30. CHAPTER 25
SAYLOR
The dining hall is loud with chatter. I just keep shifting in my seat, adjusting to the irritating feel of the cum pooling in my panties.
Axl sits next to me with his hand on my thigh, eating with his other hand and talking to Priest about something I don’t bother to pay attention to. He’s just carrying on like normal. Every time I move, the seam of my jeans presses against my clit, and I’m reminded how fucking horny I am.
His thumb draws a lazy circle on my thigh, and I grab his wrist under the table and try to move his hand closer to my clit. He doesn’t look at me, but his mouth tips up at the corner.
He knows exactly what he’s doing and pulls his hand back to my thigh, giving it a firm grip.
Kynlee is across from me with Justin beside her. She’s picking at her food and hasn’t looked at him once since they sat down. They haven’t spoken a word to each other.
Ryan, sitting on his other side, nudges Justin’s arm with his elbow. “When are you going to quit being a selfish prick? Because I want to be the first to play with her.”
He tips his chin toward Kynlee. She doesn’t flinch, but her grip tightens on her fork. She looks up at me and rolls her eyes.
Justin doesn’t look at Ryan. He doesn’t even stop chewing. He swallows, takes a sip of his water, and sets the glass down before he answers.
“I’m not done with her.”
Kynlee scoffs beside him. “Is that so?”
“What exactly is your fucking problem?” Justin hisses back at her trying to keep his voice down. “Do you want me to let them tie you down and line up to jack off on your tits and ass?”
That gets Axl and Priest’s attention as Justin’s voice rises again.
Kynlee glares at him. For a second, I think she’s going to stab him in the eye with her fork, but she just sets her jaw and turns back to her plate.
“I’m delighted to be all yours, Justin.” Her voice is all false sweetness. “Best I ever had.”
Justin doesn’t respond, but he huffs and focuses back on his dinner.
I look back over and see Ryan is focused on me now. He licks his lips, and his suggestive grin makes me lean closer to Axl. “Don’t worry, princess. I know that sweet cunt isn’t up for grabs.”
Axl’s head turns. His hand leaves my thigh and he drops his fork, jumping up from his chair.
Justin jumps up at the same time and slams Ryan’s face into the table.
Ryan’s nose crunches against the wood, and his plate flips off the edge and shatters on the stone floor. Every other conversation in the dining hall filled with over seventy people comes to a stop.
Justin holds Ryan there with one hand on the back of his head, leaning down close to his ear. “That’s my sister. So you watch your fucking mouth.”
Ryan’s blood pools on the table under his face. He’s groaning, but he isn’t fighting back. I think Justin might have given him a concussion.
Axl is on his feet, reaching across the table for Ryan. He shoves Justin away. “I don’t need help protecting my girl.”
He pulls Ryan across the table to him and brings the asshole’s bloody face to his own.
“Fucking look at me.” Axl’s voice is low, and the blood from Ryan’s nose is dripping onto Axl’s hand where he’s gripping his shirt.
“I’m only going to say this once for you and everyone here.
Do not speak to her. Do not fucking look at her.
Do not even fucking think about her. Do you understand me? ”
Ryan nods. It’s all he can manage with Axl’s fist twisted in the collar of his shirt and his nose bent sideways.
Axl draws back and punches him in his already bleeding face and then shoves Ryan toward an empty chair, knocking it over. Ryan grabs a cloth napkin, presses it to his face, and doesn’t look at a single person as he walks out of the dining hall.
Everyone watches Axl for a few seconds, and then slowly they resume their conversations as if it never happened.
Axl sits back down, uses his napkin to wipe the blood from his hand, and then grips my thigh again before he picks up his fork.
Priest shakes his head. “Can we get through one fucking meal?”
Kynlee catches my eye across the table and mouths what the fuck, and I press my lips together because if I open my mouth, I’m going to laugh at whatever just happened.
Justin is still glaring at Axl like he wants to say something, but Axl doesn’t give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his existence. He just keeps eating his steak with my thigh in a death grip under the table.
