Page 147 of Axe Marks the Spot

At some point, the heat of his body and the buzzing I feel from my orgasm—along with his cock twitching in my pussy—makes me float to the same space I went the last time I was here.

My muscles are complete and utter jelly, and the hand that was holding on to Dane drops to my side. My whole body is fluttering with aftershocks as Dane kisses up my neck, over his collar, until he’s lifting off me and cupping my face, wiping at my tears.

“Lindsey,” he says quietly. “You still with me?”

My eyes are barely open, but I nod with a sleepy smile. “I’m here.”

“Did I hurt you?”

“No, but you split me in two.”

He wipes at my wet cheeks with such care that my heart flutters. “Let me put you back together.”

The bed shifts, and I almost pull him back, but I have no strength. I close my eyes and float among the clouds until he returns.

It could have been hours, but I’m sure it was only a minute. I shiver when a warm cloth drags over my body, but when he gets to the space between my legs, my eyes snap open, and I grab his wrist. “Leave it.”

Dane’s hazel gaze is dark and simmering, and I swear I see his softening cock twitch. “Want to say please?” he warns.

“Please, Sir. Dane. Leave it.”

He grins and finishes wiping me off, leaving his cum to drip out of my pussy and onto the blanket. I revel in the feeling of his spend, in the aftershocks of my orgasms, and in the lightness of my body. I know I’m going to be sore tomorrow, but right now, I feel better than I ever have in my life.

After he’s put the washcloth in the bathroom, Dane returns. He has me drink water then checks over my wrists and nipples before he dims the light and finally settles beside me, pulling me into his arms so my head rests in the space between his arm and his chest.

The quiet of the room and the heat of his body begin to lull me into sleep. It isn’t until his lips press to the crown of my head that I look up at him.

His eyes are closed, but I know he’s awake. There’s a content smile on his lips as his thumb methodically brushes over the skin of my arm. I study the slope of his nose and the colors of his beard, the handsome lines of his masculine jaw and the subtle age marks on his brow. It’s a beautiful face. A perfect face. And it’s the face of the man I’m in love with.

“Dane,” I murmur.

His eyes open, and his gaze finds mine, his brow pinching when he sees the serious look on my face. “Are you okay?” he asks.

For a moment, I hesitate, wondering if it’s too soon to say what I’m thinking out loud. But then Dane lifts his other hand and gently hooks his fingers through the O-ring of my collar. The weight of it grounds me like an anchor, and the fear disappears. “I think I love you,” I say.

His fingers still on my collar, and his grip on my arm tightens. The concern on his face fades as his lips tip up at the corners.

“You think you love me, or you know?”

My pulse thuds in my ears. “I know.”

Dane tugs tighter on my collar then moves so our mouths are nearly touching. “Good.” Our noses bump together, and the warmth of his breath ghosts over my lips. “Because I know I love you.”

He seals his mouth over mine and pours the words he spoke into me. I thread my fingers into his beard, and I fall into the feeling of him, letting him pull me close so we’re molded together, our bodies like one.

I don’t know what our future holds. We still have a lot to figure out, obstacles we’ll have to face, starting with telling Kas about us. But this is Dane. This is us. And I know we’ll find a way.

44

Dane

“AXE MARKS THE SPOT!” Kas cheers loudly as she jumps up and down.

We’re in the elementary school’s gymnasium for a parents’ night, where I’ve set up some little games for the kids, one of them being the kid-friendly axe throw. I stare at the rubber axe embedded in the target next to another one—it does kind of look like the axes are making an X when you stare at it.

“Slay, Chaos Kas.”

“OMG.” She giggles. “Don’t ever say that again.”