He growled and nuzzled into my neck. “I want to see you naked.”
I burst out laughing. I wanted that too, and if he didn’t stop lighting me up, the first time we were intimate might be against this door. And that’s not what I wanted. “All in due time, babe.”
Axel pulled back and stared into my eyes. Breathing deeply, I ran my hand along his face. I love the way he smelled. “Show me your house.”
I got a tour of his newly furnished home. The house was more intimate at night with low lighting that created acozy atmosphere. Every room looked like something out of a magazine. It was absolutely beautiful yet intimidating as hell. Even the kitchen was fully stocked in a moving-day miracle.
“What do you think? Did we make the right choice?”
“Are you serious? It’s beautiful, but it’s not my opinion that counts. What do you think?”
Axel scanned the room. His face lit up as he looked back at me. “I love it. It’s so bright and airy. Big but not overwhelming. Perfect for two.”
It was the reminder I needed that one day he’d live here with the person he wanted to spend his life with. Someone more worthy than me. But I was going to hide my head in the sand for now. “Did you unpack everything?”
“Almost. I didn’t have everything shipped over. Only the essentials. I left some things in my London apartment for when I go back. But the office hasn’t been touched yet.”
“How did you furnish this so fast?”
“Madison and her crew of minions.” He went to the refrigerator and took out two bottles of beer while he described how she’d done it so quickly. He’d only be around a couple more weeks before hockey started and everything changed. It played like a broken record in my head, over and over, reminding me this wasn’t real. “Here ya go, love. You like this kind, right?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Axel pulled me closer and feathered kisses down my neck. I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. Closing my eyes, I breathed him in. Toffee and bourbon. “Did you hear what I said?”
He turned until we were face-to-face. I had no reason to feel sad, but I did.
Axel could see through me. “Are you okay?”
“Of course. Just a long day.” I forced another smile I didn’t feel. “What were you saying? I zoned out.”
Axel looked me over, assessing my face and demeanor. I was worried he would see that I was probably, maybe, most likely falling for him against my better judgment. We’d agreed to be each other’s first choice, and that was it. I tried to be grateful for the time I had, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel this way about someone again. Someone I couldn’t wait to see at the end of the day. Someone I could love.
“They’ll be here next weekend. Mason’s season doesn’t start until the middle of September, like mine, so they’re coming to visit.”
My smile felt fake as I tried to look excited. The end was coming faster than I expected. “That’s really great.” I must not have been convincing enough. Axel looked at me like I’d just lied to him.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” he asked as he reached for the elastic band in my hair and slipped it free. “What are you overthinking?”
I loved it when he took my hair down and massaged my head. Never thought I would, but I did when he did it. “Nothing,” I said, holding on to his hips. We were leaning into each other, and I could feel his hardness trapped between us. I shifted my body to move my erection away, but he wouldn’t allow it.
“Don’t move away. I like knowing you feel the same way I do,” he murmured, shifting his hips to touch me again. “Even if it won’t lead anywhere. Knowing you want me is enough.”
He was respecting my boundaries, but I wasn’t sure I wanted that anymore. I couldn’t imagine feeling like I could both fly and crash to the ground with anyone but him. When he slid his tongue along mine, I forgot the world around us as I drifted into sensation and pleasure. Safety and strength. Passion and pain, all while wrapped in his arms. I’d been running my entire life, but I didn’t want to run from Axel. Being with him was the safest I’d ever felt, but also served as the greatest risk to my heart.Sometimes love wasn’t enough. It hadn’t stopped my mother from leaving me, and it wouldn’t stop Axel. But for now, I could hold onto him and dream.
“Stay with me this weekend,” he said into my neck. “You can have any room you like. I won’t pressure you for more. But my free time is dwindling, and I haven’t had enough time with you.”
My pulse raced, and I couldn’t get close enough. There was no one I wanted to be with more than him. “What if I want to be in your bed? With you?”
Axel pulled back to look at me. “What are you saying?”
My eyes filled with tears that I couldn’t control. “I believe you’re the one I’ve been waiting for, and I’ve possibly made the biggest mistake of my life.”
He held my face in his hands. “What have you done, love?” he whispered. That term of endearment was going to do me in. If I were to crash and burn, better now than later.
“I’ve fallen for you. And when this is over, it’s going to kill me.”
The conviction in his voice almost erased my doubts. “You’re mine, and this will never be over.”
