Page 21 of Icebreaker

I took a deep breath and tried to center myself. She'd put me on the defensive, and I didn't want to respond with sudden emotion.

"I hear what you're saying. Axel and I are in different places in many ways, but we are still in sync in the long run. I may be young, but I know how to listen to my heart. I don't want a casual fling. When I say I'm all in, I mean it. I want to build a life with Axel and be there with him through everything. What we have is real; it's once-in-a-lifetime."

Maja leaned back. She studied me like a scientist staring at a pinned bug with a magnifying glass. "Fighting for." My words sounded different as they came out of her mouth. "That's a curious choice of words."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed and glanced toward the kitchen, where the plates and dishes still clanked together. "My brother has been through a lot. He's had it rougher than most people know. That means he won't let anyone in easily anymore…since a past lover refused to fight for him."

I swallowed hard as Axel's complicated past hung like a storm cloud between us. "I know. He told me about Dante and about how much that hurt him."

Maja's eyes opened wider. Her words were suddenly warmer. "He did? He must trust you."

"I hope so," I said, refusing to look away from her. "I want to be the man he can rely on to be there for him no matter what. I know I'm young and have a lot to learn, but I work hard. I can be the partner he deserves."

Maja looked at me with a flat expression. My pulse pounded in my ears.

As she opened her mouth for another comment, I heard Axel's footsteps approaching. She shifted to a casual, unconcerned expression, but Axel's furrowed forehead told me he knew something was up.

"Everything okay in here?" he asked, his gaze darting between us suspiciously.

"Of course." Maja flashed an innocent smile. "I was just getting to know Quinn a little better. Right, Quinn?"

I nodded, trying to match her casual tone. "Yep, that's what it was. We had some nice, friendly conversation."

Axel's eyes narrowed. "Right," he said, drawing out the word. "It had nothing to do with grilling Quinn about his intentions or warning him not to break my heart, right?"

"I'm your sister," she said, shrugging unapologetically. "It's my job to look out for you."

Axel sighed. Despite his exasperation, his fondness for his sister was apparent. "I appreciate that, but I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."

He turned to me, his expression softening into something tender and a little vulnerable. "And I trust Quinn," he said quietly, reaching out to take my hand. "I know he'd never hurt me. Not on purpose."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words, the depth of his faith in me. "Never," I vowed, squeezing his fingers tightly. "I promise, Axel. I'll do everything I can to be worthy of that trust."

For a moment, the three of us just looked at each other, the air heavy with unspoken emotion. And then Sven poked his head out of the kitchen, brandishing a dishtowel and a goofy grin.

"Who wants dessert?" he called, waggling his eyebrows. "I made my famous lingonberry pie!"

The tension broke like a soap bubble, startled laughter spilling from all of our lips. Axel tugged me to my feet to head to the kitchen to grab a slice of pie, his hand warm and solid in mine.

As we settled back around the table, ready to dig into slices of warm, fragrant pie and basking in the glow of laughter and companionship, I couldn't keep the smile from my face or the joy from my heart.

This was home, family, and love in all its messy, complicated, breathtaking glory.

And I would never, ever let it go.

The rest of the evening passed in a happy blur, with Sven telling us about Axel's childhood misadventures and Maja showing me photos of her latest art projects. When I said my goodbyes, I felt like I'd known them for years, like I was already part of their little family.

When Axel walked me to my car, the cool night air swept over us, relieving most of the tension of the evening. I ran my conversation with Maja over in my head. I'd waded in fearlessly, and they now placed tremendous responsibility on my shoulders.

At my parking spot, I turned to face Axel. The words rolled out of my mouth in reckless abandon. "I meant what I said in there. I'm all in. I want to be with you and build a life together."

His eyes darkened with desire, and he reached out to stroke my cheek. "I want that, too."

Then, he kissed me. His lips were warm and soft. I melted into him and wrapped my arms tight around his neck. Our bodies pressed together, and I inhaled the scent of his Swedish cologne.

The kiss took my breath away. It set every nerve ending on fire. Need and longing erupted when I moaned against his mouth.

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