The strands of my past-self begin to unravel. Loosen. And everything inside of me lightens.
I love this man.
I love Axel and his kindness. His gruffness. His gentle touch and his punishing grip. His closely guarded smile.
I love the way he looks at me. The way he’s forward when I’m shy. The relationship he has with his son.
I love Axel so damn much.
My throat works to swallow against the emotion rising inside of me.
I love Axel.
I love him, but I don’t know if I’m ready to say it. And I don’t know if he’s ready to hear it. But the feeling of it is nearly overwhelming.
Warm breath feathers over my ear, “Dance with me.”
He doesn’t ask. He tells me. And just like that, I love him a little bit more.
Not trusting my voice, I set my fork down and slide my chair back.
Axel leads me to spot on the edge of the dance floor, not stopping until we’re mostly in the shadows. The music has changed to something slow, and the other couples are consumed with each other, so no one notices when Axel shifts his grip and turns me to face him.
His hands go to my waist, those stunning eyes looking down into mine. “I’m a shit dancer. I just wanted an excuse to hold you.”
The final strand of resistance around my heart snaps, and I feel my entire being surge to the surface.
Chapter68
Axel
Maddie steps forward,crashing her body into mine, and I smile.
This girl.
My arms automatically wrap around her. The literal perfect fit.
She’s warm against me, her softness seeping through my clothes and warming me from the inside out.
“This is nice,” her words are quiet, meant for only me.
I lower my head until my cheek is pressed against her hair, “Yeah, Baby Doll, this is nice.”
Chapter69
Maddie
Our bodies sway together,and I swear if Axel’s arms weren’t around me I’d disperse across the dance floor like a dandelion in a puff of air.
I want to tip my head back and tell him I love him.
I want to do it right now.
But I can’t.
I won’t.
Because I’m a chicken. And because we have so much to talk about. All of it, really.