Page 46 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

It would be worth it.

True to his word, Axel appeared around midday. I’d expected him to come and escort me home. But instead, he was carrying a tote. “Brought food. Come and have a break.”

I pulled my lower lip between my teeth as I wiped sweat from my forehead and watched him remove a blanket. He spread it over the ground. Did he realize how endearing this was? Him setting out a picnic in the middle of the forest? The birdsong wrapping around us in the most enchanting way?

I shed my backpack and took a seat beside him as he set out two parcels wrapped in brown paper and a paper bag, which he opened to reveal potato chips. They were thicker than the kind you get at the store. “Did you make those?”

“It wasn’t hard,” he said, handing over one of the paper wrapped sandwiches. I eagerly opened it to find two thick slices of his fresh baked bread. Sandwiched between them was lettuce, tomato, pickles, sliced ham, cheese, and some kind of aioli spread. I moaned as I bit into it. How did he manage to make something so simple taste like five star dining?

Eagerly, I rushed to shove a few chips into my mouth. Only to find him watching me, the pupil on his good eye blown wide. His body was motionless. Like he was in a trance.

“Do I…?” I wiped at my mouth. Maybe there was some sauce there? Nope, nothing.

He blinked and gave his head a little shake.

Like I said…weird. Cold one minute, hot the next.

We set about eating. I sipped from my water bottle in between bites. It took less than ten minutes to polish everything off.

He pulled out a glass container. Inside were two fudge brownies.

“Oh, my God. Would you please stop already.”

Because, damn it.

“You don’t like brownies?” His brow furrowed.

“I love brownies. That’s not it. I just…” I sighed. How did you explain to someone that they seemed absolutely perfect, when you hardly knew them?

He continued to stare at me, his head tilted in question.

“Never mind. Just—give me one of those before I have to tackle you for it.”

“It’s cute—that you think you could tackle me.” His lips twitched.

“Oh, I definitely could.”

He wasn’t expecting it. So that’s exactly what I did. I launched myself forward. Our bodies collided as I attempted to grab the container from his hand. Or, that’s what I hoped to do. Instead, he reacted. He rolled us over. The next time I blinked, I found him atop me, my back pressed to the forest floor. It was much the same position as the day we met. Only this time, we were both breathing hard. I was absolutely certain it was his erection pressing against my abdomen. Deliciously hard. Close enough to the apex of my thighs that sparks shot straight to my core.

I suppressed my moan.

His eyes were on me, searching. One beautifully warm amber. The other fragmented. For the umpteenth time, I wondered what he saw from that one. Before I realized what I was doing, I lifted my hand. My fingers traced along his scar.

He groaned, relaxing his hips against mine, giving me more of his weight as he pressed into me. Pressed his cock more firmly against my belly.

“Axel.” The word was a gasp. Swallowed by his mouth as it crashed against mine.

His lips moved and I kissed him back. The salty taste of our lunch mingled with something uniquely him. I breathed out a moan and he swallowed it. His lips pressed my mouth open and his tongue swept in, delving deep, exploring. I did the same as my pussy clenched, turning me desperate.

His hands began to rove over me and mine did the same. I wanted to touch all of him. Finally, I tangled my fingers into his soft hair, moaning again. I needed him closer. Needed him—there. I angled my hips, getting just the right amount friction. He responded, grinding into me.

My core exploded with sparks and my clit gave a painful, needy throb. She was on board with this idea. One hundred percent.

I put pressure on the back of his head, pulling his mouth more firmly against mine.

He made a growly sound and his tongue went deeper. It was messy. All teeth and tongues. Warm and wet.

His movements were erotic, the way he worked my mouth. Like he was showing me exactly what he wanted as he rocked his hips against mine.