Chapter 9
The Question
Axel's truck was seen in the shady part of town last night. Did I mention it was parked at a particular barista's apartment? He reluctantly left after the sun rose, and that was only for the football practice field.
Axel
Scarlett doesn't know I'm following her to her apartment, nor is she privy to the fact that she's not staying alone tonight. I want to teach her everything, especially after her confession. That little submissive is clearly inside her and it’s better to start sooner than later. Her being comfortable with me and around me is a crucial part of everything. I don’t want anything about her to scream innocence when all the debauchery is said and done.
Fuck me. Who in the hell is this talking to her now?
Jumping out of my truck, I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her wonderfully plump midsection.
This is a claiming for everyone to see. Never one to be jealous until now, but if I could get away with pissing on her to mark her with my scent, believe me, I'd do it.
Here's to hoping this guy is bright and we don't wind up in jail.
“Hey, honey.” Greeting her while staring daggers of death at the asshat who's trying to spit game at her.
She's surprised but doesn't call me out. I'm beginning to think it's not that guys have avoided her, but it's been vice versa, because the glint in this motherfuckers eyes says he is disappointed she's got a man with her tonight. “Hey, Rabies.” She retorts.
Scarlett was trying to piss me off, but it’s having the opposite effect.
It makes me give my best devilish smile.
One, because that's my name, and two, this douche canoe needs to know I'm a “little” unhinged.
“I decided it was best to stay over tonight since I'll be helping you move this weekend anyway.”
“You're moving?” The Jackass asks.
I reply before she can. “Yes, she's moving in with me.”
She giggles, which is music to my ears. Christ. Who am I? “Um...not him. I'm moving in with his friends.”
The guy perks up. “Oh. Cool. Well, I'll be seeing you.”
“The hell you will.” I get in his face and smile when he squirms. Yeah, I'm an asshole.
He holds his hands up in surrender. “I didn't mean anything by that, Bro.”
“Well, Bro, I'll kick your ass if you get within 100 feet of her. She's mine. Now fuck off.” My fist is clenched at my sides, always ready for a fight.
He backs up and has the good sense not to look at her again. When I turn around, she has her hand on her hips. Her brown eyes are glowing. “I am most assuredly not yours. What is wrong with you? He was just being nice.”
Getting in her face and placing my hands on my hips, I mimic her movements. Just to tick her off. “You're mine. Understand?”
She rolls her eyes. Her face flushed with annoyance. “Color me confused because you're so damn random.”
Taking her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I bring her eyes back up to mine. “Smart mouths work better with cocks in them. Is that random enough for you?”
She nods her head in agreement. Uncoiled desire clouds her eyes. I grip her chin tighter. “Good. Now, let's go in and have a little chat. Shall we?” We walk in, and I throw my overnight bag on her full-size bed. Yeah, we're going to have to get her a bigger bed. We'll need room to move.
Every time I've come here to drown my demons with her goodness, my full attention was on nothing but Scarlett.
Looking around now, I like her apartment.
Her walls are bare except for a few family photos and some rather risqué posters of romance book covers.
Lifting my eyebrow, I investigate. Someone has a penchant for leather, lace, and being tied up.
My dick salutes her excellent taste. Turning around, I don't hide the fact that I have an erection.
Her heart-shaped mouth is agape, and her breathing is shallow, telling me she feels this electric current between us.
You'd have to be dead not to. “Come here.” She bites her bottom lip, which makes my cock rock hard.
She walks over and stands a couple of feet away from me.
“I said come here, Scarlett.” Grabbing her shirt, I yank her to me.
Surprise is etched all over her pretty face. “Are you on birth control?”
“Yes.” She swallows hard. The thought of taking her bareback almost pushes me over the edge, and I am barely touching her right now. “Why? Wouldn't you still want to wear a condom anyway?” She whispers softly—desire making her body tremble.
My eyes darken as I tower over her. “When I finally fuck you, Scarlett, I will take you raw.” Placing my mouth on her neck, I nip at her silky skin, thoroughly planning to mark her again.
That asshole from earlier still has me riled up.
She's mine. “Since you're new to this, we can take it slow-ish for a time.
Also, full disclosure: I get tested every six months.
Never had any issues, and I always wear a condom. You'll be the only exception.”
Her brows furrow with confusion. “Why? Because I'm so inexperienced?”
“Shit, no, I wouldn't care if you'd been with zero or even a hundred men.” Taking my hand, I cup her mound, earning a gasp from those goddess-like lips.
Seduction is a dance, and we're just at the beginning.
“But my cock has this overwhelming urge to claim you. With nothing between us, just skin on skin.”
