Best of 2017

by Alexa Riley

  “Yes. Fallen,” he answered, his voice taking on a seductive quality that made my stomach do a little flip flop.

  “Oh, yeah.” I sighed, grinning at him in satisfaction. “But just let the record show that technically, I’ve fallen harder.”

  “Sounds like someone has a bit of a competitive streak,” Axel teased, returning my smile.

  “I do. You should know that I never lose,” I replied confidently. I immensely enjoyed this little game and flirtation of ours. But I knew I needed to cool things down or I would demand for him to take me right then and there. But was that really a bad thing? Maybe not every girl’s dream was getting fucked and losing her virginity in the break room, but I was at the point of not caring anymore on how it happened. I was far past roses and soft words of endearment. Accepting his lifestyle still confused me. Even more so now that my feelings grew stronger by the moment, but one thing was very clear: I wanted Axel.

  “Well then, maybe I should give you a challenge.” Axel leered at me suggestively, leaning in for another kiss.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, searching my entire being for the courage for what I was about to do. “Challenge accepted.” I paused. “I want this moment. I want this moment to feel you.” I tentatively pressed my palm to his chest. “I want this moment to taste you.” I lowered my hand to the bulge in Axel’s pants. “I want this moment to feel your cock between my lips.” I quickly undid his zipper and button releasing his thickness from his confines. For the first time in my life, I allowed my passion to rule over my mind. I couldn’t believe I’d actually said the word “cock” out loud. Something was changing in me. Something was awakening.

  Axel stood still, never making a move to stop me in my mission. I took this as a sign to continue on. I knelt down and softly placed his hardened cock on the base of my tongue and closed my lips tightly around him. Looking up into his eyes, I began to move my mouth up and down along his shaft. He never looked away. He never closed his eyes for a moment. He watched as I began my seduction. I tightened my lips, and worked my tongue in small circles along the entire length. His taste, his smell, and his delicious aura were everything I had imagined.

  Axel reached for my hair to stop me. “Quinn,” he moaned.

  I looked up into his eyes with his cock still in my mouth. I pulled it out enough to whisper, “Don’t, Axel. I’m not the innocent, naïve girl you see. I am a woman with desires, needs, and a hunger for you like nothing I could have imagined.” I lowered my mouth down to the base of his cock and slowly back to the tip. Removing his penis just enough to speak again, I rasped, “Let me pleasure you.”

  Axel closed his eyes and threw his head back in euphoric surrender. I knew I had won this battle. I smiled wickedly at my success and continued my quest to please him like he had never experienced before. I wanted to show all those groupies before me a thing or two.

  Suddenly the break-room door opened with a gust of loud music pouring in. A woman in a black dress and even blacker hair engulfing her pale face stood in the doorway. Dilated eyes were almost hidden by even darker circles underneath them. Scarlet lips worked their way into a smirk as she crossed her arms across her ample breasts.

  “Oh, don’t mind me. Please continue on,” she offered with the most seductive voice I had ever heard.

  Axel pulled away. “Jillian, what the fuck are you doing?”

  I scrambled to my feet in shock and embarrassment as Axel quickly adjusted his pants.

  “Well, obviously not nearly having as much fun as you. My, my, Axel. Just when I thought you were getting boring. Public play… I like. Care to share?”

  “Get out of here,” Axel demanded as he marched toward the door.

  The biting command stung me to the core. I had never heard Axel talk with such a demanding voice before. I had never seen Axel lose control of his temper like I saw now. Obviously, the woman had a negative effect on him.

  “Don’t get mad, Axel. Well, unless you want to spank my naughty bottom,” Jillian giggled as she seductively licked her lips.

  I stiffened my spine.

  Axel moved with lightning speed until he glared down at Jillian’s small frame. “I said get out! I’m not in the mood for your fucked up junkie games.” Axel ushered Jillian out, slamming the door behind her, and turned to me. “I’m so sorry. When Jillian is high… well actually, that’s just Jillian. I’m sorry if she embarrassed you.”

