Exposed: An Anthology

by Brooke Cumberland

  “Uh…”

  He coughs a few times, pausing to collect his thoughts. Or maybe he is picking up the pieces of his mind I just blew all over the room. Not what he was expecting to hear, I’m sure. Greg was shocked, and he didn’t even know who my Axel was then.

  “Pregnant?” He looks down at my stomach like he is expecting me to still be pregnant twelve years later. “Izzy, what happened to the baby? You sound like you wanted the pregnancy, and forgive me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember seeing any babies.” His tone is light, and I know he doesn’t mean to cause the sharp pain that jolts through my body. I can’t help the flinch that rocks me back in my seat. I feel like he slapped me, and even though I know he didn’t mean it, I can’t help the tears that rush to the surface.

  Smiling sadly at him, I continue my story. “No, you didn’t see any baby. I lost my little miracle when I was three months pregnant.” The tears are flowing now. As much as it hurts to talk about this, I start to feel a little lighter from finally letting someone else in.

  “Oh, girl…come here.” He pushes his big body from the table and holds his arms open to me. I crawl into his lap and hold on tight, letting out the sorrow of my loss, letting him take in the pain, and purging the grief from my system.

  We stay like that for a while. He rubs my back and becomes my anchor while I just let it out. He doesn’t push, doesn’t ask me any more questions; he is just there. I know in this moment that Maddox will forever be part of my ‘family.’

  I finally calm down and am just starting to get up when he clears his throat. I look over at him, shocked by the moisture in his eyes, the unchecked sadness his face holds. “Izzy, you have to be one of the strongest chicks I know. Hear me when I say this, and please don’t take this the wrong way. I feel you, girl. I feel your pain. Cuts me deep, you and Reid. But you two need to talk because I promise you…he has no clue. Not my story to tell, but girl, no clue. That wire I thought was crossed is more like a ball so fucked up that if you don’t sit down and work it out, you might never get it unraveled. You two hurting, and hurting for no reason… A shame girl. A damn shame.”

  Sometimes it sounds like he is talking in riddles. I don’t see how this could be misconstrued. It’s pretty cut and dry if you ask me. I know Axel doesn’t know about our angel, but he can’t play dumb about not following through with our plans and coming to me.

  “I don’t know, Mad. I think if there were something else at play here, he would have tried harder to find me. I’ll think about it, but no promises okay?”

  “All I can ask. Can’t hold that shit in forever. Might have been easier when he wasn’t around, but now, not going to be able to hold it in.”

  “Mad, you know… You know you can talk to me too, right? I won’t push, but I know something is eating at you, and I would guess it’s something big.” Maddox is always so closed off, and I know that this moment of sharing my past is big for him. I just wish he would let me in, let me help him.

  “Know that, girl. One day, but that day isn’t today. Won’t be tomorrow, but maybe one day.”

  And that is that. I go to bed that night feeling lighter than I have in years. Dr. Maxwell was onto something when she told me to open up and let people in. All these years, I was afraid to let my guard down, and one big bad ex-Marine finally let me feel close to normal again.

  I sleep for the first time in years without dreams, an almost peaceful sleep full of promise…until Maddox’s terrifying screams wake me up a few hours later.

  *~*~*

  The next morning, I am making breakfast for both of us when a sharp knock sounds at the door. Maddox is still sleeping. I heard him screaming out a few times throughout the night. Whatever haunts him was doing a bang-up job last night. My heart hurts for my friend.

  Glancing over at the clock above the stove I note the time—7:00 a.m.; too early for normal company.

  I have to remind myself that this isn’t my place and it probably is wise for me to go wake up Mad. After all, I am here for a reason. The knocking continues, so I go up to the door and check the peephole. I jump back like the door bit me when I see who is on the other side.

  Axel.

  Just who I don’t want to see bright and early in the morning. Well, I didn’t want to see him, but a small part of me is jumping up and down like some stupid cheerleader just by seeing his handsome face.

