular why we're seeking help from one of your former gang members?" I asked snidely, my tone screaming my disapproval. "Otherwise we might as well call our would-be killer and let him know where we are."
Axel made a strange expression and I frowned when I realised he wasn't telling me everything. I stopped both his hands when he couldn't quite meet my gaze and leaned in close so he couldn't avoid me.
"No more lies, remember? What aren't you telling me, bear?" I pressed, ignoring how the cab driver lowered the volume to listen in, as if the breaking news story about a young woman being kidnapped wasn't as important as our relationship drama.
"Well, I know I can trust Layla because she's the only one of us who didn't really get along with M. We all worked together, yes, but M didn't really like Layla much after she turned him down...for me."
The cab driver made a curious noise, but kept his gaze firmly on the road. I blinked, then slapped Axel's uninjured shoulder with the palm of my hand. "Are you absolutely crazy? You're taking me to meet your ex-girlfriend?"
"Well, we mostly just fucked a lot..."
I growled, then pulled away from Axel to sit on the other side of the cab. I forced myself to look out the window, and folded my arms to deter him from even thinking of touching me. But Axel was big on physical contact. So, he reached over, picked me up and planted me right on his lap. His arms closed around my tiny middle when I attempted to escape him, effectively locking me in place.
"Calm down, sweetheart. It isn't what you think. Layla and I broke up years ago. I haven't even seen her in over three, and I haven't fucked her for much longer than that. You have absolutely nothing to worry about," he cajoled, his drawl working wonders on my temper.
Then he turned me gently so I was facing him, and kissed me deeply, erasing all my concerns with the sensual slip of his very talented tongue. I allowed it, needing to be comforted.
But as soon as the cab dropped us off just outside of town, in front of a pretty nice looking establishment that promised liquor and food, I found my palms itching with anticipation. Axel removed all the bags, carrying them so I wouldn't have to, then nudged me towards the entrance.
The crowd inside was sparse, since it was a Sunday evening. Most folks were in bed by now, with the exception of those few who sat around the bar and filled the booths at the back.
They glanced at us strangely, but nobody seemed to give a fuck that we were there at all. My gaze swept the half-lit room in search of the woman in question. When I spotted her, I wished I had refused to come here.
She squeezed out from behind the bar with a gentle word to the man working beside her, and hurried over to greet us. My nose scrunched up with annoyance when she threw herself into Axel's arms, and I nearly barfed when she giggled like a fucking idiot.
Hmm. I had no idea I could be so catty...
Axel finally put her down, but she made no move to acknowledge me until he stepped back and said, "Sienna, this is Layla. She's a good friend of mine."
And a goddamn stunner.
She was a tall, slender thing with the silkiest blonde hair I'd ever seen in person and the most captivating grey eyes I've ever looked into. Her features were striking, with high cheekbones and a nose nobody would believe was natural. Her lips were naturally pouty and plump, and when she smiled I actually had to blink away the awe I felt in her presence. She held out a hand, slender with long fingers, and I took it, shaking it slowly while I tried to figure out why she put me on edge.
"Layla, this is Sienna." And nothing more. I forced a smile, unwilling to show this stranger the hurt that washed over me at Axel's introduction. It didn't make any sense, but I was very annoyed with him. But then he added, "She and I are...sort of seeing each other."
His hand was suddenly on my back, slowly wrapping around my waist. He pulled me close, his fingers already slipping under the hem of my sweater to tease at my skin, his thumb moving in lazy circles.
Layla's eyes softened, and her smile widened considerably. I tried to find a shadow of jealousy or dislike or something I could hold against her, but there was nothing except genuine pleasure and delighted surprise.
"You must be really special if Axel's decided to finally settle down," she acknowledged, releasing my hand. "How about we take your bags upstairs while you settle in that booth over there? I'll ask Carl to bring over some beer and snacks."
She turned away, giving my "boyfriend" a look that spoke volumes. Axel escorted me to a booth closest to the kitchen and bar while Layla whispered something to the guy I now knew was called Carl. Axel kissed me soundly on the lips, leaving only after he was certain I was comfortable. He and Layla disappeared with the bags into a hallway I think led up to her apartment, leaving me alone in a room full of huge, muscled men. Some of them glanced my way, but nobody made a move on me. Probably because they'd seen me with Axel...
I looked up when a few beers were placed in front of, as well as a plate stacked with mouth-watering ribs. I said my thanks to the bartender, who nodded his dark head once before heading back to the bar. Not very friendly, I noted.
I'd just taken a sip of my beer and bit into a succulent rib when Layla and Axel came back. They weren't in a hurry, both absorbed in the conversation they were having. The music was just low enough that I could hear her sudden burst of laughter, followed by Axel's deeper chuckle. When they were walking together like this, it was easy to imagine them naked and wrapped around one another while they-
Axel slid into the booth beside me. He rested his thigh alongside mine and placed his hand firmly on my knee before reaching for his beer. Layla sat across from us, and snagged her beer, taking a rather long sip.
Axel leaned in and bit the best part of my rib between his teeth. I made a face at his terrible table manners, but he didn't seem to care much. So I handed him the rest of the rib and used one of the napkins on the table to wipe the sauce off his moustache and my hands. He pulled back and frowned, to which I said, "Well, unless you want to sit there looking like an uncultured brute-"
"Oh, please. As if you'd ever want me to be anything else."
I rolled my eyes for what felt like the hundredth time, but I put down the napkin when I realised Axel would not be deterred. Layla's gaze was curious as she watched us, a small smile teasing her lovely face. She put down her beer, removed a box of cigarettes from her leather jacket and with grey eyes twinkling at me, she asked, "So how did the two of you meet?"
I almost choked on my beer. Axel rubbed his clean hand over my back while Layla held out a square of tissue. I croaked out a thank you while coughing, and took another sip of beer at Axel's insistence.
"Ah, she's just all nervous because she doesn't want me to tell you we fucked the first night we met."
I shot him a dirty look, and he merely grinned at me.
"I was having a beer at this fancy-ass place. First time there, since I was just passing through. I was actually about to leave when she walked in and...fuck. I just had to have her, you know. She barely noticed the amount of attention she drew. God, those
legs
. Hips swaying like she wanted my eyes on her ass, wanted me picturing all kinds of-"
I slapped his arm and his expression sobered some. I felt his hand close around my thigh and inch higher. My nostrils flared and my toes curled when he cupped my mound, then Axel leaned in close to finish his story.
"I wonder why she let me stick around. She could have any man she wanted, yet she chose to fuck me that night," he whispered, fingers squeezing my mound. I swallowed the moan I'd been about to release and replied, "I saw you still had a full pack of cigarettes and I was almost out. It beat getting up for another box."
