Author's note:
So here is the next chapter. Quick warning - if your a bit squeemish, this one might be a bit tricky to read (hence part of the rating). But this chapter is the one that sets the plot for the rest of the story. To the hard core critics, please be nice. This wasn't easy to write (not just because I'm a woman) but I wanted to challenge myself as a writer from a different perspective. Thank you to those who supported me and who have continued to support my stories - you know who you are and I am forever grateful. So hope you like this one, even if your squeemish like me...
Chapter 3
The late night September showers heavily fell, slapping the ground as the cab pulled up outside of Axel's apartment block. He placed his jacket around Blaze before the two of them held hands as they ran from the car to the entrance of the building. Blaze's hair was now damp and wavy from the rain, but her red lipstick and black mascara remained as perfect as it was when the two of them left the club. Their clothes were drenched as they reached the elevator leading to the top floor of his penthouse apartment 10 levels up.
Once the doors to the elevator shut, he pulled her close to him once again. Axel stared into her eyes, cusping Blaze's beautiful face under his palms. Her cheeks were pale from the cold but they quickly warmed up as soon as he kissed her once again. They continued to passionately lock lips together all the way to the door as he reached for his keys, barely finding the light switch once they had entered the apartment.
The pair started to heavily breathe, bodies now closer than ever before now that they were finally alone. Blaze had been to Axel's apartment several times before with the others, but never like this. Surprisingly, this was also a first for him too. Even though he had slept about, he had never once brought a girl back to his place at the end of a night and it was always the other way round. But Blaze was different. She wasn't just any woman he could meet in a bar. There was something about her, something that she understood in him that nobody else could, let alone the feeling he caught every time he saw her.
Her hands had begun to move down from the base of his neck to unbutton his shirt as they continued to kiss each other hard. To her surprise, Axel suddenly took a moment to catch his breath in order to slow down, placing his hands around her wrists half way down his shirt.
"What's wrong?" Blaze whispered, still connected to him.
The truth was, so many things were running through his mind right now. This wasn't easy for either one of them. Although it was clear at this point that there was no going back in terms of their friendship, Axel still felt overwhelmed in front of her. He had suddenly come to the realization that he wanted her more than anything, not just her body, but all of Blaze. He needed her and he craved to be with her always. This completely compromised his feelings about leaving for the wilderness. Blaze's words yesterday also echoed once again through his head as he remembered her saying, 'I'd kill for you…'.
Axel wondered, did she show up tonight to say goodbye? Or was that Blaze's way of saying that she was in love with him? But most of all, with all of that aside, he was savouring the moment right here between them.
He bit his lip, glancing down at her with a cold sweat running underneath his skin.
"Nothing's wrong", Axel gave her a warm smile. "There's just…., something I wanted to ask you first…"
"Sure…" Blaze snuck her arms around his neck as he held her waist.
"The other day, you said something to me. You told me you'd kill for me, what did that mean?" Axel asked with curiosity, slightly nervous for the first time in his voice.
Blaze took in a deep gasp, almost ready to confess all whilst she stood still, staring up into his eyes as they wrapped their arms tightly around each other.
She gave him a loving smile, "it meant that, I've always got your back, Axel. No matter what…" Blaze answered.
What she had said was true but it wasn't the whole truth. The reality was that Blaze was ready to do anything for him whether Axel was right or wrong. She had practically worshipped the ground under his feet, but he never knew it. And now, even though Axel would be gone in a few days time, as much as this pained Blaze to the depths of her soul, she was ready to give all of herself to him there and then. Intimately and emotionally, even if she would come to regret it later.
No matter how he had felt in that moment of passion, Axel would never understand how far Blaze was willing to go for him in life. Killing for him didn't just mean protecting him or hurting someone else if he needed her to. It meant that once he was gone for good after a few days of them crossing this boundary together, that would ultimately kill Blaze inside for the rest of her life and she knew it. 'To hell with it' she thought to herself, losing all of her inhibitions, living for tonight whilst forgetting the tomorrow.
"I always got your back too, baby," he whispered in her ear, slowly running one hand along her back towards the zip of her dress.
