She looked surprised at my outburst. Then, she scoffed. “The same way he kept all his other secrets. Like banging our neighbor and gambling away our savings.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I’m glad he’s out of my life now.” She turned her gaze away, looking at everything but me.
I reached for her before I could stop myself, gripping her gently by the chin and turning her to look at me. “Is he? Most wolves are very possessive, and I fail to believe that he just let you go like that.”
Her lip wobbled, and she tried to look away but failed. Then she deflated. “He came for me. Claimed that I would always be his, no matter what the courts say. I had to move. Chicago’s big. I moved to the other side of town.”
“And he knows you make this trip every year.”
She pushed my hand away and crossed her arms. “I took precautions. I left a week earlier than normal, and my family is ready to deal with him, wolf or not. Just because we’re human doesn’t mean we can’t hold our own.”
I put my hands up in surrender, much like Levi had. “I know, I know,” I said, trying to pacify her. “I’m sure you guys have it under control. I’m just saying, if you need another hand, I’m there. And I have huge hands.” I turned my hands so they were palms up.
Her shoulders eased, tension slipping away. “That you do.”
“And feet.” I scrunched my toes to bring her attention down to the rug. “And you know what they say about men with big feet?” I wiggled my brows playfully.
She rolled her eyes, then slapped the back of her hand on my pecs. “Oh, stop it, you,” she said, her face turning a most delightful shade of pink.
But she no longer had that worried look, which meant I had successfully distracted her from the thought of her ex showing up to ruin her holiday.
Then she took a deep breath. “Anyway, I’m free of him now. And I’m not going to let the thought of him ruin my night. Dinner was wonderful, and those brownies look even better.” She reached for one.
“They’re better once you let them cool a bit more,” I said.
“Speak for yourself,” she said with a mouth around a big bite. There was a smudge of chocolate on her cheek.
“You’ve got a little something...” I reached over and rubbed my thumb over the spot, but I only managed to smudge it.
The air between us changed, charged with something raw and magnetic. My pulse kicked up, and so did hers. Her breath stuttered, and her body swayed closer. Every instinct in me screamed to claim her, to pull her in and taste her.
I brushed my thumb over the spot again, this time softer. Her skin was warm and flushed. My hand lingered, cupping her jaw, and her lips parted in invitation.
I was done waiting. I leaned in and kissed her, claiming her mouth with a hunger I’d been holding back since the moment she stepped into my cabin. She tasted like chocolate and heat,but it was the way she melted into me that made my restraint snap. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her flush against me, letting her feel exactly what she was doing to me.
She moaned into the kiss, and I took it deeper, sliding my tongue past her lips, tasting her slowly, thoroughly. Her fingers traced my pecs, reminding me that I was still shirtless. I explored her too, sliding my hand down her back and gripping her generous hips. Her body responded to my every touch, and she gasped when I pulled her into my lap and she felt the hard bar of my arousal under her.
The air around us pulsed with energy. Her scent, her sounds, the way she clung to me. Fuck! It all fed the fire roaring through my veins. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted her under me, around me, tasting me the way I was tasting her. I wanted to mark her with every kiss, every touch, until she couldn’t think of anything but me.
Everything felt so right. And I knew that I’d never be happy until she was all mine.
Chapter 5
Ella
Ishould’veknownbetterthan to let my guard down, but the moment Axel touched me, his thumb so soft and yes, possessive, on my cheek, I knew it was impossible to resist him.
I didn’t even remember leaning in. One moment, I was trying not to think of Blake and the totally real possibility of him making the trip and ruining my holidays with my family, and the next, it was only Axel and me.
His mouth moved over mine with a hunger that stole the breath from my lungs. There was no hesitation in the way he kissed me. It was full of heat, and a deep, aching need that pulled me closer and closer. I clung to him, needing something to hold onto while the movement of his lips unraveled every barrier I’d put up.
Every touch of his hands on me sent sparks racing across my skin until I didn’t want to remember why I’d built up walls in the first place.
His chest pressed against mine, radiating heat through every layer between us. And when he pulled me onto his lap, the hard bulge of his arousal nudged my ass, making my breath catch as a slow ache bloomed between my thighs. I slid my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, chasing the friction and the fire building between us.
The need clawing through me was brutal and raw. And it was long overdue.
