Chapter 8 Axel
Axel
Experiencing intimacy with Teagan for the first time was nothing short of life changing. The memory lingers, not just in my mind but in the steady thrum of my pulse, a reminder of how much she trusts me—not just with her body, but with her heart and, whether she realizes it or not, her life.
Standing in the kitchen, with her shoulder pressing gently into my side, I can’t stop the heat spreading through me.
She takes a bite of her muffin, her movements relaxed and unhurried.
For the first time in days, the worry lines that usually crease her forehead have smoothed, her face peaceful in the soft morning light.
I should be savoring this quiet moment, but my thoughts churn beneath the surface, dark and restless. The memory of yesterday’s break-in claws its way forward. The image of her bakery, violated and unsafe, coupled with the ominous notes left behind, tightens a band around my ribs.
Teagan’s presence against me should be reassuring, a promise of the happiness we’ve just begun to share, but all I can think about is how fragile it is—how easily someone could shatter it.
A surge of protectiveness wells up inside me, almost overwhelming.
She let me in, let me close, and now that I know what that feels like, the idea of losing her is unbearable.
She glances up at me, her lips curving into a small, contented smile that silences the noise in my head. It’s a smile that says she trusts me, believes in me, even when danger looms right in her sweet little slice of heaven, her café.
I’ll move mountains to keep her safe. Whoever is behind those damn threats doesn’t understand who they’re dealing with. They’ll regret ever messing with her.
Our connection is unbreakable, and that only deepens my resolve.
With Teagan, I’ve found someone worth fighting for, worth protecting with everything I have.
She’s not just mine to love—she’s mine to protect, to cherish.
With everything that’s within me, I will do all that I can to shield her from this psycho.
“I guess, I’m ready to head to work.” She breaks me from my train of thought.
“I’ll take you.” Chugging the rest of my coffee, I place the mug in the dishwasher.
Lifting up on her tiptoes, she places a light feathered kiss to my lips leaving tingles behind. “I can drive. I know you’ve got work to do.”
“I do, but I can do most of it in your office. I need to grab a different door handle for your office and change it while the hardware store is open.”
Biting her lower lip, she glances up at me, her stormy blue eyes turning gray. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’ll have it done by the end of the day.” Grabbing my keys, I take her hand and lead her to the garage.
Gripping the steering wheel, the chill of the morning seeps in through the cracked window.
The snow from last night blankets everything in a soft, white layer, muffling the sounds of the world outside.
It’s beautiful, but it does little to calm the knots in my stomach.
I glance at Teagan in the passenger seat, her breath fogging the window as she stares out at the winter wonderland.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice cutting through the quiet. She turns to me, and I can see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. It’s the same worry that has been gnawing at me since the first note. I want to reassure her, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re walking into an unknown danger.
“Yeah, I’m just…thinking,” she replies, her voice soft but there’s a hint of unsureness in it. She’s trying to mask her apprehension. I want to reach over and take her hand, to let her know I’m here for her, but I need to keep my focus on the road, navigating through the snowy streets.
As we approach the café, I feel a mix of dread and determination.
The quaint little building looks so inviting against the stark white backdrop, but my mind races with worst-case scenarios.
Damn it! I haven’t had a chance to change the locks yet, and the thought of someone lying in wait, ready to hurt—or worse, kill—Teagan twists through me like barbed wire, sharp and relentless, each jab a stabbing pain that feels like it’s tearing my heart apart.
I pull into the parking lot, the crunch of tires on snow echoing underneath. The café stands tall and proud, but my heart pounds as I glance at the front door, half-expecting to see signs of chaos. Instead, everything appears calm, untouched.
“Here we are,” I say, trying to keep my tone light despite the tension coiling in my chest. She takes a deep breath, and I can see her resolve strengthening.
Stepping out of the car, the cold air hits me hard, but I push it aside. I look at her, and she gives me a small nod, her eyes brightening a little as she takes in the sight of her beloved café. I walk around to meet her, and hand in hand we approach the entrance.
