Axel (Ride Series Book 3) Read online

  “You gonna let me in?” he asked quietly and I knew he meant more than just physically.

  I looked up at his gorgeous face. “You were never out,” I admitted. “I look at Mad every day and I see you. I see us. I was gone but I never left you. What if this one breaks too?” I whispered nervously.

  “Then I guess we’re having another baby,” he replied without hesitation.

  “I’ll get on birth control,” I replied quickly, shocked at how swiftly and without fear he’d responded.

  “That’d be good,” he rasped. He made a noise in the back of his throat as he glided through to the hilt, both of us gasping slightly.

  “Christ, baby, you feel so good,” he muttered, his tone nearly guttural.

  I adjusted slightly, trying to accommodate to his size. Then he started to move.

  This was so different from our first time, our only other time, where everything had felt like the promise of something hanging on the edge of a precipice. Back then, it had been as though we were afraid to speak. Neither of us made any promises; I hadn’t even told him it was my first time.

  This time, I knew he was claiming me in a way he couldn’t the first time. His mouth was everywhere it could be, his large hands grasping my flesh. Our sweat intermingled as we nearly toppled off the bed. When he loomed over me and I looked into his eyes, I’d never felt so close to another person.

  I watched in fascination as the muscles in his arms, his shoulders, and everywhere I could see worked to pleasure me. He put everything he had into loving me. He gave himself to me.

  And I wasn’t ever giving him back.

  When my orgasm began to build, I gripped his backside pulling him deeper, wanting him closer.

  He waited until I was already toppling over the edge, pulling him close, before he let out a low groan of relief and completely enveloped me with his large body.

  We lay in a sweaty, heaving heap as we came back to ourselves. He moved us so that I was on top of him as his hand stroked over my back. I didn’t want to get up, ever.

  “Let’s get some sleep,” he suggested, moving us further into the bed and pulling the covers over our bodies.

  “I can’t sleep naked,” I squeaked.

  He chuckled. “Why the hell not?”

  “I don’t know. I just can’t,” I stammered. “What if there’s a fire? What if Mad needs me in an hour?”

  “Your clothes are five feet away. I want your skin under my hands,” he said in a tone that wasn’t to be trifled with.

  His large hand swept over my breast down to my stomach before he cupped me intimately.

  “Okay,” I agreed breathlessly.

  “Okay.” He pulled my back to his front and we fell asleep with his hand between my legs.

  I’d never felt so worshipped in my life.

  Chapter 7

  The next morning when Mad was babbling and cooing from his crib, Axel got up, threw on his boxers and brought him back into bed with us.

  The three of us lay cuddled close and I didn’t think I’d ever felt more content.

  “We gotta get to the club,” Axel announced when Maddox grew restless and clearly wanted food.

  “So early?” I wrinkled my brow.

  He scoffed, throwing on a t-shirt as I rose from the bed wearing his discarded t-shirt I’d thrown on earlier. “I would have been there at 3 a.m. if I thought I could’ve dragged you and Maddox with me.” He stepped closer, grasping my hip to pull me to him as Maddox lay cooing on the bed. “As it turned out, it was much better for me that we stayed here,” he told me, taking my mouth in a quick but consuming kiss.

  “For me, too,” I agreed breathlessly.

  “You wearin’ my t-shirt?” he asked as I scooped Mad up and headed for the kitchen.

  “Yeah,” I shrugged.

  “My dirty t-shirt,” he amended, his eyes sweeping my frame.

  “It smells good,” I swallowed, trying to keep some semblance of sanity under his lust-inducing gaze.

  “You smell good on me, too.” He gave me a crooked smile and ran his fingers under his nose.

  Holy hell.

  The doorbell chimed loudly then, surprising us both.

  “Go get some clothes on,” Axel ordered, cocking his head toward the bedroom.

  “Bossy,” I mumbled, taking Mad with me to throw on some clothes as Axel stalked to the door.

