Page 19 of Axes & Nos
He’s telling the truth; I’m the reason he turned down this woman in the grocery store. My heart thuds quickly against my chest with his answer. Does he know what he’s doing to me? That he’s breaking down my walls one brick at a time, and it’s scaring the shit out of me. I can’t let him in, no matter how much my heart wants me to.
“Why are you here?” I ask suddenly, changing the subject quickly and he smiles knowingly at me.
“Oh, yes. You distracted me, I almost forgot. I brought you a present. Now, before I give it to you, I need you to understanda few things first. I had this great idea to bake you my mom’s famous chocolate chip cookies. Well, they’re not really famous, but they should be because they are fucking amazing. Well, they were when my mom made them, me not so much. I used to bake them with her before I became a teenage asshole. That’s why I was at the grocery store, to get all of the ingredients.” My heart melts listening to him explain what he’s done. This man is full of surprises, and another brick goes flying off my walls.
“That’s very sweet of you.” I say, leaning against the door frame, with a mushy smile on my lips.
“Well, I’ve watched Chase cook for Alia, and she eats that shit up. Not just the food, but the fact that he cooks for her makes her light up like a Christmas tree. Clearly chicks dig a man who can cook for them.” I roll my eyes heavenward. There he is, the true Dax, the one I knew was in there all along. Pushing away from the door frame I’m about to tell him to go fuck himself when he reaches over and picks up a plastic container. He fiddles with the plastic container, looking nervous for the first time since I met him.
“Well, I can’t really cook so well, and after trying to bake I realize I can’t bake so well either. But Chase always taught us it was the thought that counts so here.” He thrusts the plastic container at me, looking rather sheepish in the process like he’s embarrassed.
I clumsily take the container from his hand, almost dropping it twice, causing Dax to reach his hands out to stabilize it. By the time I have it firmly in my hands we are both laughing hysterically at how painfully uncoordinated I am. Holding the container up to the light all I see is black and brown globs of something inside. They hold no resemblance to cookies, at least not any cookies I’ve ever had before.
“Thank you?” I offer hesitantly as I set the plastic container on the kitchen counter.
“You’re welcome. They’re not pretty. I know that I’ll get better at making them. For you, I’ll get better at making them, for you.” He says with a genuine smile and my heart flutters in my chest. His charming smile is nice, his flirty smile is sexy, but his genuine smile is so much better. It’s softer, less like he’s trying to fool someone into believing him, it’s pure, and one more brick goes flying from my walls. My willpower against him is slipping by the second and I find myself wanting to spend more time with him.
“Do you...Would you...” I can’t seem to find my footing to ask him inside.
“Yes, I would like to take you against the wall, or the door, or even the bed. Whatever you’re willing to give me.” He whispers against my ear, sending chills rippling down my spine. More bricks fly into outer space as my walls practically disintegrate at the vision his words bring me.
“You shouldn’t say things like that to a woman you barely know.” I only halfheartedly complain toward him.
“Does it feel like I don’t know you? Does it feel like we barely know each other?” His gravelly voice is like a caress against my skin, heating my body as I shake my head.
“But we do, barely know each other. We’re strangers, even if it doesn’t feel that way.” I tell him in a whisper, not wanting to disturb our moment.
“Our bodies may be strangers, but our hearts and our souls are not. They have known each other since the dawn of time, their destinies intertwined.” He moves closer, his hand reaching up to gently touch my cheek.
“You’re dangerous.” I say breathlessly. There should be a giant flashing neon sign over his head that says ‘DANGER’ in bright red. Maybe if there was, I would be able to push him away. But there is no sign over his head and my restraint is faltering by the second.
“Not to you, never to you. To the rest of the world, yes, but never to you.” He says as he lays his lips softly against my temple.
My body hums with desire at his simple touch. How can a simple touch set my body on fire? How can it make me want more? He must have placed some kind of shifter spell on me to want him. Even inside my own head I can hear the lie I’m trying to make myself believe. He rubs his cheek softly against mine, a sound like a purr emanated from his throat and my whole-body leans into him, but he pulls away. My body feels cold without the feel of his body next to mine.
“Chase says I have to be patient; I’m trying to be patient. I really am, but you are my greatest temptation brought to life.” He makes a pained sound, stepping backwards off the porch and confusion fills me.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean Chase says to be patient? Why would he tell you to be patient?” His words are not making a lick of sense. Who is Chase to think he has any say in who I sleep with or who Dax sleeps with for that matter?
“Well, he’s my alpha.” He says it explains everything, but I’m more confused than ever before. “Shut it, he is our alpha.” He growls out, his eyes changing from green to gold and back again.
“I didn’t say anything. And that doesn’t explain what Chase has to do with anything.” I state angrily, crossing my arms over my chest, confusion swirling in my gut.
“Sorry, I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to him.” He shrugs, like that explains everything.
“Him? Who’s him? Dax there’s no one here but us.” I ask him, even more confused than before.
“My animal, he doesn’t think Chase is our alpha anymore. He keeps telling me that we are our own alpha instead. That’s who I was talking to, in my head.” He explains, tapping the side of his temple.
“Your animal talks to you? Like inside your head, it talks to you? Like you’re two different personalities?” I ask, tapping my fingers together in front me. So many more questions race through my mind, but I don’t voice them.
“Yeah, sometimes he doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up. Like right now. He’s telling me to claim you, but I know you need more time. He’s also calling me a pussy for not doing as he says. He’s a right asshole most of the time.” Dax says, his lips thinning into a grimace, as he rocks back on his heels. More questions swirl in my head, but one stands out.
“Claim me? What the hell does that even mean? Dax, I don’t understand anything you are saying. Alpha’s and claiming and your tiger talks to you.” My voice raises an octave in fear and frustration.
“Shit, I wasn’t supposed to say that yet. Chase is going to kick my ass. He told me to be patient, that is not being patient. I am the worst at being patient. I’m sorry.” He apologizes, his eyes flashing from green to gold again. I’m learning that’s a sign that he is angry, but I don’t know what he has to be angry about.
“I still don't understand what Chase has to do with anything. You say he’s your alpha, so he’s in charge of you, but he’s not here. So why are you so worried about what he thinks? You’re talking about claiming me, but I don’t understand what that means. Dax, I’m not a shifter, I don’t understand what any of this means.” I growl out in frustration.