25. Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-five
Dylan
I t didn’t take Axel long to fall asleep, his breathing heavy and even. I pressed a kiss to the back of his neck before slipping out of the bed.
In the doorway, I watched his sleeping form. There were times over the years I worried that my infatuation with Axel was for a version of him I’d made up in my head, the reality doomed to be a disappointment.
But the truth was, every layer I peeled back with Axel made me love him more deeply than I realised was possible to feel for another person. Big, strong, could handle anything, Axel was sexy as hell. Soft, vulnerable, open with his heart, Axel? That made me want to walk over hot coals for him.
His words earlier had been like a knife to my heart. He thought orange juice and a cookie was the pinnacle of generosity? I’d decided then that Axel needed to know exactly what it felt like to be cared for by Dylan Bailey. So, I headed back home to pick up some supplies.
The house was empty because Mom and Abbie were visiting her parents this weekend, so I went straight upstairs to my bedroom and began rooting through the drawers of my dressing table to find what I was after.
Aha! Perfect.
In the kitchen, I was eternally grateful to Abbie that we always had a well-stocked fridge, and I nabbed a cucumber from the crisper.
When I returned to Axel’s he was still dead to the world, so I set to work in the living room. I gave the place a quick tidy and covered the sofa in large bath towels. Connecting my phone to the speaker, I found a playlist called ‘Gentle Spa Music’ and hit play, keeping the volume on low.
By the time I heard Axel calling out for me, I had everything set up and ready.
“Why do you have a towel on your head?” he asked as soon as I stepped into the bedroom. “And why are you in a robe?”
“I’m getting into character, less questions, please.”
“This might be our bizarrest role-play yet. It’s one thing to pretend I’m a firefighter coming to check your smoke alarms, but whatever this is, it seems weird.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a sex thing, now shush!”
Clearing my throat first, I said, “Welcome to your Bailey Spa day, here is your robe if you’d care to join me in the main salon.” I tried to keep my voice as spa-like as possible but it might have come out a little more ‘scary sentient robot’.
“The main salon?” Axel asked, his eyebrows practically shooting to his hairline.
“The living room,” I whispered.
“Right. Of course. Not that I’ve ever tried it, but I feel a bit like this is what an acid trip might feel like?”
“Will you put your fucking robe on and get into the living room so I can fucking spoil you with less backchat, please.” I huffed.
Axel barked out a laugh but took the robe and followed me.
“Now, if you’d like to take a seat, can I offer you a complimentary cucumber water?” I batted my eyelashes at him and handed over the glass.
He smiled at me, and it made his eyes glitter like the night sky, somehow both dark and bright at the same time.
“Would you prefer a face mask which promises to rejuvenate you, hydrate you, or relax you?” I asked fanning out my selection for him to choose.
“After last night, I’ll take some rejuvenation, please.”
I pulled the tissue face mask from its pouch and applied it to his face, carefully. Then I grabbed the cucumbers I’d cut up earlier and placed one on each of his eyelids.
He pressed a few buttons on the recliner so the cucumbers wouldn’t fall off.
I decided on the hydration mask for myself but left off the cucumber so I could continue to pamper my alpha.
He flinched when I grabbed his foot. “You better not tickle me,” he warned.
“I’m giving you a foot massage and a pedicure. If you could try to be a little more compliant, that would be much appreciated.”
He didn’t reply, just wriggled his toes at me, so I continued.
Using some lavender-infused lotion I’d been given for Christmas, I pressed my thumbs into the arch of his feet and received a satisfied groan for my efforts.
Once I’d massaged both feet, I grabbed a nail file to even everything out and then rubbed in cuticle oil because I didn’t think he’d appreciate a ruby-red pedicure.
Removing the cucumber covering his eyes, he blinked at me owlishly, and it made him look adorable.
“I’ll be right back,” I told him.
I returned with a small plate of apple slices and grapes. “Enjoy some of Foxwood’s finest fruit while I run your bath, sir.”
“Oh, I’m ‘sir’ now?”
I flicked him on the nose. “Don’t let it get to your head.”
In the short time it took me to turn the bath taps on and add some salts to the water, Axel had cleaned the plate.
