A/N: Here's the third update for the weekend! To be honest, I'm going to try and squeeze the next chapter in here because I want to complete this section and move onto the next piece next weekend, but we'll see how far I get. We have much ground to cover! Thank you so much for your reviews, though, I love to read them. Also, heads up, sexual content...

Disclaimer: You know the deal


Mind Games

Chapter 29: Care

Sora didn't know when to quit. That much was obvious to Axel. He couldn't give the heartthrob too much credit, though, he was certain Kairi's relatives had played a part in this disturbing reunion.

Axel had watched Kairi all night. She'd had way more wine than he'd ever seen her consume. When she hobbled away to the kitchen with an empty tray, he knew he should've gone after her immediately. She was in no condition to carry cookies or herself. That's why it surprised him that she had been sent at all. Her Aunt had been taking care of those details dutifully all night without assistance.

He wasn't the only one who'd thought it was strange. As soon as she was out of the room, Riku had given him a sharp nudge to the rib cage and inclined his head toward where Kairi had stumbled.

"Go," he'd instructed, "She wants you with her."

Axel was a proud man; it was hard for him to suck down his hurt and go to her. Part of him didn't even want to believe she wanted him. For one, why would she? Her relatives hated him. Plus, he'd been grumpy and unpleasant most of the trip. It was only a matter of time until she came to her senses and declared he was no good for her. To top it off, she seemed to be embarrassed to admit they were nearly a 'thing'. It's not like he was expecting to be claimed as a boyfriend when they hadn't even discussed it, but it hurt all the same. What was he to her?

Riku had made his decision easier when he'd scowled and added, "When I said take care of her, I didn't mean suck her face off every night." The anger in those aquamarine eyes was plenty of motivation to leave the parlor. He didn't want to be the one to correct Riku by adding he'd been canoodling Kairi in the mornings too.

He'd arrived just in time to watch Sora kiss Kairi. The sight was more sobering than having a bucket of cold water dumped on him. He watched carefully as she stood there, unmoving, as his lips pressed against hers. She hadn't moved when he'd pulled away either; she'd just stared at him and cried his name. And now, she still wasn't moving. No, she was too preoccupied eyeing Axel with a terrified expression.

Axel's pain was bordering unbearable. Had he misread the signals he thought she'd been sending? Had all the time they'd spent in each other's arms meant nothing to her? Kairi wasn't the type of woman who could easily engage in intimacy with someone she didn't care about. So maybe he did mean something to her, it just would never be as much as Sora meant to her.

The train of thought didn't stop him from marching to the pair and snatching Kairi away. He pulled her against him, tightening his grip on her waist.

"Get out!" he shouted, not caring if anyone heard him. The look of surprise on Sora's face was almost enjoyable. Instead of arguing, his rival stole one more glance at Kairi and then fled the home.

Axel's grip on Kairi didn't lax. He seized her tighter, enveloping her in his arms. He felt her arms wrap around him but it did little to comfort him. She was going to leave him; he was certain of it now. Sora had been right.

"Axel," she called, lifting her mouth from his blinking sweater, "That wasn't what it looked like. I-I didn't know!"

He let out a sigh. "I know you didn't."

"Come to my room."

"Your Uncle-"

"Will think I'm with Sora," she finished. Kairi put her hand in his and removed herself from his body. He allowed her to slowly pull him up the darkened staircase (he had to catch her twice) and into her room at the end of the hall. She locked the door and willingly fell back into his grasp.

Axel felt so conflicted. He wanted to enjoy the feeling of her body against his. He wanted to delight in her attention and believe that there could be something between them. But it seemed whenever he began to hope for a future with her, Sora always came back into the picture and complicated everything. He also knew with increasing certainty that he wouldn't be able to hide the truth of his actions from her forever. He would have to confess how he misled her and stole from her and face the possibility of losing her.

"Axel, are you okay?" she asked him. Her voice was as thick and soothing as honey. How he wanted to drown in it and forget everything else…

He resisted all of his instincts and ripped away from her. "I can't do this anymore, Kairi. This isn't right, I'm sorry-"

She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "Ssh," she soothed, "I've been trying to tell you something..."

Axel lifted his brows. Kairi was blushing. He could tell by the nervous look in her eyes. It was the same way she looked every time she was embarrassed to admit something.

"What is it, Kairi?"

She bit her lip and he nearly attacked her with his own. Kairi knew what effect that had on him yet she continued to do it. Was her teasing purposeful? He watched as she placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him toward her. "Call me sweetheart," she whispered before kissing him.

Kairi tasted like sugar cookies and red wine. Two flavors he wouldn't have normally found delicious, but now couldn't get enough of. His hands groped her ass, pressing her against him, hard. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders so she could jump onto him. She wasn't usually so acrobatic…not that he was complaining.

