Page 80 of Wicked Lord

“Sorry if that was intense.” Axel folded down beside me, canting his head in my direction. “I swear I had no idea he was coming. I really didn’t mean to blindside you like that.”

“No… it was fine. Please, your dad isnotintense. He’s absolutely lovely. Now that I’ve spent time with him, I feel even worse about forcing you to suffer through a few minutes withmyfamily.”

A rueful chuckle brought out a hidden dimple in his cheek. “They weren’t that bad…”

“Please! My mom was wasted, eye-fucking you the entire time we were there, and my dad was a total asshole.”

“Well, when you put it that way.” He laughed again. “At least your mom’s hot.”

“Ugh, shut the fuck up.” I punched his abs, and his hand wrapped around my wrist tugging me forward.

Our eyes met and held for an impossibly long moment. Our lips were suddenly only inches apart, and heated memories of the other night zipped across my mind. That mouth devouring mine, those skillful fingers working me into a frenzy, the moans…

Squeezing my eyes shut, I broke away from those mesmerizing blue spheres and pulled free of his hold. We couldnotlet that happen again. I forced myself to sit back, puttingsome much-needed space between us. Clearing my throat, I folded my hands in my lap.

“Should I not have agreed to the family weekend getaway?” I muttered, refusing to meet his gaze. “You didn’t seem too thrilled about it.”

If he said no, I’d be crushed. Which was so bad. I should not have been stressing over this.

“Nah, it’s totally cool. I mean, as long as you wanted to say yes.” He stiffened, staring down at his feet for an awkward moment.

“Yeah, of course. I’m sure it’ll be great.”

“Probably a little different than last summer when you came with Kill for the afterparty.” Ax’s lips flipped into a frown as his eyes lifted to mine. “This is just going to be the family.”

“No crazy afterparty this time?” I teased to lighten the sudden tense vibe.

“Okay, maybe… we’ll see how the night goes, I guess.” He shoved his broad shoulder into mine. “What, I’m not enough for you, Battenberg?”

Heat flared low in my belly, and I squeezed my thighs to keep the fiery sensations at bay. The truth was that he’d become so much more than enough. In the past few weeks, he’d started taking up more and more headspace, and after the other night, he was all I thought about.

“I was about to say the same thing to you, Vanderhart.” I dug my elbow into his side and rose, offering a hand. “Time for you to go and for me to get packing.”

His big fingers wrapped around mine, and I nearly toppled over trying to haul him to his feet. “It’s only three days, blondie. How long is it going to take?”

“Clearly, you didn’t grow up with sisters.”

“You got me there.” He dragged his hand over the back of his neck as he backpedaled down the walkway. “Guess, I’ll pick you up tomorrow after practice?”

“Sounds good.”

He kept his eyes pinned to mine as he continued moving away.

Turn around, Lore. Walk away. But I couldn’t. I was glued to those ocean blue eyes. And I was totally fucked.

CHAPTER 33

SOMEONE’S A LITTLE POSSESSIVE

Axel

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I tried to navigate the route to my parents’ house. Lorelei’s intoxicating floral perfume filled my Jeep. Was it possible to get high off someone’s scent?

And why did she have to wear that little pink dress? The modest cut—a high neckline and the hem just above the knees—didn’t do much to hide her banging body.

I shifted in my seat again, willing my dick to stay down, but the woman next to me had apparently hypnotized the motherfucker. It had a mind of its own now, and she was currently the center of its world.

Lorelei wassupposedto be my way to get Cordelia back, and here I was, thirsting for my fake girlfriend.