Page 132 of Axel

“Axel,” I sigh with his head on my shoulder, his hands still clutching mine. “We need to get somewhere safe.”

“I don’t care.” He exhales. “I want to live and die with you, Ruby. Only you. You’re all I care about.”

I feel it, too. I didn’t know I could feel this much … but, “You care about more than that.” I sweet-talk, “And you’re kinda buried deep in my ass in a public space, so imagine the look on your mom’s face if she has to bail us out for lewdness and indecent exposure.”

He chuckles into my shoulder, but won’t let my hands go. “At least laws against sodomy are unenforceable.”

Softly, I tease, “You really want to test that case right now, counselor?”

Gently, Axel leaves my body before smoothing my skirt down. I’m dripping and shaking as he asks, “Are you okay?”

“Never been better.” I mean it, turning around with a wobble. “But I don’t think I can walk.” Instead, I sag against the brick wall.

“I got you,” he assures. “Just hang on. I’ll text Jace to pick us up.”

He gives me an adoring kiss before I can protest Jace seeing us like this. And his kiss doesn’t stop until he’s finished arranging himself.

It’s June and we’re dressed for a fancy church wedding, though I’m sure we look like sweaty, fucking hell and it makes me laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, taking his phone from the pocket of his rumpled jacket to fire off a quick text to his brother.

“I never thought we’d be here,” I marvel. “Chanel. Collars.Cum down our legs. Panties on the ground. Butt plugs in pockets and?—”

“And don’t forget the ring in my pocket.” He cups my face. “I always knew I’d finally catch you.”

He reaches for it and…

Is everything about to change? Yes, and I want it to. My heart flutters, happy and not afraid to ask, “But can you not ask me three minutes after our first anal? I need more romance than that.”

When Axel smiles, I swear his eyes are my rising sun. He pauses adoringly. “Oh, so my queen wants a royal proposal?”

“At least throw in a Burger King crown.”

“She wants a whopper of an engagement.” He aims his smirking lips for mine. “Noted.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

AXEL

“Areyou sure this dress is okay to meet your mom?” Ruby smooths the front of her lilac Chanel frock.

“You look beautiful, Wildfire.”

It’s not a lie. Ruby takes my breath away.

She’s twisted her hair up with fiery tendrils falling free. Her lips are painted blood-red, the contrast with her blue eyes mesmerizing. Her curves in that dress are sinful, but it’s that color. It makes me a better man.

“You know, you wore lilac the first time I saw you, and it was love at first sight.”

“Insta-love?” she questions. “That’s only in romance novels.”

“The ones with or without shirtless men?”

“Both, and it’s pure fiction.”

“Your honor, if I may introduce my beating heart as evidence.” I hold her hand to my chest, her warmth seeping through my shirt. “Because you sat in front of me in a lilac dress with a bleeding kneecap, and wouldn’t shut up about how incredible you are, and my heart agreed. Thisdamn thing hasn’t stopped beating for you since. This is insta-love, Wildfire. Case closed.”

She swallows, and I’m dying to know, “Did you get insta-love for me, too?”

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