Axel Wulf: A Romance Crime Action Thriller

Chapter 25

I always hoped I’d be the one to tame the bad boy. It’s a stupid girly thing, the universal belief in vagina magic where men change after having some. ~Milana Jacks, Sweet Dirty Wolf

Gwen

The sign on the building reads DC’s Correctional Treatment Facility. After processing, I lower to a cot, bring my heels to the mattress, and clunk my forehead to my knees. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I fucked up everything. Now Abbie’s on her way to Iran, I may never see her again, and I can’t help.

Recalling the divorce, I clench my fists. The judge should never have allowed Farid visitation rights, but as a lawyer, he had all the power and the money.

Ptooey. I spit on you, Special Agent Axel Wulf. I can’t believe I fell for his lies. He seduced me, and I let him. I am such a moron. If I had gone to the Feds instead of Henry, my daughter would be safe. The stakes had never been higher, and I failed.

My pity party halts when inmates curse at the overweight guard walking the hall between the cells.

Her boots stop in front of my bars, and she points her thumb down the hall. “You’ve been sprung, princess.”

I wipe my nose on the back of my hand and use the hem of my orange shirt to dry my eyes. “Who posted bail?”

“How the fuck would I know? Ask your damn attorney.” Despite her surliness, if I didn’t think she’d taser me, I’d kiss her.

After I sign and grab my possessions, I’m led into a dimly lit lobby where Quinn and the duplicitous, silver-tongued wolf wait.

Anger unlike any I ever felt before, boils up inside me. Arm back, my palm zooms. Before it connects with his cheek, he snatches my wrist and pulls me flat against his steely chest.

At first, I struggle, then surrender to his fierce kiss. His tongue plunders my mouth, his fingers pull my hair, and as he holds me in his arms, I realize what a fool I had been.

My designer-suited solicitor rolls his eyes, clears his throat, and taps Wulf on the shoulder. “We need to go. Our jet is waiting.”

Exiting the prison, I run to keep up with their long strides. “Wait? Did you find Abbie’s GPS signal?”

“Working on it.” Quinn opens the idling Town Car’s door, and we all jump in back.

Once we’re seated, Axel cups my cheek and holds my gaze. “Never doubt it. My feelings for you are real.”

“I understand.” Despite my body’s traitorous reaction to him, one heated kiss does not an apology make.

The liquid nitrogen in my tone does nothing to quench the fire in his gaze. “Lady. I care. A lot more than I should.”

Embarrassed, I glance at my lawyer studying his iPad, trying not to look as if he’s listening in.

I lower my voice to a whisper. “You used me.”

“No, Gwen. Stillman wanted me to, but I didn’t. If I recall, you were the seducer, and I was the seducee.” His damn dimple must have Blue Tooth, because it has a direct connection to my clit.

Shaking my head, I cover my cough with my fist to hide my grin. “That’s not even a word.”

Shoulder-Beyoncé, for once, has nothing to say as Axel closes his eyes and kisses the tip of my nose. “Promise me not to make any decisions until we get your daughter back.”

Oh my God. Abbie. How could I have forgotten? I extract my phone from my purse and hand him my SIM chip.

“We can track her with this.” Picturing her in a strange place, crying for Bun-bunny and favorite blanket, I swallow back tears.

Axel hugs me to him. “I remembered, babe. We used GPS to find her exact location. I’m sorry, but she’s already in Tehran. We’re headed there, now.”

We? Remembering my bail stipulations, I tap Quinn on the shoulder. “Won’t I get in trouble if I leave the country?”

“As far as anyone will know, you’ll be in your apartment, resting comfortably.”

For the first time since learning Farid took my sweet child, hope flares. “And my passport?”

My body quivers when Wulf lifts my hands and puts them in his lap. “All taken care of. Patten’s team is waiting for us at Dulles.”

I lift my gaze from our fingers to his face and gasp. His lids lower, his mouth parts, and he kisses me as though nothing else matters. Because a taste is not nearly enough, I whimper for more and forget all about Quinn.

Forty minutes later, we’re dropped in front of a modern, glass, steel, and concrete building. With its arched top and divided windows, it reminds me of a toothy, cartoon smile. From there, we cross the tarmac, climb the jet’s stairs, and enter what, in other circumstances, would appear to be a million-dollar man cave.

At the end of this huge living room, Bear wags his tail as he sits beside six military men, huddled around a table for ten.

“Excellent. Let me introduce you to your team. Lucky, you already know. To my left are Jack, Hands, Suds, Wheels, and Slate.”

After shaking hands, the leader places a wooden dollhouse on the flat surface. As he adds toy soldiers, I describe what I remember of the interior of Farid’s family home. Once I finish, I lean back in the soft white leather chair while they argue and move figures around.

Much later, they come to an agreement and take a break.

Stretching, Axel plops down beside me. “All set.”

“Will your plan work?” As a project manager, I have serious doubts, but the men seem confident as they share jokes and stories of their past missions.

“You’ve hired the best, and we have more intel coming in. By the time we land, we’ll have everything we need. There is one thing you could help me facilitate.” His poker face gives nothing away.

“Sure, whatever you need.” Standing, I take his warm hand and follow him to the lavatory. Having only flown commercial, I picture a tiny cube where your knees hit the folding door.

When we enter, my jaw drops. Holy shit, you could fit three of my bathrooms into this one.

“I would be honored if you could introduce me to the mile-high club.” His hoarse, low, sexy voice sends a chill down my spine.

“You’re not a card-carrying member?” Swallowing hard, I recall how he was supposed to seduce me. Is this too, part of his job?

“Never with anyone I’ve given my heart to. I’ve fallen for you Gwen and don’t know what to do or say. Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you.”

I cup his cheeks. Is he telling the truth?

No doubt seeing my confusion, he places my hand over the rapid thumping in his chest. “Babe.”

“I want to believe you.” What if I’m wrong?

He lowers my hand to his cock. “Nothing about us has ever been fake. It’s too soon to say, but what I feel may be real.”

My pulse pounds in my ears while I stop and try to read his face. Do I dare say what’s in my heart? If he breaks it, I’ll be devastated.

Decided, I wrap my fingers around his neck and whisper, “Same here.”

Growling, he claims my mouth in a panty-melting kiss and backs me into the shower stall. His thigh lifts and presses my wet desire as his tongue thrusts in and out. At some point, we strip off our shirts and I rub my sensitive nipples against his.

“Ax…, I need you inside me.” Just hours ago, I promised myself to hate him forever. What is wrong with me?

“Stop thinking.” He kisses down my front, nips my navel, and squats by my feet.

First, my sneakers come off. Next, he slides off my pants and undies. Because my legs give way, he lifts me to the countertop. There, his short beard scratches my inner thighs as he licks my crease. While I pant, writhe, and gasp, he pinches the tips of my breasts, and I blast off.

While I ride my high, he places himself at my wet entrance, and plunges deep. My inner muscles quake and soon, I arrive at a second plateau.

“Gwen.” He grunts and pistons faster. “I thought I lost you.”

I arch to meet him, only able to speak one word at a time. “Not. Leaving. Except. To. Jail.”

His fingertips dig into my hips. Thrusting, he grinds against my go button. In orgasmic bliss, I scream such that the whole damn plane can hear.

Groaning, he covers my mouth, and follows in my wake.