My lips stay pressed together until he gets behind the wheel and starts the engine. “Where are-”
He shakes his head, “No speaking. Not yet, Baby Doll.”
I snap my mouth shut.
He called me Baby Doll.
I still feel so confused.
I mean he’s here. He came to find me and to literally carry me away. That must be a good sign, right? He wouldn’t be doing all of this just to tell me it’s over.
But the things I heard him say…
Moving my head slowly, I turn it just enough look at his profile. There’s tension there. A tightness in his neck. But I can’t tell what emotion he’s feeling.
He sounded angry, but the way he held me…
I press my thighs together, remembering the feel of his hand between my legs.
As if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, his hand reaches out and grips my thigh.
My eyes follow the movement.
I want to trace the lines of the rose. Touch my fingers to his skin.
But I refrain. Biting my lip instead.
Chapter83
Axel
Maddie doesas she’s told and stays quiet for the duration of the drive. Not acting the least bit surprised when I pull up to her house and park in the driveway.
“Out,” I tell her, grabbing her bag from the backseat before climbing out of the car.
I know I could just put my hand on her back and walk her to the house. But when I reach her, I know that won’t be enough.
So, without warning, I bend and hoist Maddie back up over my shoulder.
“Axel!”
Hearing her say my name is a balm to my damn soul, but I slap her ass anyways.
“Hush,” I kick the car door shut. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed what you’re wearing.”
When I saw her drop down behind the counter, I felt a small amount of doubt in my ability to win her back. Then I saw her closer and all that doubt left. Because she was sitting there, refusing to look at me, wearing my sweatshirt.
I smack her ass again, just because, making her yelp.
As I round the sidewalk to her front door, I realize that the neighbor guys are sitting on their front steps again.
The one with the shaggy hair starts to rise, but I hold up a hand. “She’s fine.”
His eyes dart between me and Maddie’s captive form before he shrugs and sits back down.
A smirk pulls at my lips.
Everyone else seems to understand that this girl is mine.