by Harper Sloan
We haven’t spent a large amount of time with our friends, but we have had a few nights out with them for dinner or drinking. I am able to do all of my work from Axel’s house, and he spends the majority of his time doing his from home as well. The first thing we did when it became obvious that neither one of us wanted to part from the other was buy office furniture. We now both use the large library space as our dual office. His area takes up much more space. Computer monitors and other technical equipment are spread over every surface on his side of the room. I have a small corner, but that is all I need. We work in silence mostly, but we are together, and at this point, it is something we both need.
Another big purchase we made together was a kitchen table and comfortable couches for the living room. If you didn’t know what his house looked like before, you wouldn’t be so shocked, but slowly we are turning this large, empty shell of a house he bought into a home for us both.
We were back to ‘us’ for three weeks when he told me I was moving in. There wasn’t any room for arguments, and honestly, I wasn’t going to put up any. It might seem soon to most, but with all the time we had lost, it made sense for us. We made the pact to move forward, and that’s what we are doing. Picking up the pieces we had lost and putting them back together.
Continuing with our dreams.
Axel has been hinting at marriage, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. Yes, I know it will happen and I know it will happen with him, but we have only been back together a little over a month. Hell, he has only been back in my life for a few months. I feel like we need time. Time for what, I’m not sure, but when the time is right, we will know.
He isn’t happy about that. I can tell he wants to have me married and pregnant as soon as possible. His argument? We aren’t getting any younger and we both know it will happen, so why wait?
It is the only thing between us that doesn’t feel settled.
It is Saturday morning and Christmas is just two weeks away. With my move to Axel’s, I have missed my daily dose of Dee. I miss my best friend. I know she is way beyond happy for us and has been busy herself, but it is still an adjustment, going from being dependent on her for my only happiness to seeing her every few days.
We have plans to spend the day shopping, visiting Sway, and having dinner with the gang at Heavy’s. Axel has some business he needs to take care of in the office and will be gone most of the day anyway. This is the perfect day to spend with Dee.
I have just finished getting dressed when I hear the doorbell echo though the house. I finish zipping my favorite brown leather boots up over my skinny jeans, and with one last check in the mirror, I run through the hall, down the stairs, and to the foyer.
Throwing open the door with a large smile, I have just enough time to brace myself before Dee is throwing herself in my arms.
“Girlfriend, I have missed you!” she sings in my ear.
“You just saw me the other day, stupid.” I laugh and pull away, straightening my cream blouse back into place before looking up into her twinkling brown eyes.
My friend is happy as always, but now that I am happy, it is almost like she will burst at any second. Her happiness has hit nuclear levels.
“You’re glowing, Dee. I swear to God, one of these days all that joy you keep inside you is going to come pouring out. Like some deranged leprechaun.”
She laughs before following me through the foyer, and around the hallway, and into the kitchen.
“Let me grab my purse and we can get going. What time are our appointments with Sway?” I ask while searching through all the junk on the counter for my phone. I know I threw it down here last night when Axel and I had got home from dinner. He practically attacked me when we walked in the door.
“Noon. He said we needed to, and I quote, ‘get our fine little skinny white asses over there with a quickness so Sway can get all the good gossip about our new man candy.’ Her impersonation of Sway is disturbing.
“Okay, okay. Well, Ax is going to be in the office all day. He got a call from Mad early this morning and took off quick. Did Beck say anything about it?” I look over at her face, losing its smile slightly before quickly hiding the slip. “What was that, Dee? Are you and Beck having issues?” She has been ‘dating’ Beck for a few months now. From what I can tell, that just meant they were having regular sex because they never went out alone.
“Ahhh . . .” She looks down at her phone, trying to avoid my questioning eyes. “We decided to cool it for a while.”
“Okay,” I respond. I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it, and knowing Dee, if she doesn’t want to talk about something, she won’t. “Are you okay with that?”
