I swallowed.
“You deserve passion that leaves marks on your soul, not just your body. The kind that has you daydreaming in meetings and blushing at random memories. You deserve someone who looks at you like you’re their personal religion.” His voice dropped to a growl. “And when you finally fall apart, completely undone, I’d put you back together just to do it all over again. As many times as you could take it.”
I became hyperaware of every inch separating us. Heat bloomed beneath my skin. A slow burn that started in my chest and radiated outward until even my fingertips tingled.
His eyes held mine captive. There was something in his gaze that made my pulse stutter. The breadth of his shoulders, the corded strength in his forearms, the way he seemed to fill the entire room without moving … it all pressed against me like aphysical weight. I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t do anything but feel the overwhelming presence of him.
“That’s what you’ve been missing, Sunshine. That’s what you deserve.”
Suddenly, his phone rang, shattering the moment.
He stepped back, waiting several seconds before, finally, with his eyes still locked on me, he answered. “Pierce.”
I sat there, trembling, wondering what the hell had just happened.
And more importantly, what might happen next.
29
PSA: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF GIRLS’ NIGHT TO COMPLETELY DESTROY YOUR DENIAL. #TRUTHSERUM
DAKOTA
“He stayed there all night?” Faith’s eyes practically sparkled as she abandoned her ribbon-tying duties, a slow grin spreading across her face as I recounted how Axel had been worried enough the other night to sleep on my floor.
That wasbeforeour get-to-know-you session.
I hadn’t told them about that session yet. That was … well, still processing through my mind like one of those computer spin wheel things. Especially the last part, where he threatened me with orgasms. The way his voice had dropped to that dark, velvety register, how he’d caged me against the couch, the promises he’d made about what he’d do to my body … it all kept replaying in my head like some kind of erotic highlight reel that I couldn’t turn off. I mean, my God, who the hell wraps threats of sexuality in a ribbon of silk? I figured my needs would pass with a good night’s sleep. But nope.
Now, every time I saw Axel, I was imagining what he’d said. What he wanted to do to me. How his hands would feel on myskin, his mouth between my thighs, the weight of him above me as he?—
“Hello?” Faith said. “You there?”
“Sorry. Yeah, he stayed on the floor all night.”
“Did he climb into bed with you?” Scarlett waggled her eyebrows while stuffing heart-shaped candies into a mesh bag with unnecessary enthusiasm.
“God, no. He just …” I fumbled with a QR code sticker, my cheeks heating up. “He stayed on the floor. Against the wall. Like some kind of … floor guardian.”
Smooth, Dakota. Really sold that one.
“Uh-huh.” Tessa paused mid-ribbon curl, fixing me with that knowing look that made me want to crawl under the table. “You have to admit, that doesn’t sound like somebody who hates you.”
“Hateis a strong word,” I mumbled, focusing intently on matching thank-you notes to names. Anything to avoid their laser-focused stares.
Tessa and Blake’s penthouse dining room had been transformed into wedding-favor central. The table practically groaned under the weight of supplies: ribbons in every shade of blush, little drawstring bags that seemed to multiply when I wasn’t looking, and Tessa’s handwritten thank-you notes that made me feel like a terrible friend for never writing actual letters.
The music from Tessa’s wedding playlist—some acoustic love song that was way too on the nose—filled the momentary silence as all three girls exchanged looks. The kind of looks that said they were about to gang up on me.
“Okay, I’m calling BS,” Scarlett announced. “You know exactly what we’re talking about.”
“Tell me you didn’t see the way he looked at you when he thought you might be in danger.” Tessa’s voice had that gentle but persistent quality that meant she wasn’t letting this go.
“Like the world was about to end,” Faith added.
Okay, so maybe I noticed. Maybe when Axel’s face went all hard and protective, something in my chest did this weird fluttery thing that I’m definitely not ready to analyze.
“It’s just a temporary truce,” I claimed. “I’m sure, deep down, he’s still pissed about the hot-pink kitty mobile.”