“If you’d like to join me in the bathhouse for a very relaxing rub down, please follow me.”
Axel grinned and crowded in behind me when we stepped inside the fairly small bathroom. The bath was only half full, but with us both squeezed inside, it would probably be plenty.
I removed Axel’s robe first and then his underwear. His glorious naked body momentarily distracted me from the task at hand, and I bit my lip.
He really was fucking stunning.
My robe got added to the pile, and I didn’t have any underwear on, which Axel seemed to appreciate, judging by his lustful gaze.
“In you pop,” I said, forgetting my spa character for a moment. “I mean, please step inside our special muscle relaxant bath, where a… spa assistant will join you.”
“This is about to get really weird if you aren’t the ‘spa assistant’.” He chuckled.
“Get in!” I smacked him on the arse.
Once he was settled, I scooched in behind and arranged him so his head rested against my chest. He was a little cramped, but I really hadn’t had long to plan this, so it was what it was.
Grabbing the shampoo bottle, I squirted some into the palm of my hands and began massaging it into his hair and scalp.
“Holy fuck that feels good.”
I took note of that. Enjoys having his hair washed.
Using a small cup, I scooped up the water and poured it over his head to wash away the shampoo, being careful to avoid getting soapy water into his eyes.
Next, I added a tiny bit of my conditioner that I kept here for me because Axel was a heathen who owned ‘two-in-one shampoo and body wash’ and I refused to subject my curls to such a thing.
Hair fully washed and body thoroughly soaked and cleaned, we climbed out of the bath. I deserved an award for resisting sitting on his dick each time he’d got hard. I may have cleaned his cock with the soapy washcloth a few more times than strictly necessary, though.
Back in his bedroom, I dried Axel off and then put down a fresh towel on the bed for him to lie on his front.
He looked at me sceptically, but I just pointed at him, then at the bed, and he capitulated.
I quickly dried myself off, too, and retrieved the lotion from the living room.
Straddling the backs of Axel’s thighs, my cock rested nicely along his crease. I poured a generous helping of the lotion onto Axel’s back and began digging in my thumbs, trying to get at all the knots.
Axel grunted and groaned a lot, and I enjoyed how responsive he was. When my arms were beginning to tire, I moved lower and massaged his juicy bum cheeks. They were covered in a dusting of dark hair, and when I pulled one cheek to the side to take a peek at his hole, it looked like a small pink button with dark hair surrounding it.
“Are you staring at my butt hole?” Axel asked.
“Yes. It’s a lovely butt hole. Anyway, you stare a mine all the time. Have you ever… do you like being rimmed?”
“Um… I dunno. I’ve never… Mine isn’t all cute and waxed like yours.”
“I like you all big and hairy, Axel. Even here.” I stroked my index finger down his crease. “I’d love to taste you if you’d like to try it?”
“If… if you’re sure.” He sounded nervous, and it was strangely endearing.
I shuffled down and spread his thighs so I could kneel in between. When I parted his cheeks with my thumb, he let out a gasp as the tip of my tongue met his hole.
Licking gently at first, I let him get used to the new sensation. When he really began to moan, though, I lapped and sucked at his hole like it was my final meal. Honestly, if I ever was on death row, this is what I’d request.
Axel tasted slightly of the soapy bathwater but mostly of man , and it had my cock hard and my hole slick just to watch him enjoy something where the sole purpose was to receive pleasure.
It wasn’t long before he began reaching under himself to try and stroke his cock.
“Lift your hips up,” I requested, and he obliged.
From this angle, I could continue to lick at his hole and milk his cock at the same time.
Garbled sounds spilled from his lips, but none of them seemed to form actual words. I added some pressure to my strokes and twisted my wrist near the head in the way I knew he pleasured himself.
“Fuck, Dyl. Fuck, I’m gonna… Gonna... Gonna come,” he stammered out seconds before he shot his load onto the towel below. His thighs trembled, and he was panting for breath by the time the last few drops dripped from his tip.
I quickly pulled the towel out from under him and wiped his cock before throwing it in the direction of his washing basket. The second that was done, Axel collapsed back down onto the bed.
“Holy shit, Dylan. That was… no wonder you go nuts when I do that.”
“Any time, babe.” I kissed his shoulder blade.
