We make our way into the hotel and over to the elevators. We wait in silence, listening to the beeps announce each floor it passes. The wait must be adding pressure to Axel since I notice him fidgeting with his pants as he glances down at me without moving his upward-turned chin. Of course, standing side-by-side with the height difference between us, I suspect he must have a clear shot right down the center of my dress.
The doors open, and Axel's hand rests on the small of my back as he gently urges me inside. I dangle my hands down in front of my waist, clasping my fingers together while staring at our blurry reflections in the shined-metal doors. We're both staring straight ahead as if on guard, waiting for the doors to open. Based on Axel’s statuesque demeanor, and the casual pace he uses to step out of the elevator and walk down the hall toward our rooms, most people wouldn’t have a clue about how many erratic thoughts are most likely bouncing through his head, but I know better.
He reaches into his pocket for the room key and quietly opens his room's door, gesturing for me to walk in ahead of him. I do, mirroring his speed and slow gestures to make my way inside.
I find the connecting door to my room open, as we left it earlier, which is perfect.
Axel struggles with his tie for a moment, loosening it while staring off toward the window and the welcoming glow from the city lights.
I make my way over to the connecting door. "I'll be back in just a moment. I'd like to freshen up."
Axel doesn't respond, making me wonder what he's thinking. I’m certain he hasn’t considered the trouble he’s asking for. All that matters is that I'm fully aware of the trouble this will cause.
Once inside the bathroom, I lean forward and press my hands into the vanity as I stare at the dolled-up version of my soulless body. Endorphins fire through me as I contemplate what I’m about to do—deceiving my mind into thinking I’m making the best decision. It’s an easy moment of opportunity and I can’t get myself to think beyond my actions. An innocent eagerness to learn what many don't know about was my only motivation. Now, I know too much for my own good. I can run from those who want what's inside of my head, but I will never be able to escape what I know.
I turn the sink on, splashing my warm cheeks with cool water, then dab at them with a face cloth. I lean to the side toward the toilet and flush, needing the few seconds of echoing noise to drown out my next move.
I slip out of the bathroom and open my hotel room door just enough to place the bronze doorstop in the opening. This will make Everett’s efforts to enter my room a little easier, since I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he comes back here to find me.
With a heavy exhale, I reopen the connecting door to Axel’s room and pull it to close most of the way behind me. Axel is standing shirtless, staring out the window at the lights. When he hears my presence, he turns toward me, making his way across the room in a passionate rush similar to how he did the last time we were in this situation. I may not have been expecting his sexual desires the first time, but I'm now aware of his wants.
He hits the lights on the way over to me, and the room is dark aside from the dim light shining in from my bathroom next door.
His cool hands find the bareness of my back before peeling the zipper slowly down the inward arch of my body. The exposure to the air-conditioned room enhances each sensation working through my skin, including the slight scratch left behind from the zipper as it slithers down the length of my body. Left in only my heels and panties, Axel's hands roam freely as his fingertips caress the lengths of my arms, my collarbone, and my shoulders.
"I want you. I need you to feel how much I feel for you."
I close my eyes, wishing I could shut out sensation as well as noise because I don't want to feel this. I don't want to enjoy this. I don't want the moments of bliss evaporating into my heart. A hand rests around my neck as his lips connect with mine, making the distraction intense enough that the sound of his pants falling to the ground sound like nothing more than a silk sheet colliding with thin air.
With what feels like little effort, I'm scooped into his arms, and my legs instinctually tangle around his solid waist as we aimlessly move backward until his knees buckle at the edge of his bed.
I'm an asshole, but he may be a bigger asshole.
He's falling into my trap, and I feel some regret mildly setting in, but it seems like it’s exactly what he wants from me too.
The remnants of our undergarments are removed in a wave of smooth motions. Everything is slow, unlike the first time, which allows me to feel the slight stubble on his chest scraping against my nipples, rousing them rather than causing pain. The muscles along his hips grind against me just before he kisses his way down the center of my core, reaching a place where I might willingly offer the answer to any questions I’m asked. I cover my mouth, concealing the noises threatening to escape. For the moment, I selfishly give in, knowing his mouth is occupied enough that he can’t interrogate me.
His tongue parts the way, flicking and twisting as he kisses me like he was being kissed in return. The gratifying pain sears through my body as he pulls away, returning his position to match mine, face to face, gaze to gaze, and his hardened cock leaving its mark against my willingness to comply. This isn't fucking. This is something else.
We don't move from our positions as he kisses me hard, wrapping his arms tightly around me as he thrusts into my endless desire for everything he'll give me in order to erase the pain and understanding of what we're temporarily forgetting. My body is in tune with his every movement, yet we are on two different sides, two different pages, but both escaping from a reality that will ultimately bring us to a place neither want to be. His steel composure is a facade for the weakness he's exposing to me now, and I’m not sure I can go any further, knowing what I’m capable of doing to him.
His forehead rests on the pillow as he continues his fierce movements against me. "I'm sorry, Isabelle," he says in a heated exasperation. "I'm going to keep you safe, I promise."
Keep me safe. He's sorry. "What are you sorry for?" I ask him between heavy breaths, trying to understand, while feeling drunk in the moment of lust, too.
"You're fucking kidding me," I hear as the lights blare to life.
My plan worked at the worst time. Axel pulls the blankets up, covering us as we look over at the enraged look on Everett's face. "How the hell did you get in here?" Axel asks while wiping the back of his hand against his forehead.
Everett looks over at me, knowing what I did. "Don't worry about that," he says. "This explains everything. I should have known."
"Dude, just give us a minute, okay?"
"Oh yeah, totally. Sure, I'll just go wait in Harley's room while you finish plowing her. No problem."
I drape my arm over my face, hiding from the intentional wrath I caused.
"That's not what I meant," Axel says.
"Hey, while you're doing her, why don't you tell her the fucking truth maybe, huh?"
"Get the hell out of here," Axel shouts at him. "Jesus, man. Get a grip."
Everett laughs, cynically, before cocking his head to the side as he looks over at me. "You just wait. Wait until you find out what prince not-so-charming's plans really were." Everett leaves the room, closing the connecting door behind him.
"What's he talking about?" I ask Axel, trying my best to remain calm, and scared to death of letting my unraveled emotions get the best of me at a hormonally charged moment.
Axel looks at me for a long minute before placing a brief kiss on my lips. "It's not important because it's not an issue. We need to get back to Boston, though."
"Why?" I press.
"Everett is about to cause a world of shit right now if we don't."
24
Axel