Page 108 of Black Sheep

A groaned breath shudders out of him. His forehead drops to mine, and his eyes shut. Deep breaths lift and lower his chest. I stare, fascinated by the Hyde of the heartless killer and the Jekyll of the sexy, caring man who will grant me the world. The man I’m beginning to believe is obsessed with me.

After several minutes, we go back to eating. His tension eases a touch, although his eyes remain dark and charged, almost frenzied when they run over my body.

We’re distracted when the band starts again. But the young black singer who takes the stage is captivating, her deep, soulful voice keeping everyone’s eyes glued to the stage.

When I refuse dessert, Axel rises and holds out his hand.

My thoughts churn some more as we exit the club. The thought formulating terrifies me a little but there’s a wicked power thrumming through my veins that pushes me to go for it.

He activates the door when we reach his Spider. He cups my elbow to assist me in, but I draw away and place my hand on the low roof.

Narrowed eyes take in my defiant stance. A different type of tension sizzles in the air.

“Get in the car, Cleo.” Soft. Sensual. Hideously dangerous.

I gird my loins. Then shake my head.

“What’s going on here?” he breathes.

“I want…I want…” Shit, use your words!

He leans closer, his words for my ears only. “I know what you want. But if you don’t get in the car, how am I going to drive us somewhere quiet so I can fuck you on top of it? And don’t tell me you don’t want that. You’re fucking caressing my roof right now.”

I snatch my hand away. “I want you to…fuck me. But not on the car. I want something else.”

He pulls back. Stares at me. Watchful. “Whatever you want. Name it.”

My heart shakes. My laugh doesn’t come off as airy as I want. Which isn’t surprising considering… “Whatever I want?”

“Yes, within reason. Tell me, Cleo.”

Licking my lower lip, I gather the words to my throat. “I don’t want to return to the Punishment Club tonight. I don’t care where we go but not…not there.”

His whole body goes taut. An animal poised to strike. “Why not?”

“Just for tonight…I don’t want to live in the past.”

“Why?” He probes harder, his gaze piercingly direct.

I stare at the can of worms slowly slicing open. “It’s too hard.”

“Life is fucking hard, Cleo. You can’t run from it.”

“But we can seek refuge for a while, can’t we?” I plead.

Lightning flashes through eyes gone slate gray. “And you want me to be that? Be sure, Cleo.”

“For…for tonight—”

His head shake dries my stream of words. His fingers slide up my cheeks to fist my hair, and he brings his whole being, vital and virile, to mine. “I can give you what you want, but I can’t promise that I won’t want more in the morning. Enough has never been enough with you. Are you prepared for that?”

“How about we promise to give each other as much as we can?”

His thumbs caress my cheeks, his eyes fixed, his breathing eerily calm. “There has to be an acceptable baseline. Mine is high. I don’t want just your body, Cleo. I’m coming for all of it.”

My breath strangles. “Axel…”

“Get in the car, baby. Let’s go get your night started.”

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