“Yo, Axel.What happened in there?”Ripper questioned.“I know you inked Sophia, I could hear it, but she was in there for quite a while after you stopped.”
Axel looked at him and just uttered three words.“She's worth it.”Then he got back to work.He knew Ripper would understand.
“That's going to be explosive,” Ripper commented.“When you tell Sinner.”
“We're waiting a bit for that,” he told him.
“Ah, hell, brother.I get wanting to be cautious, but don't wait too long.If he finds out some other way, he's going to go ballistic.”
“I'm aware.We know what we're doing.”
Thankfully, Ripper dropped it and focused on the walk-in who wanted some ink instead of grilling him further.
It had been a couple of days since he'd seen Sophia, and since he knew she was working that evening, he left The Skin Canvas and drove over to Club Elysium.
Striding inside, he nodded at the prospect who was on security duty for the dancers, got a drink, and found a table just as Sophia took the stage.
Watching her dance, he was blown away.Sure, he'd seen her dance before, but he'd never really given himself the chance toadmireit.She moved with a liquid grace that was awe-inspiring.
He couldn't believe he'd been such an idiot the first time he'd seen her up there.His woman was born to be up on that stage.
When the song was almost over, Axel rose from his seat and made his way to the door leading to the employees-only area and stepped through it so he was there when Sophia entered the hallway.
“Hey, babygirl.”
“Axel.Why am I not surprised you're back here?”she said.
“Because you've already figured me out,” he replied."I know I said this before, but I am so damn sorry for the way I acted that first night.Watching you up there on that stage just now—I got out of my head and reallywatched—you were born to be up there, and I was a fucking idiot.”
“Yes, you were,” she quipped and he growled.
“Watch it, you.”He crowded her back against the wall and propped himself up with his hands on either side of her face.“I'm going to kiss you now.”
When her hands lifted to grip his shirt, he took that for consent and pressed his lips to hers.When her lips parted, he plundered her mouth until she whimpered.
As much as he wanted to keep kissing her, he knew she had to get back to the dressing room, so he reluctantly ended it.
Resting his forehead against hers, he took several calming breaths.“Let me take you to dinner.”
“I'd like that,” she said with a smile.
“You're off the day after tomorrow.I'll pick you up at five.”
“Are you forgetting something?”she asked, one brow arched.
“Shit.Right.Meet you here then at six?”he amended.
“That sounds good,” she told him.
“Good.I should let you get to the dressing room, but I need just one more taste of those sweet lips,” he said and kissed her again.
He reluctantly stepped back and let her move past him.
“See you later, babygirl.”
“Not unless I see you first,” she replied with a wink as she scooted past him to get to the dressing room.
“Brat,” he growled at her retreating form and her laughter had him shaking his head.She was definitely going to be a handful.
