Axle merely smiled, an actual smile, tracing a finger down my cheek barely hovering over the surface. “Those are whores, not women. You, though. You are mine…”
I frown at this and am about to open my mouth when lips close on mine. His lips are soft yet demanding and I can’t help but yield to their call. I know I should push back, but something about him calls to me. His beard tickles my face and I hold back a moan when his tongue gains entry and for a moment, nothing else matters. At this moment, it is just us.
When he breaks away and looks down at me with the strangest expression. Confusion? Wonder? Fear? I see all of these things and more as he looks down at me and then holds up his arm covered in scars, staring at it critically, before turning back to me.
“The demons sleep,” he says with wonder evident in his tone. I don’t have time to consider what he means by that cryptic statement when a voice calls out a cell over.
“Boss!”
Immediately, Axle’s face changes back to hardened and angry. I shiver at the sight, so different than the way he was just looking at me. He darts a glance around before they land on some rags I had been laying on and he shoves a few into my hands.
“Cover up. And Stay. Here.”
I quickly nod and scramble to get the clothes covering me while I watch him stalk out of the room. When he’s done, I lean back against the wall once more for support. My lips are still tingling where he kissed them, and I bring a hand up, almost as if to keep that feeling longer.
Now what?
Nine
Axle
Iam so distracted by thoughts of her—Ana—I barely pay attention as I listen to Ciaran blather on about the problems with Cole’s crew. He’s one of the younger ones in here, and though I tolerate his ridiculousness most of the time, right now I have no patience. I’m really not listening and when the kid stops, I just scowl at him. Thankfully, it has the desired effect. He runs off without waiting for me to respond.
Idiot.
When he is out of sight, my eyes drop again to my hands which I clench and unclench. I can only now feel the familiar craving under my skin. And for some reason when I kissed her, they slept.
Even when I cut or kill, I can still feel the persistent itch of the evil within me, but something about this woman calms them. The Nun, Sammi, that comes monthly doesn’t do that. So, it isn’t all women. Just Ana.
I stalk back into the room and she’s still there leaning against the wall. When our eyes meet, I feel a new kind of fire rise within me and my nostrils flare. I take a moment to really take in her features, and now that I do, I am amazed I didn’t realize she was a woman right away.
She is probably about five foot five, not terribly short for a woman but certainly short for a man. Her pants are loose and baggy, tied together at the top. Her shirt had been before I ripped it from her body. I feel my dick stir at the thought of ripping more of her clothes off. Her hair is light colored and cut short, only a few inches long on-top and a grown-out buzz on the side. She has tattoos trailing up her arms and all the way up her neck, one trailing down the side of her face. Gods. She is stunning. The lines of her face show beauty and femininity, with a certain hardness to them that speaks of strength. Good. She will need it.
My hand twitches, the demons reminding me to pay my dues. Instinctually I pull my knife out and press it to my forearm, sighing as it penetrates the skin.
“Why do you do that?” she asks, bringing me back to the moment. I blink and look down at my arm, the blood now pouring in earnest. When I look up and into her eyes, I see an emotion I almost can’t remember, it’s been so long. Worry, perhaps? About me?
I walk up to her and as I do, she pushes off the wall to stand straight but doesn’t flinch as I approach, meeting my gaze head on. I feel a swell of pride well up in me. When I’m only inches away from her, I stop. Her clear blue eyes look up into mine.
“I need to release the fire,” I whisper as I run my hand down her arm. She shivers and I stop. “Why are you here?” I ask in a soft voice that surprises me. Her eyes are wide but not fearful.
“It was a mistake,” she says, a bit breathlessly. “I got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.” I nod. This is the story of many of The Tombs occupants. Those who enter innocent, do not stay that way for long, but something tells me Ana is not innocent, regardless of why she is here. I only now notice the blood covering her knuckles, the dirt covering all of her. The smear of blood is still on her chin from where I held it earlier.
“You need to wash,” I say abruptly, turning and making my way towards the tub. I turn and she is still standing there, watching me. “What are you waiting for, come here.”
I see her bristle at the command, and I feel my dick twitch. Oh. I am going to enjoy this one.
“I’m fine,” she says, and I raise an eyebrow at her.
“I offer you cleanliness, and you refuse?”
“I don’t need anything from you,” she snaps back, immediately biting her lip. My eyes fall to her mouth and I am incredibly conscious of how much I want to be biting her full lower lip myself. She must see something in my face because her eyes widen. I step forward and am once again impressed she doesn’t flinch, but I don’t fail to see the tension in her body. Brave, but wary and stubborn.
“Not a wise thing to say, considering I am the only thing between you and being gang-raped for the rest of your short life,” I say quietly, and her eyes get even wider. I see another quick flash of defiance before it fades away and she drops her gaze. The smallest pang of guilt swells in my chest.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I say, a bit quieter this time. “I don’t hurt women.”
Her eyes raise back to mine, assessing. She must see something inside my own because she nods curtly.