Page 18 of Behind the Mask

I turned the showerhead to the wall and leaned against it bracing myself for the thoughts to come swirling back into my mind with full force. It broke my heart that Axel would never know about the daughter we had lost. Maybe I should tell him anyway, just to get it off my chest. But what good would it do? He'd be upset, and it would take away from his new life with Vanessa.

Eventually, I ripped myself away and turned off the water. I grabbed the pink towel on the rack and wrapped it around myself. The bathroom was foggy and as I wiped it away from the mirror, I was met with a pair of dull hazel eyes that had lost every ounce of life in them. The black circles under my eyes were more prominent with every passing day.

I sighed and looked away as I opened the door to get dressed. But when my eyes landed on the figure on the bed, my heart broke once again. Axel was sitting on the bed and he looked as though he was suffering through a torment he couldn't escape. His hands were in his hair, and I could hear the pain beneath his sobs.

There was only one other time I had seen Axel cry and it was when I gave him the necklace in remembrance of his grandfather. This Axel was one I wasn't used to. He was normally arrogant, and cocky even, but he was also sweet and determined. He had a heart made of gold and even though we wouldn't work, I knew he would make Vanessa very happy.

"What are you doing here, Axel?" I asked as I tilted my head to look at him. His towering figure made my bed look so small underneath him. The muscles clenched under his shirt as he let his emotions out for me to see.

He raised his head to meet mine and his blue eyes were filled with sorrow. I wanted to comfort him, I wanted to go to him. But I knew it wasn't my place.

He got up from the bed and reached for me but I moved aside. I shook my head. I needed to be firm. He was no longer mine.

"You need to go."

His blue eyes darkened as the tears ran down his beautiful face. He pulled me into a firm hug and refused to let me go. He inhaled my vanilla scent and I sighed knowing I needed to embrace the hug for it would be the last time. "She has to be lying. She has to. I don't want to be with her. I can't, not anymore."

I ran my fingers through his short hair trying my best to bring him peace. I realized that I needed to tell him everything before he left me for good. He would probably be angry and never forgive me, but at least if I told him I could hopefully move on.

"Axel, I need to tell you something before you start your life with Olivia. I need to get this out so I can finally move on."

He released me and caressed my tear-stained cheek. "Anything, baby."

I shivered from his touch, and I realized that being in a towel this close to him was dangerous. "I need to get dressed first."

His eyes roamed up and down my body, lust filling his gaze. He was hungry and so was I. There was nothing more that I wanted than to be in his arms. His fingertips ran across my cheek and down to my lips. He traced the outline of my lips and they parted willingly as he stuck a finger inside.

Desire filled my body as I sucked on his finger watching his head fall back in pleasure. He removed his finger from my mouth and traced it all the way down to the tip of the towel. Axel created a fire within me, something no one else could ever do, and each time we were together that fire grew.

Before I was able to blink the towel had dropped to the ground. Axel took a step back and circled around my naked body as if he were admiring it for one last time. He wrapped his arms around my waist and brought my body against him. My head leaned back to his shoulder as one of his hands reached up and caressed my breast.

"Your body, your heart, and your soul have always been mine. They always will be. I will find a way out of this. We will be together." I knew he was promising me things he couldn't keep, but I didn't care. I wanted him even if it was for one last time. I wanted him to remember me. I wanted to take care of him.

Gathering a little bit of confidence, I turned around to face him and placed a hand on his chest pushing him against the wall. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was parted, perfect for me to take advantage. I smashed my lips to him, tracing my tongue along his soft lips. My hands drifted to the hem of his shirt and bunched it up so he could take it off. Ripping his lips from mine, he pulled the shirt off his head, exposing his delicious-looking abs. To think that Vanessa could have his body for the rest of her life made me sick to my stomach, but I ignored the thought and pushed it into the darkness.

I met his gaze and smirked as I ran my fingertips lightly over his chest, letting them wander until they met the tip of his belt. He sucked in a breath when I started to undo his pants, and I ever so gently pulled them down as I went to my knees before him.

"Olive, you don't have..."

He groaned as I took him in fully, letting my tongue circle around him. With each stroke, I took him deeper, making him moan out my name in pleasure. I wanted to make sure he would remember me, and I wanted to make sure he would never forget. His fingers kneaded in my hair bringing my mouth on him further, which was hot as hell. I loved doing this for him. I felt like his naughty little minx.

He wrapped his hands around my arms and pulled me up, taking my lips with his. His hands ventured down to my ass lifting me up and carrying me to the bed. Ever so gently, Axel laid me down, pressing his naked body against mine. He grinded into me, teasing and making me beg for more. "Axel, please. I need you."

His lips turned up against my skin and I knew he was smiling, enjoying teasing me like he always did. His fingers slid down my body until they reached my heat, and they began to circle, rubbing my clit gently. The fire began to form and burn as I cried out begging for him to be inside. One by one he stuck his fingers into my core pumping in and out. "Fuck, you're so tight for me baby."

My back arched into him as I could feel the pleasure burning, ripping away at me, telling me I was getting close to letting go. "Oh no, not yet. You're coming with me."

In the next minute, his fingers were out, and he was inside. As he thrust into me, tears fell onto my cheeks. Not from pain, but from pleasure. From knowing that this man was mine at some point in my life. To know that it was the end of Axel and Olivia.

"Olive, look at me." I refused to, I closed my eyes and clenched them together hoping I wouldn't give in, because if I did, I would be gone.

His fingers titled my chin up to his as he continued to thrust into me. "Baby, look at me." And this time, I did. His blue eyes were wild with lust and love as he pushed deeper into me tearing apart my core, making it his once again.

With one last thrust, he whispered three little words that made me shudder. "I love you." And then he emptied into me. It was then that I realized there was nothing between us. No condom, no Vanessa, only the love we had for each other.

Chapter Fifteen

Axel