Page 123 of Hard Rain

COLD FEAR

Two days later…

Axel tugged at the cuffs of his Armani tuxedo for what had to be the tenth time.

Who the hell invented cufflinks?

The damn things looked simple enough until somebody actually had to put them on. Whoever designed them had obviously hated people with fat fingers.

“You’ve adjusted those three times.”

“They’re crooked.”

“They’re not.”

Whip stepped closer, bringing with him the faint scent of cologne. He took Axel’s wrist in one hand and fastened the cufflink with the other.

Axel went still.

Whip’s fingers were warm against the inside of his wrist, his touch careful despite the impatient look he wore.

“There.”

Axel frowned at his reflection, giving the sleeve another tug before moving to the collar. The bow tie sat snug against his throat.

Too snug.

“I feel like it’s choking me.”

“Don’t fiddle with it.”

“It’s trying to strangle me.”

Whip looked at him with all the patience in the world written across his face.

“It’s called a collar and a tie.”

“It’s called attempted murder.”

A smile tugged at Whip’s mouth.

“You wore a Class A uniform for years.”

“Didn’t like that either.”

“No, but you survived.”

“Barely,” he grumbled.

Without saying a word, Whip stepped between him and the mirror.

He straightened the lapels of Axel’s jacket, smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from one shoulder, then ran both hands down the front as if checking his work.

Axel forgot about the tie.

Whip’s fingers moved to the knot, making the smallest adjustment before settling briefly against his chest.

Not long.