Chapter Thirty-Three
Iwake up to the smell of chocolate wafting through the air. Since I'm only wearing Axe's shirt, I put a pair of underwear on then head downstairs. Carson is in the kitchen and so is Brian. Axe and Dash are sitting at the dining table.
“Elora,” Axe greets me, coming over to me.
“Um, I should put some pants on if we're having dinner,” I say quietly.
“It's just us. If you wrapped a belt around my shirt, it'd be like you're wearing a dress anyway. Come sit down.” Axe grabs my hand and I sit down beside him.
Axe and Dash go back to their conversation about guy stuff so I look to the kitchen.
There is a chocolate cake sitting on the bench that looks delicious.
There's a smell coming from the oven too.
Carson and Brian are laughing together. There's clearly a connection there; one they've never acted on, though.
“Elora,” Dash's voice snaps me back into their conversation.
“What?” I ask.
“I asked how you've been. What's on your mind?” Dash asks.
“I was just watching Carson and Brian,” I whisper so they don't hear.
“What about them?” Dash looks to them then back to me.
“They have a spark,” I say.
“Fuck no, they don't,” Axe says strictly, his protectiveness of his sister shining through his tone.
“She has a mate.” Dash frowns.
“Yeah, but I think Axe and I are proof that you can have a connection with another person besides your mate,” I reason.
“Interesting.” Dash nods in agreement.
“Even if she didn't have a mate, Brian would never touch my sister,” Axe speaks loudly so they both hear him.
“What?” Brian steps away from Carson as if he's been caught doing something he shouldn't and Carson turns red with embarrassment.
“I'm watching you,” Axe declares.
“Nothing happened,” Carson whispers, appearing shy for once when she's usually confident.
“Axe, shh,” I whisper so he doesn't embarrass her further. Axe looks surprised I told him to be quiet and Dash laughs.
“I want to make a toast.” Dash sobers up from laughing and raises his glass. “To Axe and Elora. They're going to make one interesting couple to watch.”
Everyone toasts us and we all take a drink.
The oven beeps and Carson brings a roast to the table.
Everyone goes silent as we all pile our plates with food.
No one even says anything during dinner.
They are literally eating like animals, which is funny.
I guess I'm not the only one who's going to miss Carson when she leaves, her food being one of the biggest losses.
I don't eat too much because I'm craving that cake.
When dinner comes to an end, Carson places the cake on the table.
Axe tries to swipe his finger through the icing but Carson slaps his hand.
“This cake is for Elora. She gets the first piece,” Carson scolds him.
“It's not my birthday.” I frown.
“I know. This is a thank you for bringing us all together.” She smiles.
“Oh, thank you.” I smile, feeling myself get emotional at her kindness.
Carson serves up the cake and gives me the biggest piece.
I ravage the cake in minutes. It's a beautiful combination of chocolate, cream and sponge.
The rest of the night goes by effortlessly.
It feels so good to have a group of friends, werewolves, that I feel safe around.
This is my good fortune. I had to suffer tremendously for years but now a beautiful future lies ahead of me. I owe it all to Axe.
***
Axe wakes me up, the sun barely shining through the window.
“What?” I groan, lifting my head.
“Carson's leaving. You can say goodbye,” Axe says softly.
I get out of bed and go downstairs where Carson is waiting in the living room with her bag by her feet.
“Elora.” Carson wraps me in a tight hug.
“I'm going to miss you,” I tell her.
“Axel, go away so we can have privacy,” Carson orders. He rolls his eyes and walks off. “Before I go, I need to thank you. Thank you for mending my brother.”
“It was the other way around,” I say.
“You're so humble. Here's my number. Call me anytime.” She passes me a piece of paper and I take it.
“You must be excited to see your mate again,” I say.
“Ugh, he is going to devour me once I get there,” she puffs.
“I don't want to hear that,” Axe chimes in coming back into the room.
“I told you to go,” Carson says pointedly.
“Shut up. Drive safely back to your mate. Let me know when you get there.” Axe pulls her into his arms.
“Bye, Axel, be good to her,” she whispers, but I hear. “Bye, Elora.”
When she walks out and Axe closes the door behind her, he turns to me.
“So, it's just us.” Axe stares at me, looking unsure. “What do you want to do?”
“We could watch a movie.”
“I was thinking of something I could do to make you feel... better.” Axe looks down at my body then looks back up at me.
“H-How?” I mumble.
Axe drops to his knees in front of me, lifts my shirt and pulls my underwear down my legs.
He smiles up at me before he captures my bud between his lips.
His soft tongue touches me lightly. I hold onto his hair while he lifts my leg and pushes his lips more into my slit.
The sensation travels from where his mouth starts to the tips of my toes.
“Axe,” I pant.
My legs tremble so Axe picks me up, places me on the couch then sits beside me. Him going down on me will always be my favourite form of affection.
“Does your body feel better?” He tries to hide his grin.
“Maybe you can do that to me before we have sex next time,” I say.
“I should have done that the first time. It's just I'm not used to lots of foreplay and gentleness. My mate liked it wild in the bedroom,” Axe reveals, surprising me that he's mentioning her.
“Oh.”
“Shit, I shouldn't have said that.” His eyes are wide.
“No, it’s okay. We can talk about her. Was she your first?”
“No. I was sixteen and it was with an older girl. She was human.”
“How many girls have you been with?” I ask curiously.
“Seven, including you.”
“Were your experiences the same with all of them?”
“Well, with all the girls before my mate, they were the same.
With her, feelings were involved so of course it meant more and was a different feeling than with the other girls.
With you, that's another experience altogether and I'll never forget it. No girl has asked me to stop before,” Axe explains.
“Were you gentle with any of them?” I question, and he bites his lip.
“I guess I eased up a little when I took my mate's virginity but over time, she wanted more roughness so that's what I got used to.” Axe looks a little awkward speaking of her. “Don't worry, I'll soften up for you.” Axe smiles with assurance, nudging my nose with his.
“An alpha turning soft?” I can't prevent my chuckle in disbelief.
“I will for you.”