Page 11 of Wallflower No More

Everyone knows Rabies has a temper, and Brody McDougall is now enemy #1. Is this more than what you bargained for, Scar Q? We're patiently waiting for your answer.

Scarlett

Nervous energy courses through my body. Self-conscious and buckled in too tightly, I fold my arms across my chest. This is a weird situation, and Axel is beyond pissed about something. It can't be just about the Brody situation. We've not even been talking for a week. That would be wild, although I'm beginning to realize he's borderline crazy. I quickly move my hands to my lap when his eyes almost bulge out of his head because he was looking at my puffed-up cleavage. He shakes his head. Yeah, you're welcome.

“So....” He taps his steering wheel lightly. “You're a junior?” He adds when I remain silent.

“Yeah, you?” I know the answer to this, but I act nonchalant. Because let's face it, everybody knows every detail about The Fearless. He's a junior, too. He doesn't dignify me with an answer.

“Yeah. Listen about tonight...”

Holding my hand up, this talk was inevitable. Confrontation is not my favorite, but I won't hide in the corner and cry about it once it comes. “Let me stop you right there. You're not attracted to me. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken you two years to come to me.” He apologizes, but I won't allow him to say the words. “You have nothing to be sorry about. We all like what we like. But what I can't wrap my head around is why you don't like Brody. He's like legit the sweetest.”

A growl sounds from the back of his throat. But he continues to stare at the road, saying nothing; his only movement is a slight tapping of his fingers on the wheel.

“Axel, is everything okay?” I ask because clearly, he's swallowed a cactus before coming to see me. After all, there is no other explanation for how he's acting.

He mumbles something that sounds like... “Yeah.”

“Can you please take me back to my car?” If he's going to be an asshole, I'm done.

He looks over at me with a scowl, which pisses me off. However, unbuckling my seat belt because, damn, I couldn't breathe and giving him a frown of my own is not the answer. He pulls over to the side of the road and gets out. Then, he stalks his way over to my side and throws open the door like a mad person. Axel places my harness back in place, lifting his eyebrow in a challenge. My smile is viscous as I undo the belt one more time. Submissiveness might be ingrained into my very DNA, but not when it's been encased in outrage. Axel stares at me, his face dark with a barely controlled rage of his own. Fuck. He's scary and hot. But if I back down now, he'll always have the upper hand. Before I can say another word, he leans down and crushes his lips to mine.

Everything about this kiss is cruel, violent even. He opens my mouth with his tongue, not waiting for my approval, just taking what he wants, and I don't fight him because our goal is the same. His anger only fuels the blaze building inside me. We should stop because it isn't normal to be so wet and for him to be so hard from such a brutal act.

My fingers entangle in his hair, relishing in the silky strands. There is no stopping whatever future train wreck this is. The only result will be something toxic. Will I be able to survive the frenzied fury that is Axel Creed? Probably not, is the only answer my heart can muster and at this point, I don’t care.

We break apart both a breathless, lustful mess. He leans his forehead to mine. The caramel of his eyes is a darker hue than usual. Axel gently removes my hands from his hair and places me back under the safety belt. Not as harshly as before, but close. “Don't undo this again, or I swear to God I'll pull over again, and you won't like the consequences.”

You promise? I don't have the nerve to ask the question out loud, but don't threaten me with a good time, Axel Creed. My hands land on my thighs and nowhere near the straps because my inner submissive bitch is back. The anger is gone with the ending of our fiery kiss.

My eyes turn from the road to his profile to study him. Knowing I'll never be able to get my fill of looking at him is terrifying. Whatever this is, it will be over soon. He doesn't do long-term. Everybody knows that. Stubble lines his chiseled jaw. His unruly, curly golden brown hair flows past his shoulders in waves. His jaw is still clenched, but not like before. Seems like our interaction helped ease some of his temper, too. The angles of his face are symmetrically perfect. Axel could be a model.

We pull up to an old abandoned drive-in theater. The field is somewhat overgrown, and part of the movie screen is missing. The vintage speakers appear to still be in good condition, considering how the rest of the place looks. He parks us by the bleachers near the old concession stands and taps the wheel lightly again before getting out. Axel opens my door and leads me toward the bleachers to sit. He interlaces our fingers together. Making the pitter-patter of my heart quicken. “Scarlett, I did wait two years, but not for the reason you think. You interrupted me before I could tell you why.”

My mouth goes dry. I try to swallow, but it isn't happening. “What were you going to say then before my big mouth intervened?”

He chuckles, looking down at my mouth, licking his lips. “I think your big mouth is beautiful. Especially when it's swollen from my lips.”

I laugh loudly. “Okay...thanks?”

He grins. “Look, I'm really terrible at this. You're a good girl who deserves more than a meaningless conversation and a one-night stand. I like to fuck, and then I leave. You're not into that, are you?”

“Nope. To each their own, but it's not for me.” I answer honestly.

He puts his forehead to mine. “I didn't think so.” He pulls his head back and looks deeply into my eyes. I could melt right now from the intensity of his caramel stare. “Why were you so quick to think I wasn't interested?”

“Because everyone knows what type of girls you like. No shade, but let's just say I make two of them.” I whisper bluntly.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Whatever. Yeah, I mean, I guess I have a usual type, but that doesn't mean I don't find others attractive. Do you like just one kind of guy?”

“Almost always.” My answer automatic.

“What kind is that?” He asks dubiously.

“Shy and nerdy, all the way, babe!” Again automatic

“Well, I meet half the requirements.” He fires back.