Page 71 of Wicked Lord

As soon as he disappeared up the pathway to the quad, I doubled back toward Fraternity Row. It was time to get some answers.

Axel’s dorm room was empty when I arrived, the sound of rushing water coming from the adjoining bathroom. I plopped down onto his bed, thanking my lucky stars Killian wasn’t here. He was probably off with Lexi on their little love boat.

My feet tapped out an incessant rhythm on the gleaming wood floorboards as I waited, my stomach and fingers in knots. I hadn’t exactly figured out what I was going to say. How do you ask your fake boyfriend if he just assaulted a mutual friend and then proceeded to grope you under the cover of darkness?

I wasn’t sure what was the best scenario: that it was him and we had a dirty moment beneath the towering oaks or that it wasn’t, and I’d been turned on by some random attacker.

When the rush of water stopped, my heart kicked at my ribs, my feet increasing their tapping to double time. The creak of the bathroom door opening sent my eyes up to meet a pair of deep blue ones.

Our gazes met and held for an excruciatingly long moment as he lingered in the shadows of the threshold.

Itwashim.

I didn’t know how I knew, but I could tell by the hard set of his jaw, the tension radiating off his broad form. He wore only a towel, slung low on his hips. I had to force myself to keep my eyes on his face and not trail that perfect torso.

Once he stepped out of the dim lighting, my gaze drifted down to a cut along his bottom lip. Then, all restraint forgotten, I traced his exposed torso and landed on the knuckles of his right hand. The blood had been wiped clean in the shower, but the fresh wounds were still noticeable.

“What the fuck, Axel?”

CHAPTER 29

DANGEROUS QUESTIONS

Axel

Lorelei glared across my room, her cheeks flushed and blond hair tousled like she’d had a wild tumble in bed with someone. Memories of us colliding barely fifteen minutes ago sped through my mind, slowly but surely dismantling my control.

Her catching me donning a ski mask and beating the shit out of Micah was nothing compared to what happened when I had her pinned against me.

Deep in the shadows of those branches, her reaction had every one of my muscles trembling.

Lorelei Battenberg had definitely gotten under my skin.

“What are you doing here, Lorelei?” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the rough edge from my voice.

Her eyes narrowed, those dark amber orbs hardening to sharp blades that could probably kill me. “Why the hell were you beating Micah Preston to a bloody pulp?”

I avoided that burning gaze and stomped to my dresser, my movements too robotic and awkward. “What are you talking about? I was with the team, remember?”

Lorelei getting involved in this bullshit would be a disaster. Too much blood already stained my hands, and I’d do anything to keep hers from spilling.

She scoffed. “Were you and the team starting a fight club? You can get a busted lip playing football, but I’m pretty sure you don’t smash your fists into players.”

Blondie was too smart for her own good. If she didn’t drop this on her own, I’d be forced to reveal more of my twisted side to scare her off. How would she react to meeting the devil on my shoulder?

“Things happen with guys. Tempers flare.” I gave a lazy shrug and opened my drawer for a pair of boxers, so I wasn’t standing in front of her in nothing but a towel, one that could barely contain my semi hard on.

Fuck. Her scent still swirled in my nose, and the feel of her body pressed into mine, her ass rubbing against my dick, had my head spinning. I couldn’t think straight.

Istillcouldn’t.

“Stop lying, Axel.” She marched over and slammed the drawer shut before I could grab anything. “I know it was you. I know what you smell like, what you feel like.”

A deep flush blossomed across her cheeks, and her breaths quickened.

Was she replaying that moment in the shadows like I’d done a dozen times since finding her in my room?

I backed her up against my dresser, shaking the mess of random sports paraphernalia and picture frames. “You don’t know shit, Lore. If you did, you’d drop this and stop asking dangerous questions.”