Chapter 5 #2
“Good girl.”
My thighs clench automatically. I don’t know why those two words cause a throbbing between my thighs, it’s not like I have some praise kink, but the way that simple statement rolls of his tongue is sexy as fuck.
No, Cassie. You have a boyfriend! A very distant and inattentive boyfriend, sure. Somehow, my pussy just doesn’t get that message. It’s one thing to be in the same room as Axel, but to be trapped in a car with him, with no escape, I’m just asking for trouble.
As soon as Axel is seated beside me, the car moves, navigating through the streets of the city. It’s silent, save for the gentle hum of the car engine and the tapping of Axel’s fingers on the door handle, but it only magnifies the unease I feel.
Huffing, I glance back at his features concealed by the darkness. “Couldn’t this wait until Monday?”
There’s a certain darkness that fills his already dark eyes as he shakes his head at me. But no answer comes as we navigate through Manhattan. The silence is suffocating and so god damn irritating that I find myself tapping my foot impatiently.
Axel’s hand lands on my thigh, his strength is unwavering, solid, yet there’s an element of softness; a strange gentleness to his grip because I don’t feel any pain. When I look up at him, his jaw feathers with something unreadable.
I return my gaze to the streets outside the window, and confusion starts to weed its way into my veins. “Where are we going?” I rasp.
“Home.”
My foot starts tapping again as my pulse kicks up a few notches. Between the close proximity and our unknown destination, my panic becomes unbearable. All I know is that I will not go home with him. I don’t care who he is, or what he expects from me; going home with him is not an option.
I reach for my handbag, for my phone that I dumped in earlier when Axel’s hand grips my wrist. “I…I…” I clear my throat. “I can’t go home with you.”
A laugh suddenly bubbles from his throat, deep and velvety, captivating me in a way I’ve never felt before. The way his lips curl in a delicious smile and the crinkles around his eyes deepen sends my pulse into overdrive.
“What’s so funny?” I snap. “If you think I’m going to do… to…”
Axel’s body moves closer, his lips just inches from mine as he lifts his tattooed hand to my chin. “To do what?” he smirks.
Heat flushes my cheeks and I don’t know why my eyes drift to his perfectly pillowy lips, but when I lick my own, I swear I hear Axel’s growl some expletives before moving away again .
“I want you to be honest with me,” he states as his gaze drifts to the streetlights passing us by.
“About?” I blink back at him. The effects of the alcohol are starting to wear off a lot quicker than I thought. The intensity of his words are sobering enough for me to realize the gravity of whatever he wants from me.
“Your job,” he answers abruptly. “If you’re going to be my lawyer, I want to know that I can trust you.” His gaze is still lingering on the lights that pass us by in a blur, like they’ve hypnotized him into a state of calmness.
“Mr. Bon?—”
“Axel,” he murmurs. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze as he speaks. I’m not sure whether he means to or not, but it definitely sends a wave of tingling electricity up my arm.
“Axel,” I say, clearing my throat. “I take my job seriously. Anything you tell me is strictly confidential but?—”
“But you can use it against me,” he cuts in.
“I know the law. What I want to know is…” his voice grows gruffer like he is suppressing the urge to roar.
He sighs loudly, leaning forward again to retrieve a file from the center console.
Placing the file in my lap, he moves his face so close to mine that I can smell the mint on his breath. “Can I trust you , Cassie?”
My eyes travel to the papers he’s placed in a neat little binder.
The atmosphere between us suddenly intensifies.
It’s warm and heavy tension that wraps around me, and I’m almost sure he can sense it, too.
Butterflies swim in the pits of my stomach, swirling and twirling like a smooth hurricane of emotions.
Whatever this feeling is, I’ve never felt it before.
Never have I had the intense urge to prove to someone I am worth the risk.
I nod, because that’s all I can do, but that doesn’t appease Axel.
“Say it,” he commands, needing to hear the words.
“You can trust me, Axel.” I swallow thickly, chasing the dryness he’s created in my throat.
He falls back into his seat, his hand still clutching mine. While his touch is thrilling and dangerous, I can’t be doing this. I already feel guilty for reacting the way I do to him, and all I can think about is Cooper.
I slip my hand from underneath Axel’s, placing it in my lap. If he noticed, he isn’t making it known as his eyes continue to follow the buildings we pass.
“What made you want to be a lawyer, Cassie?” he asks, seemingly deep in thought.
“My parents,” I shrug. It’s partly the truth, a watered-down version of why I wanted to follow in my parent’s footsteps.
My mom was an amazing lawyer, one of the best. While I never got to see her in action, my dad had told me she was a real ball-buster.
She’s been my driving force, even after she passed away; I wanted to make her proud.
I’m certain divulging that much detail will probably bore the likes of Axel Bonanno, so I don’t bother to expand any further.
Plus, my mind is still trying to dampen the fear and trepidation of where he’s taking me.
Maybe he’s taking me somewhere secluded, so he can get rid of me before anyone knows I’m missing?
Maybe he believes I’m not the lawyer he needs, and this is the only way to ensure I don’t blab.
Though there’s nothing really to tell, a man’s got to protect himself, right?
I wonder if he’ll chop me up, or feed me to pigs.
Maybe he’ll slit my throat and anchor me to a cinder block before dumping me in the Hudson.
I’m losing my mind—and scaring myself with how my thoughts drift from one cruel detail to the next—that I don’t actually realize where we are until Axel opens the car door and holds his hand out to me.
I stare up at my building, my mouth gaping as I come to terms with the fact I’m alive—at least for one more night.
“This is your building, correct?” he confirms.
I nod weakly, not at all surprised by the fact he knows where I live. But the fact I’m frozen to the spot as I peer back at him is amusing to him.
Without a word, he takes my hand and tugs me out of the car. He never takes his eyes off mine, even when I stumble on the sidewalk and he catches me effortlessly. Even when I have a dazed, confused look on my face. Even when I utterly embarrass myself with my loud thoughts.
“You’re… you’re not…” I clear my throat, searching for the words. I can’t even find the words because of how embarrassed I feel. His inquisitive gaze is making me regret ever opening my mouth. “You’re not going to make me…?”
“Make you?” he scoffs, like he knows what I’m insinuating.
Now that we’re in the light—a flickering street lamp—I can make out the tired lines etched into his face, the lack of stubble that once accentuated his sharp jaw. Maybe it’s the alcohol still swimming in my bloodstream, but I have to force myself not to stroke his face.
Holding me against him, I feel his grip tighten around my waist. The tension between us is palpable, making my mouth dry. Or maybe that’s the alcohol. Either way, as soon as I feel it, it dissipates because Axel lets go of me and his expression is masked into indifference.
“Trust me, Cassie. I won’t be making you do anything you don’t want to do.”