Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series

Heavy breathing is all I can hear, while I still cling to Axel’s heaving back.

My arms tighten around him, pulling him even closer and causing Axel to shift. His dick is still inside of me and it makes my muscles contract around him and I groan. The soreness of his intrusion making itself noticeable.

“Fuck, Baby,” Axel rocks into me once more before slowly withdrawing.

Once he’s removed himself, he rolls to the side until he’s flat on his back, his deep chest rising and falling.

I watch in way too much fascination as he carefully removes the condom, tying off the end and dropping it over the side of the bed to the floor. It should probably gross me out, but I don’t  feel an ounce of shame. Nothing that feels that good could possibly be wrong. And I’m not about to get up and walk to the garbage either.

The arm he has closest to me rises in invitation as the other spreads wide across the mattress. “Come here.”

Needing no convincing, I roll towards him and scoot closer, not stopping until my naked front is pressed flush against his side.

My head settles into that wonderful spot right where his shoulder and chest meet, and his big arm drapes itself around my back, pulling me even closer.

A wave of contentment rolls through me and it’s so strong I feel my heart constrict.

My cheek nuzzles against his body, his chest hair tickling my skin.

“That was…” I trail off.

Axel’s chest expands with another big intake of air. “Yeah,” he says the word on an exhale. “It was.”

My lids start to lower, and I hook my leg up over his.

“I’m gonna stay,” Axel tells me, not asking permission.

“Good.”

He lets out a small chuckle at my answer, sending a shiver over my skin. There’s something about his laugh that makes me think he doesn’t use it much. So to be the cause of it makes me feel unreasonably good.

Axel’s fingers trace up my arm, “Cold?”

He doesn’t give me time to answer before he kicks around with his foot, snagging the thick throw blanket bunched at the foot of my bed.

I reach out and help him drape the material over our bare bodies.

“Better?” he asks.

I nod against him, “Better.”

I wish I had a remote for the lamp in the corner that’s still on, but the light it’s giving off is dim and no force of nature could make me move now.

Silence stretches between us, allowing memories of the last time we were in my bed to surface into my thoughts. And I swallow when I remember my behavior.

“I have to apologize-” I start.

Axel speaks at the same time. “I’m sorry-”

Not moving my head, I glance up to look at him, my brow furrowed. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

Axel tugs the blanket up a little higher, tucking it up under my chin. “For leaving. I shouldn’t have snuck out like I did.”

I worry my lip, “Why did you?”

I feel afraid to ask, but the question has been scratching at my self-confidence ever since I woke up alone that morning. Because of course my brain went to the worst reasons. He’s not interested. You disgusted him with your actions. You’re not good enough.

Instead of answering right away, Axel turns his head towards mine, pressing a long kiss to my forehead.

My eyes close and I feel the negative thoughts start to fade.

“Because I thought you deserved better.” His answer is totally not what I was expecting, and when I try to tip my head back, he uses his cheek against the top of my head to keep me still. “I’m too old for you. You’re too damn pretty for me. Too fucking sweet and beautiful.” Axel huffs out a breath that rustles my hair, “And you were supposed to be on a date with my son.”

Laughter bubbles out of me and I pinch my lips shut. “Sorry,” I squeak, but I can feel Axel’s chest vibrate with his own humor

“No need to apologize, Baby Doll. I’m not sorry about it.” The arm around my back squeezes me closer. “I’ve been fighting with the guilt of feeling like I stole you all week. But the thought of anyone else putting their hands on you,” his lips press against my forehead again, “I don’t like it.”

My fingers trail over his chest, tracing one of the swirly designs covering his pec. “I do need to apologize though.”

“Why’s that?”

Not feeling right about touching him while I talk about this, I ball my hand into a fist.

Sensing my tension, Axel’s free hand closes over mine. “What is it, Maddie?”

I sigh, “I shouldn’t have touched you that night.”

His fingers squeeze around mine, “What do you mean?”

My eyes close and I try to take comfort in the warmth radiating off his large body. “You told me you didn’t want to do anything. When we were here, in my bed. And I made you kiss me. Then I… Well… I…” I take a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have grabbed your, um, penis… like I did.” My cheeks are on fire. “Not after you told me you didn’t want to do anything.”

Axel’s lips move away from my forehead and my nerves flare back to life.

When he makes a choked sound, I look up and find him shaking his head, staring at the ceiling with a stunned expression on his face.

“See? It was bad!” I exclaim, trying to push away from him.

His hand clamps down on my shoulder, securing me in place. “No, Baby. The only thing bad you’ve ever done was saying the word penis just now.” His chest rumbles.

“I’m being serious.”

He lifts his head off the pillow to look down at me, “So am I.”

“What am I supposed to call it?”

“Dick. Cock.” He pauses. “Feel free to add your own adjectives.”

I roll my eyes, “Noted.”

The hand on my shoulder slides down, over my back, and down to my ass. “And you can grab my dick anytime you want.”

I watch his face and I know he’s being honest. “I’m still sorry for doing it.”

His fingers pinch my butt cheek and I yelp. “I’m not sorry. The feeling of your fingers trying to wrap their way around my cock have gotten me through every night since then.”

“Oh.”

Axel grins – full on grins – at me, and I feel my face go pink all over again.

“God, you’re fucking adorable.” His fingers spread against my ass until he’s palming my whole cheek. “And fucking sexy.” He squeezes. “Pretty sure doing all the things I want to do to you might kill me. But I’m willing to take the risk.”

I flatten my hand back against his chest. “I mean… you are pretty ancient.”

He barks out a laugh, then pinches my ass again, “Keep it up, Brat. See where that gets you.”

My palm slides down and across his stomach until it’s stretched out across him in an approximation of a hug.

I let my eyes close, and the last bit of tension drains from my body. “I’m glad you were there tonight, Axel.”

“I’m glad I was too.” He grunts, “I’m not thrilled that you were out with some douchebag, but I was hoping you’d be there. Coming right to your front door felt a little too invasive.”

I smile against his chest, “But shoving your thumb into my mouth in the back of a bar…?”

The shoulder under my head lifts in a small shrug, “Worth it.”

I let out a sleepy laugh, “I’ll give you my number, for next time.”

The hand on my ass grips me again, “Damn right you will.”

My head turns further into him as I yawn.

“Go to sleep, Maddie.”

I always thought I couldn’t sleep next to another body, but every inch of me is melting into the comfort and warmth of Axel. And I know I’ll be able to rest, so long as he’s with me.

“You’ll still be here when I wake up?” I hate the uncertainty in my voice, but I need to ask.

A finger presses up under my chin, and I open my eyes to look at him.

His blue gaze holds mine, “I’ll be here.”