36. Real Feelings
REAL FEELINGS
Lorelei
The sun was already painting the sky in hues of orange and pink as I gripped the football between my hands.
The air was thick with the salty tang of the sea, and the sand was cool underfoot, a perfect playground for flag football.
My fingers were sweaty against the leather, though it had nothing to do with the setting sun but rather with the hulking body crouched behind my ass.
Axel’s massive form loomed over me, his familiar citrusy scent invading my nostrils and all my senses. As if I needed the reminder, he was all I could think about since our hasty hook up last night.
If that text hadn’t interrupted us, would we have gone all the way?
Even now, my lusty pussy ached at the heated memories. Yes, we definitely would have fucked. Fake buzz or not, I wanted my fake boyfriend. I couldn’t deny it any longer. Axel Vanderhart had wormed his way into my fragile, bruised heart. And now, I had no idea how to act around him.
“Ready, blondie?” I could feel his smile without even looking back, his excitement contagious.
I hazarded a quick peek over my shoulder. His blond hair glistened beneath the setting sun and a playful grin was stretched across his face. A blue flag was strapped at his waist, matching the one I wore.
The big family flag football game was set to begin. With all five brothers playing and Jackson’s new wife, along with Aaron’s girlfriend, Addie, who showed up this afternoon, and of course Ax’s parents, we had a full team of five on five.
“I’m always ready, babe.” With a steadying breath, I tossed aside all fiery thoughts of the night before and focused on one thing only: winning.
“And hike!”
I tossed Axel the football, and he was off. He was a force of nature; he dodged, dashed, and even leapt over Jenson avoiding a spectacular block that had his whole family clapping. Gigi and Grandpa looked on from beneath the beach umbrella, stretched out on their lounge chairs sipping iced teas.
“Nice one, Ax!” Gigi called out as he barreled by Jeremy for the touchdown.
The game moved fast, the sand giving an extra challenge to our sprints and dodges. Luckily, thanks to my daily Peloton routine, my endurance was pretty decent. I managed to snag a couple of red flags from Axel’s older brothers, each time earning cheers from our team.
“That’s my girl!” Ax rushed by me and slapped my ass, earning him a squeal.
“Hey!” I swatted him away, but I was grinning like an idiot despite the mix of sweat and sand in my hair.
“Save it for the bedroom,” Jeremy shouted, wagging a finger.
“You’re just jealous.” Ax curled his arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side.
My traitorous body sank into his embrace before I could stop it. His shirt was already off, tiny beads of sweat glistening across his stacked torso. Normally, the perspiration would’ve disgusted me, but with Axel, it just made him sexier.
“Enough smack talk, let’s keep playing,” Conrad called out.
Gigi blew the whistle, and we were off again.
The minutes flew by with the steady rush of waves crashing along the shore and the heavy footfalls of Vanderhart men.
The guys were relentless, but I held my own, snatching red flags left and right.
Jackson’s wife, Everly, was really good.
I was beyond thankful the newlyweds along with Deb were on our team.
With the sun dipping low in the ocean, the game was nearing its end. The score was tied. With the ball in our hands and seconds ticking down, Axel huddled us together, eyes meeting mine.
“Okay, Lore, you think you can score us the winning touchdown?”
“Absolutely.”
“Go long when I tell you. Trust me.” Those ocean blue spheres sparkled with determination and that typical mischief.
With the next whistle, I took off down the sideline, pulse pounding.
“Incoming!” Axel shouted, and I turned just in time to see the football spiraling towards me.
Everything else fell away; it was just me, the ball, and the end zone. I caught it—barely—and stumbled across the makeshift line scrawled in the sand, planting my feet.
The whistle blew, and cheers erupted around us. Axel sprinted over, lifting me into a hug, and spun us around. "I knew you could do it, Lore!" His lips pressed to mine, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
His family gathered around, laughing and clapping me on the back. His dad tousled my hair, a familiar grin on his face. "You’re one hell of a secret weapon, Battenberg."
“Told ya.” Axel’s smile couldn’t have been wider, and it had my heart skipping around my chest.
