Page 44 of Axel

I’m still processing this morning—what he confessed, what I felt, what we shared, but mostly … what I fear.

I wasn’t out of breath from my run. I was panting at Axel’s desire for me. At his ripped body covered in ink. At his frighteningly hard cock in his shorts. At the smell of his expensive cologne and his feral, masculine sweat.

My god, he is a beautiful beast.

He let me see the tattoos on his chest, his abs. The child’s hands clasped in desperate prayer. A crying Virgin Mary, a mother in pain, inked over his abs. He wanted me to see more of him, andI did.

I’ve never felt so desperate for a man. A needhecreated by chasing me, and with everything he confessed about how he feels? I felt so taken and controlled, so powerful and wanted.

Axel is wildly intoxicating. He’s not always cold and cruel. He can burn hotter than I’ve ever felt with a man, and that scares me.

For a year, I was trapped in a trailer with a predatory man I didn’t trust. So, now, can I trust being trapped in a life with a passionate one?

Because both are dangerous in different ways.

Yes, Axel can be ruthless and scary. But it’s the flashes of his tenderness that lure me in.

How he wanted me to know he didn’t love Wren. How he knew he hurt my feelings in the car. How he asked me to go to the vet with him. How he caught me unpacking and looked at me with such awe. How he didn’t make me feel weak about my epilepsy. His erotic joke was sweet. And he swore he’d never hurt me. He confessed he wants more than to fuck me.

He wants everything with me?

That’s the danger.

Because what do I have to lose?

Everything. My job. My heart. My life. I’ve never known a man worth losing everything for.

Besides, even if he gives me everything he has, what do I have to give a rich and powerful man like him?

All I have is my past, pride, and piece-of-shit car.

The judge berates the landlord, the defendant, Bill Ratcliffe, who turns to glare at me. He knows I work for Axel, so I glare back and subtly lift my middle finger to my lips, kissing it with a fuck-you smile.

I make him seethe and turn around.

I make myself chuckle and realize …wait… I do have something to give.

I have skills and no fear. I can help Axel’s brother. I love Nick and Zar, too, and something about my steamy morning with Axel inspires me.

While his third case against Ratcliffe is called, I sneak out of the courtroom and find a quiet spot in the marbled hallway to use my phone.

A text from my worried sister greets me.

Rosé the Hosé

Where TF are you

You better be alive and scaring the shit out of me and not dead in a ditch

I’m upping my body count with my boss

I’m staying at his place

Are you faded

I’m not high and not 14

He’s laying pipe I like

---