Axl suddenly puts his fork down and pulls his phone out of his pocket. He reads the message and then shows it to Priest. Priest nods and motions to get Kase and Crew’s attention. I’m relieved they’re sitting at the other end of the table so Tracy isn’t anywhere near us.
I watch the exchange, and Axl is already pushing his chair back. Priest, Crew, and Kase are on their feet as well.
Axl leans down, and his mouth is in my ear so only I can hear. “Stay with Kynlee and finish your dinner. Then have her and Justin walk you back to our room. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I grin to myself that he called it “our” room. I don’t even fucking care how silly that makes me.
He looks over at Justin. “Do you think you can handle getting my girl safely upstairs?”
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him show my brother anything but annoyance and hatred, though I don’t see them together that often. But my concern about Axl using me to get to Justin is gone. Maybe watching Justin defend me made Axl see that my brother isn’t as bad as he thinks.
“Fuck you, Axl.”
That won’t fucking help.
“Text me when you’re locked in upstairs.
” He doesn’t bother responding to my brother and gives me a quick kiss.
I can’t help but grin at how tender he can be when he wants.
Then the four of them walk out of the dining hall.
Justin watches them leave, clearly irritated that he isn’t in on whatever it is they have to do.
Kynlee and I chat back and forth across the table while Justin sits there looking bored. He pulls out his phone, scrolling while we finish eating.
“Are you two done?” He pockets his phone and pushes his chair back before I’ve swallowed my last bite. “I have somewhere to be too.”
He stands and motions for us to hurry up.
I’d rather settle on the couch with a movie anyway.
That’s the one upside to basically living in a high-end hotel with amenities.
I get lots of time to lounge. Kyns is going to have to figure out how to get us more pills soon with all the horror binges we’ve had.
Kynlee and I follow Justin upstairs and then to the wing where the guys’ suites are. Once we’re in the long hallway, Justin falls back beside me.
“Is that prick hurting you?” He pulls me closer to him, his hand on the middle of my back. “You have marks all over you.”
I notice his cologne again. It’s irritating that I still can’t place why it’s familiar, and it makes my stomach turn. Who else have I met that wears that scent? It’s not Axl or any of his friends.
“I’m fine, Justin.” We keep walking. “Axl isn’t doing anything I don’t want him to do.”
Our world is open about sex. I’ve grown up knowing I’d be expected to serve a Talon and then my husband.
So I’ve never been shy, and I learned early that my body likes to get off.
But I refuse to talk to my brother about what Axl and I do.
That’s where I draw the line. It’s bad enough that he saw Axl fuck me at the claiming.
“I don’t trust him.” Justin’s hand is still on my back, urging me down the hall. “He’s reckless. The Sinclairs let him get away with shit that would get any other Talon punished. His body count is higher than most.”
That I believe. I’ve been witness to a few of them and am well aware of what he’s capable of. It should scare me, but I feel safer with Axl than anyone else. “What does that have to do with me? I’m his Dove. You know how this works.”
“You’re my sister and I love you, Saylor.” We come to a stop in front of Axl’s room. “And when Axl is done fucking you, I’m the one who’ll still be here making sure you’re alright. So I just don’t want you getting any ideas about him or start thinking he’s not a selfish dick.”
His words hit harder than I expect. Because he’s not wrong.
This is just for a year. A year of messing around and being what Axl needs me to be while he earns his Ravens brand.
That’s how it’s always worked. We serve our year, they complete their service, and our parents start planning the marriage that best suits the future of the family.
That’s why my mother wanted me to go up for auction.
She thought my young body would fetch someone high up in the Ravens that would elevate our family.
It’s probably the only reason she had me.
It never bothered me before. But even if it’s only been a couple weeks, I’m already dreading the day that whatever this is with Axl ends.
Because I’m a stupid bitch.
I’m done with this conversation. I punch in the code and push the door open. Justin is still right behind me. I enter the room, holding the door open, and Kynlee follows.
