Axle: A Military Bad Boy Mercenary Romance (The Bang Shift Book 5)

by Mandy Harbin

  The moment his finger slipped between her wet folds, she gasped and breathed out, “Yesss.”

  He lifted up then, finally able to pull his mouth off her to look down at the beautiful, flushed creature below him. He panted, his finger exploring slowly. When he dipped it inside her, his head bowed, overcome with momentary weakness at how drenched she was for him. He did this to her, the knowledge a heady punch. Then he grazed her clit, and Caitlin’s knees slammed against his thighs as if she was trying to close her legs. The action had been involuntary, the confusion of pleasure controlling her limbs, he knew. But he was cocky enough to revel in the knowledge that his powerful legs between hers held her open to him no matter how her body instinctively reacted.

  She clutched the arm he used to brace himself over her. Her other hand gripped his shoulder, her nails digging into his flesh. He didn’t know if she warred with herself to push him away or pull him closer, but the bite of pain she dealt him only fueled him. If she wanted to stop, he would. There was no doubt he’d respect her wishes no matter what, but no way in hell was he going to make it easy for her to deny what was happening. He moved his finger over her clit, light and fast. Her thighs kept flexing as her knees squeezed against his outer legs repeatedly, and still he watched her eyes.

  Until they rolled back in her head.

  He slowed his caress of her most sensitive spot, determined to drag out her orgasm. Because she was about to; he could see it in the way her skin darkened, her breaths growing shallow, her hips flexing toward him, and there was nothing he wanted in life more than to watch this woman come apart.

  “Don’t stop,” she breathed, and grabbed his chest with both hands, her nails digging into his pecs.

  “Never.” But he didn’t increase his tempo, his movements almost languid as he watched her.

  “Faster,” she begged. Not only had he considered not giving her what she asked, he almost ventured away and into her pussy to prolong it even more, but then she said, “Please, Axle. Please.” Power surged in him at how desperate she was for him, and he knew then no matter what he wanted, he couldn’t deny her anything. His finger sped, moving faster over her clit as he bent closer to her, ignoring the pain of her fingernails. He wanted to be as close to her body as he could when she flew.

  “Oh, God.”

  “Give it to me, Caitlin. C’mon, baby.” His forehead dropped to hers, sweat slipping from his temple onto her. His whole hand vibrated inside her panties as his middle finger ghosted over her clit with lightning speed.

  She convulsed and sucked in all the air around them. Axle’s mouth slammed down on top of hers, capturing her scream. Her hands fisted in his hair, her hips pumping as she rode the high, and he was so close to coming just by feeling and watching that he almost didn’t care if he got inside of her first.

  Almost.

  When she relaxed below him, Axle surged up and yanked her pants down. Before taking his off, he reached into the small nightstand for a condom, because the moment his dick was free, he wouldn’t stop to secure protection. He unbuttoned his pants, but the sight of Caitlin whipping her shirt and bra off momentarily stunned him.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful.” The naked woman on his bed blushed at his words, and he enjoyed seeing the color bloom on parts of her body he hadn’t gotten to gaze upon when she’d been embarrassed by something these last few days. Then she licked her lips, and his temporary paralysis disappeared, followed by the rest of his clothes.

  He climbed on the bed one-handed as he held the condom with the other and ripped it open with his teeth. He rolled it on and grabbed her thigh instead as he nestled himself between her legs. He came over her, and she reached between them to grab his cock.

  “Fuuuck.” He wasn’t going to last long. No matter how sweet it was feeling her hand engulf him, he had to knock it away and take control. He was too close to heaven to risk losing the chance to feel it. He grabbed his dick and pushed into her. The moment he was inside enough to let go, he shoved his hands under her back, grabbed her shoulders to anchor her, and pushed into her sweet body. He wasn’t fast, but he was unrelenting, not stopping until fully seated.

  “So good,” she breathed.

  He groaned as he pulled back and plunged into her, this time faster, harder. “Can’t go slow.” Part of him wanted to. Wanted to drag this out and make it last all night, but there was no way on this planet he’d be able to find the willpower to do that. Not this time.

  “Don’t.”

  He withdrew until almost completely out and plowed into her again as he took possession of her mouth. Caitlin’s legs wound around his back as he thrust into her faster, harder. Her hands clutched his face, his shoulders, scratching his back. They were everywhere she could reach, spurring him with each new touch.

  Axle wasn’t sure when he passed the point of no return. You passed that the moment you laid eyes on her. That thought sent a little shock through him, but he pushed it away to focus on the now.

  He ripped his mouth away and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Jesus, you’re so fucking tight.” And he wasn’t just saying that. She was squeezing the life out of him as she rocked against him, giving back as good as she got.

  His name left her lips in a chant, a benediction on a sensual loop. He felt her walls clench around him, and he wanted to shout his victory at getting to feel her come around him this time.

  Her pussy seized and then spasmed as she screamed, but unlike earlier, he didn’t silence her. Instead, he reared back, and fucked her with short jabs, making her breasts bounce with effort, and slipped his hand between them to play with her clit to force her ecstasy to last as long as he could.

