Page 40 of Blinded By Loyalty
His arms wrapped around me. We held each other for the longest time before he continued.
“My life was forever changed that day. My brother was only fourteen, and I didn’t want him to go into foster care, so I gave up my college scholarship and joined the army.”
“You gave up your dreams for him?”
Axel’s lips were on my neck and he squeezed me tighter. “Mhm. He’s my brother. I’m all he has in the world. I’d die for him…”
Something was chilling about the way he said,I’d die for him. Before I could say anything, Axel’s lips were on mine. I kissed him back, hoping he felt how much he meant to me. My heart was so broken for him and his brother. For all they’d lost. I couldn’t imagine going through any of it. My life wasn’t so bad in the grand scheme of it all. I felt a little guilty for complaining about mine when his was exceedingly worse.
“Where’s your brother now?”
“Enough about me. Tell me about your childhood. Your many boyfriends and biggest dreams.”
“Oh gosh, many boyfriends? There were only two boyfriends and several I went on only one date with, and my childhood was… lonely.”
He released me from his arms and cradled my face. We stared into each other’s eyes for a long second, my heart overflowing with love for this man.
“Only two boyfriends?” He cocked a suspicious eyebrow.
“Yeah. One during my junior year of high school and one after I graduated college. Neither lasted very long because my parents didn’t like them.”
“Of course. They didn’t get the St. James seal of approval.”
“Nope. They didn’t. But my parents had been right about them. They only liked me for my money.”
“Bastards.”
“Assholes is more like it.”
“Have you ever been in love before?”
My cheeks warmed and I bit my bottom lip. I wasn’t ready to admit I was in love with him. But after being together all week and baring our souls, he should know I was in love with him. “Have you?”
“I asked you first.”
“No. I haven’t been in love before. What about you?”
He sighed and gave me a chaste kiss. “I’d thought I was in love once before.”
“Oh. She must have been special if you were in love with her.” I wasn’t expecting to feel jealousy over a woman in his past. But here it was, blooming in my chest.
“Jennie was her name. She was my first and only girlfriend. She stuck with me and was there when I needed her. I wasn’t the best guy for her. She deserved better…” His voice trailed as he continued staring into my eyes. “You deserve better too.”
I shook my head. “Don’t say that. The way you treat me is a thousand times better than any guy I dated before you.”
“I’ll never get the St. James seal of approval.”
“I don’t care what my parents think. It’s my life, not theirs.” Where was this coming from? Since when did I not care about my parents’ approval? At this moment, I was ready to give up all I knew to be with Axel. I’d give up my inheritance, loft, connections, and social status. None of it mattered anymore.
“Baby, we’re too different.”
“Just stop!” I ripped his hands off my face and launched off the bed. He was letting me down gently. Once my stalker was found, and I didn’t need a bodyguard, Axel would be gone.
Oh God. He had no intention of having something more with me. I was just sex—a good time.
“Simone?” He was off the bed, striding toward me.
“No!” I walked backward away from him. “You’re just using me like all the others.” My vision blurred, my lip trembling. Dammit, I didn’t want to cry in front of him.