Clint wrapped his lover in his muscled arms, and as hard as he was fucking him—somehow he fucked him evenharder. He was hardly aware of his own tears as his focus narrowed to nothing but the feel of his cock sliding furiously through Axel’s slick, hot cave, the sound of their bodies slapping together—and theheatof the orgasm building in his loins.
“Clint…”Axel cried, his muscles locking up, his short nails digging deeper into Clint’s back as he arched away from the bed.“Uuuhhh… fuck me… fuck me…”
The young man’s orgasm was right there, surging toward the surface. Clint met it with deep, almost violent thrusts. His back bowed suddenly, and he shoved his face into Axel’s neck, a guttural sound twisting in his tight throat. His hips jerked hard, and he filled Axel with cum.
Axel bit his sweat-slick shoulder, stifling a scream as he shot his load between them, hot ropes of cum squirting onto their slick, fevered stomachs. Clint fucked through the orgasm, pushing in deep and hard as Axel gave up a few more spurts of cum.
When their orgasms subsided, Axel still clung to him, holding Clint on top of him, wrapped around him. His face pressed to Clint’s throat as he trembled in the cowboy’s arms.
Clint leaned into him, holding him close and softly kissing his damp curls. They remained silent; their bodies having conveyed all their feelings, thoughts, and emotions.
CHAPTER 9
Axel sat at the kitchen table, hunched over his morning coffee, one palm clamped around the warm mug and the other stroking Jonah’s ear, the lab mix propping its chin on his thigh. He stared into the steam rising from his coffee but didn’t take a drink. Jonah’s eyes rolled toward the cowboy as he entered the kitchen, and his tail swished against the linoleum, but he didn’t jump up and trot over to Clint as he usually did when Clint appeared.
Clint slid an arm around Axel’s neck, bent down, and kissed his head. “You okay?” He reached down to scratch Jonah’s ears. The young dog wriggled a bit but stayed rooted beside Axel, his favorite human, sensing the young man’s emotional turmoil.
Sighing heavily, Axel rubbed his eyes and finally took a sip of coffee. “I don’t know,” he mumbled. “Maybe. I guess.”
“Mm.” Clint pressed his lips to his hair. “Thanks for clearing that up.”
Axel laughed quietly. It sounded tired, weary. “Sorry. I guess I don’t really know how I feel.” The simple sound of his soft laugh made Jonah wriggle closer, nosing Axel’s hand. Axel smiled and stroked his head as an almost sorrowful sigh escaped the young man.
Last night’s lovemaking had been intense—and wrought with emotion. Afterward, Axel clung to Clint and cried himself to sleep. But even his sleep had been troubled, and he’d tossed and turned until morning. Clint hadn’t gotten much sleep himself, partly because of Axel’s restlessness and partly because his mind wouldn’t turn off. He’d repeatedly gotten up throughout the night to check on Luke, needing the constant reminder that their son was safe and sound, asleep in his bed. Jonah made thosetreks to the boy’s bedroom on Clint’s heels, whining softly as if he understood something wasn’t right with his people.
After each visit to his son’s room, Clint’s thoughts would turn to the two grief-stricken families, imagining them sitting up in the wee hours of the night, trying to understand how they would go on… or whether they even wanted to.
Then he would think about the shooter, and his blood would boil. Thoughts of the shooter brought thoughts of Lazarus. Clint had no qualms about taking him out if he had orchestrated the drive-by. Every action had a reaction, a ripple effect. And two innocent boys—two innocentfamilies—had been caught in that ripple, and someone would fucking pay.
Part of the need for revenge was for Axel, as well as the families. He never wanted to see that look on Axel’s face again, the one that reflected his worst fears—put there by the bastards who had caused these tragedies. Yesterday’s events had broken something inside Axel, and that was unforgivable.
“When are you leaving?” Axel whispered, still staring into his coffee mug.
“Less than an hour.” Clint poured some coffee and sat at the table. It was still dark outside, with only a faint glow on the horizon.
“What if Lazarus won’t see you?” Axel asked. “From what you said, the last meeting didn’t go so well. Didn’t you choke him and put a gun to his head?”
Clint shrugged. “We were… negotiating.”
“Didn’t his right-hand man almost shoot you?”
“Cochise stepped in.”
Axel shook his head, a faint smile forming. “My point is, are you sure he’s going to welcome you back? Doesn’t sound like that first time went so great.”
“He liked me.” Clint scoffed. “I didn’t like him, but I guess he foundmecharming.” His mouth twitched. “’Cause you know I just ooze charm.”
Axel’s smile stretched slightly. “I think so. How do you think you trapped me?”
Clint chuckled. “I don’t think it was mycharm.”
Shrugging, Axel sipped his coffee. “I don’t know, you were pretty charming there at the start.”
“Yeah,” Clint chuffed. “That’swhat I was.” Axel’s memories of their first few encounters shed a better light on it than Clint’s did. Though Axel had no regrets about how things had gone down, Clint did. But it was in the past, and though he often wished he could go back and do things differently, there was no changing what had been done. Truth be told, even if it were possible, he didn’t think Axel would allow it.
He watched the lab pup, doing its best to comfort Axel, and Clint was convinced that Jonah had played a pivotal role in winning Axel’s heart. Gifting the pup to Axel had been a turning point for them, whether Clint acknowledged it at the time or not.
Shifting back to Lazarus, Axel said, “Maybe try a different negotiation tactic this time?” He raised his eyes as he took a sip of coffee. “Hm?”
