A flush covers her cheeks, and I can see her face tighten. “That’s not why I didn’t say anything.”
Her words don’t dissolve the anxiety inside me. The way I feel about Sabrina, the way I’ve always felt about her, makes me half-mad. Even though it’s been a decade since we were in a relationship, she still feels like a part of me. To think that I’m not a part of her hurts.
My grip tightens on her shoulders. “You resented me for leaving. You don’t want your child associated with the black sheep of the family. Or the town criminal.”
Her stare is cold enough to give me goosebumps. Sabrina jerks away from me. “You’re not listening. And you’re being an asshole.”
“Tell me why,” I say, following her as she paces the room. “Why did you keep Alexa a secret? Why, dammit, when you knew I’d stay if you told me?”
“Because you would stay!” she says, whirling around on me. She’s incensed, no longer holding anything back. “Because you had your life all planned out, and I wasn’t in it. You fought your dad to join the armed forces. I knew you wouldn’t enlist if I told you, and I knew how important it was to you.”
“But my daughter would have been more important!” I argued.
“For how long?” she asked, her voice hoarse. “How long until you ended up resenting your child and me, for depriving you? Trapping you in Cape Craven?” She runs a shaking hand through her hair. “You resented the hell out of your dad for trying to run your life. What’s to say you wouldn’t feel the same way about Lex and me?”
I freeze, considering her words, trying to decide if they have merit. I did resent my dad when I was younger, but wouldn’t having a child have been different?
It’s impossible to say for certain, as I’m a different man now than I was ten years ago. Even if she hadn’t wanted to tell me before I left to join Uncle Sam’s forces, she could have told me when I came back.
“What about after my discharge? Why did you keep her from me then?”
Sabrina swallows, her stiffness starting to crumble. “I thought about it. Especially after the night we spent together. But then you were arrested.”
I bite back a curse. “You didn’t want anyone to know that Lex’s father was a criminal.”
Eyes narrowing, she scowls. “It wasn’t about you! Sure, I was disappointed that my daughter’s father was a convict, but that wasn’t what kept me quiet. I have to do what’s best for my daughter, and that meant not tying her to the Craven name.”
“What the fuck does that mean if this isn’t about me? You don’t want our daughter to have my name?”
“Ax, you’re still not listening! You don’t understand!”
“So make me understand! Why wait to tell me?”
“Why tell you?” she yells, and the look in her eyes says she’s considering slapping me. “You’ve told me your plans, and they’re not exactly nice. Whatever your end goal is, maybe the ultimate destruction of your family, it doesn’t include me, and it won’t include your daughter. I’m not letting you drag her into whatever evil intentions you have!”
Her words do more damage than her hands would have. I can’t disagree. I told her that I was here to cause trouble.
Sabrina wants to keep her daughter safe, and the best way to do that is to keep her from me. Fuck, this hurts almost as bad as finding out that she’d kept a secret in the first place. She doesn’t trust me with my own daughter, doesn’t want her linked to me.
And for once, I can’t blame her.
I’m back in Cape Craven for all the wrong reasons. I’m an ex-con, a broken soldier. No wonder Sabrina thinks she needs to keep Lex away from me.
She thinks I’m a danger to my own daughter.
And right now, I can’t disagree.
28
Sabrina
I close my eyes, wondering when this absurd conversation is going to end. I feel raw, exposed by having to detail the reasons I never told him about his daughter. He won’t be happy, no matter what I say. Ax isn’t the type to suddenly see reason. He is the type to be stubborn and hold a grudge, though.
“Forget it,” I say, the air going out of my sails entirely. I move around him, toward the fireplace, to retrieve the garments drying there. “I’m sorry if I hurt you,” I say, as if by habit. “I’m sorry if I hurt our daughter. I did what I thought was right.”
“What are you doing?” he says after a few moments.
“Getting dressed. I want you to take me home.”
“It’s still pouring down rain out there.”
“I don’t care,” I say. “You should have taken me home anyway. We’re done here.”
