Page 33 of All's Fair in Love & Wrath

Finally giving in to the urge to be horizontal, I pull back his comforter and sheet, and crawl in. Pulling only the sheet up over my waist since it’s so warm in his room, even with the window open. That comforting scent washes over me as I rest my head against the pillow. A scent that’s all Axel. Autumn woods, amber, and a hint of citrus. It’s calming enough for my muscles to relax into the plush mattress, but not enough to quiet my mind for sleep, no matter how exhausted I am.

The summer sunlightpours unfiltered into the bedroom, casting long lines of orange across the aged wood floors. I dozed on and off the last several hours, but my constant companion kept the adrenaline pumping continuously through my veins, so I never gave in completely.

It should be weirder waking up in a foreign room, but Maddox has moved me so many times since our parents were murdered that it’s not as disorienting as it should be. A knockat the door forces me to sit up, looking quickly for my bag to grab my gun, but there’s no time before the lock disengages and the door starts to open.

“Sienna?” Axel walks in, looking slightly ruffled, as if he slept just as rough as I did. He’s wearing the same clothes from earlier, which I guess makes sense, since I’m occupying his room and all.

He walks into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. I scoot back farther, my back against the wall, pulling the sheets up as if that could protect me if he wanted to hurt me.

“How’d you sleep?”

“Fine. You?”

“One of these days, you’re gonna answer that question and say ‘amazing.’”

“You can keep hoping that.”

Axel moves to the dresser, pulling out a pair of jeans, a plain T-shirt, socks, and underwear, then turns and faces me.

“Would you be uncomfortable if I showered in here? I’d go to one of my brothers’ rooms, but they’ve all got their old ladies in there. I can go to the bunkhouse next door if that’d make you feel better.”

The fact that he even asked about my comfort makes my entire body hum. Axel really is so considerate, and I know he’s trying his best given the situation.

“It’s fine, go ahead. I’ll just be right here.”

“Okay. I won’t be long.” Axel leaves the room and shuts the bathroom door behind him. I notice he doesn’t bother with the lock, but maybe he’s really not worried about me walking in on him. I use that time to quickly change my clothes, pulling on my jeans from last night and throwing on a loose-fitting tank top. It’s probably going to be way too hot for jeans today, but I don’t plan on leaving this room unless I have to.

I pull out my burner phone, powering it on and waiting to see if any messages come through. Disappointment washes over me when nothing appears. I’m sure Maddox is still sleeping. I know he’ll check in on me as soon as he’s free. He’s always been a good brother, but the way he’s coped with all of this has made things even harder on me.

I’m brushing my hair when Axel emerges from the bathroom. He’s wearing jeans, sans shirt, bare feet, and he’s running a towel through his wet hair. My jaw goes slightly slack at the sight of him.

I knew Axel was good-looking, but seeing him like this? He’s a beautiful, beautiful man. There’s no other way to describe him. Tattoos cover his stomach, chest, and ribs, every inch of his arms and shoulders. He’s covered in intricate inked designs. The artwork is unreal, and my eyes trace over every exposed inch of him in pure curiosity.

When I meet his eyes, he smirks, his eyes playful, as if he’s pleased he just caught me staring.

“It’s a little steamy in there, but you can go in if you need to. I can finish getting ready out here.”

“Oh, uhm, okay. I won’t be long.” I grab my few toiletries and walk into the clammy bathroom, the scent of unfiltered Axel surrounding me. It’s so warm and calming, woods and slight citrus. It reminds me of a fall day. Crisp and clean. Fresh and comforting.

I quickly run through using the toilet, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and plaiting my long hair off to the side. When I return to the room, Axel is completely dressed, wearing a plain black V-neck T-shirt, a long chain necklace, several bracelets, and various rings. He’s lacing up his boots and stops to look at me, his eyes not lingering on my body, focusing on my face. That warm sensation fills me again, my body relaxing. There’s something so innately peaceful about being aroundAxel. He’s naturally calming, exuding a confidence that isn’t at all threatening or demeaning.

“Ready?”

“For?” I ask.

“Thought I could give you a little tour, so you know where you are in the daylight.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“That’s fine,” I reply, slipping on the sandals that I packed. Axel stands to his full height, looking down at me with an expression that’s never been directed at me before, but I don’t want to believe that’s what I’m seeing. His blue eyes are soft around the edges, his head tilted to the side slightly, the right side of his lips pulled up at the corner. He looks . . . enamored.

Warmth spreads through my veins, and I suddenly feel very exposed. I take a step back, wrapping my arms around my middle. Axel shakes his head, sliding into his leather cut, and the moment passes like it never happened at all.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Yeah.” As ready as I’ll ever be.