“Sure I am.” Her face takes on a fake smile. “It was my idea, okay? He wanted more and I am not ready for that. It’s fine, really. You ready?”
Okay. Guess that means the topic is closed.
We climb into Dee’s Lexus before heading out to do some much needed Christmas shopping.
I somehow manage to cool her shopping high down today and it is an almost pleasant experience. I pick up some clothes for Axel and a kickass black leather jacket that I decide he has to have, plus a few sexy pieces from Victoria’s Secret for myself. I run into the local jeweler and pick up the piece I had commissioned out for his Christmas present.
I can’t wait to give it to him. I had the jeweler custom make a dog tag necklace for him. I used the tiny diamond from my old promise ring he had gave me the day he left for boot camp and engraved a message for him underneath it. You could hardly see the tiny diamond until the engraver placed some marks around the spot, highlighting it perfectly. It was hard for me to part with that ring. It held so many memories and promises. Knowing that Axel would open his gift and know what that diamond meant is the only reason I was able to do it. I spent hours searching for the right words to engrave on his dog tag. It finally hit me one day and the words just popped into my head.
When you are with me, I am free.
My strength. My heart. My everything.
Our love now continues forever.
Amor Vincit Omnia
‘Love Conquers All.’ It is perfect. And it is us.
Axel has been secretive about what he has planned. He has gone off shopping a few times but never came home with anything. Something told me to expect a proposal, and even though it freaks me out slightly that it is too soon, I know I will never be able to tell him no.
He is my dreams.
He is my future.
It is almost time for our appointment with Sway, and I am both looking forward to and dreading the appointment. I just know that when Sway figures out who Axel is there will be a big flamboyant display.
“What’s with the big goofy grin?” Dee asks, interrupting my thoughts.
“I didn’t even realize I was smiling. I was just thinking about how Sway will react when he realizes the giant hunk of sex in the building next to his salon is Axel.”
“Oh my God! I completely forgot about that! Girl, this is going to be hilarious!”
“You are not kidding. I was hoping that he wouldn’t find out, but when I told Axel the story, he thought it was too funny to pass up. Apparently the boys are coming over to say hello while we are there.”
She looks over at me in shock before continuing the drive to the salon. I expected humor, but she looks almost panicked.
“Are you okay, Dee? I know we don’t get as much time to talk as we used to, but you seemed fine the other night.”
A slight frown crosses her face before she quickly clears her expression. “I’m fine. Just busy at work.”
Liar. I make a mental note to ask Axel if Beck has said anything lately.
“All right, but you know if you need to talk, I’m here. I’m always here for you, Dee.” Ever since I moved out, things have felt strange with Dee. I know she is happy for me and I know she loves Axel, but there is something going on. “I love you, Dee. I hate knowing something is bothering you and you don’t want t
o talk.”
“It’s nothing.” She sighs. “Just have some stuff on my mind, but I need to work it out on my own. Promise.” She gives me one of her trademark smiles and it reassures me enough to drop it. For now.
We pull up at the salon fifteen minutes before our appointments. Sitting in front, looking at the rows of businesses in the small strip, I can’t help but smile when my eyes hit the simple, bold words—Corps Security. The windows are blacked out so we can’t see inside, but I know he’s there. My man is close. As if my heart knows, it starts picking up speed.
We get out of the car and start toward the building. Dee looks beautiful in fitted jeans, a long-sleeved sweater, and of course, her pencil-thin heels. She attempted to get me to shed my old clothes, but I stuck with what was familiar. I will never have her classy style, but I am finally holding my own.
I can see Sway inside waving at us like a crazy person through the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the salon. He is dressed similar to Dee, with skin-tight skinny jeans and a long pink sweater. But his sweater flares at the waist and elbows. He looks like a giant cotton candy ball. His boots are up to his knees, but unlike my flat soles, his are sporting five-inch heels. He has his long blond wig pulled up into a sleek ponytail. Jesus, if I didn’t love him, I would laugh.
