And Axel, standing by the windows in dark pants and a white shirt rolled to his elbows, watching me like I'm the only thing worth looking at.
"You came," he says.
"You doubted I would?"
"Little bit." He crosses to me, and my breath catches because he moves like water, all controlled power. "You look terrified."
"I'm not terrified."
"You are a terrible liar." He stops in front of me, close enough that I can smell him—that same cologne, smoke, and wood, and something darker. "Your hands are shaking."
I look down. He's right. I clench them into fists.
"I'm nervous," I admit. "Not terrified. There's a difference."
"Tell me the difference."
"Terrified means I want to run. Nervous means I'm afraid of disappointing you."
His expression softens. He takes my hands, uncurls my fists, and brings them to his mouth. Kisses each palm.
"You couldn't disappoint me if you tried."
"You don't know that."
"I know you came here even though you're nervous. I know you kissed me first at that gallery. I know you're brave as hell, and that's sexy as fuck." He pulls me closer. "I know I'm going to make this good for you. That's a promise."
Oh.
"Axel—"
"We don't have to do this tonight," he says. "We can just talk. Watch a movie. I can make you dinner and we can—"
I kiss him.
Cut off whatever careful, gentlemanly thing he's about to say, because I didn't come here to talk. I came here to finally check off number seven on my bucket list with a man who makes my whole body come alive.
He groans into my mouth, his hands going to my waist, pulling me flush against him. I can feel him already—hard, thick, pressing against my stomach through his pants.
"Aurora," he breathes against my lips. "If we do this—if we go there—I need you to tell me what you want. What feels good. What doesn't. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"And if I do something you don't like, you'll tell me to stop?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
He studies my face for a long moment, looking for doubt. Finds only determination.
"Fucking hell," he mutters. Then he's lifting me, and I wrap my legs around his waist on instinct. "You're going to ruin me."
"Good."
He carries me down a hallway, into a bedroom that's all dark wood and white sheets. Sets me on the edge of the bed like I'm something precious.
