Page 50 of All My Heart

Dad sighed. “I told you to give me time.”

“That's time I could use to build my own business. Once it's successful, maybe you'll see that I was right. Our customers want this service.” I was the one who handled the calls. By the time Dad or one of my brothers showed up to see the space, the clients had already secured someone to do the design for them.

We were missing out on a good opportunity to offer our customers more service.

“Is this why you left?” Dad asked, his voice gruff.

“That was Rex. He cheated on me, and I wanted to get out of town.” I didn't want to stick around and hear the rumors and jokes. That I couldn't get a man to stay interested in me. That there was something inherently wrong with me.

“You're coming home for the holidays?” Dad asked.

“That's the plan.” He hadn't really said anything about me leaving work. I wondered if he even believed me.

“We'll see you then.”

I sighed as I said goodbye. Did my family not take me seriously? I didn't want to leave him and the business in the lurch, but he didn't even seem concerned.

I worked through the rest of my emails and then turned my attention to what I needed to do for my business. A website, pictures of work completed. Should I start a social media page where I documented my work? Then I lost time researching similar businesses online.

Social media presence seemed mandatory. I could do it. This could be fun. Axel's cabin was the starting point for what would be an amazing career move, and I had him to thank. If he hadn't encouraged me, I might still be stuck as the receptionist at my dad's office, never believing I could do anything more.

My exes certainly hadn't encouraged me. They thought I had it good. An easy job because of my last name.

But they didn't see what I did. My brothers would take over the business. There wouldn't be room for me. I had to create my own niche, and I didn't know any other designers who were on the island. Maybe I could draw people in by saying I only worked on the island.

I took notes and brainstormed ideas for what I could do for marketing. I'd promised myself I wouldn't go over to Axel's tonight. I could stay away for one night. I didn't need to feel him inside of me every day.

I totally wanted to, but I wouldn't. I had to prove that I could be away from him. Otherwise, how would I ever leave? Especially when I was building a business in another state.

I closed my laptop and went in search of food. I hadn't actually cooked in days because Axel usually took care of it. I threw together a sandwich and had just finished when there was a pounding on my door.

Worried that Axel was hurt or needed me, I raced to the front door and opened it without looking to see who it was.

Before I could register what was going on, Axel lifted me, shutting the door behind him. “I missed you.”

“It was only a few hours,” I said from my upside-down position over his shoulder. My voice was shaking from the bumping as he marched to my bedroom and threw me down on the bed.

“I can't go without you for a few hours.” Before I could respond, he was on top of me, kissing me and grabbing at my clothes. I helped him peel off my clothes, and he managed to shove his pants down far enough to free his cock and slide home.

I whimpered when he seated himself inside me to the hilt. “You feel so good.”

“Yeah, I do,” he said as he kissed me, his mouth insistent on mine.

He wanted me. He couldn't last a few hours without me. I hoped it wasn't just the physical that he liked spending time with me. But then again, we worked together, side-by-side, talking and laughing. It was more than just sex even if he'd acted like a caveman carrying me to my bedroom to fuck me.

He was easing in and out in a slow, methodical pace, but I wanted more. “Axel.”

“I'm right here with you.” He pulled out long enough to remove his pants. Then he was back inside me.

He angled one leg to the side so he could press himself deeper. I hoped I didn't forget what it felt like for him to possess me like this, the possessive way he held me, the caveman way he handled me. Like I was the only thing in this world that mattered to him.

I'd had a few doubts like he was distracting himself with me so he wouldn't have to deal with his family. But I hoped I meant more to him than that.

When we came together, his forehead rested against mine. “I meant to ask if you wanted to eat.”

I laughed. “You picked me up and took me to bed.”

He chuckled with me, then kissed me soundly on the mouth. “That was my intention, but when I saw you in the doorway, I couldn't help myself.

---