by Helena Vera
“Rings befitting the wife of a billionaire,” he states. “Congratulations on the wedding.”
“Are you following me around?” I demand finally yanking my hand from his. “Who are you?”
“You’re in one of my boutiques,” he replies with a big smile. “And as to who I am, I can’t believe good ole Axel hasn’t mentioned me by now. Is he trying to shield you from me? This is epic.”
“Shield me from what?” I ask.
He peers about me. “Where are the bodyguards at? I doubt Axel would have a pretty, sweet,” he gestures to the teddy I’m clutching, “adventurous thing like you wandering around alone. If you were mine, needless to say, I’d keep an eye on you.” He finishes by tapping me on the nose slightly.
“Axel knows I’d never cheat on him.”
“Hmm sometimes your consent isn’t necessary.”
I gasp and stare at him, wondering if he is saying what I thought he just did.
“Give Axel my best wishes for the marriage,” he says, backing away. “As long as that lasts. I’ll see you around sweet Joyce.”
I stand there for a long time, after he leaves the store, just staring at the door. Once again I find myself wondering how the hell is Jake Petersen and why wouldn’t Axel answer that question? How does he know about our wedding? It wasn’t a publicized affair though I suspect word will start getting around soon enough that one of Detroit’s most eligible bachelor is no longer on the market.
“Miss is everything okay?”
I blink at the sales girl who is looking at me in concern. I must have looked demented just standing there looking out the door.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I’d like to cash this please?”
I am not going to think about Jack Petersen right now. I’ve a husband to seduce at work and bringing up Jack to him would only wind up Axel. I decide not to tell him about it.
26
CHAPTER
“Oh Axel.”
I saunter into his office and close the door behind me. He’s sitting at his desk, going over some papers. He doesn’t look surprised to see me although I’d made sure no one had buzzed him to let him know I was here.
“You took so long to get here,” he chastises. “I thought you were going to leave straight from the mall here.”
“I did but I had an errand to work first.”
“What errand?”
I’d rather show you.”
I reach for the zipper at the back of the sundress and pull it all the way down my back. Axel is watching me, his eyes smoldering but I can’t decide if it’s out of anger or passion. I continue knowing I’d have him eating out of the palms of my hand either way.
After getting the teddy from the boutique, I’d used the bathroom at the mall to slip into it beneath my dress. The matching bra set I’d worn to the mall was now tucked away in my bag.
Teasing him, I turn my back to him and ease out of the dress. I slowly slip the broad strap over my shoulders and down so the material rests on the curve of my ass. Peeking at him over my shoulder, I see that his gaze is following the movement of my dress. I rustle the material, bunching the hem in my hands and pulling up, exposing the underside of my ass.
After teasing him a bit, I drop the dress to the floor and step out of it. I lean down ensuring my legs are spread wide so he can my moist bare pussy through the crotchless underwear.
“Come here Joyce,” he says gutturally.
“Say please,” I instruct him.
He glowers at me as I straighten and toss the dress over the back of a chair.
“Please.”
I never thought he would say the word and think he deserves a treat for this. He’s already done so much for me sexually I am more interested in pleasing him today.
My hips swaying from side to side, I stroll around his desk. Just as I’d thought of doing at the mall, I push back his chair from the desk, aware that he’s holding back, allowing me to take control of the situation and have my wait with him.
“You like what you see?” I ask him softly, placing my lips a hairbreadth away from his.
“What’s not to like,” he replies and makes to kiss me but I dig my hand in his hair and tug his head back.
“Not so fast big guy.” I kiss his jawline, down to his neck and loosen his tie. The hand not in his hair, unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt. I kiss down his neck and bite him the way he bites me when we’re having sex.
I crouch between his legs and reach for his belt. I unbuckle and unsnap the hook at the front of his pants, drawing down the zipper and exposing his gray boxers. Taking my time, I peel back his underwear, not surprised by his hardness. I’ve come to realize the hard-on effect I always have him.
“Well, if you look at that,” I murmur, wrapping my hand around the smooth flesh and rubbing from the base gently.
“I hope you do more than just look at it,” he says in a strangled voice.
“Like what?”
His hand which was had been clutching the arm of the chair tight plunges into my hair and guides my head down to his cock.
“Open. Don’t make me wait.”
“Hey, you’re stealing my thun-”
His cock thrusting into my mouth steals the rest of the words. He groans and I slide my lips further down his length and suck him the way he taught me how to. My tongue licks the underside as my head bob up and down his phallus. Inching him deeper and deeper, I am thrilled when I finally get all of him into my mouth so the tip of his penis tickles my throat.
“God baby. Don’t stop.”
He gathers my hair in his hands, holding it back from my face.
“Mr. Ash.”
Startled at the voice at the door, followed by a knock, my first instinct is to pull away and hide under the desk. Thank God I’d locked the door upon entering because the knob rattles now. Axel’s hands presses my head down, encouraging me to continue sucking him, thrusting his hips upwards.
“Who is it?” he bellows out.
“It’s Mr. Finch sir with the financial report you asked for.”
