Page 29 of Axel

Leaning into him, she placed her head on his wide chest and struggled to get her breath back. The setting was wonderful. They were surrounded by incredible beauty. Her heart was thumping out of control, and she wanted this man like she had never wanted one before.

For a few pulsing moments, nothing was said. He held her against him, chin propped on top of her head, a frown touching his brow. He could invite her back to his place and finish what they had started. In fact, which was what they should do.

What they needed to do. His body was pulsing with a need so strong; he had no idea how he was still standing. But he had to weigh the damn cost. He had told her he did not want a relationship and that was a fact.

He was still reeling from the last one. But something was happening here, something significant and beyond his scope of comprehension. His senses were heightened, the desire he was feeling was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Her slender body against his felt more than right and he was desperate to feel her naked body under his.

Lifting his head, he eased her away from him and studied her face. He felt a jolt as he stared at the parted lips, made moist by his avid attention.

He should put her away from him and get the hell out of here. But his body was warring with his commonsense and damn if it wasn’t winning.

“Do you have a guy?”

“You know I don’t.”

“Yes.” He was still trying to think up ways why he shouldn’t be doing this. “Why the hell not?”

“You want to discuss my lack of social life right now? This minute?” Her eyes were smoldering as she stared at him.

“I want to…“

“We are attracted to each other, and we are both adults. You said you do not want a relationship…”

“I don’t.”

“Then we are good. We understand each other.”

He stared at her for a few ticking seconds before taking her hand. “I walked here.”

“My place or …”

“Yours.” He bit out.

*****

Caitlin stood just at the side of the window and moved the rich ivory drape, just a few inches so that she would not be detected. She had made up an excuse to leave the two together and knew Cathy had done the same. The east window of her bedroom overlooked that part of the garden and gave her an unrestricted view of the couple.

She should have moved away when they started kissing, but she had found herself staring in delighted fascination. She wanted her son to be happy and something told her that Ellie Logan was going to be the woman to take him out of his slump. She was a beautiful young woman, intelligent and very sensitive.

She was not greedy and manipulative like that woman Axel had been involved with. And clearly, the two of them were drawn to each other. What she was witnessing in the garden proved it.

She wanted to clap her hands in glee, but she was being cautiously optimistic. She knew her son and he had told her repeatedly that he was not interested in a relationship. But she was hoping that Ellie would change his mind. Oh, she was desperately hoping that this was going to be the break they all needed.

Her hands flew to her mouth, and she felt the tears gathering at the back of her eyes. He was holding her so tight, even though they had stopped kissing.

“Mom! What are you doing?”

She jumped reflexively and turned to face her daughter, a guilty and sheepish look on her face.

“You are spying on them.” Cathy hurried over to see what was happening and found herself captivated by the scene. Her brother was holding Ellie as if he would not let her go. Cathy continued to watch as he moved away slightly to take her hand.

“They are leaving.”

“Together?”

Cathy parted the curtain enough for her to see as well.

“They are leaving together.” Caitlin clapped her hands in wonder.