7. Nina
Chapter Seven
NINA
I've changed outfits three times already. The black dress was too formal, the jeans and sweater too casual, and now I'm staring at a burgundy wrap dress. This is ridiculous. It's just dinner.
With my boss. Who I kissed. Who kissed me back like his life depended on it.
I press my hands to my heated cheeks, remembering the intensity of Axel's mouth on mine, the way his hands tangled in my hair, how his body pressed me against the door of his office. That kiss was earth-shattering. The kind that ruins you for all other kisses.
I smooth the dress over my hips, decision made. The soft material clings in the right places without being too obvious. Casual enough for a small-town restaurant, nice enough to show I care. I add a pair of gold earrings, minimal makeup, and leave my hair down.
A knock at my door sends a flutter of nerves through my stomach. I take a deep breath, check my reflection one last time, and open the door.
Axel stands on my doorstep, ruggedly handsome in dark jeans and a charcoal button-down that stretches across his broad shoulders. His hair is slightly damp, like he's just showered.
“Hi,” I say, suddenly shy despite the fact that I had his tongue in my mouth a few hours ago.
“Hi.” His gaze travels down my dress, then back to my face, a muscle working in his jaw. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks. You clean up nice yourself. Come in while I try to find my shoes.”
He steps inside, filling my small apartment with his presence. I'm suddenly conscious of the boxes still stacked in the corner, the mismatched furniture, the half-unpacked bookshelf.
I locate the shoes in a box next to the sofa. “Sorry about the mess. I’m still settling in.”
His gaze catches on a framed photo of my dad and me in firefighter helmets. “Your father?”
I nod. “Career firefighter. It was taken at the station's open house when I was eight. I wanted to be just like him.”
Axel smiles. “And now you are. Saving lives, just differently.”
Something warm blooms in my chest at his tone. “Ready to go? I'm starving.”
“Me too.” The way he says it, eyes holding mine, suggests he's not just talking about food.
We walk the few blocks to The Lodge, a cozy upscale restaurant at the edge of town known for its locally-sourced steaks and mountain trout. The evening air is crisp, stars beginning to dot the darkening sky. Ember Heart looks like a postcard at this hour, all glowing windows and quaint storefronts.
“Small town life suiting you so far?” Axel asks as we walk.
“Getting there. The quiet takes some getting used to. In the city, there was always noise… traffic, sirens, people.”
“And now?”
“Now I can hear myself think. It's...refreshing. Clearer.”
The Lodge is warm and intimate. There’s a stone fireplace casting a golden glow, timber beams overhead, and the aroma of grilled meat and woodsmoke in the air. The hostess, an older woman with red hair, greets Axel by name and shows us to a corner table near the fireplace.
“Your usual spot,” she says.
Once we're seated, Axel looks mildly embarrassed. “The Blake family's been coming here for decades. Jenny's known me since I was a kid. Best steaks in three counties.”
We order wine and food, settling into a conversation that flows easier than I expected. Away from work, Axel is still quiet, still intense, but there's a relaxed quality to him that I haven't seen before. He tells me stories about growing up in Ember Heart, about his brothers' antics, about learning to fly the helicopter from Ryder.
“Sounds like you were a handful,” I say, smiling over my wine glass.
“Mom would agree with you. Said raising us was like herding caffeinated squirrels.”
I laugh at the image. “She must be such a strong woman. Dealing with seven boys.”
“She's never been fazed by any of us. Even when we were at our worst, after Dad died.”
“That must have been hard, losing him young.”
He nods, his eyes distant. “I was twenty-three. Still figuring my life out. Suddenly I was running SAR, trying to fill his shoes.”
“That's a lot of responsibility.”
“Someone had to step up. Logan, Ryder and Troy were deployed. Mom needed help.” He shrugs like it was nothing.
“Is that why you stayed? In Ember Heart?”
“Partly. At first it was a necessity. But this place, these mountains, they're part of me now.”
“What about you? Do you miss the city?”
“Parts of it. The coffee. The bookstores.” I twist my napkin. “Not the memories.”
“Your ex and your friend,” he says quietly.
“Nothing like having the two people you trusted most betray you. It sort of makes you question your life choices.”
“Their loss,” he says quietly.
The rest of dinner passes in a pleasant haze. The food is as amazing as promised, the wine perfectly paired, the conversation flowing easily. By the time we finish dessert, I'm more relaxed than I've been in months.
Outside, the night has turned cool as we walk back to my place. Thunder rumbles in the distance and a light rain is falling. Axel drapes his jacket over my shoulders without asking, the warmth of him enveloping me along with his scent. I breathe in pine and something spicy. Something that makes my stomach flip.
His eyes drop to my mouth, then back to my eyes. “Nina, about today, in my office?—”
“The kiss?”
“Yes, the kiss.” He runs a hand through his hair.
He studies me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, deliberately, he cups my face in his hands. This kiss is different from the first, gentler, more controlled. A question rather than a demand.
I answer by winding my arms around his neck, pressing closer. His hands slide to my waist, drawing me against him as the kiss deepens. His tongue explores every inch of my mouth and I moan softly.
When we finally break apart, I'm breathless. It’s raining harder now, lightning flashing above the mountains.
“Come inside,” I suggest, surprising myself with my boldness.