He turned to face me and reached a hand down for my cock, which was only a semi now.
I stopped him. “I’m good. Tonight was about you. I just wanted to make you feel good. Make you feel… loved.”
Axel tugged me and kissed me in a way that was somehow both fierce and gentle. It was like I could feel his love being poured into me via his soft lips and curious tongue.
“I’ve never felt so loved in my life, Dyl,” he said, breaking away. “I don’t think I’ve ever loved so much in my life either.”
I kissed him back, and we spent the evening like that until we fell asleep. Alternating between soft kisses and staring into each other’s eyes like neither of us could quite believe our luck in finding each other.
Which was ironic given we never really found each other. I don’t remember a time of my life when Axel wasn’t in it. He was my lighthouse in a storm, and I knew I’d always find my way back to him.
For the next week and a half, Axel and I had been like passing ships. I was working extra to cover him while he was in den-making season, and he was working during the day when I was free.
Not exactly end-of-the-world stuff but I missed him.
Thankfully, he was due to finish building his final den tomorrow, and then we’d have most of next week off for his rut.
It was Friday night, so me, Milly, and Soraya were all working tonight. With neither Milly or I used to working a shift with more than two of us, it felt frankly luxurious.
Axel had complained that with three omegas, he was outnumbered at work now, but Soraya had been a great hire. Not only was she extremely competent, she was popular with the customers. Striking and beautiful with legs that went on for days, she had a way of making all her customers feel like they had her undivided attention, and it had been great for business.
Having Soraya here made me feel less guilty for leaving in September. Not that I’d be going far since I practically lived upstairs now. Unofficially of course.
I wasn’t sure how soon was too soon for me and Axel to move in together, but given the fact that I’d have been happy to live with him from the day we got together, I figured I should wait until he brought it up.
So long as he doesn’t take too long. I’m not famed for my patience.
“Oi, day dreamer, I’m going on my break if you could try serving some customers,” Milly said, winking at me.
“You underestimate me. I can day dream about Axel and pour pints at the same time, it’s practically my specialty.”
“Gross.” She scrunched her nose up and wandered out the back.
Later in the evening, Axel appeared covered in mud as usual but looking a lot more lively than he had the last few days.
I smiled at him and poured him a pint. He leaned over the bar for a kiss before taking a long sip.
“Good day, babe?” I asked.
“Mhmm. In fact, I’ve finished early, so no more dens this season. And I have a surprise for you tomorrow.” He grinned, clearly extremely pleased with whatever surprise he’d concocted.
“Oooo. What is it?”
“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you what it was, love.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
Cooper turned up shortly after, also looking a little muddy.
“Been working with Axel today?”
Occasionally when Axel had wealthier clients, they’d pay for Cooper to come and install some electricity and lighting into the dens, that was usually the cause of Cooper being covered in mud.
Cooper blushed a little before nodding his head. Strange.
The two of them spent the remainder of my shift sitting at the end of the bar and nursing drinks. When I rang the bell for last orders, Cooper patted Axel on the back before waving goodbye to me and heading out.
“Soraya and I can finish up down here if you and Ax want to head up?” Milly offered.
I looked at Axel, who smiled and nodded his head like a puppy and not like he was all of our boss.
“Thanks, Milly. He should be asleep, but he won’t until I go up. I’m sorry your cousin is such a baby,” I said to her.
She laughed. “He is, but he’s quite a hard-working baby, so we let him off.”
“Come on, old man. Let’s get you to bed.”
“Who are you calling old man?” he squawked. “My frontal lobe isn’t even fully developed yet,” he continued as I led him up the stairs to his flat.
“Don’t I know it.”
“Dyl. Love, you awake?” Axel whispered; if you could even call it that, it was so loud.
“I am now you’re acting like Sir Hiss in my ear,” I grumbled.
“Who’s Sir Hiss?”
“That snitch of a snake from Robin Hood, I really empathise with Prince John right now because I, too, thought about stuffing you into a basket.”
“I thought you loved me?”
“I do. And I’d lovingly stuff you into the basket. To prevent the inevitable homicide.”
“That’s… reassuring.”
“For future reference, if you’re gonna wake me up at dawn, it should be with your mouth on my cock,” I explained.