“He looks wound up today.” Dee laughs.
Right when my feet hit the landing in front of Sway’s salon, the door to Corps opens wide and Axel is standing in front of me, his arms crossed over his wide chest and a smirk firmly in place. I am frozen with my hand outstretched to open the door and Dee bumps into me from behind.
“Oh wow,” I hear her mumble behind me. Oh wow is right.
His dark denim jeans are molded to his powerful thighs and his long-sleeved green Henley is stretched tight. His thick black hair has the same look that it did this morning when I had just gotten done running my hands through it and holding him tight to my pussy. Those green eyes I love so much shine bright.
My panties are instantly wet.
“Get over here and give your man some love,” he rumbles out, causing another surge of wetness to hit my panties.
I throw my purse into Dee’s arms and run over the short distance to Axel. Jumping up slightly, he catches me under my ass and hauls my body up his own. I can feel every hard inch rubbing against my front. I let out a soft moan before sealing my lips to his and diving into one of the best kisses ever.
He gives my ass a squeeze before releasing my lips and smiling down at me. “Hey, Princess.”
“Hey, baby.”
And that’s when the shrieking began.
“Oh my honey Jesus. You did NOT tell Sway that you knew this fine mountain of a man, no you did NOT. Holy goodness Lord above, I need a cold shower after that, girlfriend. You get your pretty little self into my chair and you tell Sway all about it. Every single delectable thing about it, if you know what I mean. Sweet heavens, I need a drink.”
I turn my head from my perch in Axel’s arms and laugh down at Sway. He is standing in the doorway of the salon fanning his face.
“What is that?” Axel asks softly into my ear so only I hear him.
Turning around with a bright smile, I say, “That is Sway.”
He laughs. “I don’t know if I should laugh or run.”
“I would run, you big beautiful hunk!” Sway yells over my laughter. “Oh my lawd, I would run. In fact, take that shirt off when you do . . . sweet lord, yes!”
I laugh harder and almost fall out of his arms. When I finally control myself, I look up into his smiling face. His smile is so wide and his eyes are full of love. “Love hearing you laugh, Princess. Most beautiful sound in the world.”
He drops me softly down onto my feet and holds his hand out to Sway.
“Holt Reid, nice to meet you.”
“Oh, honey, the pleasure is all mine . . . all mine. Sway’s the name but you can call me whatever you want.” He places his hand delicately in Axel’s big paw and bows.
This time, Dee joins me and we laugh at Sway’s antics. Looking at the two of them together is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. Axel is six foot six of pure, raw masculinity, and Sway, with all his short, round fatness stuffed in tight women’s clothing, looks ridiculous next to him.
“Yo, Reid . . . We going to finish this shit up or do you plan on being here all fucking day?” I hear the deep baritone of Greg call from inside the open door behind Axel.
“Oh sweet Lord in heaven . . . there are more?” Sway asks, looking over his shoulder at me, his long ponytail slapping against Axel’s chest. I can’t answer because the look of horror on Axel’s face has me in fits again.
“Come on, Sway. Let’s get you and giggles-a-lot inside,” Dee says with a soft chuckle. She pushes me and I stumble sideways before composing myself. “If you don’t help me get him out of here before the rest of them file out, we might be here a while. He’s panting, Iz.”
“All right, Sway. Dream about my man later. Love you, baby!” I call over my shoulder as we usher Sway back into his salon.
“Oh, Izzy, girl, how do you let him get dressed? A shame, oh it is a shame to let that man ever put clothes on.”
The rest of our trip turns out much the same. Sway doesn’t shut up for a second and really loses it when he sees Greg and Maddox walk by the front windows. They both wave in greeting to Dee and me. Sway starts jumping up and down and goes on and on for the rest of my appointment about what an injustice it is that not one of those ‘hunk pieces of sex with legs’ is gay.
