“Laugh it up,” he muttered. “Come,Häschen.I have things to say.” He led her back to his bedroom, and she wanted to jump for joy. A bed, so close…
She sat on the edge of it and looked up at him.
“You were right about everything,” he confessed. “I was scared. Iamscared. I don’t want to be like my father.”
She’d been waiting so long for him to talk to her. She was so happy she could have cried. But she didn’t, wanting him to get it out. “You aren’t like your father.”
“I could be,” he said with a frown that eased as he looked at her. “I talked to that therapist you told me about. And I’m going to keep seeing her.”
“Oh, Axel. I’m so happy for you.”
He sighed. “I’ve missed your curls. Your smile. Those bright eyes.” He paused and got down on one knee in front of her.
What the hell?
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “I love you, Rena Jackson.”
She stared, wanting so much to have heard those words that she feared she’d imagined them. “What?”
“Ich liebe dich.I love you.”
Oh my God, he’s been saying that for weeks!“Y-you do?”
“I have loved you since I first saw you, back in April last year. You served me chocolate-chip cookies and beer. And it was so strange, and the beer tasted like piss. But seeing you, I felt truly warm for the first time in a long time.”
Her eyes teared up. “You are so romantic.”
“Nein.But if you think so, I can be okay with that.” He stayed on one knee, speaking to her with such an earnest expression. “I will never want to hurt you. But I am not so good at communicating. I think sometimes I’m a very ugly person inside.” He glanced down before meeting her eyes again. “I don’t want to be. I’m afraid I’ll never be good enough. That my mother is truly the only person who could ever love me.” His eyes shone. “I still miss her so much, Rena. She was so kind and loving. She made me a good person. But I will try to be that man for you. I would give you anything you wanted, you know.”
“Oh honey. I love you too.” She wiped her eyes. “I’ve wanted you for so long. And not romance-book-hero you. I wanted a real man to love. You’re beautiful inside and out. You’re generous and protective. And you have the best body. I love touching and kissing you.”
“I’m not perfect,” he warned.
“Oh, I know that too.” She laughed, so filled with joy. “You give the worst Valentine’s Day presents ever.”
He looked hurt, and she laughed even harder. “Axel, you gave me troll dolls, a red hot that almost burned my mouth off, a porn DVD, a lollipop with a bug in it, and an invitation to Yiffie sex.”
He flushed. “What about the chocolates?”
“Okay, the first bunch was delicious. But the alcohol-infused ones were plain gross. And fake flowers are not a good idea.”
“Oh.” He frowned.
She tilted his chin up to look into his eyes. “But that’s why I love you. Because you try and you’re thoughtful. You have a huge heart, and it’s all mine.”
“But I haven’t gotten you your big Valentine’s Day present yet.” He smiled.
“The only thing of yours I’m dying to have is in your pants, buddy, because you already gave me your heart.”
His eyes lit up. “Oh,gut.I’ve been dying to have you again.” He rose and pushed her back on the bed, stripping her of her clothing until she wore nothing but him.
He leaned over her, kissing and stroking, and his mouth followed. From her breasts to her belly and farther down to her sex. His lips scorched her, leaving her teetering on an orgasm. He laved her with his tongue and lips, drawing her clit into his mouth so he could suck her into oblivion.
She was still coming when he, still dressed, his pants pushed down to shove the condom on, entered her in one thick, forceful push, which brought on an even more powerful climax.
As he rode her through to his own bliss, she knew she’d finally found her Mr. Right. And he’d been in front of her all along.
They made love all night and each night until the weekend, where they spent their time at Axel’s, taking breaks only to eat, laugh, and love, simply enjoying each other.
