“You need to come,” he rasps into my ear. “Now, darlin’.”

I squirm beneath him, trying to hold back, but it’s pointless. He’s just got me at that point. With one last thrust, I come. My teeth close down on his shoulder to smother my moans, and I hear his almost pained growl as his body stiffens. I prepare myself for the moment where he’ll pull out and find his release in my mouth, but he doesn’t stop thrusting.

His entire body is stiff, and his eyes are tightly shut, like it pains him to keep going, like it’s going against everything he’s ever known. He thrusts his hips harder, and our skin slaps together. I don’t know what to do. My heart aches for him. I reach up, and I cup his cheek. This seems to soothe him just slightly, and his thrusting becomes a little less desperate.

“It’s okay,” I whisper.

He buries his head into my shoulder, and with a ragged, almost feral cry, I feel his cock pulsing deep inside me. His body jerks, and his fists are tight up beside my head as he milks every last drop from his body.

We lay for a long moment, with him still inside me. I don’t know what to say; I don’t even know if he wants me to say anything. After a moment, he pulls out of me, and rolls off the bed. I watch with a look of confusion as he pulls his jeans up, and runs a hand through his hair. He looks disorientated, but more than that, he looks completely shaken.

His eyes fall on mine, and I give him a weak, wobbly smile. He leans down, taking the back of my head and bringing me close, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. Then he pulls back and turns toward the window.

Just as he reaches it, he turns, and stares at me once more. “You’re not nothin’, Cricket, and you never will be,” he says, his voice barley above a whisper.

Then he climbs out my window.

And I can’t help the small smile that creeps across my face. Axel just gave me a part of himself. Albeit tiny, it was still a part of him.

He let me, for just a second, see the broken man hiding behind the monster.

CHAPTER 17

MEADOW

Cherish what you love, hold onto it with all you have.

I’ve been with Lady for a week now, and I’m staring to feel a little more comfortable around her. She really is a fun person to be around. We’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each other, and I’ve enjoyed the female company. I don’t see her as anything but female, because that’s what she is to me now. On day six of my time with her, I’m sitting up in my room, staring out the window at the beautiful garden she’s created, when my phone buzzes with a text message. I drag my eyes away from the garden, and stare down at the phone.

It’s Axel.

I hurriedly lift the phone into my hand, opening the message.

A – Coming 2 c u 2nite. Be ready.

My heart flutters. He’s coming to see me? I’ve hardly heard from him since the night he came through my window, and now he’s letting me know he’s going to be here tonight. I quickly reply.

M – Be ready for what?

A moment later he responds.

A – To take my cock.

Such a male response, I roll my eyes.

M – What if I have my period?

A – There’s always the back door.

M – You’re an ass.

A – Are you saying no, darlin?

M – No, because I’m horny. And BTW, I don’t have my period.

A – Doesn’t mean I won’t try the back door.

M – Eat me Axel.

A – Oh baby, I plan to.

With a flush and a nervous giggle, I close my phone. I slide from my position at the window, and head out of my room in search for Lady, just to let her know Axel will be coming. I find her in her room, applying make up. Her hair is up in rollers. I guess she’s got a show tonight. She sees me in the mirror, and gives me a warm smile.

“Hello love, is something wrong?”

I walk in, stopping at her bed. I stare down at all her makeup, hair products, clothes and shoes, and my heart aches a little. I never had any of that. I never had a mom to teach me how to do my hair, or paint my nails. Hell, I’ve never even had my nails painted. I must have a sad look on my face, because Lady stops what she’s doing and turns to me, touching my arm.

“You lost your mom very young, didn’t you honey?”

I nod. “Yeah, I just guess I never had any of this.”

Her eyes widen. “You’ve never had your nails painted or your makeup done?”

I shake my head, and reach up, tugging my hair. “This is the only thing I’ve ever had in my hair, and it’s fading and ugly.”

She taps her finger on her chin, and her eyes lighten. “Then we’re going to do something about that. Sit down, right here,” she points to a stool.

I look hesitantly at her. “Oh no, it’s ok. Axel is coming later and...”

“Even better, don’t argue with me sugar, just sit.”

I do as she asks, sitting on the stool and staring at myself in the mirror. I scrunch my nose up, not entirely happy with how I look. I just feel so...plain. Lady lifts some strands of my hair into her fingers, and inspects them. “You’re not naturally dark, are you?”

“No,” I admit.

“Is there a reason you are now?”

I shake my head. “Not really anymore.”

“Then lets get this out, shall we?”

I beam. “We can?”

She grins, big and beautiful. “Oh honey, leave it to Lady. We’ll get that out and have you shining in no time. Now tell me, what sort of underwear have you got?”