“That was two hours ago!”
“I-I-I’m sorry sir.”
“Leave it on the PA’s desk outside.”
“Okay sir.”
Pushing the chair back, Axel stands, his pants dropping to his knees. Holding my head with both hands, he spreads his legs and starts thrusting hard into my mouth. I try not to gag at his cock hitting the back of my throat.
“That’s it baby,” he hisses between his teeth. “Yeah. God that feels so good.”
I dig my fingers into the tight globes of his masculine backside as he loses control and is ramming his cock down my throat hard enough to make my eyes water. He groans and stiffens and I take over sucking once more as his cum spurts into my mouth, milking him with my hand pumping at his base.
When I’m done licking every drip of his juice from his cock, he pulls me to my feet and lifts me to seat me on his desk. He buckles up his pants and drops back into his chair, pulling it up so he rests his hands about my waist, squeezing gently.
“Gimme a kiss,” he orders and I gladly reach down and kiss his lips. He has these moments when he kisses me deeply and sweetly, as if pouring out his soul to me and this is one such moment.
“I should get dressed before somebody else knocks at your door,” I tell him, trying to wiggle off the desk.
He holds onto my waist, keeping me anchored to the desk. His face is sure serious considering what we’ve just done.
“Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system,” he says. “How was your lunch with Jess at the mall?”
“It was good seeing her again,” I reply. “I’ll have to arrange more meet-ups with her. Not because I’m married now I have to abandon my friend.”
“And did you run into anyone?” he asks.
Jack Petersen flashes across my mind and I suspect he’s the one Axel is referring to. He could only know about Jack if he’s having me trailed again. Although I stiffen, I will hand him th
e shovel to dig his own grave.
“I’m not sure what you mean. Lots of people were at the mall.”
He scowls at me and I glare right back at him. “You know what I’m talking about. Now let me up.”
“You’re not going anywhere sweetheart. What did he say to you?”
“Who?”
“Jack!” he exclaims. “You know I’m referring to him so don’t give me any lip about it, Joyce.”
“You were spying on me again,” I state aloud. “After I told you that I don’t like it.”
“I’m not spying on you, protecting you.”
“From what?”
“From anything or anyone that might hurt you.”
“Like Jack Petersen?”
He refuses to confirm if Jack is a threat to me. “Just tell me what he said to you Joyce.”
“He wanted to congratulate me on the wedding,” I blurt out.
“Is that all?”
I lied by nodding. “Yes, that’s it.”
“I don’t believe you.” He grabs me by the shoulder and shakes me a little. “Don’t fucking lie to me at a time like this, Joyce. What else did he say to you?”
As mad as I am with him, he’s livid and I know the boundaries not to push. Jack apparently is a boundary I am never to cross. So I tell him as best as I remember everything Jack said and feels the anger emanating from him.
“And you weren’t going to tell me about any of this?” he demands, getting to his feet and started to pace.
“Why should I be the only one doing the talking?” I ask, jumping down from the desk. “Why can’t you tell me who Jack is to you and why he shows up in places I don’t expect him to and tries to strike up conversations with me?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll put a stop to it.”
I stalk over to my dress and pulls it over my head. “I deserve to know who he is. Why don’t you want to tell me Axel?”
“Because what good is it to you to know? I said I’ll handle it.”
“Handle what?”
“Ensure he stops bothering you.”
He walks over to me and attempts to help me to zip back up my dress but I evade his touch. I’m mad at him and frustrated as hell that he would keep secrets from me even though I am so open and honest to him. I told him about my father and my shitting childhood. Why couldn’t he simply say who the guy is?
“So you’re going to start keeping secrets from me then?” I snap at him. “What secret are you going to keep next? Going to hide a woman or two without telling me too?”
“Joyce don’t be absurd.”
“What is absurd about that? If you can keep secrets about one thing, you can keep it about others.”
“Never about that,” he professed. “The whole notion about me cheating on you is absurd and I want you to get it out of your mind immediately. Now stop being childish and let me help you with the zipper of your dress.”
He pushes me hands away from the zipper and drapes my hair over one shoulder before zipping up my dress. When I would have walked away from him, he pulls me close to him and kisses my earlobe. “Joyce, I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing. I want don’t want you going out to random places without letting me know.”
“So now I must curtail my activities too when I don’t even know why?” I ask, pulling out of his grasp, and turning to face him. “That’s kind of unfair, isn’t it? I can’t make any promises about my activities when you won’t share all the facts with me.”
“Joyce I swear I’ll chain you to the damn bed if you don’t do what I say.”
“You just try it Axel Ash.”
We glare at each other, neither relenting. I just couldn’t let it go that he insists in keeping secrets from me. We are married. We are partners. He is supposed to tell me everything, whether it’s good or bad and right now how am I supposed to fully trust him when he has bodyguards trailing me without my knowledge and secrets he won’t tell me?
27
CHAPTER
“For God’s sake Joyce, are you seriously still going to do this?”