“It’s eight thirty, so dawn was a while ago and duly noted for next time.”
“I mean, it’s not too late if you want to go ahead now,” I offered generously.
“I want to show you my surprise.”
At that, I finally opened my eyes and found Axel staring at me with a very soft expression.
“Why are your puppy dog eyes so much more effective than mine?” I whined.
“Because I use them sparingly, whereas you whip them out to try and get your way at any given opportunity,” he pointed out, which was… well… fair.
I climbed on top of Axel in order to get out of bed, but clearly, he was having none of my antics that morning because not even my naked dick rubbing against him was steering him off course. Rude.
I huffed and grabbed a T-shirt from the floor before heading to the bathroom.
“You look like Winnie the Pooh,” he said, following behind me.
“I tolerate you joining me for my morning ablutions during your rut, but you’re gonna need to skedaddle right back to the bedroom today, babe.”
“Fine. I’ll go make coffee.” Axel stomped off to the kitchen.
Once we were both washed, dressed and had a flask of coffee to go, Axel led me down the lane and in the direction of the town street. The entire walk, he was jittery and acting nervous, which, in turn, made me nervous.
Right before we reached town, Axel turned right until we arrived outside his dad’s old house.
As far as I was aware, Axel hadn’t really been back here since his dad died, but he hadn’t sold it either. I knew that Cooper came in from time to time to run the water and the heating occasionally in the winter to keep the pipes going.
Together, we walked down the side of the house and entered the garden through a slightly dilapidated gate. The garden was less overgrown than I’d expected, it looked like it must have had the lawn mown atleast at the end of the summer.
Axel didn’t say a word as I followed him down the path and right to the end of the garden where a large old oak tree stood. On the rare occasions Cooper let me hang out with him and Axel as kids, we often came here and climbed this tree, the branches strong enough to sit and swing on. I smiled at the swarm of fond memories that flashed through my mind. The lowest branch was always a little too high for me to reach, and Axel would dependably hoist me up ahead of him.
“I have a lot of good memories of this tree,” I said to Axel while staring up at it.
“Well, love. I’m hoping we can make a lot more.”
I glanced over to where he was standing and spotted the trapdoor near his feet.
It couldn’t be… No.
My heart hammered in my chest as I watched Axel lift up the door and then reach his hand out for me. Unable to utter a single word, I climbed inside with him.
It was one of the largest dens I’d seen. Axel couldn’t stand up in it, but I could. He reached towards one of the walls and flicked a switch, and then… oh my.
The ceiling sparkled to life like he’d tugged down all the stars from the night sky.
He’d placed wood down for the floor, but a lovely soft pile rug sat on top of it, making the whole place feel warm and cosy. In the far corner, I spotted a basket which was overflowing with my nesting materials, and I couldn’t cope with what it all meant.
“Who’s den is this?” I whispered, not even daring to hope until he confirmed it.
“Well, that depends a little,” he replied.
“On what?”
He knelt on the soft rug and turned me to face him, holding my hands in his. “Will you be my den-mate Dylan?”
I sniffled, and then I hiccuped, and then tears streamed down my cheeks in a flood that I was mildly concerned might never end.
“You really mean it?” I managed to squeak out.
“With all my heart, love.”
“Of course I’ll be your den-mate.”
At that, Axel tugged me into his arms, and our mouths crashed together. I could taste my salty tears on his lips as my tongue sought out his.
He was really going to keep me. To claim me as his.
I pawed at his t-shirt, needing to feel his skin against mine. In the end, I settled for shoving my hands underneath.
As the pads of my fingertips stroked the hairs that covered his stomach, Axel wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight.
There had been many moments over the last few months where I’d pinched myself, sure I’d wake up to discover all of this with Axel had been the result of the most elaborate dream of my life.
I wish I could go back and tell thirteen-year-old me that it wasn’t just a childish dream that Axel would build me a den one day. That we’d have to be apart for a while but that it would all be worth it in the end. Because it was worth it.
The endless chasing, the heartbreak, the ever-expanding love I never seemed able to diminish despite years and miles between us, it had all been worth it to be here. To be held by Axel in the den he’d built for us because we were it. We were forever.