Page 17 of Axel

“I don’t think it will matter,” I whispered back, not wanting the guys to hear me. I could hear their voices coming from the kitchen.

“You really are naive, aren’t you?” Lacy asked, as she arched her eyebrows in a way that meant she thought I was crazy. “Axel is crazy about you.”

“Maybe,” I admitted.

Grabbing my hand, Lacy pulled me down the hall and to the kitchen where Axel was seated at the kitchen table drinking a beer. Drake stood by the counter, sipping a beer as he shook his head at Axel.

“Hey baby,” Lacy squealed as she rushed into Drake’s arms.

I watched them embrace and I felt happy for my best friend.

Axel’s eyes met mine and he slowly smiled. He stood up and walked the short distance to where I stood.

“Hey, I hope you aren’t too mad at me,” he began as he placed his hands on my waist, pulling me close to him. “I let my temper get the best of me when Chuck acted like an ass. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Axel said.

“I am sorry, too,” I wailed, throwing my hands around his neck and hugging him. “You did scare me, but I appreciate you wanting to take up for me. That guy was an ass,” I laughed as I brushed a tear aside.

Laughing, Axel smiled. “I have been so worried that you wouldn’t talk to me again.”

Tears pricked my eyes. Just moments ago, I had feared that I would never get another chance with Axel and now I was back in his arms again.

Patting my back, Axel soothed me, asking me to stop crying. “It's ok now,” he began, cupping my head in his hands and forcing me to look up at him. “I am mad at that asshole. He deserved to get his ass kicked. He has been giving my family hell for years,” Axel growled as he watched me closely.

“What’s his deal?” I asked.

“He and my dad both wanted that bar years ago. My dad just worked harder and bought it first. They hated one another and were in rival biker clubs. I guess the hate still lingers even after my dad is gone. He wants Drake to sell the bar to him, but Drake refuses.”

“I hate to interrupt, but we have to leave,” Lacy chimed in, as she stood next to Drake, taking sips of his beer.

Checking her watch, Lacy quickly reached for her purse. “Our movie starts in thirty minutes,” she said, pulling Drake. They left and I realized Axel and I were alone, again.

“I’ve been really missing you,” Axel said, as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“I’ve missed you too,” I said, leaning up and kissing his lips.

“Maybe we can just sit around and watch a movie,” Axel winked, knowing all too well we wouldn’t just watch a movie.

“You mean biker guys watch movies too,” I joked.

“That’s funny,” Axel said as he leaned down and began to tickle my sides. “But, I had other plans for us tonight,” he said, his voice growing deep and seductive.

I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp at the thought of what those words entailed.

Axel stood, offering me his hand. “Ok, no more tickling. The bar is under control tonight, my brothers are down there. I have the night off. Watching a movie sounds nice, but being with you again sounds a lot better,” he finished.

“Maybe we should take it slow this time,” I said, trying to fight my growing urge to jump on him and rip his clothes off.

Laughing, Axel pulled me closer to him so that my arms were now touching his side.

“You know,” he asked, as he stopped flipping through the channels and landed on an episode of COPS. “You look really cute tonight,” he said, as he noticed my jeans and sweatshirt. “It’s crazy how you can look sexy in anything.”

“Shut up,” I yelled, as I punched him in the side. It was crazy how quickly I could make up my mind that Axel and I were not good for each other, then the next minute he could so easily draw me back to him like nothing had ever happened.

“Oh no, it’s on now,” Axel laughed, as he threw the remote on the ground and climbed on top of me. He pinned my arms down with only one of his arms and began tickling me with the other. I couldn’t stop from laughing. I hated to be tickled, because I was so ticklish. I fought underneath him, begging for him to let me go. He leaned in, our lips only inches apart as he watched my face light up with laughter. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed that hard.

Still, in his grasp, Axel stopped tickling me and tilted his head, a small smile appearing. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something we both knew was there.

“You are beautiful when you laugh,” he said, his voice serious.

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