Page 61 of Devour

Someone is on top of me. I can’t see his face, but something isn’t right. The room is dark, and my arms won’t move, and I’m trying to scream but nothing comes out. His weight is pressing me into the mattress. His hands are holding my wrists above my head, and I can’t breathe as he settles between my legs.

I’m crying. “Stop. Please stop.”

I twist my body and try to get free. But he’s too heavy, and my legs won’t work. His breath is on my neck, and I’m crying as I struggle to make him stop. I try to kick, but it’s useless. I can tell from the way my body responds that it’s not Axl on top of me.

Where is he?

“Axl!” His name tears out of my throat. I don’t know why I’m calling for him, but he’s the only person I know will keep me safe. “Axl. I need Axl. Please.”

“Saylor. Hey, baby. Wake up.”

I feel his hands on my face. My eyes fly open, and Axl is beside me, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. The lamp on the nightstand is on. I’m in our bed, and my heart is pounding so hard I struggle to control my breathing.

“You’re okay.” His voice is low and steady. “I’m right here, baby. You’re okay.”

I’m shaking. My shirt is soaked with sweat, and the sheets are twisted around my legs. That’s what I couldn’t get free from. The fucking sheets.

I grab his arm and pull him down to me. I need his weight on top of me to replace whoever was just there. He doesn’t hesitate. He wraps me in his arms, his mouth pressing against the top of my head.

“I’ve got you.” His hand is on the back of my head, holding me against his chest. “Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

I cry into him. I’ve had nightmares like that one for years, but I haven’t had any since I moved into the mansion. They stopped since I’ve been so exhausted from sex all night with Axl. But they’re back, and that was the most intense one I’ve ever had. It felt far too real this time.

“Thank you.” My voice is muffled against his shirt.

“You don’t need to fucking thank me.” He pulls the blanket over both of us and holds me tighter. He’s still dressed and has his shoes on. “I’m just glad I got home when I did.”

I press my face into his neck and breathe him in. He’s the most dangerous man I know. He dominates every aspect of my life and body. But he’s the one I trust to keep me safe. He wrecks me, but then he puts me back together every time.

I just wish he could take away whatever hold he has on me.

CHAPTER 26

AXL

Her face is pressed into my chest, and my shirt is wet from her tears. Her hands fist the fabric so tight I think she’s going to rip it. She hasn’t let go since I pulled her out of whatever the fuck that was.

She told me what she remembered of her nightmare. My blood is boiling that there isn’t a face and name I can track down. I want to beat the shit out of someone.

If that dipshit Daniel caused this for my girl, I will dig his pathetic body up and rip every limb from his corpse. I hope there’s a hell so that I can see that fucker again and show him who the real fucking devil is.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I reach over and check the screen. There’s a text message.

Dad: Son, I’m not fucking kidding. Answer me. This is happening.

He’s been on my ass about wanting to talk about whatever arrangements he’s making for my marriage, and I keep ignoring him because I don’t give a shit.

I delete it, like all the others, and toss my phone back on the nightstand.

Saylor pulls back to look up at me. Her eyes are red, and her cheeks are wet. She looks wrecked, and fucking gorgeous. “Remind me who owns me, Axl. Make it go away.”

I grab her jaw and tilt her face up so she can’t look anywhere but at me. Her lips are parted, and she stares at my face. There isn’t a world where she isn’t fucking mine. She has been since the first time I saw her.

“Just remember that you wanted this.” I toss the blanket off of her and tap her thigh. “Sit up.”

She does what she’s told, because I’ve trained my girl well. I pull the shirt from her body and throw it on the floor. Her shoulders are shaking, and her hair is a mess. She’s looking at me like I’m the only man in the world who can give her what she needs.

That’s the fucking truth. She might not like what I’m about to do, but I’m going to give her exactly what she asked for. It was going to happen anyway.