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His gaze snapped to hers. “Did I not tell you I would never be one to demand such a thing from you?”

“Yes, but?—”

“But nothing. My word is everything. Tell me no, and we go find Turner.”

But she didn’t say no. She studied him, her free hand on his chest where it had landed when he’d pushed her here. Her fingers flexed against his shirt.

“It’s my choice?”

It was a question, as if she didn’t understand being given such a thing. Why would she? Tessa didn’t understand it either. None of the Fae understood control when it was being freely given to them. They were so used to being told where to go, how to behave, who to fuck, and what to be, that when given choices, they couldn’t even recognize them for what they were.

“Okay,” she finally whispered.

“Okay what?” Axel questioned, not sure he’d heard her correctly.

“Kiss me.”

“Why?”

Her brow furrowed. “You asked to kiss me.”

“And you said yes.”

“I did.”

“Why did you say yes?”

“I… I don’t know,” she admitted. Then she added, “Should I say no?”

“Gods, no.”

“You’re confusing,” she said, that irritation that Axel loved to pull from her creeping into her voice.

But he was just as confused as she was.

Fuck it.

His mouth landed on hers, and he felt the surprised gasp she made. She didn’t move for the longest time, so frozen, Axel almost pulled back.

But then she tentatively kissed him back.

It took all of him, but he let her lead it. Let her slowly move her lips against him. Let her explore with each press of their lips. Let her slide her tongue along the seam of his mouth, which he greedily parted to let her have access.

When he did finally pull back, his hand was somehow tangled in silky black curls. His other hand still clutched hers, and she was staring up at him with curious eyes. He didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling, and he didn’t know what he was thinking or feeling either.

“We need to find Turner,” he said gruffly.

Her cheeks flushed. “That’s what you’re thinking about after a kiss?”

“After a kiss with you? No,” he answered, tilting her chin back up with his finger when she looked away from him at her question. “I need to find Turner because I am either going to fuck you or draw blood from you, kitten, and I’m assuming neither of those options are desirable at the moment.”

“I mean…not on a public road,” she answered.

Axel choked on a laugh, stepping back from her. “But if we weren’t on a public road?”

“It doesn’t matter. Weareon a public road.”

“Oh, it matters, kitten,” he replied. Squeezing her fingers, he added, “Turner should be at a shop a few blocks away. Can you manage that far?”