Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3) (6 page)

A
xel couldn’t help
but think a part of him was a little crazy, being this reckless when his mate was still to be announced by the oracle. But somehow, being around Lucy made him throw his inhibitions out the window. And perhaps for the first time in a very, very long time, he felt free. Free to be happy. Free to try new things.

Even midnight sex at the lake with the most tantalizing woman he had ever met in his life.

For a moment, he just held Lucy in his arms, the energy between them building merely from the anticipation of it all. She was so beautiful, naked, here with him beneath the moonlight with nothing but water and trees and nature surrounding them under the limitless starlit sky.

But as beautiful as everything was, nothing could compare to how hot it had been seeing Lucy come in his arms, seeing her eyes roll back in overwhelming pleasure that made him harder than steel with want for her.

Slowly, making sure she had time to accommodate his massive size in regards to the sex department, Axel thrust into her, the slick sensation between them unfathomably pleasurable.

And from the look on her face, she felt the same, too. As he came all the way in, her nails dug into his shoulders, evidence of the sheer pleasure she was experiencing. For a second, he stayed like that, letting her adjust, letting her enjoy every second as he was.

Then she let out a long moan as she relaxed onto his cock, then surprised him by pushing herself off and \ pulling back onto him again, the water rippling around them as the incredible sensation of moving inside her made the beast in him wild with want.

Lucy gasped in pleasure, and Axel grasped her hips as he thrust into her this time, his entire length sliding with wet friction that was as irresistible as it was erotic.

As he moved into an even rhythm, she moaned his name with each movement, the cool water coming between them for a split second before burning came between them again as he pushed into her.

To his shock and satisfaction, Lucy tightened around him, her body coiling in tension just before releasing in orgasm.

This time, she came loudly, abandoning any hopes of keeping quiet as she screamed with pleasure and her nails raked over his back.

Thankfully, Axel knew these grounds like the back of his hand, even if he didn’t make time to come out here often. This lake was at the far corner of their substantial estate, and even on a busy day, nobody was out here during the day, let alone in the middle of the night.

Sometimes having things like this had its benefits. It just took a woman as amazing as Lucy to see it.

He stayed inside her, feeling her body’s response to the built-up pleasure between them and enjoying every second of her experience, witnessing every minute motion and tic of her muscles as she went. And as she relaxed, he could see the pleased, dazed look in her beautiful green eyes as the moon’s light lit them up and made them appear more catlike than ever.

But seeing her come only made him more heated, more desirous to see her come again. As many times as it took until she was sated.

Mate
, came the niggling word back to his mind from the direction of his lion deep within. But he put it aside. There was no chance of it.

True, this was something amazing, something magical. But even fairy tales had endings.

Axel didn’t wait this time, though, instead moving into a heated rhythm that agitated the water around them as he lifted her off his cock, then thrust back in again and again. The faster he went, the more overwhelmed Lucy looked, the more lost in the sea of pleasure she seemed, letting him guide her through it all.

Her hands dug in once more as she bit down on her lower lip, accentuating its shape. Her breasts were tantalizing, dipping in and out of the water as he controlled the motion of their bodies together, watching her react to every thrust, every touch.

Being inside her was like fire, the animal inside him roaring with want. But Axel just continued to thrust, getting harder with each movement and feeling Lucy get closer with each passing second.

Then he felt Lucy’s body go rigid, her breath hitch, as the energy in her passed her limits. Instantly, she came apart in his arms, screaming his name with abandon as he felt his own release surge through him. Immediately, he came out of her just as his member jerked and released into the cool water to the side of them, while both of their bodies released the fathomless pleasure welled inside from so much sensation, so much emotion, so much of everything between them that had been there since the moment he had met her and was now reaching a fever pitch.

For a long moment, they came together beneath the silent moon, its light pouring over them in abundance as they held each other in sweet release. Then, as Axel felt his body relax, the cold water quickly brought him back to earth, back to reality.

For a second, he hesitated, loving the feel of Lucy’s soft, relaxed body next to him. Then once she regained composure, he walked them back to the edge of the shore, putting her down once they were shallow enough for her to stand easily.

“Let’s get you home. Can you walk?” he asked.

“Well enough,” she said, sounding happier than ever but standing shakily in the shallow water at the edge of the lake.

With care, Axel helped her out of the water, where she transformed back into her regal lioness. He followed after, shifting and leading the way as they ran back to the mansion, back to her clothes sitting in a pile behind some bushes where she had left them.

Using his oversized lion as a screen, he stood watch as Lucy turned back and quickly threw on her clothes. Once she was done, Axel looked over and saw the tattered remains of his clothes.

“Looks like someone forgot what shifting does to clothes,” Lucy said with a laugh as she walked over and picked up what looked like half of his shirt.

“Don’t worry. I can make do,” Axel replied, heading up the back steps into the mansion, Lucy following. She opened the door, and he came inside and spotted the thick crimson drapes covering the windows.

He quickly shifted and pulled a large sheet off of the post, trying to avoid making any loud sounds that would wake anyone.

“Hopefully nobody misses this,” he said as he wrapped the long curtains around himself like a toga, while Lucy watched and giggled in response.

“If only your subjects could see you like this,” she said, trying to suppress an all-out laugh.

“Heaven forbid. I’d never hear the end of it from my brothers. Now, if you’ll come with me,” he said, picking Lucy up in his arms and walking up the stairs to her room, “we should probably get to bed before any of the servants actually
do
see us.”

