Chapter 12
Axel
Fuck, I loved the way my mate felt beneath me.
I pressed my forehead to hers, trying to hold on to the last thread of restraint. Her skin was sweaty against mine, our heartbeats thudding in rhythm, and I wanted this moment to last forever. But I was only mortal, and the way she screamed my name was too much.
I thrust deep into her one last time, holding myself there as I came. Her legs tightened around me, and I felt her fingers dig into my back as the base of my cock started to swell.
“Axel?” There was a hint of fear in her voice.
I brushed a strand of hair off her face. “I’m right here. Just relax.” I held her tight, pressing her to my chest. “There’s no way fate would bring us together if we didn’t fit perfectly.” It was as close as I dared get to tell her she was my mate so soon in our relationship.
The knot had formed, locking us together, and I could feel her heartbeat like it was my own. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she breathed slowly, but they soon opened again as if she needed to see me. I searched for signs of pain on her face but found none.
“You good?”
“Mmm. Better than ever.” She threaded her fingers into the fur of my chest. “I like this,” she said. “Being stuck with you. It means you have to cuddle with me.”
“I’d cuddle with you anyway.”
I kissed her again, but this time, I took it slow. This wasn’t about pacifying the hunger anymore, but about feeling connected. I had my mate in my arms, in my bed, and she hadn’t run away screaming.
“I’m glad we’re out in the middle of the woods.”
“Why?” I asked, encouraging her to keep talking. It was cute that she was getting chatty after sex.
“There are no neighbors. I’m sure if we did that in my apartment in Chicago, the whole building would hear.”
“Let them hear. They’d be jealous.”
“Of me? Or of you?”
“Both of us.”
That had her grinning.
“Oh, and by the way. I won. You’re totally better than dinner.”
The call came just after lunch the next morning.
Ella was still curled up on the couch, wrapped in one of my flannel shirts, slowly sipping her green tea.
She looked positively tiny in my clothes, and I wanted to freeze the moment forever.
That, or put her in my pocket. The buzz of her phone interrupted the picture-perfect moment.
She took the call as I busied myself finishing up the post-storm report. I’d gone out to check all the trails this morning and everything was well.
“It’s Grind and Shine,” she said, tucking her phone away. “The roads are finally clear, and they’re sending someone now. They said we can meet in town at the garage.”
And that meant our time here was coming to an end. I tried not to feel disappointed. After all, she’d promised me that date. But what about after that? She had a job in the city, and I was out here. How would we make it work? I couldn’t think of anything I could do in the city.
I didn’t want my mood to ruin whatever time we had left, so I did my best not to think of it.
She was my mate, and the universe wouldn’t give her to me unless we had a way to be together.
Was it bad that I was hoping they’d say her car needed plenty of work, so I’d be forced to drive her to her family instead and meet them?
“We can head in anytime,” I said. “We can even walk around downtown Darlington while we wait for them to work on your car.”
That had her grinning ear to ear. “That sounds great. Let’s go!”
The drive in to town was uneventful, and we were soon standing by the front desk of Grind and Shine.
Caroline looked like she’d been run ragged. Winter storms always meant a glut of customers for the garages in town. She finally found some time in between calls to speak to us.
“Turns out your car needs more work than expected,” she said. “You can’t be driving that thing into the ground like that, missy. You might not have someone like Axel come and rescue you next time.”
“Yeah,” she said with a sheepish smile. “I’ve been putting it off.”
“Here’s everything that needs to be done. It’s a lot. And our professional opinion is that it might be better off for you to find a new car.”
Ella looked chagrined as Caroline handed her a printout of the quote.
“This is a lot more than I expected. But I don’t think I can find a new car right now.
I’m already supposed to be at my family’s for the holiday.
Is there any way for you guys to do what is absolutely necessary just to get me to my family, and then back to Chicago? ”
“Let me ask Stu. Be right back.” She went back to talk to her husband and the owner of the garage.
“You know, I can always drive you to your family’s place,” I offered as we waited. “Then I can pick you up, we can have that date you promised me, and I can get you back to Chicago.” What I really wanted to do was convince her to stay forever.
She fidgeted with her mittens. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I have two nosy brothers, and they’re gonna ask a lot of questions. Mom’s relentless too. It’s bad enough that they’re gonna ask me all about the stupid divorce.”
That had me frowning. Did she wish to hide our growing relationship from her family?
Caroline returned with a wide grin. “You’re in luck. If we just do the basics it’ll be fast and affordable, and you’ll be on your way by the end of the day. But it’s a Band-Aid solution and you’ll have to get it to a shop the first chance you get, or you’ll be stuck out there again.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
While they worked on her vehicle, I took Ella for a walk through Darlington’s downtown.
Snow had been cleared from the sidewalks, and the whole place looked right out of a postcard.
Lights wrapped around every lamppost, and wreaths hung from shop doors.
The scent of sugar and spice drifted on the air from the bakery.
We’d ended up sitting on a bench, our fingers sticky from cinnamon buns.
“If I lived here,” she said between bites, “I’d probably spend half my paycheck at that bakery.”
“Would that make you even sweeter?” I asked, just low enough for her to hear. “I’d devour every inch of you.”
Her face flushed, and she elbowed me lightly.
“Behave.”
“Never!”
Our cinnamon snack finished, we continued exploring the city. Ella stopped at every window display, her eyes wide. She was glowing. But despite how perfect it was, I felt every second slipping through my fingers. I didn’t want to part with her yet. Or ever.
We were inside the bookstore when her phone buzzed again. Her car was ready.
Everything in me wanted to say no. I wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet. Not when it felt so damn right with her in my world. My cabin would feel too empty, and so would my bed.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive in with you?
” I asked hopefully one more time as we approached the garage.
“Might be a good idea in case your ex shows up.” I hated using that to try to convince her.
It felt manipulative. But I was running out of ways to keep her close.
“You can tell your family I’m just there to prevent any problem during your drive. ”
Just for a second, her gaze flicked to mine, and I thought maybe that had convinced her. But my hopes were dashed when she spoke.
“How about this: if we are still seeing each other next year, I’ll invite you so you can do more than just drive me in.”
If we were still seeing each other. If. Even though I knew I was going to do everything in my power to continue seeing her, even give up my cozy little cabin in the woods, it felt like she was already slipping out of my grasp.
But I couldn’t push anymore because she was human, and she didn’t understand things like the mate bonds. She didn’t comprehend what she was to me. I didn’t want her to think I was a creep; she already had enough experience with those.
So, with a fake smile and one final kiss we parted ways, and I watched, standing next to my truck, as her vehicle disappeared down the street.