Behind him, he heard two objects hit the ground. He turned his head to see what had been knocked over, but Kairi pulled him back to her mouth.

"My shoes," she breathed between kisses.

To his surprise, she slipped her tongue into his mouth. He suspected her performance was more a result of alcohol than the affection she had for him.

He stumbled backward, plopping onto her bed as she savagely claimed his face as her own. She laced her hands in his hair, sending waves of tingles across his scalp. If she continued this onslaught, he wasn't going to be able to resist her.

Kairi finally pulled away for air. He liked the way her chest heaved when she was breathless.

"Axel, why are you holding back?" she asked.

"You're a perceptive drunk," he joked, hoping to distract her.

Kairi attempted to put her hands on her hips and nearly fell on the floor. He caught her back and held her steady in his lap. "Thank you," she giggled, "Axel, what did you say? Will you help me remember?"

"When?"

She rolled her eyes. "On the deck at the party, you know, when we got air."

"Why do you still wear the engagement ring?" Axel suggested coyly.

Kairi shook her head. "No…I was thinking about the part when you told me to forget about Sora and let you care for me," she confessed with a sly expression.

Axel groaned and fell back against the mattress. Kairi tumbled forward with him, barely managing to catch herself with her hands. Her hair tickled his nose so he swatted it away from his face.

"What are you bringing that up for?" he grumbled.

She kissed each of his tattoos. Axel hesitated. His resistance was cracking; her sultry eyes were calling to him. "I feel more than attraction for you too." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "You're not just some guy I make out with sometimes. You're more than that. I'm not going back to Sora."

Axel captured her lips in one, swift movement. His hands grabbed her hips so he could flip himself on top of her. She gasped and giggled underneath him.

"Kairi!" There was a banging on the door. Axel cursed under his breath.

Kairi groaned and shouted back, "What?" He was surprised by the tone of her voice. He'd never heard her talk to her Aunt that way.

"I've been looking for you! Why'd you lock the door?" the woman called.

"Well, stop. Can't you see I don't want to be bothered? I can't believe you invited Sora!" Axel could feel her rage trembling out of her body.

"Sweetie, he's sorry-"

"Just leave me alone!"

There was a pause. "Fine, I'll tell everyone you weren't feeling well. We will talk tomorrow."

Axel waited until he heard her footsteps receding down the stairs. He raised a brow at the woman beneath him. "Well I think that just took you out of the running for Niece of the Year."

She shook her head. "I'm not letting anyone take you away from me tonight."

Desire filled him. "I like the sound of that." He kissed her again, tenderly biting her lip. She moaned underneath him, giving him chills. Unfortunately, he knew the lovely sounds were only going to bring her Uncle up the stairs. "We have to be quiet, sweetheart."

She nodded. "Okay." She giggled and shook her head. "Okay, now." Sexy and adorable. Still, his favorite combination.

Silently, they kissed and groped each other. The time apart had only increased his need of her. Desperation and hunger were fighting to consume him.

Axel kissed and bit his way down her neck and exposed collar. He reached for the end of her dress and pulled up the layers of fabric. He resumed his kissing on her stomach, pausing once he'd reached the band of her underwear. He could make out the stripes and smiling cat heads on them. He smirked. She clearly hadn't planned for this tryst either.

"What are you looking at?" she whispered.

"Cats, apparently," he chuckled.

"S-Stop," she quietly stuttered, "I didn't think we'd-"

He shushed her. "I can fix this. Not that I don't find them cute, but we can't have them interrupting anything." He slid his slender fingers under the elastic and yanked them off her legs, allowing her to kick them onto the floor. It was the first time Kairi had allowed him to take off her panties. He reveled in the new discovery.

Axel lifted his head to look at her face. Curiously, he tapped her newly exposed flesh with his index finger. Her eyes widened; he had to restrain himself from laughing.

"Like that?" She nodded. "Good."

With one swift pull, he brought her to the edge of her bed and sunk to his knees. She sat up, watching him with a strange expression. Instead of answering her silent inquiry, he grabbed the hem of her dress and dove under. Kairi's legs tightened around his head as he maneuvered her hips into a good position; the lights attached to his sweater were more useful than Axel thought they would be. He placed his mouth against her, causing her to jolt. Encouraged by her reaction, his tongue gently licked her. She tasted just as he imagined and he soon couldn't help himself. His tongue flicked and swirled against her with increasing speed and pressure.

Kairi gasped loudly. He ripped away and out from under her dress. She was panting, looking more flushed than he'd ever seen.

"What happened to being quiet, sweetheart?" he asked, enjoying the sight of her. The more he saw of her, the more he wanted her. He needed to possess her, to own her, like she owned him. He yearned to find his place of belonging within her. Surely, there was space for him there.

"Sorry!" she squeaked.