  I forced a fake smile. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. But I don’t want to think about that crazy bitch anymore.”

  I looked into his deep eyes and said nothing. I met his gaze and allowed for him to truly see my embarrassment of being caught in such an intimate act. When it came to this man, I had no reason to hide my feelings.

  Axel pulled me into his arms harshly. He pressed my head to his chest with more force than I had ever experienced. “I won’t let it happen again. I’ll make sure I protect you from all the insanity of my life. I never want to be the cause of your heartache.” Without releasing his grip, he continued, “But I have to warn you that my image as this party bad boy tends to attract the mentally unstable people at times. I swear to you my loyalty, but being with me can be really hard on trust.”

  I pulled from his strong embrace. “I trust you, Axel. I know you’d never hurt me.” I smiled. “Weren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” I reminded him, leaning away from him as I grabbed my purse from the locker and prepared to leave.

  “Don’t I at least get a kiss to hold me off?” Axel teased.

  “Nope,” I replied casually, offering him a playful wink.

  “Why not?” he complained, his puppy dog eyes pleading with me to stay.

  Seductively, I wrapped my arms around Axel’s neck and moved my mouth until it was pressed up against his ear. “Because the next time you kiss me, I won’t want you to stop,” I whispered, feeling him shudder as my warm breath tickled his earlobe. And with that, I led Axel over to join his friends.

  Hanging out in the VIP section with an unlimited amount of booze and drugs was a whole new experience. Everyone watched and examined our every move. It was like being inside a fish bowl. The curiosity about this new girl with Axel caused quite the stir, although Axel didn’t seem affected by all the attention in the slightest.

  “Help yourself,” Teddy said to me as he passed a mirror with lines of white powder. He handed me a rolled up hundred dollar bill as if I had done this a million times. I hadn’t, and really had no idea what to do.

  I paused just enough for Knox to take the glass out of my hand. “Don’t mind if I do.” He put the rolled up bill to one nostril, closed the other nostril with his finger, and then snorted hard as he ran the rolled tube along the white line. I watched in fascination as he then sat up, leaned his head back and sniffed hard. His white line was completely gone.

  He then passed the mirror to me, with the rolled money. “Sorry, I skipped in line. All yours.”

  I took the mirror again, and the money and mimicked exactly as he did, not noticing—or trying not to notice—that Axel was watching me intently. I knew if I looked at Axel, I would get nervous and mess it all up. I didn’t want to seem like a sweet, innocent girl from the burbs. I wanted to fit in with this crowd so bad. I wanted to prove to Axel that I could be like all of them.

  And just like that, I snorted coke. Or I assumed it was coke.

  Axel didn’t say anything, and acted as if nothing happened. He took the mirror from me and took his turn with another line. It was as simple as passing a bottle of water on a hot day. Completely normal in their world. He then leaned in and kissed me hard, wrapping his arm around me as we chatted with the group.

  We were undeniably a couple. We received a few dirty looks and heard whispered comments from Axel’s groupies, but if Axel noticed, he didn’t say a word. I had expected him to be somewhat tense or cautious in showing affection. But his blatant show of attention made it very clear to all that I was his girl. The way Axel acted an
d carried himself throughout the night made me fall for him even more… if that was even possible.

  Although Axel’s friends seemed surprised, they didn’t say much. Knox just smiled and made a point to include me in conversation. Teddy also did his part in welcoming me to the group.

  By the end of the night, it was out there for everyone to see. Axel and I were inseparable.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BEST FUCKING GIFT

  QUINN

  AFTER A FEW WEEKS, we had slipped into a comfortable routine. I would work behind the bar while Axel worked the room with his friends. We’d always meet afterwards to hang out there or at whatever club requested Axel to appear that night. We would then go grab something to eat and indulge in some much-needed alone time. I was becoming quite the night owl, and loving every minute of it. Drugs were becoming part of my nightly routine, but it was hard not to. Keeping up with the vampire hours, as Axel liked to call them, usually required a quick line, or a little pill. I didn’t mind really. I had Axel looking over me, and I felt safe and protected. I was letting loose as everyone once told me I needed to do. I was living life and as far outside my safe little white box as one could get.