I push the door open, and a warm wave of air envelops us. I scan the interior, my heart racing, but there are no signs of disturbance—no broken furniture, no scattered papers, nothing that hints at the invasion we feared.
“It looks… okay,” she breathes, her voice tinged with disbelief. I nod, relief flooding through me. The silence in the café feels safe, a sanctuary from the tension that lingers just beyond inside these doors.”
She stepped inside first, and I insist on going in before her, scanning the room for any sign of danger.
The tightness in my chest loosens when I see nothing out of place.
Maybe today won’t be as bad as I’d feared.
Glancing over at Teagan the creases in her forehead smooth out followed by something optimistic glinting in her gaze, while the worry that has clouded her eyes lifts, replaced by a sense of calm, and the heaviness of the drive over begins to fade.
“I’ll check upstairs to see if the pin is still in the door. I think it’s safe for you to go ahead and start getting things ready for the morning.”
“Mmkay. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
As she meanders to the kitchen, I take the stairs two by two. Shining the light on the pin wedged in the door crack above, my tension eases when I see it’s still in place. I let out a sigh of relief until I hear a shriek.
“Eww. Why does my kitchen smell like rotting eggs?”
By the time I make it downstairs, she’s already backed out of the kitchen but the door is still open to that area.
“That’s gas!” I shout. “Get outside and call the police.”
Her trembling hand punches in numbers and she high-tails it outside.
I, on the other hand, rush inside and notice the knobs have all been turned on to high.
“Damn it.” I grab a hand towel and twist them off one by one so I don’t leave any fingerprints behind.
Once they’re all off, I get outside to where she’s standing, leaving the back door open to air out all the fumes in the meantime.
“The police and fire department are on the way.” The words hang in the crisp morning air, heavy with dread.
I feel her shiver against me, her body trembles like a fragile leaf quaking in the winter wind.
Instinctively, I wrap my arms around her, trying to ward off the cold and offer whatever comfort I can.
A faint smell of gas hangs in the air, rancid and nauseating. While we wait for the emergency responders, I glance around the street, the morning light casting a soft glow over the café, illuminating the frost on the ground and the worry etched on her face.
“I know I turned the oven off yesterday before we left. I double-checked,” she says, her voice shaky, ridden her anxiety.
“Love, I don’t think it was you,” I reply, the blunt truth spilling out before I can stop it. It stings, but we both need to face reality.
“You think it was the intruder?” Her eyes widen with fear.
“Considering I haven’t had a chance to change the locks? Yeah.”
“But you can check the surveillance now, right?” she presses, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I can.” I pull out my phone, tap the app that holds the camera footage. We lean in, our breaths caught in our throats. The screen lights up, and we watch intently, tension thickening between us.
Around 2:00 a.m., a dark figure slips into the café, their face obscured, dressed all in black. My stomach sinks. There’s our answer. It wasn’t her. It was definitely that person.
“Let’s wait in the truck until they get here,” I suggest, urgency creeping into my voice.
Once we’re inside the rig, the engine hums softly, providing a cocoon of warmth against the frigid temps. We watch the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles from the safety of the cab, their colors reflecting off her worried face.
After what feels like an eternity, the firefighters finally let us know when it’s safe to enter.
We reluctantly step out into the brisk morning air, the wintry weather nipping at our skin.
The café calls to us, it’s supposed to be a place of comfort not a place of unease.
Police officers are busy taking fingerprints, their voices a low murmur of authority.
One officer assures us they’ll post an officer here throughout the day and night, a small relief to ease my mind.
“I’ll be right back,” my voice is steady despite the storm brewing inside me. I head to the hardware store as soon as it opens, necessity propelling me forward. When I return, I quickly change the locks, the reassuring click grounding me in the moment.
I find Teagan busy filling the glass food case, the familiar aroma of coffee and baked goods masking the tension in the air.
An officer pulls me aside and shows me a piece of paper that reads: I hope your French dreams don’t turn into a nightmare. You think you can just waltz in and take over? Not everyone is glad you’re back.
“Has she seen this?” I ask. The officer shakes his head. “Let’s keep it that way.”
“I have to take it in for evidence.”
