I wish I had a remote for the lamp in the corner that’s still on, but the light it’s giving off is dim and no force of nature could make me move now.
Silence stretches between us, allowing memories of the last time we were in my bed to surface into my thoughts. And I swallow when I remember my behavior.
“I have to apologize-” I start.
Axel speaks at the same time. “I’m sorry-”
Not moving my head, I glance up to look at him, my brow furrowed. “What do you have to be sorry for?”
Axel tugs the blanket up a little higher, tucking it up under my chin. “For leaving. I shouldn’t have snuck out like I did.”
I worry my lip, “Why did you?”
I feel afraid to ask, but the question has been scratching at my self-confidence ever since I woke up alone that morning. Because of course my brain went to the worst reasons.He’s not interested. You disgusted him with your actions. You’re not good enough.
Instead of answering right away, Axel turns his head towards mine, pressing a long kiss to my forehead.
My eyes close and I feel the negative thoughts start to fade.
“Because I thought you deserved better.” His answer is totally not what I was expecting, and when I try to tip my head back, he uses his cheek against the top of my head to keep me still. “I’m too old for you. You’re too damn pretty for me. Too fucking sweet and beautiful.” Axel huffs out a breath that rustles my hair, “And you were supposed to be on a date with my son.”
Laughter bubbles out of me and I pinch my lips shut. “Sorry,” I squeak, but I can feel Axel’s chest vibrate with his own humor
“No need to apologize, Baby Doll. I’m not sorry about it.” The arm around my back squeezes me closer. “I’ve been fighting with the guilt of feeling like I stole you all week. But the thought of anyone else putting their hands on you,” his lips press against my forehead again, “I don’t like it.”
My fingers trail over his chest, tracing one of the swirly designs covering his pec. “I do need to apologize though.”
“Why’s that?”
Not feeling right about touching him while I talk about this, I ball my hand into a fist.
Sensing my tension, Axel’s free hand closes over mine. “What is it, Maddie?”
I sigh, “I shouldn’t have touched you that night.”
His fingers squeeze around mine, “What do you mean?”
My eyes close and I try to take comfort in the warmth radiating off his large body. “You told me you didn’t want to do anything. When we were here, in my bed. And I made you kiss me. Then I… Well… I…” I take a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have grabbed your, um, penis… like I did.” My cheeks are on fire. “Not after you told me you didn’t want to do anything.”
Axel’s lips move away from my forehead and my nerves flare back to life.
When he makes a choked sound, I look up and find him shaking his head, staring at the ceiling with a stunned expression on his face.
“See? It was bad!” I exclaim, trying to push away from him.
His hand clamps down on my shoulder, securing me in place. “No, Baby. The only thing bad you’ve ever done was saying the wordpenisjust now.” His chest rumbles.
“I’m being serious.”
He lifts his head off the pillow to look down at me, “So am I.”
“What am I supposed to call it?”
“Dick. Cock.” He pauses. “Feel free to add your own adjectives.”
I roll my eyes, “Noted.”
The hand on my shoulder slides down, over my back, and down to my ass. “And you can grab mydickanytime you want.”