He pushed her dress out of the way. "Just grab my hair when you want to make a sound." Axel didn't wait for her to agree, he lowered his head between her thighs. This time, he slowed his pace, deliberately drawing out the most from each sensation. Her hands sunk into his thick hair, tugging adamantly. He could feel her body squirming underneath his tongue. With every stroke, she seemed to beg for more. Her breathing became louder and he relished in her struggle to stay quiet. He wanted to be the one to drive her crazy, to push her to the edge.

Axel dared to push his middle finger inside her, earning another hushed groan from Kairi. With a smirk, he slid his finger further inside, rubbing against her flesh. Her legs were trembling around him. He continued to pleasure her, with pressured licks and thrusts as her frenzied hands tore into his hair. Her hips rocked into him as she succumbed to steady attention with a sharp inhale. Her grip on his hair loosened so he came up for air. Axel was pleased to discover her chest heaving in the way he liked.

"Enjoy yourself?" he teased as he rose to his full height. He kicked off his shoes and laid down beside her on the twin-sized mattress. Their legs were dangling over the side.

She turned her head to face him. There was a smile on her lips. "I did but I don't think it's enough." Kairi leaned toward him and began lifting the blinking sweater off his body. He helped her, genuinely eager to take the itchy thing off. Her small hands dropped to his pants. She nimbly undid the button, zipper, and was soon tugging them off his long legs.

Axel felt like he was on fire. Every time their skin touched, the burning sensation in his core spread and provoked him further. His hands wrapped around her back and undid the zipper of her dress. With her help, he'd tossed it off her head and to the floor. The sight of her naked body stole his reason and pulled him into a carnal fury.

It wasn't like he'd never been with a woman before. He had experienced physical pleasure several times in his life, but he'd never felt so crazed before now. Every kiss, every quiet whimper that escaped her lips left him wanting. The satisfaction he should've felt when she'd yanked off his underwear was minimal. He needed more. He needed everything from her. He needed her to love him.

Kairi pried her mouth from his. He watched her impatiently. "Kairi," he nearly growled, needing her like he needed air.

She reached into the drawer of the bedside table and presented him with a square package. She was handing him a condom. He blinked.

She giggled and carefully opened the plastic. Kairi placed the latex against him, smoothing it along his skin. Her fluttering touches were torture. He watched as she adjusted her position, readying herself for him. Surely, it wasn't real. There had to be some kind of catch.

"Axel…" she murmured. The impatience obvious in her tone.

Axel cursed his conscience as he moved away from her. It wasn't what he needed right now. He shouldn't be hesitating, he should be grinding her into oblivion. He growled in frustration. He'd become a sap, a true, hopeless sap.

"I can't do this," he confessed.

She jolted from the mattress. "What?"

It wasn't Riku's fault he couldn't create a mood. It was his own. He cared too much. No, he loved her too much. And he knew he wasn't worthy of her.

He placed his hands on her bare shoulders. "I can't do this if there's a chance you're going back to him. I need to know you're mine. But I'm not good enough, I-"

She caressed his face with her hands, silencing him with the soothing motion. His eyes were pulled into her confident stare. "Axel, I am yours."

That was all he needed to hear. He pushed her back onto the pink, floral bedspread. She pulled him down with her, snaking her legs around his hips. In a swift movement, Axel had possessed her. She arched her back underneath him; her eyes clamped shut as she bit down on her lip to keep quiet.

"Kairi, look at me," he urged as he pushed into her further. Her indigo eyes fluttered open; the sight nearly stole his breath. He struggled to remain silent as he claimed her with all that he was. His hands bore into her tender hips, grasping her as tightly as he could, as though she was going to disappear.

His need for her was ardent. His obsession with pleasing her profound. The mere motion of moving inside of her was indescribable. She was so heavenly, his entire body was pulsing. She shoved her mouth into his neck to keep silent as he ravaged her. Axel gasped suddenly: No! He was unable to stop himself from slipping over the edge too quickly. A unique mix of satisfaction and disappointment washed through him.

Kairi caught him as he collapsed, holding him tightly as he rode on the waves of his pleasure. Her small hands played in his sweat-tinged hair. He'd never felt so at peace.

Once he'd found his voice, Axel apologized, "I am so sorry, sweetheart. This…doesn't usually happen."

She giggled, "I'm flattered."

He lifted his face from her body. Axel was stunned. How could she be even more beautiful than she was before? He chuckled, "I don't know what you've done to me."

He was surprised to see his own smirk mirrored on her sweet face. "Nothing yet." Axel was speechless. "You're mine now, remember?"

"I love you," he blurted out. He winced. Axel had hoped his confession would be more charming and romantic. Too late now.

She smiled and replied, "Show me how much."

And he was ready for round two.


A/N: I have never, ever written sex from a male perspective so I really hope it didn't come off as awkward. This plot keeps pushing me out of my comfort zone, haha.