I close the door and lock myself in before brushing my teeth well, then stripping down and taking a hot shower. Although there is only generic shampoo and men’s soap, I use both. Once I come out feeling fresh, I dry off, put my underwear on inside out and use the new shirt left for me. I glance in the mirror, take in my tangled hair and the Caged Chaos logo on the shirt, and know exactly whose house I’m in.
I let out a low groan, trying my best to remember how he found me last night at Amy’s bachelorette party. Texts. Shit. I drunk texted him. Where is my phone so I can see how much damage I did to my self-respect?
Pulling in a deep breath, I open the bathroom door. Steam escapes as I step into the bedroom to find Axel sitting on what I assume is his side of the bed.
He’s barefoot, wearing a pair of faded jeans, and the button is undone. His chest has a light coating of hair, and he has muscles indicating he works out. His abs are a six-pack any woman would drool over, and his flat stomach makes me want to lick from his belly button down. My nipples pucker beneath the T-shirt.
He catches me staring, and his lips lift in a sexy, knowing grin. “See something you like?” he asks, amused.
Caught but refusing to admit it, I fold my arms across my chest. “How did I get here?” I ask.
“You drunk texted me, and I came to make sure you got home safely. I brought you a glass of water, some toast with jelly, and two Ibuprofen.” He gestures to the nightstand on the side of the bed where I slept.
I swallow hard. “Thank you.” I walk over to the items he left for me and sit down, taking my time to eat the piece of toast before taking the pills.
Feeling better, I turn to face him. I appreciate what he’s done for me, but I woke up in his shirt. “Axel, did you undress me?”
“I did, but let’s be honest, I’ve seen you naked before.” His eyes gleam at my question. “But I did my best not to look. I just wanted you to be comfortable.”
“And did you… did we…?”
He shakes his head. “Drunk texting might be your thing, but consent is mine. I wouldn’t take advantage, and you know mebetter than that.” He sounds hurt by my question, and I see the pain in his eyes.
I glance down. “I didn’t mean it the way it came out. I just woke up and couldn’t remember much.” I turn and scoot over to his side of the bed, facing him. “Don’t take anything I say to heart. I’m hung over.”
“What about what you said last night?”
I shake my head and regret the motion. “I need to see my phone.” Because the actual words aren’t coming back to me.
He grins at my lapse in memory. “You asked if I was home with the babies.”
“What babies?” I ask, trying not to let my mortification show.
“According to you? The ones we would have had if we’d stayed together.” His amusement is clear in both his tone and his expression.
Oh, now I’m beginning to remember. My mom and aunt pressuring me about not being in a relationship and wanting me to have babies. Then the shots with the bridesmaids.
“I’m so sorry about that.” The memory has my cheeks heating in embarrassment.
“I’m not. It told me you think about the same things I do. All the things that could have been if we hadn’t put our careers ahead of ourfeelings.” Those deep green eyes hold me in place while the wordfeelingsreverberates between us.
“Axel, that was a long time ago. We were kids, and we had to grow up and become who we were meant to be.” Even if losing him left a hole in my heart that never healed.
“I agree.” He sits up straighter. “But here we are, on the same side of the country, in the same town, no less. Wouldn’t you call that fate?”
“What about coincidence?” I ask, not ready to concede because I’m so scared of losing people in my life and he has onefoot out the door just by virtue of his profession and how he lives.
Before I know it, he leans forward, grabs my hand, and pulls. I tumble forward, falling beside him until we are face-to-face.
“Fate,” he insists before his lips capture mine. One taste, and I’m not about to pull away. I missed him for years, and now we’re together again.
I’ll take the time I can get.
I grab on to his hair and kiss him back, my tongue meeting his. He groans, rolling me onto my back so he’s on top and in charge. I don’t care as long as we finish what we started.
I’ll worry about the ramifications and feelings I have for him later.
Even if later is too late.
