I Like Your Axe?

Axel laughed as the glimmering goblet rose to his lips, dribbles of liquid ran down his chin. He sighed in obnoxious pleasure as he slammed the glass down. A serving woman who had been making her rounds of the edges of the room hurried over to refill it with ale. His eyes flickered over the people surrounding him, but his smile did not reach his eyes. I could see his gaze flickering across the room, alert.

I ran my hands down the front of my maroon gown, gripping the fabric to still my trembling hands. I took another large sip for courage. I meandered over to the group around Axel and plastered a smile on my lips. 

"And then, I wrestled the creature to the ground. Its jaws were snapping, saliva drenched my torso. I managed to grab my axe, and hack into its belly!" He finished regaling his tale with a flourish of his hands, slamming his glass down on the arm of his throne.

"Did you kill it?" I piped in with feigned interest. His eyes slid over to me and ran down the length of my body. I held my shoulders back to hide the shiver that ran down my spine. His lips quirked up at the corner.

"Ah, Lady Fayre, you know I did. I gutted it like a fish. I plunged my weapon deep into its belly, a feeling I'm sure you're well familiar with." He mentioned gesturing to the sword on my back. "I see the lady could not come into our fold unarmed. Such is to be expected from our battle hero." He mused.

I looked up at him from beneath my lashes and smiled. He raised a brow in my direction. I trailed my hand up my body then reached behind me to grip the hilt of my sword.

"Maybe I'm not a lady." I trailed my fingers over the hilt, musing. Smiling to swallow down the bile rising in my throat. My cheeks heated. I hated myself for doing this. His eyes locked with mine, good, that was where I wanted him. Not paying attention to the room. He launched into another story for the fluttering women in the group. I leaned forward and placed a hand on his arm, letting out a giggle.

"I think we should discuss my leadership role, perhaps." I bit my lower lip and fluttered my lashes. His gaze went to my lips, and I saw hunger burning in the depths of his gaze. In a moment the flash of animalism was gone, replaced with his characteristic suave smile.

"Who am I to deny the lady?" He chuckled, rising from his chair, he held my small hand in his large, calloused one. His hands were rough and scratched me, so different from Vane's firm, but smooth grip. 

I caught Vane's gaze on us as we crossed the room together, weaving through the crowd of people dancing and mingling. Vane's eyes were venomous, his gaze locked on the place where Axel's large palm rested on the small of my back as he led me through the room. His fingers stretched dangerously close to my backside.

We reached a large set of double doors that led to Axel's private quarters, on the opposite side of the hall from the guild office. He held open the door and ushered me through with his hand. As we stepped through the door, he held out his hand.

"Your sword, we can just rest it against the wall here." I hesitated. Nodding, I removed my sword from my back and placed it gently against the wall. The large suite was immaculate and extravagant. A large desk and armchair sat near a roaring fireplace in one room, and across the hallway there was a large four poster king-sized bed. Stacks of books and papers lied on the desk. A large plush chair sat on either side of it. Axel smiled and wandered over to the desk, he casually plopped down in his chair and crossed his legs, he folded his hands on the desk in front of him.

"So, you wished to speak to me?" He raised a brow, a smile played at his lips. He wanted me to work for it. I sighed internally, plastering the smile on my lips I walked toward his desk, I perched on the edge of the desk, crossing my leg so the slit on my thigh revealed a large portion of my leg. I pretended to examine my nails.

"I noticed you took away leadership of a unit from me. Why is that?" I asked, raising a brow and resting my chin on my hand. His gaze rested on my leg, and slowly dragged its way up my body, as I leaned over the outline of my curves was clearly visible through my dress. 

"I thought you'd be happy to be working with your man." The smirk was there, a mischievous glint in his eye. I kicked off my heels onto the ground, sighing as I freed myself of the deathtraps. I leaned back on the desk.

"I belong to no man. Only to myself." I winked at him. He chuckled.

"I'm starting to see that." His hand lifted to rest on my knee, his thumb rubbing slow circles on the skin of my thigh. I felt my cheeks heating. He was testing me, pushing to see how far I was going to go. Testing my bluff. If I could keep him occupied and talking, Aine would have time to search his office. But I don't want to push this charade too far. 

The heat of his palm seeped into my leg. I pictured Vane's hands on my hips as we kissed, the warmth from his palms. The gentleness in his gray gaze as he looked down on me. As I stared into the emerald green of Axel's gaze, I saw the hunger and desire there. The need to possess, to dominate. I was a doll, a trophy to leash and own. His hands wandered up my thighs to my waist, he pulled me forward, so I fell off of the desk and sat across his lap. His hands rested on my hips.

"That's not why you're here. I think you're hungry for something." His voice was gruff, I felt the whisper of lips across the back of my neck as he spoke. I shivered. Was I hungry? I placed my hands over his on my hips.

"I told you, I belong to no man." My voice was breathy, I tried to keep my racing heart under control. This was going farther than I would have liked. 

His hands trailed down my hips back to the bare section of my leg. He suddenly pushed me up, walked me backward until my back was against the wall. His huge arms caged me in on either side, his chest pressed against mine and I could feel the erratic beating of his heart. His hand reached up to grip my hair in his fist and pull my head back, so I was gazing at him.

"You're a mystery." He leaned forward and breathed in at my neck. "You are burning fire. It is intoxicating." His teeth grazed the side of my neck, I gasped.

"But you're playing a game that's too big for you. I'd eat you alive." As quickly as he'd moved, he released me. I leaned back against the wall, catching my breath. I placed my hand to my chest to slow my rapidly beating heart. 

Axel strode over to the door and opened it. A male member of his inner circle stood there, with a struggling and kicking Aine in his grip. She was spitting and hissing. Axel smiled and looked at me raising a brow.

"I believe she is yours." He gestured for the man to release Aine and she stumbled toward me, I caught her. Axel crossed his arms over his chest.

"You are many things Fayre, but an actress is not one of them. I'll see you at the battle." He said, an almost sorrowful look in his eye, before he walked out the door back to the party. I looked up and suddenly Vane was standing in the doorway. His gaze took in the disheveled state of my hair and dress. His gaze narrowed, and I saw his hands clench. He strode into the room.

"Let's go home." He said softly, placing his hand on my shoulder. I nodded, shaken from the events of the evening. He led Aine and I toward the door, where we inconspicuously made our way out of the party.