  “Hold on, hold on…” I mutter under my breath while I disarm the security system and throw open the door. “Good morning, your assholiness. To what do I owe this esteemed pleasure?” Throwing a snarky smile on my face for good measure, I look up into wide, shocked eyes.

  “What the fuck are you wearing?” He growls.

  Uh, oh.

  Looking down, I notice that I am still wearing my bed clothes—a tank top and panties, which are doing a bang-up job of hiding nothing.

  Shit.

  “I just woke up, Axel. What do you expect me to sleep in? A snowsuit?”

  “I expect you to not walk around naked in another man’s home.”

  “Excuse me? What does it matter to you what I wear when I am sleeping!” I need some serious caffeine before I can be expected to deal with his bullshit this early. “Idiot,” I grumble under my breath and turn to walk back into the kitchen.

  I take the eggs off the burner, plate the bacon, and grab the toast out of the toaster. I set up two spots at the table, effectively ignore Axel, and walk down the hall to Maddox’s room. I can feel Axel burning his eyes into my back. Just to piss him off, I throw some more swing than normal into my hips. His answering groan is all I need to hear to bring a small smile over my face.

  Knocking softly, I call out to Maddox, “Hey, you want to eat something?”

  Wide awake and hollow, his voice calls back through the door. “No.”

  I knew he wouldn’t be in a good mood this morning, but I really hoped I could help him. Even by just being here.

  “You sure? I made you breakfast.” I turn the knob and peek in.

  Maddox is sitting on the side of his bed with his elbows braced on his knees; his head folded down into his big hands. It breaks my heart.

  “I’m here if you need me, okay? Even if that’s all I can offer, I know how important it is to have someone waiting to help carry your burdens.”

  “Yeah, girl. Go eat. I’m good.” He looks up at me, his dark eyes seeming to see right through me. It would seem that Maddox is still very much trapped in his head.

  “All right, Mad. Axel is here, and he is fuming at the top, but what else is new.”

  I turn around and immediately draw back. Axel is standing directly behind me, and with no warning, I end up pressed tight against his hard body.

  We both suck in sharp pulls of air. I can feel my body instantly becoming aware of his being this close. Every single inch of my exposed skin that presses tightly to his denim-and-cotton-covered body is tingling. And just with this small press of our bodies, I can feel my panties become soaked in seconds. His eyes are dark with desire and his breathing has picked up; at least I’m not alone here.

  He shifts closer, pressing his thick erection into my stomach. I let out another sharp gasp, not even realizing I was holding my breath this whole time. My nose fills with his hardy scent immediately. Mouthwatering. My nipples pebble and my heart is pounding.

  His big, strong hands reach out and grab both of my small wrists. Slowly, oh so painfully slowly, he starts caressing his way up my arms, my skin breaking out in millions of tiny goose bumps along the way. When he reaches my shoulders, he brings his hands up, one going to the back of my neck, fingers lacing into my hair. The other travels up to the side of my face, holding my cheek and part of my neck tenderly. My body is on fire. The skin he touched is burning, and the overwhelming need to feel him has consumed my every fiber.

  “So. Fucking. Perfect,” he whispers against my lips, bringing his head down the final few inches and finally crushing his lips to my own.

  He nibbles and bites at my
lower lip, tracing the same path with his tongue to soothe the ache before taking my bottom lip between his teeth and pulling. My gasp of surprise opens my mouth long enough for his demanding tongue to work its way in. Desire is coursing through my veins, my heart is surely going to explode, and my soaked panties are going to melt off my body.

  As our kiss continues, getting hotter by the second, he runs the hand holding my cheek down my back, his fingers gliding over the bandage on my spine before reaching my ass. With a firm hold, he pulls my body even further in to his own. There isn’t a single inch of my body not stuck to his. Turning my head to the side, he continues to lick and caress every solitary spot of my mouth. Our tongues are dueling together, both overcome with the feelings this kiss is provoking.

  The hand behind my head follows the path his other hand just traveled, and when he reaches my ass, he flexes his fingers, digs both hands in, and lifts. Instinctively, I bring both my legs up and wrap them around his body, driving my core flush with his hard erection. Just what my body is craving, demanding to take what it needs.