“No, we’re not,” he growls, grabbing my sweater and holding it away from me.
“Yes, we are,” I counter. “We’ve been done for ten years.”
Ax drops my sweater and grabs my arms. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” I struggle, so he pulls me closer. My body yearns for him, wants him to pull me into his arms. He’s flushed with emotion, his bare chest all hard planes and smooth skin in the flickering firelight. But I can’t relax into the feeling of comfort that being in his arms promises.
“Sabrina,” he says, his voice ragged.
“No,” I say, gathering my anger around me like armor because it’s the only thing that’s keeping me from collapsing under the weight of my despair. I shove him, trying to break away from his grasp.
His hands lose their grip, and I stumble backward, then turn to flee. But he’s on me before I can get two steps away. “Let me go,” I say, kicking at him as he pulls me closer to him.
“Relax,” he says, but I refuse to stop struggling. This moment is an encapsulation of all the times I’ve felt alone, all the times I’ve wished he was there to share the burden. I refuse to let go of the anger inside because, without it, I’ll be empty.
“Leave me alone,” I hiss, driving another kick into his shin. He grunts but doesn’t let me go, so I raise a knee, aiming for a delicate area. Ax blocks me, a fire igniting in his eyes.
He shakes me. “Stop it. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
I want to hurt him, want him to feel as horrible as I do. “Release me, dammit!”
“Never,” he growls, his eyes intense. “I’ll never leave you alone. So you better start getting used to that fact.”
“You son of a—”
He cuts off my words by seizing my mouth with his. I’m stunned, blindsided by his passionate onslaught.
Ax presses his attack, his lips searing mine. The kiss smolders, and it breaks something inside me. My resistance.
Unable to help myself, I kiss him back. At the first hint of my surrender, he clutches me tightly and turns what was already a fiery kiss into a five-alarm blaze.
Ax moans into my mouth, and it makes my knees weak. I open my lips to his explorations, and his tongue slides against mine, giving me chills. I grip his shoulders, then let my hands circle his neck.
When I slip my fingers into his hair, he groans. “Sabrina,” he whispers, and I start to shiver. “I don’t want to fight with you. Hurting you hurts me.”
He takes hold of my left wrist and places it over his heart. “You’re a part of me, whether you like it or not. We have too much history that we can’t ignore.” His lips brush mine. “I’m not going to let you shut me out.”
I close my eyes, fighting back the tears. Ax has always been a force of nature, but now he’s like a hurricane, blowing me down with his sentiment. “Shh,” I whisper against his mouth. “Enough talking.”
His lips quirk up in the corners, and he grips my face in his large, rough hands. Then he captures my mouth again and starts a slow and intricate burn beneath my skin.
Ax has always been able to provoke a reaction in me. In our younger days, he’d made me laugh, made me smile. Made me tingle. And our earlier conversation shows how easily he can ignite my temper.
But the most powerful reaction has always come when his skin touches mine, when
his lips conquer mine. Now is no different. One kiss and I’m lost in him.
His scent, now that I’m pressed against him, envelops me. It’s a masculine scent, the smell of old leather, the forest floor, and a hint of sunshine, even in the rain. It heightens my reaction and makes my blood heat.
Without warning, Ax picks me up, his hands slipping around to grip my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist, the kiss unbroken.
He walks slowly toward his room, kicking the door wide and bringing me to the bed. Ax lays me down gently, then follows me until his body is covering mine. I can feel his heat as he hovers above me.
I stare into his eyes of melted gold and wonder what it all means. Moments ago, I’d been willing to bite and scratch my way to freedom. Now here I am, underneath Ax’s powerful body, wanting nothing more than to have him ravish me all night long.
He stares back at me, and I can see a parade of emotion flash across his face. He’s as conflicted as I am, but in one thing we know we have no issues. The chemistry between us is undeniable.
