Chapter Thirty-One
Axel
After that, things are easier with them.
He has to work still, but Chloe is right there with him.
In his office, looking over the books, manning the front desk, and showing visitors around.
She fits in seamlessly. Her flight is still booked for the next day, and he’s not sure if she’s going back to New York right now.
He doesn’t want her to. Wants to keep her with him always so he can love, appreciate, and adore her.
He wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life loving her.
It’s true. He can’t imagine a better life than being with his mate.
Even if the lodge fails, if he has to sell everything he owns and be a ranch hand somewhere, he won’t care because Chloe will be by his side.
She’s said she thinks she can help him with finances.
He knows she doesn’t have much money saved, and it’s hers, she earned it.
Truthfully, they need a big boost from somewhere to save them, basically, the millions they lost. But according to the detective, it’s nearly impossible to get that back now with Maury gone.
Maury, a man he thought he could trust. Who he opened his home to, who he and his brothers helped.
A man who betrayed them. It sucks. To have been so vulnerable after his father’s death that he didn’t notice what Maury was doing.
He could have stopped him, caught on years ago, and prevented the huge loss. But now he has to own what happened.
The family of four checks out. They talk about how they enjoyed their stay and want to come back next fall.
He doesn't have the heart to tell them they probably won’t be open next fall.
So instead, he smiles, nods, and thanks them for their visit.
It’s good to have families come visit. Makes the lodge feel more like a home, like back when his parents still ran things.
The family hops in their SUV as Axel and Gunner wave them goodbye. When the brothers come back inside, Gunner crosses his arms across his expansive chest and huffs.
“What’s up? What’s that look for?”
“Chloe,” Gunner grumbles out.
“Yeah, what about her?” Axel stops organizing the desk to look at his brother.
“She leaves tomorrow, are you ok with that?”
“Actually, we talked. Admitted our feelings for each other, and she’s going to move here.”
“Seriously?” Gunner’s face splits into a big grin before he hauls Axel forward into a big hug, slapping him on the back. “That’s great, man.”
Gunner grips him by the shoulders and holds him back to look at him. It makes Axel feel like the little brother instead of the head of the family, but he doesn’t mind. It’s good to be cared for by his family, he’s man enough to admit he likes the affection.
“I’m not sure if she’s going back to New York tomorrow or if she’s rescheduling her flight, but yeah. She’s moving here.”
“Your cabin?”
“Yup. We’re going to live together.”
“You son of a bitch,” Gunner says with fondness, “you really did it. You know what this means, don’t you?”
“A celebration?”
“Definitely a celebration. But also, if you found your mate, the rest of us can too.”
Jack comes around the corner then and sees them both with big smiles on their faces.
“What are you two fuckers smiling about?” He’s practically bouncing on his toes, and Axel wonders if he already got wind of the news somehow.
“Axel asked Chloe to move here, she’s going to move in with him.”
“That’s great, man.” Jack pulls him into a one-armed hug and squeezes his shoulder. Axel knows the smile on his face is huge, and he doesn’t care in the slightest.
“I also told her she’s my mate.”
“How’d she take it?” Jack asks, swinging a dish towel onto his shoulder.
“Good. She said she loves me and that I’m her soulmate too. She loves me and that’s what’s important.”
“I’m happy for you, we all are.”
“Me too,” Raif had come in silently from outside. He pulls Axel into a tight hug, and any concerns he had about telling Raif have gone out the window.
“I’ll put together a dinner for tonight. Something special to commemorate the occasion.”
“You don’t have to do that, I know you already have the menu planned.”
“Nonsense, my big brother found his mate. If ever there were an occasion to throw a feast, this is the time.”
Axel nods. He doesn’t know what to say. He thought his brothers would be receptive, but he didn’t know it would be like this. It warms his heart to have their support.
Axel is in the office sorting out reservations when he hears the office door click shut. His head snaps up, and there is Chloe with a shy smile on her face, hand still on the doorknob.
“You busy?”
“Not for you.” He scoots his chair back from the desk as she saunters over.
Hips swaying and biting her lip. He doesn’t know if she’s trying to look sexy, but fuck, she’s getting him hard just from looking at her.
She has a dark purple dress on, which hugs her curves without being too revealing.
When she reaches his desk, she hikes up her dress and climbs on his lap, straddling him.
He sure wasn’t expecting that.
“What are you doing, baby?”
“I missed you,” she says, kissing him lightly before burying her face in his neck, sucking and licking it.
He groans, she’s grinding down on him, and his cock is pressing hard into his zipper.
“We can go back to our cabin, just let me text Gunner to cover the desk.”
“No,” she says, a little breathless, “I want you here.”
“My brothers.”
“I want you, Axel.”
He pulls her face to him and kisses her deeply, sliding his hands up her thighs under her dress.
When he gets to her hips, he presses his thumbs in and wraps his big hands around her curves.
She’s grinding down on him still, and he rocks up into her, matching her thrust with one of his own.
He slips the straps of her dress down and pulls her breasts up over the fabric one at a time.
Even with her on his lap, he still has to bend down to take a nipple in his mouth.
Her nipple is soft and sweet in his mouth, even as it hardens up under his tongue, it’s still supple.
Chloe throws her head back as he moves his mouth between her nipples.
Moving one of her hands from his shoulder to grip his hair.
He likes it a little rough, he’s found, and she pulls his hair perfectly.
His thumb slides towards her mound, seeking out the fabric of her panties. But there’s none. He moves his hand down further and feels the soft curls of her hair there.
“You don’t have any panties on, my dirty girl.”
She smirks at him and flips her hair behind her shoulder with a wave of her head.
“I want you to fuck me, Axel. Here, in this office. I want you to take me on the desk.”
He growls and latches his mouth back on hers, kissing her deeply.
Her hand goes back to his hair and tugs, he loves it.
His hand wanders further down till he’s spreading her lips and moving the wetness around.
He finds her clit quickly, and when he rubs the bud, she moans into his mouth.
Moving in circles, he keeps pressing and rubbing, he wants her to come.
It’s amazing when she does, when she falls apart like that in his arms.
His other hand slips around to squeeze her ass cheek.
It seems to spur her on because she grinds down on him hard.
His cock is throbbing, but he doesn't care. It’s about her, her pleasure, her orgasm.
Her body is tensing, and he knows she’s getting close, hips losing their rhythm till she’s just pressing down on him and rocking.
He keeps up the pressure and movement on her clit.
“Come for me, baby. Right now. Come all over my fingers, get my jeans wet. Come for me like my good girl.”
And just like that, she does. Her wetness seems to increase, and he likes that his jeans will have evidence of what they’ve done. Her body tightens and goes rigid, a loud moan that anyone close to the office can hear, before she collapses down on him, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Mmmm,” she hums against his chest.
“Good?” he asks her.
“Yes, you’re so good at that.”
“I aim to please, sweetheart,” he says with a smirk.