They kissed once again, this time softer but more heated as he lowered down the zip. She closed her eyes then almost held her breath when his lips moved down towards one side of her neck. One of his hands rested under her hair whilst the other made its way down along the side of her waist, as Axel admired the curves framed by her tight dress. Just his touch against her skin made Blaze breathless. Nobody else had ever made her feel this way before. Her head tilted up to the ceiling in his hand whilst each kiss against her skin felt more and more intense, but sweet at the same time for her senses.
It wasn't long after when her dress had fallen towards the ground. At that point, Axel took the lead where the two of them eventually found themselves in the bedroom. Everything in that moment felt so right. If intimacy was ever perfect, this was it. The world could have been burning down outside but they wouldn't have cared for it.
All he wanted to do at this moment was make her feel good. She took in another deep breath and closed her eyes as she layed on her back whilst his kiss lowered downward from her navel. At that moment, the world around Blaze turned into a sweet light blur, more intense than any drug she could have taken as she bit her lip.
Any clothes they had left on were now scattered all over the room as the tension between them started to intensify further. Both of their pulses raced in unison as she gripped her arms around his muscular back. He rested his forehead for a moment against hers from above, both of them almost gasping for air as he pressed inside of her. In the moments that followed, the two of them were connected with their bodies and their souls. Nothing else mattered. All of the battles they fought side by side over and everything that led to this moment was instantly forgotten. Their senses had awakened like never before, as if electricity had sparked the air around them.
If this is what it felt like having sex with a girl that he geniunly felt for, Axel wasn't ready to give that up. He pushed deep, feeling every sense of her body over and over again. Both of them could have stayed this close forever. Their temperature and heat between them suddenly rose further as they switched places, not removing their lips from each other for a second.
At that moment Axel had witnessed another side to her, pleasantly surprised and caught off guard. Their kisses became harder as they moved faster with their bodies and their breath. They had given themselves up to each other as he tightly held her hips, pushing her on top of him as several moans left her. They continued with pulses racing as the rush kicked in. All until he took a deep groned sigh deep inside of her. At that point the two of them almost collapsed back down on the bed, both still and breathless.
They took a few moments, sweating as the two of them caught their breath back. Blaze gave him a satisfied grin as she looked down at him with her long brown hair dangling down next to one side of Axel's face. Without hesitation, he gently placed his hand at the back of her neck, lifting his head to meet her gaze closer until he softly kissed Blaze on the lips again with a smile. The words 'I love you' were right on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to say it to her so badly and she was worth it, but he stopped himself at that moment.
Instead, she laid by his side on top of the covers. He could still feel the warmth of her smooth body against his own as Axel held her close before the two of them closed their eyes, finally falling asleep together in unison.
The rain outside had stopped when Blaze opened her eyes before the sun rose. It took a moment for her to adjust to her surroundings when she suddenly remembered where she was and who was holding her. She gave out a deep sigh then smiled to herself. Laying here in his arms was everything she ever wanted and the night they just had together was honestly the best night of her life so far. This moment was almost like living in a dream that Blaze never wanted to wake up from. She also never wanted to be apart from Axel again. Everything about him and the way their relationship felt was natural. And she knew that this is where she belonged.
Then suddenly, the harsh reality kicked in. That gut wrenching feeling painfully dawned deep inside of her. 'This wouldn't last forever. Whatever this was, it's over now….'
The two of them had made love like it was the last night they were ever going to live. Blaze understood the situation clearly and Axel had already made his mind up about leaving. It hurt, really bad, but at least she could live with the memory of last night. She lied on her side with her fingers interlocked through his. A tear fell down her cheek as Blaze thought about how unfair life was. She had finally found her happy place and this is where she wanted to remain, until the end. But it was too late to change the situation.
Blaze slowly composed herself together as she wiped the tear away with her other palm. She gently took another deep breath, ready to part ways with Axel who was still fast asleep, so she carefully removed herself from his hold.
"Hey," Axel smiled, reaching for her hand. He was half asleep and still in a state of euphoria after last night.
"I have to go," Blaze replied, gently leaning forward to kiss his lips one more time.
"No, wait. Stay with me, please…" he pleaded.
Those words suddenly gave her some hope. Did he really just ask her to stay?
"It's better I go now…" Blaze frowned.
