Page 104 of Wicked Lord

“So…” I took a step back and motioned to my bed. “Want to sit?”

A rueful grin flashed across his unfairly handsome face, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not sure if the two of us in bed together again is a good idea…”

Heat flushed my cheeks then traveled all the way down to my needy pussy. I was not going to lie, I was definitely hard up after that tease in the Jeep yesterday. But I’d never admit that to my fake almost ex-boyfriend.

So I put on my big girl panties and flashed him a perfectly composed smile. “I can handle myself if you can.”

“Yeah, sure, of course I can.” He marched toward my bed like a prisoner on death row.

Damn, just one night back with Cordelia and the idea of sitting on my bed was that repulsive? I hovered by the footboard as he folded his big frame onto the mattress before settling in on the opposite side, putting as much space between us as the queen would allow.

Silence stretched between us, broken only by the creak of my bed as Axel shifted uncomfortably. Well, that and the mad fluttering of my heart, but I hoped to hell he couldn’t hear that.

Finally, when the quiet grew too uncomfortable, I blurted, “You said there was something you wanted to talk about?”

He shifted across the bed, pivoting his large frame to face me. An uncharacteristic wary expression tightened his jaw. “Um, yeah, I did, but you said you had something you wanted to ask? Ladies first, after all.”

“Right.” Smoothing down my dress, I forced my shoulders back and donned the familiar pose. Straight back. Neck high. Nose up in the air. You are Lorelei fucking Battenberg, and you don’t need anyone. “Since this arrangement has clearly come to an end, and I’m no closer to getting Brock out of my life, I’ve come up with a Plan B.”

“A Plan B?” Axel’s brow furrowed.

“Well, now that you and Cordi are back together, I assume we’ll have to stage our breakup. Once Brock gets whiff of that, he’ll be here to claim his property, as he so savagely put it. I refuse to let that happen, which means my father will cut me off, and I’ll need to find a way to support myself.” I paused and snagged my bottom lip between my teeth. God, I hated asking him for this. “I thought that maybe, since I’d met your dad and all, and he seemed to like me, he’d be willing to let me interview for a job at Vanderhart Securities. I know I don’t have my degree yet, but I can take online classes in the evenings and my GPA is exemplary. I’m sure I could finish up my senior year in no time and fully dedicate myself?—”

“Lore… Lorelei, stop.” Axel stood and circled the bed, folding down beside me. He pressed a finger to my lips, and my breath hitched at the faint touch. My nostrils flared at the sweet scent lingering, the gourmet chocolate I’d been keeping his mini fridge stocked with since we started fake dating. The familiar scent was so Axel. Hot tears pricked at the back of my eyes, but I blinked quickly to keep them from spilling over. “If you want the job, it’s yours. No interview, no questions asked.”

“Seriously?” I choked out, emotion tightening my throat.

“My dad loves you, hell, my whole family does.” He reached for a lock of hair and twisted it around his finger as he gnawed on his bottom lip. “And just so we’re clear, Cordelia and I are not back together.”

“You’re not?” My voice hitched, and embarrassment rolled through me.

“No… that’s what I was trying to tell you last night, but you ran off before I could.”

“But I heard what she said to you. She wants you back… it’s exactly what you wanted.”

A wry smile crept across his face. “Yeah,wanted. Past tense.” He blew out a breath and raked his fingers through his hair, eyes not quite meeting mine. “I don’t know what I want anymore, blondie. This fake dating thing got a little too real over the past couple weeks.”

“I know, right?” I blurted.

“Maybe hooking up wasn’t the smartest idea…” He glanced up, eyes finally meeting mine, and the storm of emotion beneath the mesmerizing blue nearly took my breath away. “I know it was just supposed to be fun, a little release after months of sexual tension”—he barked out a laugh—“but I think somewhere along the way, I may have caught some accidental feelings for my fake girlfriend.”

CHAPTER 43

BEGGING FOR MERCY

Axel

Panic gripped my heart as it hammered against my ribs, and sweat beaded my forehead. Did I just admit to Lorelei that I had feelings for her?

Her mouth parted, and those soft brown eyes widened as she sat beside me, her dress riding up her creamy thighs. When the seconds ticked by and shock remained her only reaction, my dread doubled.

“Say something.Please.”

Her gaze dropped to my clenched fist resting between us, my veins popping out. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

A heavy sense of déjà vu slammed into me.

Oh, damn.