When we (finally) finish up with Sway, it is almost five. Axel’s truck is still in the front, so Dee and I walk over to the office. The front reception area is done in black and gray. There is a reception desk in the middle with the Corps Security logo in the center of the wall behind it in large block letters. The office is simple but professional. I smile at Emmy, the secretary, and ask if Axel is busy.
“Not at all, or at least he wasn’t a second ago. He’s been itching for you to finish up next door, but between you and me, he was too scared of that little blond guy to come check.”
I like Emmy. She is soft spoken and somewhat shy, but according to Axel, he wouldn’t be able to run this place without her. She is around twenty-five with long blonde hair, light brown eyes, and a face full of freckles. She is the perfect image of the girl next door. I can’t help but notice that every time all the guys are around she is silent, but her eyes? They are always following Maddox around.
“Do you mind if I go on back?” I ask.
“Go on ahead. Beck and Coop are around here somewhere. Greg and Locke left a while ago.” I can’t help but smile when she blushes. Yup, this girl has it bad for Maddox.
“I’m waiting here,” Dee says. I look over at her, and she is expressionless and the walls are up. There is definitely something going on with her, and I would bet it has everything to do with Beck.
“All right, be right back.”
I walk down the long hallway in search for Axel. Passing the many open doors of the other guys’ offices before reaching my destination, I can’t help but smile at how successful Axel has become. I always knew he was destined for greatness.
Loud and very infuriated tones reach my ears before I can knock on Axel’s door, causing me to pause.
“What the fuck do you mean you can’t find the motherfucker?” he asks in a low and lethal tone. One that means he has lost all patience. Uh oh. Silence. “He what?” Silence. “Fuck! No, I don’t want you to sit there and play with yourself, dumbass. Find him. I want to know where that bastard is.” Some more silence follows and then there’s a lot more of Axel yelling before he finally slams the phone down in the cradle. I wait a little longer before pushing open his door with a soft knock.
His enraged gaze hits me and the tension is so thick I can’t help but take a step back into the hallway. I let out a small squeak when my back hits someone standing behind me. Whipping around, I see Coop there, and Beck is standing farther do
wn the hall. Coop’s normally playful eyes are hard and determined. Beck doesn’t look like the carefree guy I am used to.
“Everything okay?” I question.
The guys share a pointed look before Axel answers me, and when I look back over at him, he has carefully masked his fury.
“Yeah, Princess. Get over here. And Coop?” He looks over my shoulder with a scowl. “Get your fucking hands off my woman.”
God, I love it when he gets all possessive.
Coop laughs and scoops me up into a big hug and kisses my cheek, earning a deep growl in warning from Axel.
“You do realize he is armed right, jackass?” Beck asks with a smirk.
Armed?
I look over at Axel and don’t notice anything out of the ordinary.
“Back holster, hanging behind the chair. My guess is he has at least five knives on him right now and an ankle holster,” Coop whispers when he notices my unspoken question.
“Three and no ankle holster today,” Axel says with an evil glint to his eyes.
Oh boy.
“Right. Well, if you two are done pissing all over the floor, are you ready to go? Dee is in the lobby and we’re ready whenever you are.” I walk over and offer him a quick kiss, knowing that if we don’t get going we won’t get to dinner for a long while.
“Let me finish up in here. I need to brief these two idiots and then we can leave. Go wait with Dee in the lobby.” I can tell he means business. Whatever I had overheard before was starting to weigh heavily the air again with his temper.
“All right, baby.” With one more kiss, I leave the office and shut the door behind me.
I brush off his mood and continue down the hall. I know they don’t handle small things here, and most likely, whatever has him heated up is just a normal kink in their day-to-day operations.
With a smile, I walk back into the lobby and sit with Dee and Emmy. Before I know it, we are in a heated debate on the pros and cons of sexting. I make a mental note to send Axel some fun pictures the next time he comes into the office.