“She’s definitely a keeper.” Conrad Vanderhart’s warm grin sent stabs of guilt shooting up my spine.
A keeper, right? It took all I had to keep the frown from breaking through.
As we walked back up the beach with Axel's arm around my shoulders, I couldn't help but think this might have been one of the best evenings ever. And it was all a complete sham.
I must have stiffened as we headed back up toward the house because Axel whirled at me, concern in the tight set of his mouth. “What’s wrong, blondie? You killed it out there.”
Lengthening my strides to put some distance between us and Jackson and Everly walking a few steps behind, I whispered, “I just feel guilty lying to all of them. Your family is amazing, and now they think I’m amazing. But it’s all a big fat fucking lie.”
Axel’s lips flattened out. His hand slid down my arm and closed around my palm before he tugged me toward the pool house, away from earshot and curious gazes. Once we were hidden behind the pristine white siding, he released me. I leaned against the wall and huffed out a breath.
“Lore…” he began before dragging his hand through his sun-kissed locks. “I—I don’t know what to say. This whole fake dating thing has gotten so much more complicated than I ever thought it would.”
“I know,” I mumbled.
“And you’re right, my family does love you, and I hate lying to them, too.” He released a frustrated breath. “But we’ve already gotten this far, and I’m still committed, aren’t you?”
Of course, he was. Because he just wanted Cordelia back.
I nodded slowly. And besides, what other option did I have? I still needed to convince my father I could snag my own millionaire, or I’d be forced into the sleazy hands of Brock Haversham.
Axel crept closer, his massive form trapping me against the pool house, which was larger than most people’s homes. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you, blondie?” He flashed that charming smile that had all the girls dropping their panties for.
Second, third and fourth thoughts. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could pretend when all I wanted was to be his real girlfriend. “Nope,” I managed.
“We just have to get through one more night with my family, then it’ll be smooth sailing.”
A terrible thought crept into my mind, and a scowl crawled across my lips. “They’re going to hate me when we break up.”
His brow furrowed, and his lips parted, but before he could get a word out, he snapped his jaw shut. Instead, those brilliant blue eyes locked to mine.
“They could never hate you, Lore. I don’t see how anyone could.” He inched closer, then ran his tongue across his bottom lip. “You’re as close to perfection as I’ve ever seen… You’re freaking gorgeous, smart as hell and can throw a football like a pro.”
“Ax…” My gaze chased to the floor, that look in his eyes much too overwhelming. “No one’s watching us, you don’t have to say that.”
His fingers closed around my chin, tilting it up so my eyes met his blazing ones once more. “I’m not pretending right now, blondie. I mean every word.”
His lips brushed mine, the kiss sweet, and completely unlike any of the fiery, lust-induced ones before. My heart staggered, knees wobbled, and I leaned more fully against the wall.
My mouth parted and his tongue snuck in, tentatively. A low groan escaped him as his tongue tangled with mine.
“I thought I saw you two come back here.” Jeremy popped out from around the corner, and I tore my lips from Axel’s. His brother’s light eyes glinted with amusement as he regarded us.
“Fuck, Jer, haven’t you ever heard of privacy?” Axel growled.
“If you want privacy, go to your damned room. Don’t maul your girlfriend by the pool for all to see.”
“You’re an ass.” He wrapped his fingers around my palm and dragged me back toward the house.
“I just came to tell you Dad’s firing up the grill,” Jeremy called out behind us. “Are you inviting your friends out for the fireworks later?”
Axel stopped and turned to face me as we reached the back porch. “What do you think, blondie? Should I invite the guys?”
I wanted to say no more than anything. What I really wanted was the night alone with Axel, but my logical side knew that would only be asking for trouble.
No matter how much I wanted Ax, I couldn’t screw up this arrangement.
Being forced to marry Brock would kill me. I had to bury these feelings far down…
And what better way to do that than having Ax’s drunk, obnoxious frat brothers here as a distraction.
“Yeah, invite them.” I shrugged. “It’ll be fun.”
I could have sworn I saw a flash of disappointment in those bright eyes, but I’d probably imagined it. My fake boyfriend couldn’t possibly have real feelings for me, too, right?