Chapter 127 Chapter 25 of the spin-off

Chapter 127 Chapter 25 of the spin-off
Bastião Lennox

One week later.

A week has passed, and time in Japan seems to have moved differently, more densely.

I'm standing, feeling the weight of my own body, while my darling helps me button my shirt with a patience I never imagined he possessed.

Today, we're finally going home.

This past week has been difficult. Physical therapy was a pain in the ass, a persistent ache that tested my patience with every movement, but thanks to all that effort, I'm able to move around now.

And my Axel... he never left my side for anything. Fuck, I never thought he would actually be mine for real.

This week together has been too damn good. Him taking care of me, always kissing me, always touching me with an almost ravenous need. I've realized that Axel loves physical touch; that's how he shows his love.

He needs to feel that I'm there, solid beneath his hands. If it weren't for this fucking shoulder, I'd kiss him the way he truly deserves. Even though we've kissed intensely over the past few days, it isn't the way I want.

I want to touch his body, I want to smell every inch of his skin, I want to dominate him. I need it. But this damn injury has limited me to the basics.

I feel a soft kiss on my lips, interrupting the flow of my frustration.

"You're lost in thought," he murmurs, his blue eyes fixed on mine.

I blink a few times, smiling, and use my good arm to pull him closer by the waist, pressing his body against mine. I feel his warmth through my clothes and that tightness in my chest that only he can cause.

"Just thinking about how lucky I am to finally have you in my arms."

He smiles, that smile that makes me feel like a kid again.

"The doctor said you're doing much better, but now you just need to take care of yourself. I've already arranged everything; I'll contact the hospital in Paris so they can always send someone to change your bandages and check your injuries."

I run my hand over his cheek, feeling the softness of his skin beneath my calloused thumb.

"Thank you for taking care of me, darling."

He leans in and kisses my chin firmly, sending a shiver through me.

"I'll always take care of what's mine."

Fuck, I love it when he lets that possessiveness show. It's beautiful, it's intense... Fuck, it's everything I've always needed to hear. I simply smile and return the kiss on his chin.

I slide my good hand up to the back of Axel's neck, threading my fingers through his hair, feeling the silky texture I've wanted to touch for so long.

"Before we leave, I want a kiss," I say, my voice dropping an octave, heavy with need.

Axel smiles brightly.

"You know you don't have to ask, Bastião."

I don't wait another second. I pull him toward me, ignoring the silent protest from my shoulder, and kiss him the way I truly want to: intensely, possessively, dominantly.

I take control of his mouth without giving him any room to resist, sliding my tongue inside and exploring him voraciously. I suck hard on his tongue, tasting the sweet, addictive flavor of my man, making him release a long, trembling sigh against my lips.

The sound sends a violent shiver through my lower body, awakening a desire that burns like fire.

I devour him. Tasting Axel's mouth for real is so much better than any of the dirtiest fantasies I've had over the years. I feel the surreal softness of his lips as I bite his lower lip, tugging it between my teeth before sucking on it again, drowning the moment in raw lust.

Axel wraps an arm around my neck, pressing our bodies together and deepening the kiss until saliva runs from the corners of our mouths, making the moment visceral, erotic, and purely sexy. I suck on him, bite him, and kiss him again with a hunger that seems endless.

We're interrupted by a dry clearing of someone's throat. We break apart abruptly, breathing hard, our lips swollen. I look toward the door and see the doctor, Mr. Tanaka, and Kenji. Tanaka's right-hand man looks particularly embarrassed to have caught us in such an intimate moment.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Tanaka says with unshakable calm. "We knocked, but we didn't hear anything, so we ended up coming in. My apologies."

Axel recovers with impressive speed, although the flush on his face gives him away.

"No problem at all, Mr. Tanaka. I'm sorry I didn't hear you."

Tanaka gives us a small, understanding smile.

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad to see you doing well, Bastião."

I take a step forward, feeling grateful for the man's hospitality.

"Thank you, Mr. Tanaka. For the medical team you assigned to me, for taking care of me... Thank you very much."

"It's the least I could do for the man who saved my life," he replies sincerely. "And I have to say, this alliance was the best decision I've made."

Axel smiles, sealing the agreement with firm words.