  When I re-entered the living room, I was surprised to see an older suit-clad man standing by the front door. He looked slightly nervous as he looked up at Axel’s imposing figure as he stood guarding the man’s entry with arms crossed.

  “Miss Foster?” he presumed, peeking his head around Axel’s large body and pushing his glasses further up his nose.

  “Yes?” I answered, confused.

  He sighed, looking relieved. “I’m so glad I tracked you down. I’m Frank Greenwood from JC Financials,” he explained, though that didn’t mean anything to me.

  He must have seen the blank look on my face. “We manage your trust.”

  My brows knit in confusion as to what he’d be doing tracking me down. “Come in,” I gestured, giving Axel a look to relax. He nodded once and moved further into the room gesturing that the man should have a seat.

  “Coffee?” I offered.

  “No, thank you,” he shook his head as I took a seat nearby. Axel placed Mad in his Pack ‘N Play with some toys and joined me.

  “Miss Foster, your brother contacted us recently. He was concerned about statements you made that your parents had cut off your trust fund,” he began as he opened up a briefcase and removed some documents. “We were very concerned and immediately investigated. What we uncovered is quite disturbing,” he admitted with a sigh.

  My mouth went dry as I waited for him to continue.

  “It seems as though one or both of your parents have been intercepting your payments for the past year. Since we had no forwarding address for you and weren’t aware you had left NY, the checks continued to go to them. It is also worth noting that a significant sum was left for your brother upon your grandfather’s death that I’m just now able to provide to him.”

  “Did they try to steal that, too?” I asked quietly, bracing for his response.

  “It would seem so,” he admitted frankly.

  “So they weren’t able to actually cut off my fund then?” I asked, needing clarity.

  “No,” he shook his head. “Your grandfather left that money to you and was very explicit with the terms. This is why, despite the interception, your parents weren’t able to successfully acquire any of yours or your brother’s funds. I can’t prove it but it seems they did in fact try to. I’m here to deliver the back pay from the past year and to confirm payments moving forward.”

  I looked over to Axel, needing him to center me in the whirlwind I’d suddenly been caught up in. He put his arm around me, pulling me into his warm body.

  “Do her parents know you’re here?” Axel’s deep voice demanded, the rumble of his voice vibrating from his body.

  “I’d imagine so,” Mr. Greenwood nodded.

  “They want control of those funds. That’s what last night was about,” Axel growled.

  “I don’t understand,” I shook my head. “They’re rich. Why do they want our money?”

  “Maybe they’re not so rich anymore,” Axel surmised. “Can we press charges?” he asked Mr. Greenwood.

  I stiffened, the reality of the situation slamming into my chest and causing my heart to fly.

  “You can try,” Mr. Greenwood nodded. “Though you might have difficulty making anything stick as the checks weren’t cashed. Unless you can prove they made a concerted effort to acquire the funds they can claim they had no forwarding address and were simply holding on to the money.”

  “Shit,” Axel growled.

  “I’m sorry about this,” Mr. Greenwood offered, seeming sincerely distressed. He handed me an envelope which I held in my lap.

  “Is this the address future checks should be se
nt to?” he asked.

  I looked to Axel. So much was yet to be worked out between us. Confirming an address felt like so much more. It meant not only that Maddox and I would be here, but that I trusted Axel in a way I couldn’t even trust my own parents.

  He held my gaze, his eyes glittering with emotion. “Yes.” He confirmed Mr. Greenwood’s question without breaking eye contact.

  I looked back into his eyes knowing I was about to take a leap of faith.

  “Yes, use this address.” I nodded, looking toward the banker.

  “Okay then,” he stood, reaching out to shake both our hands. “I’m off to your brother’s house now,” he confirmed. “You two don’t have the same last name?” he questioned as he straightened his jacket.

  I shook my head. “We’re half siblings. He was born with my mother’s maiden name. I have my father’s and what became my mother’s married name,” I explained, fighting back the urge to add that neither name was anything to write home about as it turned out.

  He nodded in understanding.

  “Thank you for coming out,” I said, walking him to the door.

