Page 24 of Wallflower No More

Axel grunts, but he's clearly amused. “And what if I do?”

“I'll karate chop you in the face.” Duh.

“I'm not scared of your hillbilly Kung Fu.” He challenges.

“Umm...that's your first mistake,” I reply, slightly offended, because we hillbillies can Kung Fu with the best of them.

“Why?” His mouth crinkling up at the corners.

“Never underestimate a bayou hillbilly.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” He said, clearly amused, but quickly turns serious. “I have a very dominant side, Scarlett. One that I've never fully shown to anyone. It's just who I am. Are you going to be okay with that?”

I don't even have to think about what he just said. “Surprisingly, I'm more than okay with it. In fact, it's what makes me so drawn to you.”

Axel kisses my lips. “Good.” He whispers.

I need an Axel break because his intensity suffocates the oxygen out of the room. “Well, if you'll excuse me, I need a quick shower. The makeup on my face is brutal. You can use Toby's shower. He's at Karen's.”

He pokes his lip out. Cuteness. “You don't want to shower with me? We can look, but we just can't touch. Yet.”

“Nah. I'm good.” How can he turn me on with a single word? Yet.

He chuckles. “That's cold.”

Winking at him, I grab my clothes and run for cover into the bathroom. He takes his bag and heads off to the other room. I take longer to wash my hair and blow dry it before leaving my bathroom. It's just me killing time because the nerves are ferocious tonight. Long nightgowns are my jam as far as pjs go. This one is frilly and lacy. It's the nicest one in my drawer, and the other ones are total moo-moos. Online shopping is in my near future. When I finally pop out of the bathroom, he's not back yet.

Jumping in bed, I pull the covers up to my neck. What is wrong with me? We literally shared a bed last night. But we both passed out quickly and right now, I'm wide awake. And my weirdo self wouldn’t know what sexy was if it slapped me in the face. Maybe if I look sexy when he walks in, he'll go all caveman and ravish me tonight. Hell yeah, that made me basically gush. What is a sexy laying position? The one where you have one hand behind your head. Nah, that turns out to be uncomfortable. Next. How about the one where you lay across the whole bed on your side? That's when he decides to make an entrance. Of course. He smirks but says nothing. I'm not sure words would come out of me if he did. He's shirtless, and there is a light dusting of chest hair with a happy trail that leads to what can be assumed is paradise.

Done with trying to be in a sexy position, I get back underneath the covers. Where it's safe, he looks at me and laughs. “I promise I won't bite. Much.”

But he does, and there are marks to prove it on my neck. But I don't say that. “Civilized people don't say things like that.”

“When I'm with you, being civilized is the furthest thing from my mind, Wallflower.” His smoldering gaze eats me alive.

“Maybe I should have really bolted, but since we're already lying down, that would be dumb.” Talking just to hear myself talk.

“Smart choice.” He scoots closer to me.

“You know this is another romance trope,” I say as my body scoots toward him.

“Really. Now I'm intrigued. Which one is that?” He bites his bottom lip with a smile.

“The one bed trope. If we pretend that Toby is here, then there is nowhere else for you to sleep.” I prop up on my elbow to watch his reaction because I'm low-key obsessed with him.

He looks charmed. “Pretending is fun. What do I need to do?”

“You have to ask me if I want you to sleep on the floor, and then my reply reassures you that we can sleep in the same bed, and it's okay,” I reply.

He laughs. “Fuck that. I'm going stay wherever you are.”

Axel pulls the covers back so that I can see his chest again. “You need an ego boost, Rabies?”

He pulls me into his arms and tucks my head under his chin. “Almost always.” Taking my hand, I start rubbing his chest, outlining his muscles with my fingertips. He's entirely still. His breathing is ragged, and goosebumps appear on his heated flesh. Axel grabs my hand, stopping me. “Scarlett, if you keep going, I will fuck you.” He lets go of my hand. I've heard that submissives hold the most power. It's time to test that theory. My fingers trace his face next, down to his neck, then back to his chest. Axel takes my hand and places it down on his thick cock. My eyes widen at the sheer feel of it. My who-ha will never be the same after he claims me.

I stroke him in firm, even strokes. “Just like that baby.” His praise makes me bold in a way I've never been before. The sounds of his labored breathing bounce off the wall in my small room. He moves his hips to my tempo. Axel kisses my neck, my face, and my lips. He slaps my ass one good time before flipping me over to where I'm lying on my back. He crushes his lips to mine and takes my nightgown off in one fell swoop. “I've waited so long for this Wallflower.” He smiles into my lips. He slides two fingers inside my wet pussy, making me cry out his name. “I've got to get your tight little slit prepared for my big cock, Scarlett.” He says my name with such reverence. “Two long years I watched you, thinking I could never have you.” He kisses my eyelids. I cry out my release, and Axel positions himself at my entrance. “Now, you're going to take all of me like a good fucking girl, Wallflower. And when you're sore tomorrow, and it hurts for you to even walk, I want you to think about this moment I claimed you as mine.”

Axel thrusts inside of me. “Oh fuck.” I scream and grip his arms.