Is this the right decision to make? To give into the desire we feel for each other when it seems like the only thing holding us together? Or will it only make things worse? Make things more confusing, like it’s done before.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he whispers, then nuzzles my ear. “But let me tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking that what’s between us is complicated, but most of the good things in life are. I’m thinking that it’s worth the effort. You’re worth the effort.”
His words, coupled with his hands on my body, make me shake. But a little voice in the back of my head begins to sound a warning. Be careful, or risk having your heart broken again, by the same man.
The way he’s making me feel is dangerous. And what he’s saying makes me afraid of losing my resolve. If he keeps talking so sweet, I’ll never be able to let him go again.
“Sabrina, I—”
I hold a finger up to his lips. I need to turn up the heat and take the focus off the connection between us. I want to be with him, want to feel his naked body next to mine, but I have to keep it purely sexual, with no further entanglements.
“I need you,” I say, then place his hand on my breast. At the same time, I lift my hips, pressing myself against him shamelessly. “Please, Ax. Give me what I need.”
A slow smile creeps over his face, and I know I’ve got him hooked. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” he growls. He grips his shirt in both hands and rips it open, the buttons scattering around us.
At my sharp intake of breath, he smiles slowly, then rises to remove his pants. When he settles his body between my thighs again, I barely resist the urge to clutch him tightly, to scratch at his back like something wild. What he makes me feel is primal, and my body is completely in charge. My body wants him.
And his body wants mine. I can feel his erection throbbing against my thigh. But Ax has never been one to give in immediately to his urges. He prefers the slow burn, no matter how badly I ache for him. His hand slips the remnants of his flannel shirt off, exposing my breast to his gaze.
His eyes on my body are greedy, devouring my flesh, making me feel desired, adored. It’s a heady feeling, an addictive one, and I have to remind myself that this is a one-time thing, a single serving surrender, and we’re back on the Ax-less wagon tomorrow.
We’re both blissfully naked at last, nothing but skin against skin. He lowers his head to capture my nipple in his warm mouth, and the sensation sends electric shocks along my body, right to my core.
When he uses his teeth, my hips buck of their own accord. Without lifting his mouth from my breast, Ax runs his fingers lower, along my ribs, across my stomach, then flirting with the edge of my pussy. I bury my fingers in his hair, clutching at his head while his mouth brings me such sinfully delicious pleasure that my toes begin to curl.
Mindless with a sensual hunger, I pull his face to mine and kiss him, my tongue slipping between his lips. Ax groans, and in one swift motion, he slides a finger inside of me. I let out a gasp, but he captures my mouth again.
“Mmmm. You’re so soft here. And always wet for me,” he murmurs, his eyes alight with a golden fire. The way he looks at me makes me feel like the sexiest woman alive. “So wet and so eager.”
His finger moves slowly in and out, in and out, and the leisurely seduction soon has me wanting to beg for more. When I can’t stand the build-up anymore, I let out a groan. “Stop teasing me!” I demand. “I need you. Now.”
His smile is near feral, and I know he loves hearing those words. But I can’t hold them in. The need is too great.
“What do you need?”
I shake my head, in no mood to play games. Instead, I put my hand on his cock, which is rigid and glorious, a bead of precum glistening in the dim light. “You know what I need.”
“And you know I like to hear you say it.”
“Fine,” I say, tightening my grip on his throbbing shaft and starting to move, up and down. I see him bite his lips, holding back a moan. “Alexander Craven, I need you to shove this big cock inside of me until I come.”
His eyes widen at my brazen words, but I can tell he likes it. I increase my speed, and his head falls back. Suddenly, I realize I want something more than a quick and dirty fuck. I push against his chest and Ax rolls over, providing me with an erotic playground.
Ax’s body is a contradiction, all hard muscles and soft skin. I crawl up between his legs, and he watches me, his attention entirely focused on what I’m going to do next. Slowly, so slowly, I bring my face closer to his cock, until he can feel my breath on him.
With my eyes locked on his, I swipe my tongue over the head, then lick my lips, savoring the taste of his essence.
