Page 66 of Axel

“You need to stop being kinkyandcute.”

“Told you.” He winks. “It’s annoying.”

“No, annoying will be me, riding the bus again.”

“Fine.” He rolls his hypnotic eyes. “Fortwoblow jobs a day, I’ll be your personal taxi.”

“Thatwouldsave your stalking from being utterly pathetic.”

He laughs, and it reaches his eyes this time, making them sparkle like glacial ice in the sun. And that’s Axel; all heat, all cold. He’s everything I can feel.

“I didn’t mean it tonight.” I reach for him, brushing my shaking fingertips over his soft, groomed beard. “I might want to hear more about your new job offer to be your queen. You know, does my king offer sick days? Is it like mobsters with good benefits and?—”

The laughter in his eyes suddenly burns into passion. “Damn, Ruby, I want to kiss you again.”

“Not until you answer my questions.”

“Oh?” He chuckles. “You finally let me kiss your mouth, and now you think I cantrustit?”

“Howcan you know if you can trust me until you give me a chance?”

“Ditto, Wildfire.”

“I trust you. I let you carry me like a damsel in distress. Trust me; that’s trust.”

For emphasis, I gently rub my feet over his, covered by socks, and watch it melt something in his eyes. I may never see Axel’s feet, but I’m melting, too, finally seeing everything else about him.

“Okay,” he sighs. “I’ll tell you what I can. And if you tell anyone else, I’ll have to kill you.”

“You said you’d never hurt me.”

“And I meant it.I’llnever hurt you.” He lilts, “Grant, on the other hand?”

“He adores me.”

“Yes, he does. So quit making me fucking jealous about it.”

“Okay, so answer this—how many brothers do you have?”

“I have five blood brothers, and Nash, he’s like a brother, so that makes seven of us.”

“Who’s your mom?” I wince. “I mean … if she’s still alive. Sorry if she’s not.”

“Oh, my mom is alive and kicking ass. You’ve met her.”

“Who?”

He blinks.

“Axel!”

He smirks, pressing his forehead to mine. “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful cowgirl at a sex club, but she looked sad, like she’d lost her little pink pony, so my mom tried to help her and?—”

“Ms. Faye!” I practically shout. “The hot goddess who owns the sex club is yourmom?”

“A goddess? I’ll give you that. But please, don’t call my momhot.”

“But sheis. She’s a badass. I want to be her when I grow up.”

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