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“M’okay.”
Axel’s gruff voice brings my eyes open with a snap that makes my brain ache. But when I focus, I find his silver-gray stare beating into mine, and his chest rising and falling at a steady pace.
Tears cloud my vision, while his eyelids simply close again.
“Told you to get out, Sully. Took you a damn minute.”
“Axel!” I drop to my knees in the gap between the stretcher and the bench seat. Grabbing his hand, I crush my cheek to his chest and cry. “You jumped out of a two-story window! Are you crazy?”
“For you?” He half-sleeps and smacks his lips. “Mm. Little bit.”
Next Summer
HANNAH
Istep out the front door with a tray of appetizers I want to add to my catering menu, and two soda cans tucked in my back pockets, so my cutoffs bulge and the cold chills my butt.
The screen door closes with a slam, and as Axel glances across, lazing in one of the two Adirondack chairs he built himself in his new shed, his smile brings mine up in response.
Cicadas chirp in the established trees barely touched by the fire that wiped his home from existence. Nothing remained: not the foundations, not a single wall… and none of the ugly brown paint I never liked anyway.
“Hey there, Sully.” He lounges back and tilts his head to watch me set the tray down on the small table between the chairs.
I reach back and free the sodas from my pockets, and when I glance up, I catch Axel’s salacious gaze focused firmly on me. On my chest. My shoulders. On the gap my shirt leaves as I bend over.
His eyes dance when ours meet. “Serviceanda show?” He reaches out for a new vegetarian eggroll I’ve been experimenting with. “I’m an evolved man.” He takes a bite of his food andhss-hss-hsses around the heat. “I’m here for women’s rights and careers and all that jazz.”
I arch a single, questioning brow as I come to stop between his spread legs. “But?”
“But if you could serve me in your underwear once or twice… maybe a little maid’s apron and heels…” He surges forward and hooks an arm around my hips, making me squeal as he pulls me into his lap and presses his lips to the side of my neck. “I wouldn’t tell anyone.”Bite. “Thus, feminism remains unscathed, and you’re not to blame for your actions.”
“Let me paint the front door black, and I’ll think about the heels and underwear.”
Thoughtful, he tosses the other half of his snack into his mouth, then presses slightly greasy lips to my collarbone. “I painted the fence white for you.”
“Mm.” I snuggle into his lap and rest my head atop his left shoulder. “Yes you did. And I’m thankful.”
“I gave you blue shutters.” His fingers walk along my hip and tease. Taunt. “And I did that thing with my tongue on your clit last night.”
“Mmhm.” I close my eyes and remember exactly what he did last night. “I recall.”
“I reoriented the entire house for you.” He nibbles on my earlobe and taps my clit with his finger until I jolt. “You wanted east-facing windows to catch the morning sun.”
“Well, I’m here every single morning, so my request was fair. Plus, I did things with my tongue too, making yours a tit-for-tat exchange.And…” I set my foot on Axel’s knee to give us a little more room to touch. To explore, without dipping beneath my shorts. “It’s my birthday, and all Ireallywant is for the front door to be black.” I tilt my head back and wait for his eyes. Silver and perfect, and entirely too adoring.
He’s everything I was begging for this time last year. Everything I’ve always known I wanted, even when it was hard.
I sigh. “I love you, Feeney. Even when you piss me off.”
A soft chuckle rumbles along his throat, but he leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “I love you too, Sully. Even though you deserve better.”
I roll my eyes and glance across the street. Content as the sun flirts with the horizon and prepares to say goodbye.
It’s the end of a new day, but it’s the start of a new life. Raul Montenegro’s trial wrapped up yesterday. He was sentenced to his very worst fear: a lifetime away from me.
He’s sorry. He loves me.
He’s a stalking, psychopathic asshole with a myriad of scars. And he’s the reason my dating life was a complete disaster.