  Everything between us was going perfectly, except for a couple of incidents with Jillian. She had made it a point to flirt with Axel as often as she got the chance. I had seen the displays, but chose to ignore it. Axel didn’t feed into it and, at times, seemed oblivious to Jillian throwing herself on him. The rest of the girls tossing their barely-clad bodies on him were even more pathetic. I found it annoying at times, but harmless.

  All that mattered at this point was that Axel and I were solid. I felt happier than I ever had, and I actually looked forward to the future, as uncertain as it was. Nothing could bring me down from the high I felt. Life with Axel was beyond anything I could have pictured. Happiness wasn’t a strong enough word.

  AXEL

  I HAD a photo shoot for a new Indie magazine, a restaurant appearance, and then a bar’s grand opening to attend. I had agreed to meet Quinn afterwards at her work and pick her up at the end of her shift. All I wanted was to be alone with her and have some peace and quiet, but I still had a job—or jobs—to do. The night’s schedule was a true test in time management.

  I walked into the club with Teddy and Knox, looking around for Quinn. We had run behind schedule, and I hoped I hadn’t kept her waiting for too long. I spotted Felicity first, and then I saw Quinn. There were a few guys talking to them, causing me to suddenly tense up. The feeling was ridiculous since I knew Quinn was mine, but seeing her talk to a man sent a sickening feeling to my gut. It was just another reason I was so over this club scene. This wasn’t what I wanted for Quinn. She deserved so much better. I walked straight to her and took her hand immediately, hating the jealousy that racked my body. Pulling her away from everyone, I kissed her. To my delight, she didn’t resist. She kissed me readily and with passion.

  “I’ve missed you.” She smiled against my kiss.

  I pulled back and stared at her, holding her tighter. “You’re beautiful. Walking into this club, I realized you are the most stunning woman in this room.” I kissed the top of her head. “But then that happens every time I walk into a room.”

  “There you go, melting my heart again.” She tilted her head sideways. Rising on her tiptoes, she whispered in my ear, “Do you want to get out of here, or do you think you need to stay for a while?”

  “I’m not getting paid to be here tonight. So, yes, I want to be alone with you.” I pulled her even closer.

  We barely made it to my car before we started caressing, kissing, driving each other crazy with each touch. The passion between us grew heavier and heavier every day that passed. I had been patient and tried to take things slow. I didn’t want to scare Quinn, or make her doubt her relationship with me. I was dying to take it to the next level, but wanted to leave that in her hands like I promised. On the surface, it appeared she felt comfortable with everything, but I knew she struggled with her sexual thoughts. The first time was a big deal and needed to be done right. I didn’t want it to be a “drunken or high naughty experiment.” If we were to make love, I wanted it to be just that: making love. And sadly, as much as I hated to admit it, we had been high a lot lately.

  When we got to my loft, Quinn sat down on the leather couch, gazing at the city lights out the bay window. Her hair, illuminated by the moonlight, captured my soul. I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. She almost appeared angelic.

  “I’ll get us some wine,” I offered as I walked to the kitchen to pour the glasses.

  “I really love your place. This view makes me never want to leave.” Quinn turned to watch me pour the wine. “You make me never want to leave.”

  I walked over to where she sat and handed her the glass. “Then don’t. I don’t want you to.”

  We both sat there in silence for a moment, taking in the words I had just spoken. Neither of us wanted to broach the subject lingering between us since we started dating. When was Quinn leaving? Would she still leave? Would she ever really give herself to me? Was it realistic to think she could?

  “Have I told you yet how incredibly beautiful you are tonight?”

  Quinn giggled. “You tell it to me all the time.” She leaned forward and kissed my parted lips, slipping her tongue gently into the warmth of my mouth.

