"Church is at noon," he said eventually, mouth moving against my temple. "The vote."
"Nervous?"
"For you?" He pulled back enough to meet my eyes. "No. You've already proven yourself ten times over. This is just making it official."
"What happens if they vote no?"
"They won't." His certainty was absolute. "But even if they did—you'd still be mine. Still be protected. The vote is about the club claiming you. I claimed you the night you put your hands on me."
Heat curled through my chest at his words.Claimed.It should have felt possessive, archaic. Instead, it felt like safety.
"We should probably shower," I said reluctantly. "Make ourselves presentable."
His smile turned wicked. "Shower. Together?"
"That's what I said."
"Just checking." He was already rolling out of bed, pulling me with him. "Wouldn't want to misinterpret."
The shower took longer than strictly necessary.
Axel pressed me against the tile, hot water cascading over us, and kissed me until I forgot my own name. His hands mapped my body like he was memorizing it—every plane of muscle, every sensitive spot that made me gasp. When he dropped to his knees, looked up at me with water streaming down his face, I nearly came from the image alone.
"I want to try," he said. "What you did for me."
"Axel, you don't have to?—"
"I want to." His hands gripped my thighs, steadying me. "Tell me if I do something wrong."
He took me in his mouth, and my head fell back against the tile.
It was clumsy. Unpracticed. He used too much teeth at first, couldn't find a rhythm, pulled off twice to catch his breath. And it was still the hottest thing I'd ever experienced—watching this powerful man kneel for me, learning me,wantingto learn me.
"Like that," I managed, fingers threading through his wet hair. "Just like—fuck, Axel?—"
He figured it out faster than I expected. Found the spots that made me shake, learned to hollow his cheeks, discovered that humming sent vibrations through me that turned my vision white. When I warned him I was close, he didn't pull away—just gripped my hips harder, took me deeper, and swallowed every drop.
I slid down the tile afterward, boneless, and he caught me. Pulled me into his lap on the shower floor, both of us breathing hard under the spray.
"Good?" he asked, and there was genuine uncertainty under the satisfaction.
"I can't feel my legs."
His laugh was surprised, delighted. "I'll take that as a yes."
By the time we made it downstairs, the common room was buzzing.
Word had spread about the vote. Members clustered in groups, conversations falling quiet as we entered before picking back up with knowing smiles. Irish wolf-whistled. Tank just nodded, but there was something in his eyes as they tracked over us—curiosity, maybe, or something deeper. His gaze lingered a beat too long on where Axel's hand rested at my lower back.
"You two look... refreshed." Blade appeared at my elbow, shit-eating grin firmly in place. "Good night?"
"None of your business."
"That good, huh?" He laughed, dodging my half-hearted swat. "Relax, hermano. I'm happy for you. Both of you."
Maria pressed coffee into my hands without being asked, followed by a plate of eggs and bacon that smelled like heaven. "You need to eat," she said firmly. "Big day."
"Thanks, Maria."
