Page 15 of Crush's Fall

Crush let out a very un-catlike growl before she uttered, “What?”

Axle cleared his throat and said, “Hey. I have to run something past you. Got a minute to meet?”

“You in your office?”

“Yeah.”

“Be right there.” She ended the call and stood up from her island in her apartment. The club finances could wait. She didn’t organize or process the financials, but she looked them over every quarter, so she had a reference when money decisions needed to be made. If she had to do the actual accounting, she would put her 9mm to her head and pull the damn trigger. She hated math.

She also couldn’t handle the blatant sex interest that Lucifer oozed with every word he spoke about or to her. He didn’t hide it behind pleasantries. He punched her in the face with the fact that he wanted her, and he would do anything to have her. It unnerved her a bit, which only pissed her off more.

As she descended the stairs and rounded the strip mall that held the businesses her club owned, some of which they shared with the Howlers, she hoped Lucifer didn’t lay it on too thick in front of Axle. Talk aboutawkward.

She waved to Ginger’s kids in the diner window as she passed them and crossed the parking lot. In the lot next to the clubhouse, Trip was sitting on his bike, making out with Darlin’ who was standing next to him.

Crush shook her head and laughed as she saw Dragon come out of the tattoo shop and notice the couple. The loud growl that rang through the air was not unexpected.

Ignoring them, she jogged across to the clubhouse and entered through the front door. Not her circus, not her monkeys. If they killed each other, that would be an Axle problem.

She waved to a few of her club sisters who were hanging out in the main room as she walked through, before making a right and cutting down the hallway. She didn’t bother knocking on Axle’s door, since she knew they were waiting on her. She just stormed in and shut it behind her.

Pretending Lucifer wasn’t sitting there, looking sexy as all hell, Crush plopped down in the other chair and gazed across the desk at Axle. “What’s up?”

Axle looked over at Lucifer and gave a nod.

Lucifer opened his kissable damn mouth and started spewing all kinds of words that sent fear and anger running through her veins. He wanted to put himself in danger! Her tiger started prowling and hissing inside of her, demanding that she protect their mate, claim their mate, drag him off, and ride their mate.

Pushing down her instincts, she tried to focus on the merits of the plan and not on her hormones or her emotions or her tiger. She was president, which made her responsible for a whole list of people. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to protect them and also further the mission her club had been on since their founding.

When he was done, she looked back at Axle and swallowed hard. “What do you think?”

Axle shrugged. “I think we need to give him a chance. I mean… if nothing else, we might be able to gather some intel that has been elusive to us until this point.”

She gave a nod. “I’m on board.” The words rubbed against her throat coming out, making her feel raw, but it was the right decision. She knew that.

“I already secured an apartment out of town. I’ll pack up the little I have and move in there for now. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have a position secured.” Lucifer stood and headed for the door.

Axle called out his name, and Lucifer stopped with his hand on the doorknob. When he looked back at him, Axle uttered, “Try not to get killed.”

Lucifer grinned. “I’ve done a good job of that so far.” Then he left the room.

Urgency coursed through her, pushing Crush to her feet. She darted out of Axle’s office and stopped Lucifer halfway down the hall. Pushing him up against the wall with her body, she gripped his nuts in her left hand and squeezed. All the breath left his body and pain registered on his face as she stared into his dark brown eyes.

Swallowing hard, she fought back her panic at the thought of him being in danger and told her tiger to shut the hell up. Then she bit out, “Get yourself hurt, and I will cut these off.”

He gave a nod as he gritted his teeth. Pressing her lips to his, she gave him a hard kiss. She let go of his nuts and let her hand graze his cock as she backed away from him. Unable to look at him any longer without dragging him back to her place, she swiftly headed down the hall and across the main room. Crush needed to get away from him as quickly as possible.

Lucifer

Bent over in pain and nausea, Lucifer was still turned way the hell on. He fucking loved the way Crush reacted to him. He knew she only threatened him because she was scared he’d get hurt. It meant she cared whether or not she wanted to admit it. It meant he stood a chance to win her over. It meant he was doing the right thing. So hurt nuts and all, Lucifer was happy as a biker in a Harley shop.

As soon as his balls weren’t fucking bruised, and he didn’t feel like he was going to puke, he would be filing away that interaction in his brain for use in his private time while he was away. Who knew a woman threatening to remove your balls could be sexy?

Before he fully recovered, Axle’s office door opened, and he stepped out. Axle’s gaze landed on him, then he grinned. When he started chuckling, Lucifer raised his hand and flipped him off, which only made Axle laugh harder.

“Watching the two of you circle each other is becoming the highlight of my day… well, besides my wife and Nugget.”

“Glad I could entertain you,” Lucifer wheezed out and straightened. As Axle continued to laugh, Lucifer made his way out of the building, no matter how much it hurt to do so.

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