  I don’t realize we were moving until my back meets the cold wall. I break away from his mouth and push back a little. This does nothing but help rub my swollen pussy against his denim-covered cock. Biting back the moan, I look into his green eyes, so dark and hooded with desire.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” I weakly try to protest. I want this. God, how I want this.

  Right or wrong, this feels like heaven. Even chocolate is no match for the full body electric tingles that are shooting through my system. Every hair is standing on end, and my core is clenching with anticipation of the orgasm that is just within reach. God, please don’t let him take my comment seriously.

  He brings his face back level with mine, rubbing my painfully neglected nipples against his shirt. I dig my hands into his sides, moaning again when I feel how solid and warm his hard body feels under my fingertips.

  When he speaks, his words tingle my lips, reminding me of our kiss, making me groan all over and rock my pussy against his hard length.

  He sucks in a deep pull before speaking, his voice thick with lust. “Oh, Princess, I can’t think of anything that we should be doing more. You feel that? You feel how fucking hard I am for you? I can feel your warm fucking cunt hugging my dick even through my goddamn pants. You are on fire for me.”

  He brings his hips forward, rocking against me and supporting my body against the wall. We both moan, my head falling back and thumping against the wall. He brings his left arm under my ass and supports me while bringing his other hand up, running it along my hips, making me gasp when he tickles my sides on his way to my swollen breast. His fingertips brush softly against the swell of my breast before pulling the tank down and under, pushing my tits up high. He lightly runs his fingers down and circles around the barbell in my nipple; I am panting now and can feel my orgasm building.

  When he pinches my still tender nipples between his thump and finger, I let out a soft cry, grinding down against his cock again. “Still sore?” he questions, sounding like he is standing at the end of a tunnel. “Hmm…can’t speak, huh, baby? Just think how good it will feel when I bury my cock deep inside that warm pussy, when I fuck you so hard you will feel me for days. Going to make you drown in pleasure, fuck you so good, so fucking good.” He drives that home with one more rock of his hips. I close my eyes, too overcome with everything he is doing to my body to even act like I understand.

  His hand releases my breast, and right as I am ready to protest, I feel the warm heat of his mouth. His tongue traces the outline of my nipple, nips at the soft skin under my breast, and licks his way back up before closing his lips around my nipple and barbell, giving a hard pull.

  “Oh God, don’t stop… Please don’t fucking stop,” I beg, fanatically moving against him, desperate to reach my orgasm.

  His fingers play against my stomach as he dances them down my torso. He splays his fingers wide and pushes his thumb hard against my clit. “Soaked. Fucking drenched. Can’t wait to have my mouth down there licking all that wetness up.” He rolls his thumb and crushes his lips back down on mine, swallowing the cry of satisfaction I scream out as the waves of the most powerful orgasm come crashing down on me.

  I feel like my whole body has just lit up, coming to life with each roll of pleasure that rockets through me. His tongue tangles with my own; this kiss is full of ecstasy. Our tongues mate together while he slowly brings me back down to earth with small rolls of his hips against my still pulsing pussy. He is reminding me that he is still very ready to continue when I feel the thickness brush against me again.

  “Fuck, baby…you feel so good in my arms again.”

  I look up into his eyes, trying to focus on his face long enough to make sense of his comment. The harshness I have grown accustomed to seeing mar his beautifully handsome face is gone, and in its place is pure affection. He looks like the old Axel, the one so full of love for me that nothing else matters. In that moment, I can almost believe it, almost believe that we can get back there again, and after all we just shared, I realize that I want that. I want Axel back. I want us and our love back. It has never felt like that before, not even with him. Time might not have been on our side the last few years, but right now…I can almost hope that fate has decided to love me and give me some happiness for a change.

  “What are we doing, Axel?” I ask, tightening my arms around his neck and bringing my forehead down to his chest. What are we doing? I have no answers myself, but I hope he doesn’t look at this as a mistake. That might just kill me.