  I danced my tongue with hers, escalating the kiss to a higher level of need. My hands explored every inch of her, only to be rewarded by her following suit. I kissed her harder, suckling her tongue and lips. She moaned softly, driving my desire to an uncontrollable breaking point. Not being able to stop at just a kiss, as we had been doing up until now, I unbuttoned her blouse, one button at a time. Once I’d exposed her, I tenderly took Quinn’s breast into my mouth.

  My hand made its way slowly down Quinn’s body, caressing her stomach, gently and slowly. Taking my time, even though I wanted to rip her clothes off and ravish her body with fury. With a controlled hand, I lowered my fingertips to the button on her pants and undid it gracefully.

  My heart battered away uncontrollably as I passionately kissed her. Dipping my hand beneath the edge of her panties, I paused as she tensed. “Do you want me to stop?”

  Quinn simply shook her head.

  I continued to move my hand deeper beneath the fabric. When I felt the hot flesh against my fingertips, I couldn’t help but softly moan. I wanted her more than I had ever wanted someone before. Weeks of foreplay had truly tested my limits. I pulled my mouth away from the constant kissing to catch my breath, burying my face in the crook of Quinn’s neck.

  “God, I want you,” I groaned as I inhaled the delicate scent that drove me crazy.

  Quinn moved her hand cautiously over my chest, pausing for a moment, only to continue on. She slipped her hand beneath the cotton of my shirt, exploring along my burning flesh. Slowly, she slid her hand further down my torso, stopping at the edge of my pants. Quinn paused, appearing to hold her breath.

  I looked into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  She spread her legs while nodding, causing my heart to skip. “Quinn” was the only word I could gasp, as I lowered her pants to gain better access.

  I pulled back to look into her smoldering eyes, knowing that if I kept going, I wouldn’t want to stop. “I want you so much. But if you’re not ready, I understand. I want this to be right for you.” I could barely catch my breath, my hunger unbearable.

  QUINN

  I THREADED my fingers through Axel’s hair, tugging on his locks enough to bring our lips into full, open contact. Diving my tongue deep into his kiss, I moaned, “I want this. I want you.”

  Suddenly Axel stood up, his eyes dark and scorching with need. He met my gaze as he removed his clothing, never breaking the stare. Standing before me naked, he slowly bent down to kiss me once again. With slow and deliberate movements, Axel removed my clothes the remainder of the way.

  I drew in a breath, my eyes still locked with Axel�
��s, almost frightened to look away.

  He caressed my face. “I’m falling in love with you, Quinn. I would never hurt you, and I don’t want to scare you.” He continued to stare while caressing my cheek with the most tender of touches. “But I want you to truly give yourself to me. I want this to be your first real experience of making love.”

  I broke the stare to gaze at Axel’s delicious body. His muscular chest, his body taut with animalistic need. I found my own body responding with a surge of desire. He was absolutely stunning, nude before me.

  “I’m falling in love with you, too.” My hands slipped down to his hips and drew him in even closer. “I want to give my virginity to you. I want you to show me how. Make me yours.”

  Axel leaned towards me to kiss me again, slipping his tongue past my lips and into my mouth. The hot breath caressed a fiery need in my core as a dark flame of passion burned between us. He wrapped me tighter in his arms, moving his lips to the side of my neck. I shivered as my body made closer contact with Axel’s nakedness. This was it… we were about to make love. I was about to be fully intimate and finally have sex.

  Feeling Axel’s chest pressed up against my own, so warm, so soft, made me want to melt into the embrace. I allowed my hands to drift experimentally to Axel’s cock. I caressed the smooth skin, feeling almost dizzy with the new sensual feelings pounding in me. Axel murmured his encouragement and approval, which strengthened my courage to continue.

  “You’re so hard,” I moaned as I pressed small kisses across his chest, while stroking his sex.

  Axel pressed his lips hard against mine, his kiss deep and full of passion. His tongue moved around mine with a wave of wild heat. I could feel his hardness pressing against me. I craved to get closer. I wanted to see and feel all of him. As if Axel read my mind, he swooped me up into his arms and carried me to his bedroom.