“Goddamn, baby,” he says, his voice ragged. “I like you all aggressive.”
I roll my eyes, willing him to stop talking. Then I realize I have the means to make him stop talking. I slip my lips around his cock and begin to suck.
His sharp intake of breath makes me feel powerful, as do the moans that follow. It’s my turn to tease, my turn to have my way with his sexy body.
I enjoy the way he tastes, the way he feels in my mouth. And it excites me to no end to watch the way he reacts to my talents.
I can see goosebumps rising across his skin, and when I give him a long, slow lick, the muscles in his thighs start to twitch. His face is flushed, his muscles tense, and he seems to be holding his breath in anticipation of what I’ll do next.
When I try to take him deeper, he lets out a hoarse moan, pulling me off of him and into his arms. His lips burn mine, and then he’s kissing my throat while he fondles my breast.
“I won’t let you make me come until I’ve been inside you,” he says, his tone feverish. “I won’t be cheated out of feeling your hot little pussy squeezing around me.”
I give him a cheeky smile, then lift myself over him. Straddling him, I position his cock at my opening and slowly slide down.
“Ah, fuck,” he groans, his eyes sliding shut.
He’s so big, and I can feel myself stretching to accommodate him. In this position, I can take him so deep it’s bordering on painful, but I love the fullness too much to stop. I begin to move on him, and my moan echoes his.
Ax’s big hands come around to clutch my hips and soon slide around to cup my ass cheeks. I love the roughness of his hands against my skin as he holds me, encouraging me to increase my pace. Instead, I slow down, relishing the opportunity to tease him further.
“Shit,” he mutters, beads of sweat breaking out across his forehead. His eyes open and fasten themselves on my breasts, which makes my nipples tingle. Ax can just look at me and I get wet.
His hands squeeze my ass, again trying to force me faster but I laugh and lean backward, changing the angle and causing a fresh flurry of moans.
“You’re going to kill me,” he says, his voice sounding like he’d enjoy the ride to the afterlife. “Please don’t stop.”
Don’t wo
rry, I think. I could do this forever.
29
Ax
I’m clutching her ass as if I’m holding on for dear life. Sabrina is grinding on my cock like some kind of belly dancer in slow motion. She undulates again and I clench my teeth, fighting to hold back my orgasm.
I watch her, the way she glides on me, and it’s all I can do to hang on. Sabrina is my idea of perfection. Her body is compact but curvy, her skin seeming to glow with an inner light. She throws her head back in pleasure, and I have to look away or risk being blinded by the sight of her.
And to stop myself from coming harder than I ever have before.
I refuse to come until I make Sabrina climax hard enough to black out. I want her to remember every second of what we’re doing now. I know I sure will.
But I’m not in control. She’s taken charge, and her tyranny is so complete that I’m almost afraid to move, worrying that even the smallest motion might break the spell, might end what has to be some kind of beautiful dream.
Pleasure doesn’t exist like this in real life, does it?
I can feel a rush of moisture on my cock, and I realize that she may be vulnerable to a coup. If I don’t take control soon, I’m going to come like a teenager without making sure she reaches her peak. I seize the moment and strike.
I push her hips down on my cock until I’m seated fully inside her, and we both moan. Then I bend my knees, keeping her from leaning too far away from me. At that angle I know I’m hitting that special spot inside her, the one designed to drive her over the edge.
Holding her in place, I begin to piston beneath her, thrusting deep inside her. I set the pace, a much faster one than her slow-as-molasses tease. She bites her lip, and the sight pushes me to thrust harder, causing her to cry out in pleasure.
“Yes,” I say, my voice so rough it sounds as if I haven’t spoken in years, “that’s right, Sabrina. Feel how good we are together.”
Her eyes slide closed, and she cups her own breasts, squeezing them and making me almost lose it. Fuck, you’re incredible, I think, unable to make coherent words with my mouth. I hope this moment never ends.
Billionaire Biker's Secret Baby_A Bad Boy Romantic Suspense Page 20