  But when she opened her eyes to look at him, he was gone. Totally done for. He grabbed her hips and held her so tightly he knew he’d leave marks on her otherwise flawless skin, but he couldn’t control his strength right now. He pushed into her with so much power, and fucked her so savagely, feeling too exposed, so fucking raw in this moment. He drilled her into the goddamn mattress and still he couldn’t get deep enough.

  She clutched at him, coming again or coming still; he didn’t know and was too far gone to give a damn at this point because his cock had taken over and was on a mission to find the best release of his existence. Finally—finally—his climax slammed into him with the full force of his ministrations and he roared, spilling himself into the condom. Giving all he had to her.

  And losing himself completely in the process.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sunlight shone through the barrack’s window, waking Caitlin. She smiled at how boneless she felt, until reality crashed around her, reminding her why she felt so deliciously sore.

  I slept with Axle last night.

  Okay, so there hadn’t been any sleeping going on. He’d rocked her world well past dinner time and into the early morning hours. After the first time, they’d lain there and talked until she’d rubbed her hand across his belly, causing him to stir. Without any preamble, she’d grabbed a condom, put it on him, and rode him until they both came. Later, she’d been looking at map of the country on his wall, talking about his time in the military and how many tours he’d served in Afghanistan. They’d both talked about living in Georgia, and he’d said he wanted to return when he got out, but his dad’s shop had been sold. She’d mentioned how short her time was on this trip, but she hadn’t gotten to elaborate on her plans because when those words left her lips, she’d suddenly found herself pinned against that very poster with Axle taking her from behind. She hadn’t even had time to spread her legs for better access. He just put his on the outside of hers, fisted her hair with one hand, and clawed at her hip with the other as he fucked her. There hadn’t even been enough room between the wall and herself for him to reach around and touch her, so when she’d come from penetration alone, it had shocked her. Sure, it had happened to her before, but it wasn’t common, and she’d already come with him each time without him touching her. She didn’t know if it was be
cause she wanted him just that badly or if it was because it was the thrill of the forbidden.

  Probably both. Fraternizing was against the rules, but technically, she wasn’t in the military. Besides, just because it was against the rules didn’t mean it didn’t happen.

  Boy, did it ever happen.

  They hadn’t stopped their sexual escapade even when they both had been too wrung out to hardly move, though they’d tried. He’d even taken her to the shower and washed her body for her so they could get some rest. But the sight of Axle naked and wet from the water sluicing off his chiseled frame had her dropping to her knees and taking him into her mouth. She’d been determined to make him come that way, but he’d hooked his hands under her arms and hoisted her up his body. He fucked her against the shower stall as spray from the faucet pelted them. Right after she came, he pulled out and came on her belly. It had been the only time they’d done it without a condom, although they’d discussed their health and history and the fact she was on birth control after he mauled her against the map. She smiled as the memory played in her head again. He’d told her he almost took her bare then. She’d been surprised he’d still had his wits about him to think of protection and having the responsible talk.

  After he’d taken her in the shower and washed her a second time, Axle carried her to her room where he’d tucked her in. She had felt a little pang of sadness that he hadn’t taken her back to his room, but she’d hadn’t had time to dwell on it. Unable to fight exhaustion, she’d fallen right to sleep. Maybe that had been the reason why he hadn’t wanted to sleep with her in his arms. He probably knew they wouldn’t get any sleep at all if they tempted fate. As it was, they’d missed dinner.

  Caitlin rolled to the side, the sunlight blinding her.

  “Oh, shit.” She tossed the covers off and sat up. They were scheduled to leave later this morning than when they usually did, but the light coming in told her it was obviously much later than eight o’clock. She reached for her phone to check the time and hesitated with a smile when she saw Axle’s tactical pen resting on top of a note on her nightstand. There was also a breakfast sandwich wrapped in plastic and a bottle of water. Her phone forgotten, she retrieved his message and read it.

  Our flight has been grounded. I got to meet with my superior this morning. I scheduled a conference room for you to work in with your cameraman. Acker and Haverty are positioned outside your room and will be with you until I’m finished. Follow their orders, Caitlin. I mean it. P.S. Now you know the full hidden power of this pen. For the love of God, don’t throw it at another man.

  She giggled. It wasn’t as if it was cupid’s arrow. It was a pen—a scary-looking pen, but still a pen. Then again, she had been totally pissed at him last night when she’d stormed into his room, and the moment she’d thrown it at him, their gloves…and shortly thereafter, their clothes…had come off. Maybe there was a little power behind it. She smiled as she looked at it, lost in thought over each time she’d been near Axle since landing.

  She stayed in her blissful bubble as she twirled it around in her fingers until her bladder demanded attention, so she put it down to take care of her morning business. After she washed up, and donned some loungewear, she grabbed the breakfast sandwich and ate while pulling out and booting up her laptop. Yesterday hadn’t been as productive as she’d hoped—well, not with work—and she needed to play catch-up this morning. When Axle found her later today, she doubted she’d be able to think clearly with him in the same room.

  A soft knock sounded, and her heart took off. She leaped from the bed and yanked the door open. Her wide smile faltered when the military man on the other side wasn’t the tall, dark, and sexy one she’d been eager to see.