Ignoring Axel who is sitting beside me in the car, I stare out the window without responding. We’ve gone three days without much conversation. It had started out from us being mad at each other at his office to me not knowing to make-up with him. Even with all the silent treat I have been giving him, he refuses to tell me about Jack Petersen. Apparently, keeping his secret is more than preserving our marriage.
My punishment of him with my silence is also a punishment to him. I want to talk to him, ask him how his days was. I want the sex too but that had stopped alongside the conversation. We sleep on different sides of the bed, barely telling each other good morning. I’m not going to lie. He tries to talk to me but I’m still not done sulking. I’m hurt at his inability to talk to me. Like he doesn’t trust me.
And he expects me to trust him.
“We’re on our way for you to meet my parents,” he continues. “It’s not a good look for my wife to not be speaking to me when she’s meeting my folks.”
I turn my head to look at him. “Are you ready to talk about Jack? You do know him personally, don’t you?”
“I wish I didn’t,” he says on a sigh. “Then I wouldn’t have you being all mad at me for no reason.”
“No reason!” I exclaim and cross my arms over my chest before returning to silence.
I hear him mutter about stubborn women but I ignore him. The drive from our home to his parents’ estate takes us almost an hour drive. I pretend to be asleep for most of the drive there but perk up when we are driving up a large winding driveway.
Now I know what inspired him to get an estate for us to live as well. The house where he grew up as a child is huge and fits well in the Boston-Edison Historic District. The lawns on either side of the drive way are well-manicured. I spot a carriage house and a pool house separate from the main house.
“You grew up here?” I break myself to ask Axel. It’s even grander than our estate. It’s enormous.
“Yes, this is home,” he responds and drives into a five car garage to park. There are already three other vehicles parked inside, all expensive cars I can tell based on how sleek and polished they looked. “Come on. We can leave the bags. One of the footman will get them.”
“You’ve got a footman?” I ask, opening the car door and sliding out. He comes around to my side of the car and takes my arm. I sense he expects me to pull away because of my silence for the three days but I don’t. I decide after all I am in an unfamiliar place and he is the evil that I know.
“Not me, my parents,” he clarified. “The house seems a little over the top now but when we all lived here, my parents and my brother and I, sometimes it got a little full. It was perfect for sleepovers when we were boys.”
“How many rooms are there?” I ask as we walk along the cobblestoned walkway up to the main house.
“Hmm, let’s see. It’s three stories high. Ten bedrooms in total and six and a half bath.”
We walk up the steps, Axel’s hands leaving my arm to rest intimately on my bottom.
“Aren’t you going to ring the bell?” I ask when he pushes the front door open.
“Why? It’s home.”
He steps aside for me to enter the limestone entry hallway with a traditional looking carpet. The hallway leads to a staircase covered by a red carpet with white trimming at the sides. The chandelier, the furniture and the ceiling are all different shades of brown and gold, giving the place a very old school feel. To one side of the stairs, the hall opens up into a sitting room. That’s the direction Axel guides me.
“Anybody home?” Axel calls out as we enter the sitting room.
My eyes want to be drawn to the lovely design and furniture in the room but instead I am staring at the lady who rises from a dainty chair. She has to be Axel’s step-mother. I suddenly feel a bit shabby compared to her and her poise, the way she carries herself proudly.
“Axel darling, you’ve made it!�
� she exclaims and comes towards us. “And this has to be the lovely Joyce I’ve been hearing so much about.”
I try not to frown as I wonder if Axel really speaks to her about me or if she is trying to be polite. The gentleman who was sitting beside her on another matching chair is a dead ringer for Axel. An older version.
I’m wrapped in a warm hug by Anne instead of the handshake I was expecting. She is so jovial and affectionate that I now understand how Axel could speak of her so fondly.
“Joyce, it’s so nice to meet you, please call me Anne,” she introduces herself instead of allowing Axel to. “This is Axel’s dad, Martin.”
Axel’s dad and I shake hands, exchanging pleasantries before Anne gestures for us to be seated. I would have liked to sit beside Axel but his step-mother manipulates me to sit beside her by allowing me to sit in the two-seater couch before perching next to me. Axel takes a position beside his dad. I groan inwardly. Here comes the grilling.
“We’re so sorry we were not able to make the wedding,” Anne announces. “We had prior engagement and Axel never gave us enough time to be prepared.
Makes two of us, I thought. I don’t know how to respond to that and am relieved when Axel intervenes.
“Let’s just say I had to snatch her up before someone else did,” he answers easily, looking at me so tenderly, I blush.
“I’m so glad Axel found you,” she continued. “I was fearing he would never meet his true match. Joyce dear will you follow me to the kitchen for some iced tea and desserts to share while we have a chat?”
“I- uh sure, no problem,” I respond after looking at Axel frantically and he smiles reassuringly at me.
I follow his step-mother from the living room, passed an opened door that looks like a ballroom, two dining room, one larger than the other and another sitting room before we get to the huge kitchen. Granite counter tops, a large island, double door ovens, a refrigerator that looks as though it needs a small army just to open it.