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“Yeah, man.” Axel nods. “Thanks.”
“Can I buy you dinner to thank you?” I offer Jace.
One, because he seems sweet, almost to the point of loneliness. I just get the vibe from him. Two, I don’t want to be alone with Axel. Not yet. I know I’ll get a spanking for this, and like it way too much. And three…
I love this.
There’s something about Axel, his brothers, and their world that doesn’t feel like a trap. Not anymore. It feels like a treasure. It feels like I don’t ever want to leave.
Even on my vacation tomorrow.
“Thanks, Ruby.” Jace smiles warmly. “I’ll take a rain check. I promise. But I have a date with a gallery opening.”
“You meanata gallery opening?” Axel sounds intrigued.
“No, I meanwithan opening.” Jace tucks in his starched white shirt. “They feature photography, and I never miss a show.”
Axel and his paintings. Jace and his photography. Sire and his fashion. Nash and his numbers. I know Nick’s into drawing, and I bet Grant’s into woodworking. I’m not sure, but I’d guess Loch is into gardening.
Either way, these beasts are ruthless yet cultured, making me more curious about their world.
Politely, Jace pecks my cheek before leaving me to walk home with Axel. I’m expecting a lecture or for him to punch a window or roar like a lion at any moment.
But he’s silent, so I fill it.
“I got pictures of the man bribing Nick and Zar. He texted me today and tried to bribe me, too, so I set up the drop to find out who he is. It was forourmission.”
For three long blocks, Axel’s quiet until we stop in frontof his iron gate, and he gently touches the small of my back. “Don’t do that again. I checked my app and watched the video of you grabbing your phone and purse. You left so fast that you left the door open behind you and…”
The look on his face is haunted. It’s new to me. “Did you think Ileftyou?”
“I didn’t know what to think. You didn’t leave a note, call, or text.” He swallows. “Ruby, I’ll never trap you, but I must protect you. You need to tell me where you go, and hopefully, I can go with you and?—”
That’s so sweet, but…
“Wait. How did you know where I was? How were you only a half block behind me?”
“I tracked your location using your phone.”
“How did you unlock my?—”
“I watched you enter your code. Some stalking habits die hard, but I don’t regret it, and tonight is exactly why. I saw where you were, and Jace was the closest king I could summon.”
“Don’t you think you should’ve asked me? Maybe I would’ve said you could track my location instead of you being sneaky about it.”
“Would you have said yes?”
“No.”
He laughs. “See. Wildfire, you can make it easy or make it hard, but either way, I’m protecting you.”
I want to bark back. I want to fight with him, loving our tension. We thrive on it, but not now.
Not when Axel wears blood on his hands, and it was for me.
While he unlocks his gate, I start unbuttoning my dress. It makes him arch a brow, shadowing me to the front door. With abeep, my thumbprint opens it.
Once we’re in hiskitchen, I whip around and yank his golden tie, pulling his lips to mine for a hungry kiss.