“I’m going to watch movies with Saylor.”
He pokes his head in behind us. “I don’t know how late I’ll be, but Axl is right about one thing. Don’t leave here.”
He turns away from the door, going back down the hallway. I shut the door, and it automatically locks.
Kynlee heads straight for the kitchenette. “Please tell me Axl has something to drink in here.”
“Check the cabinet above the fridge.”
She finds a bottle of whiskey and holds it up with both hands. “This will do.”
I pull out my phone to text Axl. I want him, and I want him to let me come this time, so I’ll do whatever the fuck he says if it means I get to get off.
Me: I’m in the room. Kynlee and I are going to watch movies.
Dots appear, and then he responds almost immediately.
My King: Good girl. Stay awake or don’t. I’m fucking you either way.
I whimper and press my thighs together. Why do those words have that effect on me? I set my phone on the end table beside the couch.
She pours two glasses and brings them over, handing me one before she drops onto one end of the couch. “What are we watching?”
“Another horror marathon? Freddy this time?”
“Perfect.” She scrolls until she finds what we want and hits play. “We’re going to watch every horror movie that ever existed by the time this year is over.”
I take a drink and pull a blanket over my legs. The whiskey burns going down and it feels good. It gives me something to focus on that isn’t the ache between my thighs or my brother’s words still lingering.
Axl is as possessive as he is tender. It’s toxic and psychotic. And the thought of him ever being with someone else, let alone marrying her, makes me want to hurl my glass into the wall.
I take another large swallow. There’s nothing I can do about it.
I just have to enjoy Axl while I have him.
It’s not like I’m antsy to be married anyway, so why do I care now?
It’s just another thing I’m being stupid about.
I’m here for the hot sex and to piss off my mother.
I’m succeeding at both, so I fucking win.
Someone is on top of me. I can’t see his face, but something isn’t right.
The room is dark, and my arms won’t move, and I’m trying to scream but nothing comes out.
His weight is pressing me into the mattress.
His hands are holding my wrists above my head, and I can’t breathe as he settles between my legs.
I’m crying. “Stop. Please stop.”
I twist my body and try to get free. But he’s too heavy, and my legs won’t work. His breath is on my neck, and I’m crying as I struggle to make him stop. I try to kick, but it’s useless. I can tell from the way my body responds that it’s not Axl on top of me.
Where is he?
“Axl!” His name tears out of my throat. I don’t know why I’m calling for him, but he’s the only person I know will keep me safe. “Axl. I need Axl. Please.”
“Saylor. Hey, baby. Wake up.”
I feel his hands on my face. My eyes fly open, and Axl is beside me, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. The lamp on the nightstand is on. I’m in our bed, and my heart is pounding so hard I struggle to control my breathing.
“You’re okay.” His voice is low and steady. “I’m right here, baby. You’re okay.”
I’m shaking. My shirt is soaked with sweat, and the sheets are twisted around my legs. That’s what I couldn’t get free from. The fucking sheets.
I grab his arm and pull him down to me. I need his weight on top of me to replace whoever was just there. He doesn’t hesitate. He wraps me in his arms, his mouth pressing against the top of my head.
“I’ve got you.” His hand is on the back of my head, holding me against his chest. “Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
I cry into him. I’ve had nightmares like that one for years, but I haven’t had any since I moved into the mansion. They stopped since I’ve been so exhausted from sex all night with Axl. But they’re back, and that was the most intense one I’ve ever had. It felt far too real this time.
“Thank you.” My voice is muffled against his shirt.
“You don’t need to fucking thank me.” He pulls the blanket over both of us and holds me tighter. He’s still dressed and has his shoes on. “I’m just glad I got home when I did.”
I press my face into his neck and breathe him in. He’s the most dangerous man I know. He dominates every aspect of my life and body. But he’s the one I trust to keep me safe. He wrecks me, but then he puts me back together every time.
I just wish he could take away whatever hold he has on me.