NOT A PAWN. A queen. One with enormous power to run the board. That was why he’d captured her.
Axel hadn’t amassed this much wealth and power so he could be treated as a pawn, though. And that was what Otto wanted to do. Axel’s solitary focus right now was performing this checkmate on Otto.
Or should be. He was having a hard time thinking beyond the way his wife had shattered under his touch a few hours ago. And how sensual and flustered she’d looked when he’d had to wake her.
He hadn’t meant to let their kiss flare out of control, but she had smelled so damned feminine and sweet. Her body was both strong and softly curved. He had felt her shiver and heard her breath catch, and the most primal part of him had taken over.
He had nearly lost himself behind his zipped fly. Everything in him had wanted to pick her up and set her wilted body on the bed. To continue what they had started.
She could unravel him as easily as he had her, he had realized while she’d been trembling and panting in reaction. That was sobering enough to make him walk away if only to prove he could. The last thing he wanted was to be under her sexual spell if Otto managed to turn her against him.
He was reminded he had higher priorities than consummating his marriage when he picked up a panicked message from Vorstoben’s CFO a few minutes later. Mira was making good on her threats to pull the properties she’d allowed to be used as collateral. Refinancing was necessary. And urgent.
A second message from Otto demanded Axel come see him the moment he landed, to discuss their plan of action.
Axel’s plan was to oust Otto and negotiate with Mira. He would have to hit the ground running if he wanted to keep the financial impact of her anger from cratering the whole organization, but he was confident he could do it.
The stateroom door opened, and Joy came into the main cabin.
Wrestling his libido back into its crate was next to impossible, however, when she looked so delectable. She wore a fitted, cream-colored dress that closed with two gold buttons beneath her left breast. It hugged her curves to her knees and dipped modestly in the front to reveal the beaded lace that decorated the top of her slip. Her muscled calves made his mouth water.
“Do I look okay?” she asked with a self-conscious brush of her hand against her hip. “I bought it when I got my wedding gown.” She smoothed her hands down her backside as she sat in the chair across from him.
He’d blamed their prickly banter in the stateroom on sexual frustration and lack of sleep, but it struck him that she was nervous about meeting Otto.
“You look perfect.” She wore enough makeup to hide her jet lag and her hair was gathered into one of those braided patterns that mysteriously consumed its own tail. She looked chic and feminine. Aloof, sophisticated.
Yet there was an underlying vulnerability that pierced through his thick armor.
“Don’t let his opinion matter to you,” he asserted. “I’ve seen that movie. It ends poorly.”
“I can’t help how I feel.” She defensively crossed her legs and looked to the blur of gray morning clouds they ducked beneath to land.
A protest rose in him, but he couldn’t allow softer feelings like pity and protectiveness impact him too deeply. He needed to be completely impervious as he faced down the man who had double-crossed him.
They deplaned for his car and, a short while later, arrived at the Vorstoben building amid the usual morning bustle.
Axel was greeted with respectful nods. Security guards hurried to open gates and press buttons for elevators, glancing curiously at her, but Heskel had already registered their approved guest. No one asked her to identify herself.
The way Joy twisted her new ring while they rode the elevator had Axel capturing her cold fingers in his, refusing to allow any show of weakness. Her nails cut against his skin as they moved through the top floor of white and chrome decor, spiking the aggression simmering within him.
Outside Otto’s office, they were greeted by a pair of assistants who scrambled to open the doors for him and Joy to walk through.
Otto was at his wide desk, the city showcased through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. It was a deliberate arrangement. Otto liked to be backlit and make people squint.
His features were sagging with age, but his golden-brown gaze sharpened as he sat back. He didn’t smile, only stared at Joy in a way that picked her apart.
“Joy, Otto Braun.” Axel heard her swallow. “Joy Youngston,” he provided to Otto. “Your daughter.”
“Enja.” Otto rose to come around to the front of his desk. “Umberto said you’d done the test.” He gave her a calculated study. “You look like your mother.”
“Axel showed me a photo of her.” Joy’s expression flickered with a hesitant, unsteady smile. “I have so many questions about her. And you. It’s nice to meet you.” She tried to take her hand from Axel’s so she could move forward and offer it to Otto.
Axel didn’t allow it. He kept her by his side in the middle of the room.
Otto’s attention swept down to their locked hands, then snapped up to meet Axel’s gaze. Questioning. Narrowing with suspicion.
Axel smiled with raw satisfaction. Grim triumph.
