Page 55 of Axel Martin

I stepped closer. “What about Tunisia?”

“That was amistake.”

“Didn’t feel like one at the time.”

Her breath hitched. Just a flicker. But I saw it. Felt it. I was hard instantly.

We were toe to toe now, the woods quiet around us, the only sound the soft jingle of Hank’s collar somewhere behind us.

“I’m not doing this with you,” she said, voice sharp.

I tilted my head. “Doing what?”

She glared. “This thing where you smirk and say one-word sentences like you’re a sexy monk and I’m supposed to fall over from sheer testosterone exposure.”

I grinned. “You think I’m sexy?”

“Shut up,” she snapped and spun toward the cabin.

I let her go.

But she didn’t slam the door.

She didn’t have to.

I was already burning, my cock hard as hell.

50

Marley

Dinner was a mistake. All I could see was us naked and free to do anything we wanted to each other. How many times did I walk up to him and run my hands up his chest and kiss him until he would groan and pull me to him? We always ended up making love anywhere and everywhere.

A beautiful, candlelit, slow-cooked mistake served with a side of smug matchmaking from Lark and Axel, who were way too pleased with themselves for someone who just “happened” to invite me and Frasier to their porch at the same time.

“Oh wow,” I said as Axel handed me a plate. “Lasagna. So casual. Soromantic.”

Lark blinked innocently. “We just had extra.”

Frasier sat across from me, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes doing that irritating thing where they watched me like I was a suspicious noise in the dark.

I stabbed my fork into the lasagna like it owed me money.

Axel cleared his throat. “So, Frasier, Marley tells me you two met before.”

“Briefly,” I said quickly.

Frasier didn’t even blink. “Three nights in Tunisia. It was supposed to be one night, but neither one of us could leave.”

I choked on a piece of bread.

“Three nights?!” Axel repeated, way too loud.

I elbowed Lark under the table. She elbowed me back. Harder.

Frasier leaned back in his chair, the picture of calm. “It was a hot night to begin with, and it got hotter and hotter, so we stayed inside where it was cool. Good food. Great company. And then she ghosted me.”

“I didn’t ghost you. I strategically vanished. There’s a difference. It was a no-name time.