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“I’ll show you weak,” he mutters, and in a move I never saw coming, attacks me with his fingers, tickling my sides. I yelp and squirm, trying to roll off the bed and escape, but he catches me with those strong, quick hands. Dragging me to the middle of the bed, he flips me on my back. Hovering over me, he’s all muscle and strength, and sexy masculinity. “Do I look weak, T?”

Chest heaving, I shake my head, unable to lie. “No.”

His jaw tightens and his pupils darken. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“I want to kiss you right now.”

“Why aren’t you?”

“Because you and I just had a pretty serious, unsexy talk and I don’t want to trivialize it by getting a boner right after you allowed yourself to be vulnerable with me.”

“Youalwayshave a boner.” I feel it between us right now and my skin grows hot with want. “Kiss me.”

“Are you sure? Because I don’t want to be another man that hurts you.”

I reach out and cup his face, running my thumb down the scar he just showed me. I know my truth in this moment more than I ever have before. “You’re the only man that’s ever given me a choice, Axel. That’s provided a place of safety, while making me feel wanted.” I push up and kiss the hard line of his jaw. “This is what I want. You’re what I want.”

“I’m not fucking this up,” he tells me. I want to ask what he means, but there’s no need. He shows me in the first kiss–gentle, his fingers barely lifting my chin so he can slowly lick my lips.

“You taste like salt.”

“It’s the ramen.”

“Well, it’s fucking delicious,” he says, with absolute sincerity. His thumb strokes down my jaw, an ask for me to open. I part for him and the next kiss is deeper, unrelenting with intent, our tongues meeting in a desperate rush. “Jesus,” he breathes, “you always taste so good.”

My response is a hum, then I suck his piercing between my teeth, a distraction as my fingers move between us, unfastening the buttons of his dress shirt. His body always shocks me; lean, hard, muscle, decorated with ink. He shrugs off the shirt, tossing it on the floor. In a surge, I rise up and lick his nipple.

Sucking in a breath, his hands thrust under my shirt, muttering as he cups my breasts, “Fucking hell, these tits.”

His nipple peaks, a hard pebble against my tongue. Mine do the same when he yanks down my bra, flattening his palms over the top. We both shift to our knees, the rest of our clothing coming off in a rush, until we’re just in cotton and lace.

I gape at him.

“What?” he says, hand gripping his cotton covered shaft and giving it a long stroke. The movement tugs down the waistband, revealing the ‘T’ tattoo. My heart flips.

“You look like an underwear model, that’s what.”

A grin tugs at his lips. “Yeah?”

I roll my eyes, but it’s just a diversion. I can’t decide where to focus. On the hard cut abs? Or the tattoo of my initial? Or gah, the outline of his cock threatening to escape his boxers? I’ve seen a lot of men’s dicks, but none make my stomach twist with excitement the way Axel’s does.

“Admit it,” he says, looping his arm around my waist and pulling me close, making me feel every hard inch of his body. “You like me, which is good, because I’m crazy about you.”

His words are light, but his gaze is intense. It’s weird. Good. Strange. I start to turn my face overwhelmed by it all,by him. He holds me in place, asking, “What’s going on in that pretty little head?” His green eyes hold mine. “Too fast? Too much? Too naked? Talk to me, T.”

“No man has ever been like this to me before.”

His eyebrow rises, wanting more.

“You’re sweet. Silly. You say dirty things but it’s not…”

“Demeaning?” he asks, the smile gone. “Because if you ever feel that with me–”

“I don’t,” I say quickly. “Ever.”

“Good,” he says, running his hands over my hips, “because all I want is to make you feel good. Safe. But I’m not gonna lie, I’ve wanted to get back inside of you for weeks now, wanted to feel you clench around me.” He licks under my ear, sending a ripple of goosebumps across my skin. “I want to see your sexy body over me, or under me, or maybe both if we’re not too tired.”