Page 131 of Axe Marks the Spot

Kas giggles at her aunt calling him by the nickname she gave him. “We’re playing cornhole! You have to come see me toss!” she says as she jumps up and down. “I’m good at it like I am with throwing the rubber axes.”

“I have no doubt about that; you’re a natural at games,” Dane praises.

Kas blushes from the compliment but pops her shoulders back with confidence. The action warms my heart because ever since I told Dane to encourage Kas, he’s been doing just that. She’s completely forgotten about her crush on Tyler and didn’t even mention him or look at him when I dropped her off at the course.

In the last two weeks, all she talks about is Dane, how she wants to learn how to throw a real axe as soon as she can, and of course, her video games. She’s spoken so much about “Logger Dane” in the past weeks that Jeremy asked me about him. It was a question I ignored because my ex doesn’t need to know anything more than that he’s her teacher.

I feel someone staring at the side of my head and turn my attention from Kas, who’s still smiling broadly at a man nobody knows I have a unique relationship with, to the person staring at me. Or should I say people.

Nathan is grinning like he’s caught me with my hand in a cookie jar, and Morgan is still glowing. Nathan asked me a few times since he dropped off Kas from her dad’s if I was seeing someone, but I denied it, because it was technically true. I’m not really “seeing” someone. I thought he believed me, but whatever I’m doing now must have given me away, because the twinkle in his eyes tells me my jig is up. The problem is: How do I explain that Dane is my Dom, not my boyfriend?

I could tell Morgan, but the way she’s smiling says she already knows. It makes me think Fox knows, too, which means that maybe Nathan knows as well, and that’s why he’s been asking me if I’m seeing someone. The idea of them knowing feels invasive and weird, and now I have the desire to run inside and bury myself under blankets even though my skin is hot and itchy.

The excited tickle in my throat turns to a cough, and I pick up my seltzer, but it’s empty. “I’m going to get another drink; does anyone need something?”

“I’ll take a beer,” Nathan says. “Do you want anything, Logger Dane?”

Kas giggles louder when her uncle calls him Logger Dane, but I can tell by the questioning yet playful tone of his voice that Nathan does know something is up. What he knows is the million-dollar question.

“Sure,” Dane says.

“I’ll take another beer, too,” Fox says.

“Can I have one of those flavored waters, Mom?” Kas asks.

“Yeah, honey.”

She cheers, and it makes everyone smile, even Fox.

“Anything for you, Morgan?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“I’ll come help you,” Dane adds before I can turn to leave.

I open my mouth to argue that I can do it alone, but the gaze he’s leveling at me is one that I know not to argue with. If I do, I may get edged or something of that nature later instead of receiving the reward I was hoping for.

“Thanks,” I say.

I head toward the cabin, catching Nathan’s and Morgan’s eyes as I do. They’re still smirking, and Morgan even winks at me. I start to wonder how I’m going to explain my relationship with Dane if they don’t already know what’s going on. If they don’t, would Dane even want them to know?

My early thoughts come back. Does Dane want more with me like I’ve started to want more with him? The training collar is one thing, and we’ve talked more about what that will mean for us. In my understanding, it’s a commitment to structure and growth but not necessarily permanence. It could be considered a stepping stone to more, but is there more for us? Because the next step does not only include me, it includes Kas, too—and all my baggage.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I forget Dane is next to me until we’re walking up the cabin steps and he’s opening the door for me. I step inside and go to the kitchen, my awareness now zeroed in on his presence behind me. The back of my neck prickles, and before I can reach for the fridge door, he’s spinning me around and pressing my ass into the counter.

“Dane,” I gasp.

His body molds to mine, and as if my hips have a mind of their own, I lift them so there’s no space between us. The heat of his groin presses against me.

“Hey, baby,” he says, the timbre of his voice lighting sparks of electricity across my skin.

My attention leaves his eyes and focuses on his lips. Lips I’ve missed kissing. Lips I’ve imagined doing so many wicked things to me since our night at his cabin. Every thought I was having before leaves my brain with him so close, his warm, sculpted body touching mine.

“What are you doing here?” My question is near breathless, and he wets his lips with his tongue.

“I needed to see you.”

Not wanted. Needed. Like he needed a kiss from me yesterday, even though it was quick and chaste. His admission makes my pulse pound in my throat.