Chapter 29
Little Fires Everywhere
Has anyone heard about the student who was found dead tonight? A hanging suggests suicide, but there are whispers of foul play. Stay safe!
Scarlett
Dex gave me a piece of my mother to keep with me daily.
It's beautiful and looks exactly like she had written the words on my skin.
I sit next to Axel, his hand firmly in mine.
He's not scared, but I'm emotional. Dex swings his chair to mine.
He hands me a small bowl with a putty-like substance inside.
He chuckles when he sees my surprised expression.
"Axel, tell your girl what you're getting. "
Axel brings my hand to his and kisses each one of my knuckles. "Well, darlin', I don't think you realize just how obsessed I am with you or how much I love your lips."
I chuckle because this is the most romantic thing that's ever happened to me. "I'm assuming you're getting my lips tattooed on you. But where?"
His eyes darken, and he places my hand over his chest and leaves it there. My heart rate accelerates. This is Axel's love language, how he's trying to tell me he loves me. Tears stinging my eyes, I gently whisper, "Me too."
Dex makes a coughing sound. I forgot he was even there. "Sorry, Dex."
Dex smiles. "No problem. Three months ago, I would have thrown up. Now I'm beginning to get it."
Lucky lady, whoever she is. I ask, "So, do I just put my lips in this goo?"
Dex laughs. "Yes, ma'am."
Looking at Axel, "Any preference?" He gives me a smoldering look and makes a kissy face. He's freaking adorable. The mold has no smell, which is a great thing. Dex takes it back and goes to make his sketch. "You're obsessed with me."
He shrugs. "Since Freshman orientation."
"I'm still baffled at why you waited so long. Think of all the fun we could have been having now." I love teasing him. He doesn't laugh enough, but he does when I'm doing the teasing.
He laughs but turns serious. "Honestly, there needed to be a separation between my family and me, and I wasn't ready for that. But I am now."
"I'm sorry, Axel." And I am.
"Don't ever be sorry. It's not your fault." He leans over and kisses my cheek.
"I know, but that's not why I'm sorry. I'm sorry because you had to live in a world that looked bright and shiny on the outside but was black on the inside. How you came out so good is baffling to me." I kiss his hand.
He looks perplexed. "I'm good to you, Scarlett, but I'm not good."
"Bullshit. You may not be perfect or a hero, but you're still good." I wish Axel could see himself the way that I do.
Charlie walks in to tell the Murders Ink guys goodbye. "Hey, guys. I'm about to head out." Each one looks up from what they are doing, and even Ridge has a smile on his face. They walk up to her, kiss her on the cheek, and give her a sweet hug. She blushes prettily.
I look over at Axel, and he's as intrigued as I am. I whisper in his ear. "If we were in a romance book, that would be called a Why Choose trope."
"They have those kinds of books?" He asks.
"Yup, want to try that? I may know some other guys." I tease.
He gives me his opinion through clenched teeth. "You're going to pay for that later. And just so you know, nobody will ever touch you again. Do you know why?"
I shake my head. "I was just playing Axel."
"Oh, I know, and that's why I'm not spanking your ass right now, but I fucking will, Scarlett. Do you know why?" He seethes.
I shake my head again. He whispers in my ear. "Because you're mine, and if anybody touches or messes with you, I'll kill them."
"Axel, you're a psycho." But I secretly love it.
"Yeah, I am. Think I'm such a great guy now?" I'm going to shave off that eyebrow so he can't lift it for a whole month.
I pinch his arm hair. "You can be crazy and still be a good guy jackass."
***
I will protect Scarlett at all costs. Do those bastards know that she knows? If they touch her, they die. I meant what I said. Simple as that.
-Axel Creed
Scarlett is pissed at my dad, and she’s not afraid to let out just how much when we jump inside my truck.
"He's such an asshole, Axel. I can't believe he cut you off.
You warned me he would, but I didn't believe it.
You can move in with me, and I'll show you how to live tight.
It's honestly not that bad. I'll help you fill out loan applications for next year, too.
You'll get through this. You should have let me pay for our stuff today. "
My card was declined at the tattoo shop, and she's worried because I used a personal credit card to pay for it.
"Babe, it's okay. I've made peace with his decision, and I knew it was coming.
Scarlett, I haven't needed his money for some time.
I own three businesses. Murders Ink, Sully's Bar, and I recently bought the restaurant we ate at for our first date.
Not to mention the computer software I sold to a company in Japan last year.
I'm good. We're good. I've only continued to use his money because I didn't want him to become suspicious until the time was right for me to show him my hand. Fuck him. I'm keeping you."
Realization hits her. "Axel, did you wait so long to approach me because you were waiting to make your own money?"
"That's the main reason, but I also wanted to be able to stand on my own two feet." I take her hand in mine. She's my lifeline.
"You do realize that in this moment, if you had no money, no backup plan, I would still have your back. I would still want you. You get that, right?"
My heart swells at her admission. "Of course, I know that, but it's something that I needed to do first. To prove to myself that I was worthy of you."
Scarlett stares at me for the longest time. "I want to jump your bones so bad right now, and you said you didn't know how to do this boyfriend shit. Lies."
Placing my hand near the apex of her thighs, I squeeze her flesh firmly. She moans. As we pull up to her apartment, my firmness intensifies. "Go straight to your bedroom, Scarlett. Get naked and wait for your punishment."
She doesn't move, only looks at me in disbelief.
I slap her thigh and that makes her get out of the truck with a yelp.
