I force my mouth into a smile as I meet Axel’s eyes, but I can’t read his expression. “I’m okay, really.”
He darts a glance to my now empty glass before he lifts his own drink and downs the rest of his coffee in two big swallows.
Setting the empty mug down, he tips his chin to me, “You want to get going?”
I feel a little bad about bringing the mood down so swiftly, but I appreciate that Axel is a man capable of reading social cues. But really, if my little admission followed by gulping down my fourth drink doesn’t sayplease rescue me from myselfI don’t know what does.
Nodding my answer, I slide my chair back.
The second I push up to stand, I realize just how much vodka I’ve consumed.
Woah, girl.I sway a little.You’re fucking Drunk with a capital D.
Then I snicker a little to myself.
I wish I was getting some actual D.
“You alright?” Axel stands at the same time, stepping in front of me.
Following his movement, my gaze moves up. And up.
“You’re so big.” My eyes widen. “Oh my god, I’m sorry! I don’t mean big like fat, you’re just ginormous. And not that there’s anything wrong with fat. Fat is fine.” I wave a hand up and down, gesturing to myself. “Clearly. I just meant…” I let my eyes trail all the way up to the top of his silver-streaked head and start to sway backwards.
Large hands grip my upper arms, “First, you don’t need to explain. Compared to you, I’m a beast and I know it.”
He steps closer and I can finally smell him. And sweet horny hormones, he smells exactly like a sexy man should. Something deep and musky and sexy. Like his bodywash is scented and maybe he showered recently, but it’s mixed with a… I don’t even know what.
Damnit, I’m too drunk.
“Second,” he shifts and my body gravitates towards his, “don’t ever call yourself that in front of me again.”
My eyes are still stuck on the expanse of chest in front of me, “Call myself what?”
I can’t remember what we’d been talking about.
I try, I really do try. But he’s just so distracting.
His sigh ruffles the top of my hair and my fingers twitch, wondering if it’d be okay to touch him.
A warm fingertip touches the underside of my chin, pressing up until I tilt my head back enough to look Axel in the eye.
His blue eyes stare into mine as he says, “You’re fucking perfect.”
Heat. So much heat infuses my body and I don’t know how to react. So I just keep staring right back at him.
What must be his thumb ghosts over my lip then lowers until he’s lightly pinching my chin, “Are you ready to go?”
My head nods, “I need to pay my bill.”
“I took care of it.”
I glance at the table and see a small stack of twenties resting under his empty mug. I don’t know how much my drinks cost, but I’d say he more than covered it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His hand slowly releases my chin, his fingers slipping away. “Anything else?”
“Bathroom?” I say it like a question, but now that I’m thinking about it, I really need to go.