  “Have a good day,” he returned, clasping my hand briefly before turning and heading out to his car.

  I looked down at the envelope in my hand. “I’m almost afraid to open it,” I admitted quietly once we heard the banker’s car rumble off down the road.

  Ax pulled me close to his body, hugging me tightly. “You know we don’t need it, right? I can take care of us. I will take care of us,” he spoke, his voice low and commanding.

  I looked up at him. “I know.”

  “All that time you struggled.” He swallowed against the anger I saw rising to the surface. “You could have been taken care of. You wouldn’t have had to work so damn hard.”

  I shook my head, stopping him from going down that road. “You know what? It’s okay.” I shrugged, shocking us both with my response. “Was it hard? Hell yes. But I proved a lot to myself. I took care of me and Mad after being sheltered and coddled my whole life. I’m glad to know I have that in me.”

  “You’re so fucking strong, baby,” he murmured reverently, pulling me close again and rubbing his hands up and down my back.

  In the end, we finished breakfast, got Mad dressed and only on our way out the door did I open the envelope.

  I studied the sum, realizing not for the first time how money and privilege had stifled me throughout my life. It had constrained me with expectation and pedigree. I’d be damned if I let the same thing happen now – not when I was finally free.

  I didn’t want the life I knew in Hawthorne to change too much. It was shaping up beautifully as it was.

  Chapter 8

  It was my first time at the club since I’d arrived back in town. We walked in with coffees in hand and I found myself feeling comforted by the smell of leather, engine grease and men. My eyes swept the common space noting that not much had changed. The pool table still sat in the corner near the bar. The pictures documenting the club’s history still hung from the walls.

  I smiled warmly as Cal, the club’s president and Cole’s father, wandered in from down the hall where they had a private meeting room and some other rooms whose purpose I didn’t know.

  Nor did I really want to.

  “Sophie,” he greeted with a grin that crinkled the edges of his beautiful blue eyes.

  “Hi, Cal,” I smiled, accepting his brief hug.

  “We’re glad to have you back,” he noted sincerely, sweeping a large hand affectionately over Maddox’s head. “No doubt who your daddy is,” Cal chuckled, looking down at Mad.

  Axel made a noise of approval in his throat in response.

  Cal looked to Axel. “Hank and Wes are here, in the back. The rest of the guys are en route. He cocked his head toward the hall in silent direction that they head that way.

  “Sure, be right there,” Axel grunted before turning to me. “Sal’s bringing Kat to hang with you. I’ve got to brief the guys. You gonna be okay?”

  “Fine,” I assured him.

  Pride flickered on his face as he regarded me. “Good girl,” he replied, stooping to kiss me briefly. I was surprised at the display of affection and it must have shown on my face. “Gonna take your mouth anytime, anywhere, babe,” he assured me with a slow grin.

  I nodded, liking the sound of that entirely too much.

  It wasn’t long before Sal and Kat swept into the room. Her belly seemed to be getting bigger by the day, protruding like a little beach ball on her thin frame.

  “You all right, birdie?” Sal asked, eyeing her with concern.

  “Fine,” she sighed, sitting down on the couch with a huff.

  “Hi, Soph,” he added, grasping my shoulder briefly.

  “Hey, Sal.” I smiled as he swept a hand over Mad’s head of hair. All the guys seemed to do this with him. It was such a tender gesture from such badass men.

  “You get a visit this morning?” I asked with a cocked brow.

  “Yep, fucking shocked the shit out of me.” He shook his head, seeming stunned.

  “I bet,” I smiled softly.

  “Now we just gotta figure out why the fuck another club would be trying to get at you,” he growled. “That’s way more important than some unexpected cash.”

  I nodded, watching him throw another concerned look to Kat before he stalked back to the offices.

  Cole sauntered in not long after, followed by Mack, Tag and Xander.

  “Where’s Ryker?” I asked Kat, referring to Axel’s younger brother.

  “He’s not patched in yet so he and Jeb don’t get invited to these meetings,” she informed me.

