16. Perfection

Sixteen

Perfection

Elena

Lips softly touch mine. My eyelids flutter open to Axle leaning over me.

He inches back. "Happy birthday, babe," he says with a big goofy grin.

I smile back, because how could I not? I know I made the right decision to stay home with him. Axle makes me happy. "Thank you," I reply, my voice still sleepy.

"I'm taking you out to lunch, then I have a surprise for you."

My chest warms and excitement bubbles inside of me. I wonder what it could be. "I've got work today, so we could have breakfast and do everything in the morning."

He shakes his head, smiling mysteriously. "I called your work to say you're having the day off for your birthday. Seriously, who works on their birthday? And you're not having something like ramen noodles or a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch."

I'm a tad annoyed he called my work, but I know he just wants to make today special for me. "A poor person like me still has to work. But I'll enjoy my day off for my birthday with you."

A small frown tugs at the corner of his lips. "I told you I've got money."

"I want to work."

"But... you don't have to. I've got heaps of money."

I raise my brow. "Hmm... being an MC member earns you a lot of money, does it?"

He averts his gaze, so I put both hands on his cheeks, the way he does to me when he wants me to look at him.

"I have plenty of money because Victor gave me his business when he passed away."

Oh, my heart cracks open for him. "Why don't you run the business if he gave it to you?"

With a subtle shake of his head, he says, "I struggle to read and write. I know nothing about running a business and I'm not a qualified mechanic, so I can't do it. I sold everything but kept his pride and joy—the motorcycle that's in the clubhouse."

I put my arms around him, pull him to me, and hug him tightly. He leans in, and his mouth grazes the side of my neck. He chuckles. "I'm okay... It's just difficult to talk about him sometimes." Beneath the cocky exterior, Axle knows pain all too well, but he masks it with quips and an I-don't-care attitude.

He pulls back. "I think you should move in."

I giggle and lightly whack his arm. "Yeah, right."

He smiles wickedly. "You belong in the clubhouse... in my bed... with me."

I stare at him, waiting for him to laugh or say he's joking, but he doesn't. My heart races. "We haven't been together long enough, and I'm sure you'd get sick of me."

He scoffs. "Get sick of you, baby girl? Never!"

I haven't stayed at home with my roommates for a while now. If I stayed here at the clubhouse, I'd get to see Axle every day. We're like Velcro, spending as much time together as we can. When I'm with him, everything feels right.

"Since it's my birthday... how about you inspect my car again," I suggest.

He scrunches his nose. "Nah..."

My lips part. "What do you mean, nah?"

He raises his head higher. "I enjoy taking you to work and picking you up."

"I need my car fixed. Please look at it for me." I'm being polite, but my voice holds a warning. He's a mechanic, after all.

Axle rolls his eyes. Cheeky devil. "It's time for your first present."

I tilt my head. "First present?"

He nods slowly, licking his lips, then I feel the heat of his hand between my thighs, making me buck. As his fingers tease my opening, he lowers himself and crushes his mouth to mine, full of all-consuming passion. This is what he does to me. Nothing else matters but us.

His groan vibrates against my lips. "I'll never stop wanting you," he says, and trails kisses down my neck, sparking a fire within me. He slides lower, leaving a trail of kisses until he moves to the middle of my thighs. I can't catch my breath as he places his hands on my legs, opening them wider.

He settles between my thighs, his mouth on me, and I suck in a harsh breath. As he sucks and his tongue dances over my most sensitive spots, I writhe beneath him, one hand curling around the bed sheets, the other tightening my grip on his hair. His stubble only enhances the pleasure.

He sucks on my clit harder and my head sinks into the pillow. "Oh, Axle," I say through pants. "I can't take it any longer. I want you inside me."

He stops, chuckling. "Damn, babe. Those words coming out of your mouth..." He lets out a low whistle, then crawls up my body, his eyes feasting on me. He stops at my necklace. "You know what necklace would look better?"

"What?"

He smirks. "A hand necklace."

"A what—" My words are cut off by his lips colliding with mine. Hard. Demanding. Desperate. I moan beneath his bruising assault.

He pulls back. "Are you on the pill?" he asks.

I can't speak, so I nod. My body burns and my core aches. I want his body pressed against mine. As if he can read my mind, he does just that. My hands slide over his heart. "I love you," I murmur.

He stills, searching my eyes as if trying to determine whether I'm lying.

"Why would you love me?" he asks sadly.

There's a heaviness in my chest at the thought of him not valuing himself. "How could I not love you? You make me feel seen."

His gaze wanders across my face. He looks at me adoringly. "I love you too," he says, and it's the most genuine words I've ever heard him say. I melt into oblivion. I never dreamed of falling in love with a biker, but here I am.

His lips find mine again. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth and kisses me like he needs me like the air he breathes. Desperate for him, I kiss him back just as ruthlessly until his hand goes to his cock. I watch as he pushes himself inside of me. He's so big, but I'm soaked, so he glides into me, even with the tight fit.

His thumb strokes my clit as he sinks to the hilt. He's not gentle this time. Every slam of his hips, every punishing stroke of his cock drives me to orgasm. Over and over, he pounds into me. The rougher he gets, the more turned on I am. Our bodies slap together as he thrusts over and over again.

