Page 123 of Fractured Future

“I didn’t take you for someone who needs peace and quiet to eat.”

“Everyone needs a bit of peace sometimes.” He hands me a grease-stained container. “Even me.”

Joining him on the hard rock, I dig into my first burger. Despite the café’s scary décor and their staff’s shitty attitude,it’s a bloody good burger. Thick, juicy and dripping with melted cheese.

Diving into the loaded fries next, I silently hand Axel the container so he can help himself.

“Oh, sweet,” he yips. “S’good.”

“Just save me some.”

“No promises.”

It feels oddly natural to sit and share a meal like this. Eating with our bare hands, sharing food, enjoying the comfortable silence. There’s no pressure or expectations.

By the end of my second burger, I’m starting to think I overestimated my own stomach size. Axel’s already hoovered up his chicken sandwich and bacon cheeseburger in record time.

“I’m going to need a self-imposed time out after this,” I groan.

“Need a hand there?”

Wordlessly handing him my leftovers, I let him scarf down the remnants while rubbing my bulging food baby. I’ve never been short of an appetite, but Axel’s craziness encourages it even more.

“Now I can think straight again.” He passes me a wrapped wet wipe from the bag. “That was fucking good.”

“Thanks for the invite. I needed to get out of there.”

“I’ll eat your extras anytime.” Axel winks at me.

“So chivalrous.”

“That’s me.” His easy smile falters, hardening into a rare serious look. “I’m glad you’re on the team, Ember.”

Despite the sound of the river lapping nearby, the distant cheers and thudding music as the night unfolds, I feel like the last human alive, caught in Axel’s stare. He sure looks at me like nothing else exists around us.

When the jokes stop, his vulnerability is arresting. All that sorrow and heartache trapped behind a cheesy grin andpenchant for violence. The contrast is what consumes my fascination.

Even as thoughts of Warner and Hyland bubble in the back of my mind, I leap up to climb into his lap. Axel’s arms wrap around my back, allowing me to straddle his trim waist.

Sliding a hand into his tousled faux hawk, I toy with the coarse amethyst strands. His lids have fallen to a half-mast, the long length of his eyelashes hiding his blown pupils from sight.

“Why?” I challenge throatily.

“Just because.”

“Because you want me to do this?”

“Partly,” he admits in a rasp.

Tugging on his hair, I savour the groan that emanates from his inked throat. It’s a submissive sound that pours fuel on the sense of power that being around him sparks within me.

“What about that?”

“Yes.” His eyes squeeze shut.

Tugging again, I trail my parted lips along his jaw and up to his ear. Axel practically whines when my teeth sink into the plush lobe.

“We’re co-workers now,” I purr into his ear. “That means we have to be professional.”