13. Catching Feelings
CATCHING FEELINGS
Lorelei
Axel’s panicked eyes locked on mine as Killian’s dare hung heavy in the air.
So kiss Lorelei right now and prove how much you really care about her.
Ax’s tongue slid over his bottom lip, and I wondered if it would taste like the uber expensive chocolate bar I’d picked up for him from the gourmet store this morning.
Because I hadn’t been lying a second ago, I had thought about him as I attempted to refill the paltry contents of my dorm’s mini fridge.
Even having a fake boyfriend was kind of nice. Having someone to think about besides yourself…
After spending all night together filling out my ridiculous questionnaire, I felt like I knew more about my fake boyfriend than any other guy I’d ever dated.
Or casually fucked, which was more often the case.
So leaning in for the kiss felt as natural as the pound of makeup I layered on daily, a typical part of my facade.
His lips were soft, a faint sweetness tingeing his flesh.
Definitely the hints of chocolate.
Emboldened by my move, Axel’s tongue slid between my lips as his hand curled around the back of my neck. He’d already kissed me before, but the first time was so unexpected I hadn’t really had a second to process it. This time we had a captive audience, and we needed to put on a good show.
Getting Axel’s friends to believe we were really together was the key to this whole thing. Hopefully, Killian would run back to his little love boat and tell his precious Lexi all about it.
Axel tilted my head, deepening the kiss as his tongue explored mine, gentle but laced with a hunger I hadn’t expected from the sweet jock. He lingered a few moments longer, lips and tongues tangling, and a swirl of heat began to build below my navel.
Shit… Crossing my legs, I attempted to stifle the completely inappropriate sensations.
No feelings. That should have been rule number one.
Burying the random thoughts, I reminded myself these sensations were just physical, an unavoidable response to a physical stimulus. I was a young woman, and my hormones were at their peak. This was totally normal.
When Axel finally pulled away, a long minute later, I heaved in a breath and pressed my back against the red cushioned seat.
“Damn, brother, you left Lore breathless.” Slate wiggled his eyebrows.
“And silent for once,” Gage added.
I shot the two dickheads the middle-finger salute and leaned closer to Axel. “What can I say? My new boyfriend can kiss.”
Oh God, why did that word sound so fake coming out of my mouth?
Killian glared at me, pointing a fry between the two of us. “I’m still not buying this. Why her out of every female on this campus?”
Axel shrugged. “I kind of blame this on you. She kept coming around and when you weren’t there, sometimes we’d get to talking.”
“And before we knew it, one thing turned into another,” I added.
Kill’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “Lorelei, if you’re fucking with my friend, I’ll wring your scrawny neck.”
“Hey,” Axel’s voice deepened to a growl, the angry rumble sending my pulse skyrocketing. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
Now I was certain my eyes would pop right out of my head. Had Axel really just defended me against Killian, his scary as fuck best friend?
Killian’s eyes flashed, and the light line between his brows deepened as he stared between Axel and me, incredulously. “What the—”
Gage jumped up and slapped his arm across Kill’s chest. “You know what I was thinking? We should go join the ladies at the movies.”
Killian whipped his murderous gaze at his friend. “Since when do you like romcoms?”
He flicked his lip ring and lifted his shoulders in a lazy shrug. “I’m trying to broaden my horizons.”
“You better hurry if you don’t want to miss those previews.” Slate smirked, tossing out Gage’s words from earlier. “They’ll be the best part of that movie.”
Killian slid out from the booth after a gentle shove from Gage. His piercing emerald irises drilled into me and then Axel. “I just don’t get it…”
Axel kept his gaze pinned to the plate of French fries.
“Have fun at the movie.” I threw Killian my best attempt at a genuine smile. “And say hi to Lexi for me.”
Killian grunted. “Right.”
Gage nudged him toward the door and the moment the bell jingled behind them, I released the breath I’d been holding.
“Phew, now that they’re gone, who wants pie?” Slate asked, a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.
“You can’t freeze up like that,” I whispered to Axel as he walked me to my car.
Slate was already across the diner’s parking lot headed toward his Lambo, but you couldn’t be too sure with secrets around here. Betty’s was a favorite hangout for Stonewall U., and you never knew who could be listening.
“I know, all right. I just didn’t expect to have to tell them so soon.” He dragged his hand through his tousled hair.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we got that PDA out of the way because the Zetas are holding a charity function this weekend. Did you add it to your calendar? It’ll be our first public outing as an official couple.”
“Shit, this weekend? Already?”
“Ax… didn’t you see the spreadsheet with all the events?”
He groaned and leaned against my sporty Mercedes coupe, the one my dad’s creditors were itching to get their grubby little hands on. “There were so many tabs, Lore, I couldn’t get past the first few since I didn’t get back to the house until after midnight.”
“But if we hadn’t done the questionnaire, we never would’ve done so well with your friends.”
“True…” The hint of a smile ghosted over his lips. “And you’re sure Cordi’s going to be there?”
“She sure is. I already checked the RSVP list, Cordelia Chesson plus one.”
“Fuck,” he growled. “Who the hell is she bringing now?”
I shrugged, a tiny pang niggling at my insides. Why were girls so stupid? How could Cordi not see what a great guy she had?
“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going to look so hot, Vanderhart, that she won’t be able to keep her eyes off us. I’ll be on you like a bitch in heat.”
That scowl flipped into a smile that reached all the way up to his bright blue eyes, setting them ablaze. “I don’t doubt that, blondie. You do know how to fill out a fancy gown.”
That warm gaze turned feral as it raked over my coral dress, lingering on the sheer lace at the neckline.
A twinge of heat surged up my neck at that ravenous look so I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Since we’ll be seen a lot in public, we need to make sure the PDAs seem natural.”
“Agreed.” He threw his thumb over his shoulder at the diner. “I think we did a pretty good job back there, don’t you?”
“Umhmm.” I’d never admit my surprise at what a great kisser he was.
“That doesn’t sound very convincing…”
A laugh tumbled out, and I punched him in his rock-hard chest. “No, you were great. It’ll just take a minute for us to be more comfortable around each other.”
“You know what they say about practice…”
My jaw nearly unhinged at the flirty sparkle in his eye. “Oh, my God, Axel, are you flirting with your girlfriend?”
The warm chuckle resonated through his massive chest, the honeyed sound doing strange things to my bruised and battered heart. “Nah, of course not. I’m just saying I’m sure we’ll get better as we go.”
“Right. Definitely.”
Axel pushed off the car and stood over me, that warm smile still lighting up his face. We remained like that for a long minute, his eyes boring into mine like he could break down my carefully constructed walls and find the real me.
When I couldn’t take the intense scrutiny for another moment, I blurted, “Just remember we shouldn’t practice too much. We can’t have you catching feelings for me.”
He blew me a kiss before he slowly turned and walked to his car. “If anyone was going to fall for anyone,” he tossed over his shoulder, “it would be you for me. I’ve been told I’m downright irresistible, Battenberg.”
Spinning his head back around, he marched toward his Jeep.
I couldn’t help but trail his broad shoulders and the sharp cut of his narrow hips.
Not only was Axel gorgeous and rich, but he was sweet, and completely down to earth.
He was the only one of all our asshole friends who didn’t wear his wealth on his sleeve.
Yup, Cordelia was an idiot.