I take a shower, apply the ointment to my back the best I can, and place some bandages on the worst of the wounds. My eye is looking better. Well . . . better if you count that I can open it but it has that nasty yellowish brown color to the bruising. It is still a little swollen but not as bad as it was three days ago. There really isn’t anything I can do to fix my mess of a face so I pull my hair back into a messy bun and finish removing all traces of myself from Maddox’s guestroom.
Realizing I probably have quite a bit of time to kill before Axel gets back, I decide to give Maddox’s house a good clean. I grab my iPhone out of my bag and hook up my earbuds. When One Republic’s ‘Feel Again’ fills my ears, I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face. I bet I look ridiculous, just standing in the middle of Maddox’s kitchen with bleach in one hand, a scrubber in the other, and a big, blinding smile on my face.
Deep down inside, I hope this is another sign that fate is finally on my side.
I just finish up cleaning Maddox’s bathroom when I hear a knock at the door. Butterflies immediately start fluttering inside my stomach. I actually reach down and press my hand against my stomach to see if I can feel them. Laughing softly at my ridiculous actions, I put away the cleaning supplies and brush off my pants.
Deep breath in.
I check the peephole and see Axel’s handsome face filling the viewer. He looks like he’s changed his clothes and attempted to clean up a little bit. Even through the small hole, I can see the cocky smirk on his face and the bright twinkle in his emerald eyes. He looks like he stepped off the pages of some sexy cologne add.
Another deep breath in.
Disarming the alarm and turning all the locks, I open the door and just look at him. My eyes travel the length of his body, up to his face and back down again. His jeans are molded to his legs, cupping his impressive bulge and doing nothing to hide the fact that he is literally about to burst through the zipper. I lick my lips. I don’t mean to but when his strangled moan reaches my ears, I look back up to his face. His eyes are on fire, so brilliantly bright. He clears his throat and reaches down to adjust his pants.
“You keep looking at me like that and we won’t make it out the door, Princess.”
I’m so turned on right now that just the sound of his gravelly voice makes me squirm. I could probably come right now; all it would take would be one brush of his skin on mine.
“Serious as shit right now, Izzy. You keep looking at me like I’m the last drop of water left after a long-ass drought and I will take you right here in the doorway. Jesus Christ, I’m so fucking hard right now, I think I really could hammer nails.” He sounds angry but I’m pretty sure he’s more frustrated at our current location than he is mad that I am currently eye fucking him hard. “Shit, baby, I want you so fucking bad,” he whispers before pulling me into his arms. He bends down and nuzzles his nose into the crease of my neck, inhaling deep. “Smell so fucking good.”
I’ve been wearing the same perfume for years, ever since Axel bought me my first bottle of Light Blue. It has been something that, at times, I wasn’t even able to wear, but it was also something that gave me some strength with one inhale. I would remember Axel and what we shared all those years ago with just one whiff.
When I feel his hot, wet tongue start tracing my collarbone before making its way up to my ear, I am once again brought to my knees with the overwhelming hunger that takes over my system. We have got to get out of Maddox’s house. Now.
Pushing on his shoulders reluctantly, I open my mouth to speak but am halted when he brings his head up and softly presses his lips against mine. This isn’t a kiss like we shared earlier. That was full of lust and pent-up rapture. This kiss is full of promise—the slow, torturing kind. He takes his time, gently stroking his tongue against my own. With one last swipe, he pulls back and looks down at me with hooded eyes.
“Wow,” I sigh. “It gets better every time.” Even to my ears, I can hear the wonder in my tone.
It was always passionate between us as teenagers, but never with the knowledge of an adult’s sexuality. I think we both know deep down that whatever will come next will blow every single coupling we have had in the past together, and with others, out of the water.
“As much as I would love to drag you back into that bedroom and take you now, I want time to play. If I got started here, I would only have to stop when Locke got home. I want you alone in my house, where only my ears can hear you scream.”
Oh boy.
“Where are your bags?” he questions.
I just mutely point to the two bags sitting on the kitchen table.
He laughs lightly before walking over and picking them up. I set the alarm and lock the door. Before I can pocket the key, Axel reaches over and takes it from my hand. “You won’t be needing that again, Princess. I’ll make sure he gets it back.” He winks, pockets the key, and reaches down to lace our fingers together.