Page 8 of Anyone And You

Axel rubbed my back as I caught myself, and I swore I heard a soft laugh come from him.

“Alright?” he asked.

“I get to pick the next ride,” I said after blowing out a few deep breaths.

“I didn’t think you got nauseous on rides,” he said.

“I don’t,” I replied as I straightened. “Dizzy, though, yes.”

A smile lifted to his eyes, and my heart warmed at the sight. “I’ll make it up to you later,” he promised. “Where to next?”

“Ferris wheel,” I said. “I want a long, slow ride to gather my wits.”

“So that’s how the princess likes it,” he mocked. “Long and slow. Judging by how you screamed during the other rides, I thought maybe you like it hard and fast.”

I stared at him, heat spreading from my stomach to between my thighs. “Hard and fast has its place. Can’t a girl like both?” I managed.

Axel didn’t reply. He looked to the ground, up the trail where the Ferris wheel was, and then he tugged my hand. “Ferris wheel. Then food.”

The line for the ride was longer than the others, and it was primarily full of couples looking to go on the ride and make out, which, if I was being honest, was what I wanted too.

Yet.

That word kept ringing in my mind as I held close to him and laid my head on his shoulder, still steadying myself from the whirlwind of rides we’d just been on.

“Okay?” Axel asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Definitely need food soon.”

His hand rubbed mine, and my stomach fluttered at the sincere gesture. “Starving,” he muttered.

We reached the front of the line after a few minutes, and Axel sat with a heavy sigh when we stepped into the seats. I took a chance, sitting with one leg crossed to lean into him. The ride began to move, and he pushed his arm around the back of the seat behind me.

“This is my favorite view,” I said when we reached the top.

“Mm…” His thumb rubbed my shoulder, though his eyes didn’t leave the tree line.

“Do you know what I think?” I asked him as I moved further into his side, my hand now on the inside of his thigh.

His jaw ticked, but he didn’t stop me. “What?”

“I think you’re enjoying this.” I rubbed my hand closer to the zipper of his jeans, seeing his stomach retract.

“Which part?” he asked as we passed the attendant and started going back up. “The carnival or what you’re doing right now?”

I palmed the stiffness growing beneath my touch, feeling him twitch slightly. “Both,” I said.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath. “Des… Do you need me to admit I’m enjoying it?”

“It would be nice,” I said. “But no. I can feel just how much you’re enjoying this.”

“Shit.” He was stifling his need at that moment, but I didn’t want him to. I wanted him released. Undone. “If you keep doing that—”

“What, Axel?” I dared. “What will you do?”

His eyes opened to mine, blazing fire in them, and I nudged his nose with my own. Every breath was a struggle to keep under control. Every centimeter between our lips now magnetized.

“Make me stop,” I whispered.

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