"No, listen to me." Axel sat up. "We can make this work. All I know right now is that I wanna be with you, whether I stay or not, you got me torn about it" he explained, giving her a tired smile.
"Whatever you decide to do in the next few days, well, you know I'll always be here." She took a nervous gulp. "Just promise me, no goodbyes, please".
"No goodbyes, I promise.." Axel gave her a reassuring smile.
It wasn't long before the two of them were back for a second round, this time under the sheets as the early morning temperature around them had dropped. It rained outside once again, so the two of them decided to stay in each other's company for the rest of the day and night at his apartment.
Remaining cut off from the world and their phones, ten days instead of three had flashed passed them in a heartbeat. The couple had never felt so happy before. They had gotten to know each other on a deeper level in every possible way. From takeouts in bed to walks on the beach, the conversations between them never dried up. Blaze was fun, sexy, smart and humorous. Being with her was the best thing in the world and the feeling from her about Axel was mutual. They treasured every second together, the intense moments as well as the light hearted ones. Every night they would dance together for hours on the roof of the building with the city lights below them, before returning downstairs to wreck the bedsheets once again, as well as the rest of the place.
At this point, Axel was seriously divided in making that decision of whether to stay or go. Blaze had dreaded the third day coming in the back of her mind, but to her surprise, it passed without a fuss.
The two of them woke up on the tenth morning as comfortable as ever in each other's arms, feeling content and happy. Blaze excitedly kissed him on the lips. By now, Axel should have been long gone for the wilderness, but he wasn't. He was still here by her side days later and she couldn't believe her luck.
"I want you to remember,...I love you…always" the words just came flying out of Axel's mouth unexpectedly, catching Blaze off guard. It made her smile that he wasn't shy to be himself and to show his affection towards her.
"I love you too", she said back without hesitation.
"No matter what happens, whether I'm here or elsewhere, I got your back too anytime you need me" he said, placing one hand gently on her cheek.
Blaze then decided at that point that she should be the one to address the elephant in the room.
"Axel, I know you've wanted to search for what you set out to find for a long time now. I just want you to know that, I'd support you no matter what and I'd be ok with it, even though I'd miss you like hell…"
"And you'd know that I'd always come back for you…" he replied, resting his forehead against hers "you mean everything to me."
"So do you. But I want you to know that, if you ever change your mind, I'd understand. And if that time came where you needed to go, I wouldn't hold you back if it was what you needed to do. We're still young and you know I'd always be here when you'd come back, I promise…" It took all of the strength from Blaze's gut to say those words to him without letting a single tear fall from her eyes. She gave Axel a reassuring smile and a kiss before she got out of bed to have a shower.
"Baby, what should I order for breakfast…?" Blaze asked, slipping on one of Axel's T-shirts.
"Full English please…" he joked, throwing one pillow at her. "You know that accent of yours is so hot!" he cheekily grinned, lightening the mood.
"Ditto!" Blaze laughed. "Ok, when I get out of this shower, I'm making us pancakes with lots of chocolate sauce on top!" She winked back at Axel before closing the bathroom door.
The water was warm against her skin and Axel's apartment was the most comfortable place Blaze had ever stayed in. To say it was large would be a modest observation, but it had everything they needed, not to mention an epic view of the city. Over the last few days they had spent so much quality time together. They could have easily sat there for hours, holding each other in front of the large window, staring down at the tall skyscrapers around the place. Even though Blaze was born elsewhere, this city, this apartment and her life with Axel felt like home for once.
After brushing her teeth and exiting the steamy bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body, Blaze walked through to the kitchen bare footed as she opened the fridge.
"Baby, we're out of eggs! We're gonna have to think of plan B for breakfast!" She laughed, shouting from the kitchen.
Suddenly, her smile faded to concern when she noticed the keys to the apartment along with Axel's car key both placed without a keychain on top of the breakfast bar.
"Axel?..."
Blaze worriedly ran into each of the empty rooms, but her heart skipped several beats when he was nowhere to be found.
From that moment on, Blaze understood loud and clear that Axel had made a decision. He had promised not to say goodbye, and he kept to that. But suddenly, he was gone out of her life then her world fell apart…