  “Patched in?” I asked with a tilt of my head.

  “Jeb and Ry are still prospects. There’s a whole ceremony where they become officially part of the club. I think it might happen soon for Ry, not sure about Jeb.”

  “But he got stabbed trying to protect you!” I exclaimed, surprised he wouldn’t be part of the club already. It was then I realized I hadn’t seen Jeb around since being back.

  She nodded. “I know, but I guess there’s more to the story. I don’t know the details,” she shrugged.

  I nodded, though I was still perplexed and went about setting up Mad’s Pack ‘N Play.

  Kat kept me company while the guys met. We played with Maddox in the main room before taking him into the sunshine out back.

  “You feeling okay?” I asked when I noticed how tired she looked.

  “Yeah,” she nodded. “The doctor just discovered my iron is really low which is why I’ve been so tired. I should be feeling better soon. Of course, Sal is acting like I’ve been diagnosed with something terminal.” She rolled her eyes. “If he makes me another burger or tries to slip spinach into another smoothie, I’m going to throttle him.”

  I tried to smother my laughter but nodded sympathetically. “I know he can be overprotective but I’m glad you have someone to take care of you,” I said.

  Her eyes opened wide. “Oh, shit, Sophie, I didn’t even think about how you were alone. I must sound like an ungrateful bitch,” she lamented.

  “Not at all!” I rushed to assure her. “I’m just glad you and my brother have each other.”

  “Me, too.” She reached over and squeezed my hand briefly.

  “So what’s all this about anyway?” she asked, cocking her head inside to where the guys were. “Sal didn’t want to share much. I think he was too pissed to talk about it.”

  “Jill called me last night to say that some bikers broke into my old place. It seems as though they were Black Riders.”

  “Oh, shit, Axel must be ready to blow a gasket,” she exclaimed when I was done.

  “Just about,” I agreed. “Now with what we learned this morning, Axel seems worried my father is somehow connected which…oh crap,” I breathed, my eyes opening wide with realization.

  “What?” she asked.

  “All those things my father threatened me about, I never really questioned
how he would have information on the club. He must be paying someone else from another club.” I gasped, handing Mad to her and storming inside.

  I paused in the hallway, afraid of interrupting their meeting. I knew there were all kinds of rules that I didn’t yet understand. I wanted to respect that but I also needed to get to Axel.

  I settled on texting him while pacing restlessly.

  I heard the door open a second later and he stepped out, eyeing me warily. “Yeah, babe?”

  “My father,” I blurted, my hands on my hips. “He must have someone on the inside of another club! I didn’t even think of it until now. That’s how he had all the information about you before Mad was born. That must be who was looking for me now,” I exclaimed in desperation.

  “Uh, yeah, babe, I figured that was the case,” he replied as though I were completely daft.

  “You did?” I asked, shocked.

  He had the gall the chuckle. “Baby, I appreciate that you thought you were bringing me late breaking news but it’s pretty damn obvious. We’re just trying to figure out who to throttle.” He cocked his head toward the closed door.

  “Oh,” I replied lamely.

  “Christ, you’re cute.” He chuckled again, pulling me closer and pressing his full lips to mine.

  “I thought I was helping,” I mumbled against his mouth.

  “You can help me when Mad goes down for a nap,” he grinned between kisses.

  Heat pooled between my legs at the very thought. “I can do that,” I whispered, my fingers tangling up into his thick hair and pulling slightly.

  “Hey, love birds, save it,” I heard Cal bark as Wes chortled in the background.

  “I’ll let you get back then,” I blushed.

  “Okay, darlin’, see you in a few.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed.

  I grumbled my way back to Kat and Maddox. Apparently, my detective skills needed some serious help.

  ******

  “Brake! Christ, babe,” Axel half chuckled half groaned.

  “I’m braking,” I replied impatiently. “You’re not very good at this. For such a badass, you’re kind of a pussy,” I taunted before I had to bite back a laugh as he shot me a glare.