  “Well, good morning,” Acker said with a smile. She wanted to glare at him, but she couldn’t make her lips turn down. “Mr. Ricci is in the Eastside meeting room. When you’re ready, I’ll escort you.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She should have guessed when Axle noted he’d secured a room for her to work in that he’d have the same message relayed to Lorenzo. “Give me five minutes.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He backed away, and she shut the door. She changed into more appropriate clothes, shoved her feet into her boots, stowed her laptop, and grabbed the case. She’d also grabbed Axle’s tactical pen and stuffed it in the side pocket. He’d left it, so it wasn’t as if he needed it.

  “So is Acker your last name?” she asked as they made their way outside. She didn’t want to assume like she had with Brooks.

  “Yes, ma’am. Alec Acker. My CO calls me AA. I didn’t like it at first because my Pop was an alcoholic, but I gotta say, it sure does irritate the other men in my unit something awful when I’m addressed as Alpha Alpha over the radio.” He winked at her. “Like I’m so alpha they gotta say it twice.”

  She giggled. Again with the giggling, but her mood was so light this morning, she was embracing her inner schoolgirl.

  “You sure do have a pretty laugh there.”

  She looked up at him. He was adorable. Tall, green eyes, deep dimples. He was just the type of man she’d go gaga over back home. But when she looked up at him, she felt nothing but general female appreciation for his male beauty.

  “I bet the girls just eat you up,” she said with a smile.

  The light in his eyes dimmed a little, and she wondered what caused that. “No, ma’am.”

  She nudged his shoulder as they walked toward the ATV parked out front. “Sounds like you haven’t met the right kind of women.”

  He didn’t say anything, and she dropped it, not wanting to pry. “You seem to be doing better this morning. Guess you needed some last night.” He started the vehicle and headed down the road.

  She gaped at him. “What?”

  “The whisky,” he said, a little puzzled. “You were mad at the world last night and then you drank a little.” He briefly looked at her. “Unless you drank more than Brooks reported.”

  “Oh,” she said, fighting a grin. “No. Just a little. But what I got definitely helped.” She lost the battle with her lips then. They were pointing to the sky.

  He looked at her like she was crazy, and well, she probably was. She didn’t care. They spent the rest of the quick ride to the building in silence.

  When she walked into the meeting room, Lorenzo jumped up, startling her.

  “Where have you been?”

  “Umm…” That was a loaded question. She wasn’t sure if he was asking where she’d been since yesterday or just today. He probably meant since this morning. She needed to quit thinking everybody who looked at her could tell she’d had sex with Axle. “I overslept. Sorry.”

  “I emailed you the footage yesterday. I haven’t heard back,” he said with a little edge to his voice.

  “I was pretty tired last night,” she partially lied. Tiredness hadn’t come until much, much later.

  “You haven’t watched it?” he asked, his eyes popping. The worried sound in his voice had the hair on the back of her neck standing.

  “No.”

  “Come here.” He waved her over as he walked to his laptop. “You’re not going to believe this.”

  “What?” she asked, dropping her bag on the table and walking around.

  “We’ve got something. And it’s big.”

  Axle stood at ease in front of Burge’s desk. The Major Lieutenant had summoned him early this morning, seeking an update on Axle’s assignment. There had been an attack in the village where they’d visited yesterday, and they’d been prohibited from traveling to the region today until a team sent to survey the area returned with their report.

  Standing in his temporary CO’s office, he’d given a run-down of the events that occurred since Caitlin arrived, leaving out one damaging piece of intel—the fact that he’d made love to the woman in question repeatedly over the course of several hours last night.

  He wanted nothing more than to find her right now, haul her back to bed, and have his wicked way with her until she could
n’t walk. It was Neanderthal of him to feel so possessive of the woman who turned him inside out.

  And she did. Damn, but the woman had him in knots. That wasn’t a good thing either. He knew he had no business touching her. He should have subdued her last night when she’d come storming into his room and sent her back to the sanctuary of hers. But in the back of his mind, he knew if he’d found the will to do that, he’d have used the excuse of her having two beds in her room to sleep in there with her. Then he’d find his way into her bed anyway. He’d led her to believe he could sleep in there at any time to ensure her protection, but in the cold light of day, he knew if she was in that kind of danger, he wouldn’t just want to sleep in the same room with her; he’d want her on the first flight out back to safety.

  Because her life was suddenly too precious to chance.

  Jesus, he was toast. He hadn’t been in a relationship in years. Hadn’t had the time for it. Hell, he didn’t now. He was still in the military, didn’t know how much longer he’d be in Afghanistan. She’d only be here another week or so. How was he supposed to build anything of substance with her? If they’d formed a relationship away from here before he’d been sent on this tour, maybe they could have made it work. His rotation allowed for ninety days of block leave. He could’ve wined and dined her over three months and built a strong foundation before being sent back overseas.

  But it hadn’t happened like that, and that bothered him. Not that he wasn’t given the opportunity to build this up slowly. That didn’t help matters, sure. It was the fact that they were in a warzone, brought together by chance, and could just as easily be ripped away from it.