My muscles tense, my feet curl, and I detonate, screaming in pleasure. I contract around his cock. A moan rips from his chest, echoing through the room. He slams home, pumping his hot cum inside of me. Shaking and pulsing, I ride out the waves. I never imagined I would like sex as rough as that, but with him, I do.

He pulls out and lies beside me, so I shuffle over and rest my head on his chest, listening to the out-of-control beats of his heart. He affectionately presses his lips against the top of my head.

We lie in bed together for hours. I lie in his arms, warm and content.

After we shower, I put on a summery pale-yellow dress. I want to look pretty on my birthday. When we walk downstairs, Cash and Viper are sitting at the bar, talking. They look up at us. "Happy birthday, Elena," Cash says.

My smile is wide as I reply, "Thank you."

Viper leaps off his stool and strolls toward us. When he wraps me in a bear hug, Axle loudly clears his throat. "Happy birthday, darl'," Viper says.

"Thank you."

As Axle and I walk outside hand in hand, I'm elated at the fact that Viper and Cash remembered and said happy birthday to me. I don't recall Henry's friends ever saying it. The men at the MC are different. I'm glad I met them and got to see who they really are. It proves you should never judge a book by its cover.

Axle helps me into the truck, and as I shut the door, I hear Cardi B. My mouth drops open as I shift my gaze from the stereo to him and back again. "I thought you hated my music."

He shrugs and turns it up, making me laugh. When the chorus comes on, he sings it with me. I point to him, my mouth in a perfect O. "You know the lyrics. You're a secret Cardi B fan!"

He scoffs. "I wouldn't go that far." He shrugs. "The song's catchy though."

We drive into town. I smell the salty breeze as it drifts through the window, flicking up my hair. Axle's hand finds mine in my lap, and he gives it a gentle squeeze, a soft smile on his face. He takes me to a café along the main road that I haven't been to before.

The whole time we're there, he's fidgeting with more energy than normal. He seems more excited about my birthday than I am, and it's the sweetest thing.

I take a sip of my cola, appreciating the fine specimen in front of me. Broad shoulders, masculine beard, and the club vest. It's the whole sexy bad boy vibe. An indecent grin is permanently etched on his face, and he makes me laugh every day. Spending time with him is fun.

He's eating his burger, one massive mouthful at a time, and it makes me giggle. I love that he eases my anxiety. I've never had anyone support me like this and remind me not to be taken for granted. Even though we are opposites, we fit and ground one another, encouraging each other to be better people.

My phone rings, distracting me from my thoughts. It's my sister, Ava. "Hello," I answer in a rush, eager to talk to her.

"Hi, Elena, happy birthday!" she says cheerfully.

"Thank you!" I say and smile.

"What are you up to on your birthday? Mom mentioned you weren't having dinner anymore."

The only person I miss not seeing is Ava. "I'm spending my birthday with my boyfriend. We've just had lunch. Now he's got a surprise for me." I peek up at Axle, who has a soft expression on his face.

"I'm so happy to hear you're having a great day. A boyfriend... wow, congratulations. We'll have to catch up soon so you can tell me all about him."

"Sounds like a plan," I reply, even though I doubt it will happen because she's so busy now. I make a mental note that if I get married, I mustn't get too caught up with married life and must make time for friends and family. Not that I have many friends or family members. I love my sister, and it hurts that we aren't close anymore.

"I miss you," slips out of my mouth, and there's a second of silence.

"I miss you too," she says softly and sincerely. But I wonder, if she shares my feelings, why has she been so distant? All I want is for us to be close again.

Axle twirls his finger in the air, signaling that I should wrap up the call.

"I'll speak to you later. Thanks for calling me." My mood lifts after having talked to Ava. I know she cares about me. She's just busy being a wife now. Maybe I'm just being too needy.

"I don't get it... if you miss her, why don't you just talk to her more?"

I shrug. "Ava became distant after she got married. I'm surprised she called for my birthday."

He reaches over and covers my hand with his. "Her loss. Are you finished?" He gives my plate a pointed look.

I laugh. "Yes, I am."

"Second surprise time." Then his face turns serious. "I had no idea what to get you, so I thought I'd take you to one of your favorite places and let you choose what you want."

I smile wide. "Okay, let's go."

He pays, then comes back and takes my hand in his, kissing the top of it. As we step outside, I walk toward the truck, but he pulls me forward onto the sidewalk. "It's further down there," he says, so I follow him.

We pass a few more restaurants and cross the road. As soon as we reach the corner, I see where we're headed: Crown Village Bookstore. I squeal and bounce on the spot. He laughs, as now I'm pulling him toward the shop. When I open the door, a little bell above it chimes.

"Get as many books as you want," he says with a grin.

I wrap my arms around him tightly. As I pull back, I stand on my toes and kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is the best birthday present ever."

His face lights up at my words, and I make my way to the romance section. I pull one book out at a time, check the front cover, turn it around, and read the blurb. I open one of the new releases wide and breathe in the scent of new book, almost getting high on the smell.

When I put the book back, Axle's giving me a weird look. "Don't give me those judgy eyes," I tease him.

He chuckles and shakes his head.

I stack the books in Axle's arms as we go around. I notice the girls around us giggling and checking him out—not that I blame them. If I was in a bookstore and a sexy biker came in and carried around books, I'd be giddy too.

After my shopping spree, a twinge of guilt sets in, but Axle continues to reassure me that it's for my birthday.

When we go back to the clubhouse, we have sex well into the evening. My birthday is perfect.