  “I don’t know, Princess. I don’t know. But it feels way too fucking good to ignore.” He brings his hands back up to either side of my face and pulls me up to look at him. “We got some shit to figure out, Izzy…but after this, I won’t let you go until we figure it out. Not happening. Do you feel it? Every single thing we ever felt for each other… It is still there, Izzy, and I won’t let you push me away. We walked back into each other’s lives for a reason.”

  I nod my head, because really, what can I say? He’s right. I just have to believe that when we sit down and bring back all those memories he will still want to hold me so tight. “Okay, Axel. You’re right. We do need to talk.”

  The white flags are waved. I bring my head back down and rest against his chest. His heart is pounding rapidly against my ear and his scent, which is now mixed with my arousal, is invading my senses. I bring my arms up, wrap them around his torso, and pull tight. His sighs softly, adjusting my body so that he can pull me closer and just enjoy the moment of our hearts being together again.

  Peace. Even with the fear of telling him everything, my soul is at peace.

  A deep throat clearing brings me back to earth. I lean up, look over Axel’s shoulder and meet Maddox’s laughing eyes. It’s such a rare sight that I am momentarily speechless. He looks so different when he allows his emotions to come out, youthful and approachable, completely different that his normal hard, cold staring.

  “Interesting. Live porn. Think you could at least take this reunion behind closed doors? Or maybe your own fucking house?” His eyes might have been laughing with me but his question to Axel was full of unspoken warning. It looks like I have earned myself another big bad brother.

  “Sorry, Mad,” I whisper over Axel’s shoulder and give him a wink.

  “Sorry? Fuck that shit, Izzy.” Axel lets my feet fall to the floor and holds on to my hips to make sure I have my balance before he gets ready to address Maddox. He leans down and, with a growly whisper, says, “Don’t you move, Izzy. I won’t have Locke looking at you half naked with that just-fucked glow about you. Damn…mmmm. I can’t wait to be deep inside you.”

  I get one chaste kiss before he gives me his back and makes sure his big body is completely covering me before addressing Maddox.

  “My bad, brother. I won’t apologize that it happened. Hell fucking no. Best breakfast I’ve ever had.” His laughter is vibrating his body. I dig my
hands into his shirt and push my heated face into his back. How embarrassing.

  “Funny. Just hilarious. Fucking shit, I need to get laid. Asshole.” Maddox walks past us and into the kitchen. He’s wearing some worn sweats, which are hanging low on his hips. It’s a good thing I don’t have the hots for him, because this view of him scratching his ass while searching the fridge is not his best look.

  “Classy, Mad!” I call over to him, unable to keep my giggles in. “You shouldn’t have any trouble with the ladies if you keep digging in your ass!” I’m laughing harder now, feeling like the weight that was pushing down on my body is almost gone.

  Axel turns around, gives me a small smile, and wraps me in his arms again, lifting me off the floor so he can easily whisper in my ear.

  “Missed that sound so fucking much.” His lips kiss a line from my shoulder to my ear. His tongue comes out and licks along the shell, causing me to shiver in his arms and moan his name.

  “You two need to either get the fuck out or get behind closed doors. Don’t need to be seeing that shit this goddamn early. Go reunite somewhere else. Serious as fuck right now. I get it and I will only say this once—about fucking time,” Maddox says matter-of-factly like while he butters his toast.

  I pull away from Axel and just look into his eyes. I notice the adoration that still shines bright. I hope I’m giving him just a small sign of what I’m feeling when I smile up at him.

  Maddox was right last night. I can’t hold it in anymore, and when I have Axel back in my arms, the uncertainty isn’t as terrifying. With everything else that is a mess right now in my life, I feel like this is one thing I might be ready to deal with and move on from. Hopefully I’m making the right decision here, but I can’t hold on to the past anymore. I can’t hold that pain in, and more importantly, I am ready to let him in. Let him in in the hopes that we can find a way back to each other that isn’t just about this sexual buzz roaring around us.

  “Go get cleaned up, yeah? And please put some fucking clothes on. As fine as that body is, I don’t want anyone else enjoying the view.”