“I understand. Let me show you the video.”
“Certainly. We’ll need a copy of the video as well.
” He follows me and while he’s watching the surveillance footage he takes notes, his brow furrowing in concentration.
Once all the police have what they need, they promise to keep us updated.
I shake their hands, gratitude washing over me despite the fear lingering just beneath the surface.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice steady. I glance back at her, her expression still clouded with worry.
Once the officers leave, it’s time to open for the morning rush. There are sure to be a ton of tourists coming in this morning since Christmas time is one of our busy seasons.
After I reassure her that there will be an officer within sight all day, the muscles in her shoulders relax.
“I’m not going anywhere either. I’ll be right there.” I point to her office. “If you need anything.”
“Axel, I can’t thank you enough. For…” She inhales deeply. “For everything.”
“It’s nothing.” I kiss the crown of her head and get out of her way.
Sitting in her office, I can’t help but steal glances at her as she moves effortlessly around her café. She’s in her element, pouring over the counter with a grace that captivates me. The way she interacts with customers, her laughter ringing like music, makes my heart swell.
I’m supposed to be reviewing plans for my construction projects, but my mind drifts back to the intimacy we shared. We did things to each other that would make the sun blush.
As I watch her work, possessiveness surges through me. All that’s transpired here at the café lingers fresh in my mind, and I want to protect her from it. She deserves to feel safe and secure, especially in her own space.
By midday, the coffee shop is buzzing with activity. She’s managing the customers well, but it’s clear she’s going to need help soon. The thought of that doesn’t sit well with me, not with all the threats hanging over us. Still, at least I’ve managed to get some work done today.
She glances over at me, and a soft smile spreads across her face, lighting up the room.
I can’t help but smile back, my heart quickening.
Surrounded by the familiar sounds of the café—the chatter of customers, the gentle clink of cups, and soft holiday music playing in the background—there’s an unspoken connection between us, deeper than I could have ever imagined.
My mind drifts to thoughts of this morning of her in my bed.
The intense intimacy we shared, and now the ungodly things I want to do to her when we get home—well hell, now my dick is thick and hard enough to split bricks.
Time to think of other things… anything…
grinders. Wait! No! Because good god. I’d love nothing more than to throw her over this desk and grind her from behind.
Shit. Stop it, Axel. Nails! No! Not Nails.
I’d like to nail her, right here, right now, on this damn office floor.
Okay. Think Axel. You’re a carpenter. Think!
Okay… wood. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck no. Not wood!
Now my wood is even harder than before. Damn it. I’m screwed.
Time to take a walk. I shove through the back door, the freezing air hitting me like a bucket of ice water—exactly what I need.
No jacket. No problem. Anything to cool off before I walk back in there looking like a damn fool.
By the time I sneak back inside, the place is still buzzing.
Teagan’s juggling customers like a pro, but it’s clear she’s going to need help soon.
I file that thought away for later and throw myself into work, hammering through tasks until the day finally winds down and it’s time to close up the bakery.
Watching her from across the room, I take in her confident posture and the way she handles everything without a hint of fear.
She’s a damn force to be reckoned with, and I’m proud of her.
Still, a knot of worry twists in my stomach.
What if she’d accidentally turned on a burner?
The thought of her being blown to pieces makes my heart stop.
But here she is, all smiles like she’s untouchable.
How she does it, I’ll never understand, but I know one thing: she’s my angel in the flesh.
With her focused on her tasks, I take a deep breath and remind myself... she’s a beast and whoever is messing with her has no idea what they’re in for. She’s a pillar of strength and won’t be shaken no matter what hand she’s been dealt.
She is the very essence of hope, the kind that refuses to be destroyed, no matter how fierce the storm.
Life has thrown its worst at her—loss, heartbreak, even the shadow of death—but she faces every trial with unshakable resolve.
The scars she carries are hidden, etched deep within, yet they are the proof of her battles, her victories, her survival.
Her pain is a quiet truth, woven into the fabric of who she is, but she wears it with grace, shielding it behind a smile so brilliant and contagious it could soften the hardest hearts.