With my smile firmly in place, I take my time getting to her room.
My entire body is charged with electricity.
I've been waiting for this. Scarlett needs to see every facet of me, and pain and pleasure are some of the pieces that make up who I am.
It's the only thing that's holding me back from telling her that I love her.
She needs to know what she's getting into if she chooses to live her life with me.
But Scarlett will choose me because I'm not above kidnapping.
Nobody else is home yet, which is good. She'll be screaming soon.
Taking the ropes out of the toolbox, I smile.
My cock is already rubbing against the inseam of my jeans.
The thought of fucking her while she's all tied up pushes me closer to that blissful release.
If Scarlett notices the ropes in my hand when I close the door, she doesn't say anything.
However, when they land on her bed, her eyes gouge out, and a nervous laugh escapes her beautiful pouty lips.
"What are you gonna do with those Axel?"
My smirk grows. "You read those smutty books, Scarlett, you already know. I'm going to tie you up and fuck you senseless, Wallflower. But not before spanking that gorgeous ass of yours."
She rolls her eyes, but I see the desire mirrored in her eyes. "You're not my daddy."
I grin in amusement. "No, but I bet I can get you to call me daddy before the night ends. Spread your legs, Scarlett."
She crosses her arms in defiance. So, I yank her foot out from under her and spread it wide. "Do I need to do the other one? Or are you going to comply?"
My Wallflower licks her lips but spreads out her other leg. She's glistening, her wetness dripping onto her comforter. "Somebody likes the idea of a spanking and being tied up."
She nods, and I cup her pussy in my hand. "This is my pussy, Scarlett, nobody will ever touch you here again. Understand?"
"Yes." She whispers. Her voice is raspy.
"Good girl." I slap her pussy as I remove my hand. Her moan bounces through me. I undress and then sit on the edge of the bench before her bed. "Come here."
She begins to move, but I stop her. "Crawl to me." As Scarlett does so, her perfect tits bounce, her belly jiggles, and my cock greedily lets go of some precum. Fuck. Swiping it with my finger, I hold it up to her mouth. "Open up."
Scarlett licks it off my finger. "Axel, I want you, I need you...”
"So impatient, Wallflower, but sorry you don't get to come yet.
" And I mean it. She whimpers. That's what happens when bad girls mention other boys.
" Scarlett looks at me, but I'm not having any of that.
"Climb on my lap." She protests, so I pick her up and lay her face down over my thighs.
Her beautiful ass in front of me in all its glory makes me almost lose my fucking mind.
Damn. Scarlett was made for me. Reaching between my lover's thick thighs, I begin rubbing between her folds.
By building her pleasure and then adding a small amount of the pain it will make her release that much more intense.
She almost falls off my lap because she's riding my finger so hard.
I withdraw and slap her plump ass. She cries out but doesn't struggle to get up.
I marvel at my handprint on her cheek. Branding her as mine.
Fuck, my cock is so hard. "Scarlett, baby, what's your safe word?
" My voice is strained, and I can't stop staring.
"Wallflower." She whispers.
I smile. "I'm going to take it easy on you tonight, but I won't always."
She groans. "Axel, please."
I slap her harder, and she yelps but never utters Wallflower. Two more times, I pop her behind. Her ass is red, and I've claimed her. "You took that well, Red. Go lay on the bed and open up for me. I'm going to make you come so many times tonight. Do you like that?"
"Yes. I need—you. Please." She scrambles off my lap and lays down on her back with her legs spread wide.
I tie her hands and feet to opposing bedposts.
Laid out before me, she's my own personal buffet, and my mouth waters.
Taking a blindfold, I place it over her eyes.
I position my face in front of her pussy, my favorite place to be.
Her signature scent of vanilla and honey hits my nose as I dive in.
She screams my name when my tongue sucks on her clit.
With no warning, I slam three fingers into her sweet hole. She shivers. "Please, can I come?"
I lick and suck on her pussy like it's my last meal. "Yes," I growl my approval. She comes all over my lips. Wasting no time, I place my cock at her entrance and pound into her. No mercy. My pace is brutal, and she tries to meet my every thrust. We won't last long. "You. Are. Mine."
"Yes." She cries out.
"Say it," I demand.
"I'm yours! Yours! Yes! Don't stop. Please." She yells into the side of her shoulder.
She comes all over my dick, and I untie her because we need to cuddle before our next round. "Come here, you did good."
We're both out of breath. "Thank you."
She giggles. "No sir, thank you."
My phone vibrates on the table. I've had ten missed calls from all my boys, and I hit accept when Jake's name pops up again.
Clearing my throat, I answer, What's up?
We need a family meeting. Now.
What's happened, Jake? He sounds concerned.
Do you have Scarlett with you? They just..um...they just found London. Dead.
What the hell. I look over at Scarlett and she’s staring at me. What? I reply.
Yeah. Meet at Fearless House at 10.
I hang up the phone. My mind is reeling.
Someone had to have murdered London. No other explanation would make sense.
Do they know Scarlett knows about the rape?
Chills run up my spine, and the thrill from our lovemaking is forgotten.
This is not good. "Baby, get up. Jake has called a family meeting. "
She sits up in her elbow. "What's wrong, Axel?"
I grab her and hold her close to me. "I don't know any details, but London is dead."
"Oh my God, no." She puts her hand over her face. "Axel, no!"
"I know, baby, let's go find out what happened. I'll keep you safe." I swear I will keep her fucking safe.