He closes his eyes briefly, like he's fighting an internal battle. “If I come inside, Nina, I won't want to leave.”
The raw honesty in his voice sends heat spiraling through me. “Would that be so terrible?”
His eyes darken, pupils dilating as they hold mine. “No… It wouldn't.”
I take his hand and lead him inside, heart racing. The door has barely closed behind us when his mouth is on mine again, hungrier this time, less restrained. I press against him, my back against the door, his body a solid wall of heat. I've never felt small before, but next to Axel's massive, broad frame, I'm suddenly aware of his size and strength.
Rain hammers on the roof, the air charged. His hands slide down my sides to my hips, gripping firmly as his mouth leaves mine to trail hot kisses down my neck. I gasp, fingers tangling in his hair.
“Bedroom?” he murmurs against my skin.
“End of the hall,” I manage, already tugging at his shirt.
We stumble down the hallway, shedding clothes as we go. His shirt first, revealing a chest that's even more impressive than I'd imagined; broad, muscled, with a dusting of dark hair tapering down his stomach. I run my hands over him, feeling the solid strength beneath my palms.
He unwraps my dress, his breath catching as it pools at my feet. His eyes roam over me, taking in my lace bra and matching underwear.
“You're so fucking beautiful,” he says, voice deep.
I reach for his belt, undoing it with trembling fingers. “I want to see you. All of you.”
His jeans join the growing pile of clothes. He's magnificent; all hard muscle and tan skin. We reach the bedroom, and he pulls me against him, skin to skin. The brush of his chest against mine sends electricity through my veins. His mouth captures mine again, tongue sliding against mine in a sensuous rhythm.
He lowers me to the bed, following me down, propped on his elbows to keep from crushing me. I run my hands down his back, feeling the muscles shift under my touch.
“Are you sure?” he asks, pausing to look into my eyes.
“I've never been more sure of anything,” I whisper, pulling him back down to me.
His mouth travels down my body, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. He unclasps my bra with one hand, tossing it aside before covering my breast with his mouth. I arch against him, a moan escaping my lips.
“Axel,” I breathe, my hands in his hair, guiding him. His tongue circles, flicks, before he takes it deeper, his hand moving to tease the other. I'm melting beneath him, losing myself in the sensation. He sucks and nips at my pebbled nipples as electricity courses straight to my core. He kisses lower, over my stomach, his breath hot against my skin.
He hooks his fingers into the waistband of my underwear, slowly dragging them down. I shift to help him, my entire body thrumming with need. His mouth trails after the lace, kissing along my thighs as he goes. When I'm finally free of every scrap of clothing, he pauses to look at me, his eyes dark.
“Perfect,” he growls.
Then he's on me again, working his way downwards. “You’re so wet already.”
My reply is a breathless whimper, hips arching off the bed as he drags his tongue up the length of my pussy, slow and deliberate, savoring every inch. He flicks the tip of his tongue over my clit as I pull him closer.
“Yes,” I moan.
His tongue works my clit in tight, relentless circles while his fingers slide inside me, thick and demanding, curling just right to hit my sweet spot. My pussy clenches as my body tightens, every muscle tensing.
“Come for me,” he growls, his breath hot against me, his voice rough.
Clutching the sheets, a warm wave crashes over me as I come hard, my body shaking as I come undone, crying out his name. As my breathing steadies, I pull at the last barrier between us, his boxers, eager to feel him inside me. His huge cock springs free as he groans, pressing against me in a way that leaves no space between us.
“Condom,” he says against my collarbone, voice strained with restraint.
“Nightstand drawer,” I manage.
He reaches over, fumbling in the drawer before finding what he needs. I watch, mesmerized, as he rolls it on, his eyes never leaving mine.
And then he's there, poised above me, one hand cupping my face. “You're sure?”
In answer, I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. “I'm sure.”
He enters me slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size. The feeling of fullness, of completion, is overwhelming. I clutch at his shoulders, breathing his name.
“Good?”
“More than good.” I roll my hips to take him deeper.
He groans, burying his face in my neck as he begins to move. Each thrust builds the tension coiling inside me, higher and tighter. His movements are controlled at first, measured, but as our passion builds, his restraint slips. His thumb finds my clit as he thrusts and I arch up from the bed.
He groans, his rhythm increasing. “You feel so fucking good .”
“Don't stop,” I urge him, meeting each thrust, my nails digging into his back.
He shifts slightly, changing the angle, and suddenly I'm seeing stars. I gasp. “Right there.”
He pumps into me harder, faster, hitting that perfect spot with each thrust. The tension inside me builds to a breaking point. I shatter around him, crying out his name again as waves of pleasure crash through me. He follows moments later, his body tensing above mine.
Afterward, we lie tangled together. His weight is comforting on top of me, his heartbeat gradually slowing against my chest. Eventually, he rolls to the side, pulling me with him so I'm cradled against his body. Lightning flashes overhead as the storm passes.
“That was…” he starts, trailing off.
“Yeah,” I smile against his chest. “It really was…”
He presses a kiss to my forehead, his arms tightening around me. “Do you want me to go?”
I tilt my head up to look at him. “No. Stay.”
His eyes search mine. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure. Unless you have somewhere else to be?”
“There’s nowhere I'd rather be.