Not that Axel felt like they had anything to be embarrassed of. But gossip spread like wildfire, and the last thing he wanted was rumors going around about the two of them.

But as he reached her room, he couldn’t help but imagine how wonderful it would be if the oracle did choose Lucy for him. Sadly, that just wasn’t how things worked. And for his parents, it had cost them their lives to be too close, too in love.

By now, Lucy was already half asleep, nestled in his arms like a cat that had gotten into the cream and enjoyed more than its fill. He opened the door and plopped her gently on the bed, pulling the sheets over her as she wrapped herself around the closest pillow she could reach.

Everything in him wanted to stay with her. Be with her tonight. Wake up to the greeting of the morning sun together. But he resisted the urge, instead turning to lock the door, then closing it behind him as he headed upstairs to his room.

Sleepiness quickly overtook him, and by the time he reached the master suite, he was exhausted. Exhausted from pleasure, exhausted from too many conflicting thoughts floating around his head that he couldn’t avoid now that Lucy wasn’t there with him.

He pulled off the makeshift toga, swearing to remember to take it back down tomorrow and have it washed, and then immediately fell asleep.

* * *

L
ucy woke
up the next morning feeling oddly uncomfortable. She’d made love to Axel. She’d been planning to just tease him, play with him. Spend a few weeks having fun.

Instead, they’d quickly started to connect on the deepest levels possible, and that scared her.

She heard a knock on her bedroom door and walked over to it slowly, grabbing her robe off the floor and pulling it on with a yawn.

Who would be by so early?

She didn’t see anyone outside her room and looked down to see a box wrapped in gold paper with brown ribbons. She picked it up and saw one of her favorite high-end chocolate brands. A massive box of them.

Despite her discomfort over the situation, she grinned. She’d told Axel flowers and chocolates, and he’d given her both. And more.

She sat back on her bed and opened the box. Truffles of all colors in soft round balls stared up at her, and she carefully picked a white one with red sparkles on it and bit into it.

She moaned as the decadent red velvet flavor melted over her tongue. She set down the other half of the chocolate and savored what she had in her mouth as she looked out at the grounds, which were glowing in the early morning light.

After last night, those grounds would never feel the same. She’d always feel a warm sense of pride when she looked at them or thought of them.

Or anywhere she’d spent time with Axel.

It made her sad to think of him being here with another woman at the castle, once she was gone.

She picked up the other half of the truffle and bit into it bitterly, choking back the negative thoughts she was having.

Last night, when he’d come out of her, a part of her had desperately wanted him to just keep going. To come inside her. To complete them. To dig her own nails in and claim him.

But that was impossible. He belonged to a country. He wasn’t hers to claim.

Especially since she couldn’t really be anyone’s mate. Being someone’s mate would mean telling them everything about her. Having them look into her past to see if it was compatible with their future. And the last man who had done that had made her life miserable.

Still would, if he could find her.

She set aside the chocolates, sighed, and walked to the door once again. She heard footsteps rushing away and bit back a grin.

When she opened the door, she saw a giant bouquet on the ground. This time, it was long-stemmed red roses with baby’s breath. Romantic. Simple. Totally Axel.

She lifted them and took them into her room, peeking around the hall to see if he was around. Then she set them on her dresser where she could see them from the bed and sat back on her covers.

Life in the castle was comfortable in every way. It had been the best job of her life. Even working with her stressed-out boss hadn’t bothered her like it had the other temp workers.

She hoped Axel’s mate was someone who knew how to handle him. How to calm him and deal with him when he was overthinking things.

She heard a third knock and grinned up at the door, knowing it was probably Axel.

“Come in,” she said, and he opened the door and strode in. He was in his usual businesslike attire today. Gray suit with slacks. Sharp belt. Tailored white shirt.

He looked at the flowers on the dresser and then the chocolates in her hands. “You like them?”

“Two at once,” she said. “Impressive.”

He walked forward, folding his arms, large muscles bulging as he passed her and went to the window. “I don’t think I’m ever going to think of that lake the same way,” he said.

“Me neither,” she replied.

He studied her with calm, golden eyes. His handsome jaw was taut. “You feeling okay? You fine with what happened last night?”

“More than fine,” she said. “I initiated it.”

He nodded. “Still wanted to make sure this isn’t going too fast for you.”

“What about you?” she asked, standing and putting aside the chocolates and walking over to put her arms around his waist and hug him from behind, pressing her cheek into his strong back.

He sighed. “It’s not perfect. I mean, I wish I was allowed to really woo you. Make promises. But I couldn’t turn back now if I tried.”

“Don’t get feelings for me,” she said, knowing it was totally hypocritical. She was already losing her heart to him, but she hoped to spare him that pain if possible.

He turned to face her, pulling back. “Seriously? How do you expect me to do that?” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I’m a big boy. I’ll work through it.”

She blinked up at him.

“I suspect it’ll be worth it.” He put a hand on her shoulder, and it gave her tingles. “What do you want to do today? I’m thinking of calling Cain in to man the phones and taking the day off to be with you.”

She thought about it. “What are our options?”

“I don’t know. Are there any goofy dates you’ve never been able to do that you would have wanted to?”

She frowned. “I’m not the one who hasn’t dated. Is there anywhere
you
would have wanted to go?”

He cocked his head. “You know, there was one place. But I’m guessing it’s too juvenile for you.”