Page 67 of Play Maker

“Oh my God, are you serious?”

“Unfortunately. I got suspicious when my mom insisted on picking me up from his office after every appointment. Usually our housekeeper, Kelly, drove me to stuff like visits to the doctor.Anyway, the last time I was there, I had to use the bathroom and when I came out, I saw them kissing. I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t trust him after that. He was probably telling her all about my sessions. I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“That’s disturbing. On so many levels,” I admitted. “Shit, Axel, I’m so sorry.”

I couldn’t imagine that. I thought I struggled growing up, but it sounded like Axel was worse off. At least I had my aunt in my corner. No wonder he didn’t trust anyone.

“I’m used to their chaos,” he admitted quietly. “Let’s change the subject.”

He sat up and ran a hand through his shaggy blond waves, his face suddenly devoid of any emotion. I recognized the look. It was his game-day face, his jaw clenched in determination. I fought the strange urge to hug him, to reassure him that everything would be okay. With my friends, that was normal. With my hookups? No.

“You don’t have to worry about sex,” I blurted out and he gave me a questioning look. “I mean, I told you about my results. Given what happened with Preston, I take my health seriously. I know I joke a lot, but not about this.”

His gaze met mine and he nodded, licking his lips.

“Same. Even though I haven’t fucked around that much lately.”

The image of Axel having sex with someone, anyone other than me, sat like a heavy weight in my gut. Jealousy? Fuck yes. The feeling was both unexpected and unwelcome. This was sex. Only sex. It had to be. And yet…

“Cool,” I bit out and made to roll away.

But Axel’s reaction time was faster than mine, snaking his arm around my waist and pulling me in tight to his body. The kiss he placed on my neck was also unexpected, but if my racing heart and hardening dick were any indication, very welcome.

“You said you wanted to talk. I’m talking,” he whispered, moving up my neck, nipping my earlobe, making me groan. “The last time was just over two months ago. She was?—”

“I don’t need details, alright?” I snapped.

He chuckled, the husky sound making me shiver.

“Ooh, touchy,” he quipped softly as he kissed my jaw. “Same goes.”

“It shouldn’t matter,” I confessed.

“No, it shouldn’t.”

But it did. I knew it did.

Still, we lay silent, like neither of us could believe or wanted to admit that something surreal was going on here. There was a heaviness in that silence. A warning that I ignored.

“What about Preston?” I asked him.

Axel’s body tensed up. “I need to call him. I want to know why he said what he did about you.”

Did that mean Axel believed me?

“I think it’s time to get dressed and join our team at the party,” Axel finally offered.

I wanted to stay here, and fuck everyone else. Or, in my case, only Axel.

Instead of giving into that craziness, I shoved it aside.

“Try and control yourself when we get there,” I teased him, grabbing hold of the out he’d lobbed at me. “Everyone flirts with me. I can’t help it.”

“Yes, I know,” he replied and swatted my ass. “But I make no promises.”

CHAPTER 22

AXEL

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