Page 79 of Wicked Lord

Usually, the move felt natural, but today, everything was off. I knew that hook up was a bad idea. A terrible idea. If that one moment of pleasure screwed everything up between us, I’d be so pissed at myself and my lusty pussy.

I faced Ax once again, trying not to grimace. “That’s sweet, babe, but I think that ship has sailed.”

His lips brushed the shell of my ear, and goosebumps rippled down my bare arm. “Maybe you could just dance for me then.”

My head whipped toward him, my breath catching. He whispered the words as if they were only for me, but was it all part of the act in front of his dad?

Axel let out a wicked chuckle as he glimpsed the terror in my eyes. “Relax, Lore, I’m just messing with you. What’s got you so uptight?”

Relax, damn it. Clearly, the other night meant nothing to him or he would have been acting weird too, and he wasn’t. It was just some hand stuff. It didn’t mean anything.

Steeling my nerves, I shot him a good eye roll. “Just want to make sure I make a good impression in front of your dad.”

Conrad spun toward us, an indulgent smile on his handsome face. “Trust me, Lorelei, I’m the last person you need to worry about impressing. My wife’s been crooning about how she’s never seen our son happier. Deb is convinced you’re the one, and from what I understand, you’ve only been dating a few weeks.”

I cocked my head at Axel and tossed him a smirk. “Oh,really? I had no idea I made you so happy, babe.” Pressing my hand to his chest, his heart slammed against my palm.

“I guess I’ll have to do a better job showing you, then.”

“And I have the perfect opportunity.” Conrad practically lit up. “Come to our beach house for the Fourth of July, this weekend. It’s only a thirty-minute drive from campus. The whole family’s going to be there, and I know Deb is just dying to see you two together.”

“Dad, I don’t know… I have practice on Friday and?—”

Conrad lifted a hand, cutting him off. “You can come after practice.”

“And on Monday?—”

“I’ll talk to Coach Carson, it won’t be a problem.” He glanced back and forth between us, something about his excited gaze reminding me of a puppy. “Unless there’s some other reason you can’t make it?”

Axel turned to me, an unreadable expression masking the typical warmth. Did he want me to say yes or no? Family visits were part of the original agreement, and if I was being perfectly honest, a holiday weekend away at the legendary Vanderhart beach house sounded amazing. Just because we’d seen each other come didn’t mean things had to be weird, right? I wavered for a long minute.

“Nope, no other reason,” I finally blurted. “I’d love to come.”

“Perfect, Deb will be thrilled. It’s been forever since we’ve had all the boys home.” He clapped Axel’s shoulder, thethwackresounding across the quiet space. “Get ready for the big familyflag football game, Ax. I hope Lore can hold her own. Jackson’s new wife is phenomenal. She gives your brother a run for his money.”

A whisper of anxiety kindled low in my gut, then that competitive streak rose to the surface. “Just wait till you see me with a football.”

Conrad chuckled, the warm sound so much like Axel’s laugh I stared for a second longer than appropriate. “Now this, I cannot wait to see.”

Blinking quickly, I forced my gaze back onto my boyfriend. Damn, I was starting to like the sound of that word a little too much, even in my own mind.

“Same here.” Axel eyed me like I’d grown a third head.

It was hard to believe the prim and proper Lorelei Battenberg had a competitive side and was a secret tomboy at heart. No one at Stonewall U knew the real Lorelei. I’d been forced into dance by my mother, and though I’d hated it at first, it had subdued the overwhelming need for competition, to prove myself better than the rest. Dance was a sport after all. And I’d excelled at it, just like I did at everything.

This weekend, not only would I be the perfect girlfriend, I’d also kick everyone’s asses in flag football.

“It was really lovely to see you, Mr. Vanderhart.” I stood at the entrance of the Zeta house with Axel leaning against the doorframe as his father walked down the red brick pathway toward the Lamborghini SUV casually parked across the street.

“It’s Conrad, remember?” He whirled around and wagged a finger at me.

“Right, Conrad.”

“I’ll see you two tomorrow afternoon.” He turned to his son, still waggling that long finger. “Don’t dally after football practice. Your mom wants us all to have dinner together as soon as you arrive.”

“Will do, Dad.”

We offered one more wave as the engine of the sporty SUV roared to life, and Axel’s dad zipped down the now quiet Sorority Row. The moment he was gone, I dropped down to the front step and blew out a breath.