Axel
Axel can sense the displeasure coming from Chloe. She reeks of sadness, and he doesn’t know why and doesn’t know how to fix it. He knows he’s been quiet. Horseback riding usually is. It’s for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors, but he thinks his mate might be a bit too stuck in her own thoughts.
After almost two hours, they come to the clearing he was leading them to. It’s soft grass and open amongst some trees. There’s a glimpse of mountains in the distance. He’s always wanted to bring a woman here, a mate here. It’s a special spot for him, where he feels like he can breathe. He often shifts here. Lies in the grass and rolls around. Now he gets off his horse and ties it to a tree to graze. He didn’t bring the stool with him, so he’ll have to help Chloe off and on her horse. No skin off his back.
She looks nervous as he approaches her, eyes flitting from side to side of the horse.
“Let me help you, ma’am.” Axel is a big man, well over six feet, and he uses that to his advantage as he grips her hips and helps her off the horse. When he sets her down, her feet land softly, and she stands close in front of him. He wants to kiss her, lean down, and brush his lips on hers. But it’s too soon, too much, too quickly, and he wants her to know he means for this to be forever for them. Not just a vacation fling.
Chloe smiles up at him, tucking a piece of her red hair behind her ear. He ties up her horse as well and goes back to his own. Unhooking the saddle bags and bringing them to the middle of the clearing. Chloe has yet to say anything. She looks around at the scenery appreciatively, and he watches her for a moment. She’s even more beautiful here than before. The sun catches her hair, and it’s like fire in the wind. Her pale skin almost glows, and he wonders if it’s as soft as it looks.
Axel begins to set up. Spreading out a blanket on the ground and kneeling to unpack the food.
“You packed food?” Chloe asks as she moves closer to the blanket.
“A picnic, for us.” He sees her smile at that, and she moves to sit next to him on the blanket. He pulls out a bottle of wine and fills up two small glasses. He knows nothing about wine and had to ask Jack, who rolled his eyes and proceeded to pack the rest of the food. Saying he would make sure everything paired well with each other.
Chloe seems happy with the spread. Soft cheese and crackers, strawberries and grapes. Some smoked meats and harder cheese. It looks good, and he lays it out as best he can.
“For you,” he says, handing her a wine glass with the dark red wine. He holds up his wine glass, “a toast.”
Chloe smiles bigger, “A toast,” she says, holding up her glass to match his.
“To a great day and lovely company.”
“To new friends,” she adds.
“To new relationships,” he tacks on at the end. She blushes and looks down, and he feels his smile grow wider.
They both sip their wine, and she moans a little. The noise goes straight to his cock, and he hopes he doesn’t chub up all the way, he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
“This is so good. What is this? A Pinot Noir?”
“I’m not sure,” he says, a little embarrassed, “Jack picked it out. I ugh...asked him for help with this.”
“You asked him for help with the wine? Why?”
“I wanted it to be perfect,” he admits. Her face turns scarlet, and she turns away, but he can see the smile on her lips. He wants her to smile always, to be the reason she smiles. His heart thumps hard in his chest.
They talk, it’s stilted at first, but she tells him about living in New York City. About how fast-paced and loud everything is. That sometimes it’s hard to think over the noise. She tells him about Danielle and how they’ve been friends forever, but sometimes it’s hard because Danielle seems to lead a very different life from hers. When he asks her about her work, she stumbles and frowns.
“It’s...work. I got my master's, thinking I would have great opportunities, but I’ve been at the same firm since I graduated. I’m not the go-to person I thought I would be by this point, and I feel like I’mforgotten a lot or passed over. But! They are going to be picking a new partner. I’ve worked there the longest out of everyone who would be a candidate, so I think the position is mine.”
“That’s great,” he’s truly happy for her. He doesn’t want her to leave, but he is happy that something she worked so hard for will soon be a reality.
She frowns and looks away, like something is bothering her, but he doesn’t want to push.
“So, tell me about yourself? How did you get into the lodge business?”
“Well, it was my family’s. The land goes back a few generations. When my dad passed, my mom moved and left us in charge. I run the business side. Gunner takes care of the horses and the activities, and Jack’s the chef. And Raif, he takes care of the grounds.”
“I’m sorry,” she says. He knows what she’s apologizing for. The loss of his dad. It stings every time someone apologizes. He knows she means well, and there’s not really a whole lot someone can say in response to a parent passing.
“I’m sorry too, about your father. You said he died when you were a teenager?”
She nods yes. “My grandfather was always the one who was there. My mom was distant, cold. Wanted things a certain way. She didn’t show much affection. My grandfather was the caring one, but he’s gone now, too.”
Axel nods and sips his wine. He can hear the sadness in Chloe’s voice. Like she tries to put on a brave front, but is really hurting.