She greedily grips the front of my shirt as I draw circles around her clit with my index and middle fingers through her leggings.
My Wallflower begins panting in my ear, but I won't give her a release yet.
There is still too much to discuss. Pulling my hand away and smiling as she whimpers in protest. Soon.
***
Axel's proposition is insane. No one will believe it, but all the iniquity he has planned for us has me accepting it, nonetheless. Now, on to negotiations.
-Scarlett
The lustful haze subsides from us both, making my cheeks turn red.
Backing away from him, only to fall on my couch, is not the sexiest move I've ever made, but it created the distance that was needed for me to be able to breathe anyway.
Axel is larger than life, not only in height and stature, but also his personality is off the charts.
His mere presence can suffocate an entire room.
I'm not used to this much attention, and it's starting to freak me out.
The distance is short-lived as Axel sits down beside me. His leg and arm searing my skin where our bodies touch. Sliding over an inch, but he only pulls me back. I smile over at him. “Are you always this much of a caveman?”
He smirks. Sending my ovaries in total overdrive. “Only when I see something I want.”
Biting my lip, I ask the question, running on a loop in my mind. “Why?”
He curses under his breath. “Why not?” Rolling my eyes at him is going to be a common occurrence if we hang out often.
He laughs at me when he notices my expression.
“Scarlett, I don't know who told you weren't, but you're unbelievably fuckable.
As you know, my ego isn't fragile, so I can admit this and not feel embarrassed.
You almost made me come in my pants after hearing the sounds you made as I was playing with your sweet pussy just now.
That's never happened to me before. And although you try to fight me at every turn, your inner submissive is showing, and I can't wait to fuck her.”
My eyes widen. He sees me and gets that I've longed to have a dominant partner.
I lost my virginity the night of high school graduation and have only ever been with one guy.
My old best guy friend Blaze, we were both virgins and didn't want to start college that way.
If he were a book boyfriend, he'd be the cinnamon roll type.
I still absolutely adore him. That was a great summer, with a few stolen moments.
We're still good friends. He's back in Louisiana and plays football for LSU.
The Longhorns play them this season, and we have plans to get together before or after.
Just to see each other and hang out. That could pose a problem.
“Well, according to your ego, you're unbelievably fuckable as well. I know you don't want a relationship with me, so what do you want?” I fold my arms over my chest.
Axel takes my hand and threads his fingers with mine.
It's an intimate gesture for someone who does not want a girlfriend, but whatever.
“I used to think that fucking you out of my system would be enough, but it won't be.
Let's see where this goes. It's more than just a fling for me, though.
And you're a natural-born submissive Scarlett.
I'd love to introduce you to the lifestyle.”
My pulse races and my insides turn to mush. “Introduce me to the lifestyle? Nobody will believe we’re a couple. You don’t date, Axel. We are probably gonna have to keep this a secret.”
Taking his thumb and rubbing my bottom lip, he sighs. “Oh, Wallflower, people will believe it, we're not doing this in secret. I want every guy who has ever made you feel less than to realize what they've missed. We Creeds don't do anything half-assed.”
She laughs. “So, we'll do the whole fake dating trope thing?”
“Trope? Like a book thing?” Axel's gaze never falls away from my lips as he asks.
“Yes, I love romance books, so sometimes my mind puts things into trope categories.” I shrug. It makes sense to me.
He nods, then looks over at my book covers on the wall. However, never in a million years will he discover I'm the author of those smutty novels. “So, what happens in the fake dating trope? Well, besides the obvious.”
I shrug. “It could go a million different ways. Most commonly, the main characters share a common goal, whether it be to make someone jealous, or they need to be in a committed relationship to fool their parents. But in the end, the fake turns to real.” Axel's face doesn't fall like I thought it would.
“It would be nice to see Brody hurt this time.
Oh, seeing my cousin Janet's face when we show up somewhere together would be a definite plus.”
He snorts. “How in the hell are you two related? She's satan.”
“My dad and I are the black sheep. To my family, she’s the golden child, and I'm the frumpy bookworm.” He rubs my palm with his thumb.
“They sound stupid.” He says bluntly, which makes me laugh. He turns serious again. “Can you promise me that we’ll remain friends if we don't work out?” His jaw is clenched after he asks. He's unhappy about wanting this answer from me, but he let his pride down long enough to ask.
That means something to me. We may never fall in love, but just like Blaze is still in my life, I don't see why Axel can't be. “I'd like that actually.”
He takes his forefinger and traces the outline of my face over and over. Softly, he whispers. “Good, because I don't have many of those. Real ones, I mean.”
I'm beginning to see that Axel is more than parties and being sex on a stick. He's smart and has a good heart. That means I'll have to guard mine even more closely.