"Thank you for that, Mr. Tanaka. If you ever need anything, you can always send us a message or send someone you trust to our territory. We'll treat you with the same honor you've shown us. Thank you for everything you've done for Bastião and me."

He bows deeply in the Japanese manner to show his sincerity, and I follow his lead.

"I'm glad," Tanaka says, an amused gleam in his eyes. "And if you ever need somewhere to escape to and want some time alone, you're welcome to come to Japan. We have many beautiful places for couples."

He winks at us, making me smile faintly as I feel my face grow warm.

"Thank you," I reply as Dr. Yoshiro approaches to give me his final instructions.

"Well, you're doing much better. Don't overexert yourself, and don't eat anything that could cause your wound to become infected. Take care of yourself."

"Thank you very much for taking care of me, Dr. Yoshiro. Thank you for saving my life."

The doctor runs a hand through my hair in an almost paternal gesture.

"It was my pleasure. Now, take care of yourself."

Tanaka gestures toward his subordinate.

"Kenji will take you to the airport."

We bow once more in thanks and leave the mansion that now holds the secret of our beginning. Outside, the car is waiting for us.

Axel opens the door for me, a gesture of care that still surprises me, and we give Tanaka one final wave, which he returns. We get into the car, and Kenji takes the wheel, setting off toward the airport.

I rest my head against the seat and feel Axel's hand search for mine in the darkness of the vehicle.

The entire drive passes in deep silence, but it's a good silence. When we reach the airport where the private jet is waiting for us, we get out of the car beneath the gentle Japanese breeze.

"Thank you for bringing us, Kenji. Get back safely," Axel says, maintaining his demeanor as a leader but with a softer tone.

Kenji bows with his usual respect.

"Have a safe trip as well, Mr. Axel."

He looks at me and gives me a brief nod, which I return gratefully. We walk toward the private jet, where the pilot and copilot are already waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs.

"It's good to finally see you back on your feet, Mr. Bastião. I'm glad you've recovered," the pilot says, visibly relieved.

"Thank you for your concern. I'm doing much better now," I reply, feeling my body finally obey my commands again, even if only to a limited extent.

They nod and head to the cockpit to begin the takeoff procedures. Axel and I settle into the luxurious seats. Since I still can't fasten my seat belt by myself without straining my shoulder, he leans over me, carefully pulling the straps into place and fastening them with a sharp click.

"Thank you, darling."

He smiles and kisses my cheek before sitting beside me. Soon, the jet begins to move, and within minutes, we're in the sky. We look out the window, watching the lights of Japan fade behind us until they're nothing more than bright specks in the vast darkness.

"To be honest, I'm going to miss this. The peace and quiet was actually nice," he says, relaxing into his seat.

I take his hand and bring it to my lips, pressing a lingering kiss to it.

"We can always take some time off, darling. The French Mafia is doing well; we've eliminated the internal traitors, and we have loyal soldiers. Of course, I don't trust all of them, but we have a solid foundation. We just need to keep an eye on things. And if anyone tries to start a war, we have powerful allies now. Anyone who comes after us would have to be a complete idiot."

He laughs softly, relaxing his shoulders against the seat.

"You're right. It would be a suicide mission."

I kiss his hand again, but I notice his distant gaze, weighed down by an anxiety he's trying to hide.

"What is it?" I ask, lowering my voice.

He sighs, staring at our intertwined hands.

"How should we act in front of everyone else?"

"You don't need to worry your pretty little head about that, Axel. We'll act the way we always have. Even though I'm your partner now, I'm still your right-hand man in the Mafia hierarchy. During meetings, I'll be at your side as your tactical support, but once the door closes, I'll simply be your man."

I lean over with some effort and kiss his cheek, his scent intoxicating me.

"And even if you want to kiss me in front of everyone, you can. You're the leader. You don't need to worry about who might have a problem with it. You're not neglecting your work, and neither am I. So fuck what anyone else thinks."

A genuine smile spreads across his face, the weight disappearing from his eyes.

"Thank you. That was bothering the fuck out of me."

I laugh softly, squeezing his fingers.

"I know it was. I know you, darling."

He rests his head on my good shoulder and tightly intertwines our fingers. I rest my head against his, closing my eyes as the steady hum of the engines lulls us.

The flight is long, but for the first time in years, I'm in no hurry. Our destination is Paris, but my home is right here, resting his face against my shoulder.