Chapter Four
Lindor
The moment Axel's lips touched mine, the world fell away.
This wasn't like kissing Jonah. Jonah's kisses were controlled, measured, always with an awareness of who might be watching.
This was different. This was Axel pouring years of want into a single moment, his hand sliding into my hair, his other arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against him.
I kissed him back with everything I had—all my anger, all my hurt, all my desperate need to feel wanted. His mouth was hot and demanding, and when his tongue swept against mine, I heard myself make a sound that was definitely too loud for a public place.
Someone whistled. Someone else cheered.
I didn't care.
Axel's hand tightened in my hair, angling my head so he could deepen the kiss, and I melted into him. He was solid and warm and real, and for the first time in six months, I felt like I could breathe.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, I saw Jonah across the room.
He looked like I'd stabbed him.
Good.
"Don't touch my fucking girlfriend!" he shouted, pushing through the crowd toward us.
I turned to face him, Axel's arm still around my waist, and smiled sweetly. "I don't see anyone touching that skank, Chelsea."
The room went silent.
Chelsea, who'd followed Jonah back inside, gasped. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I didn’t stutter." I looked her up and down. "You knew about me. Jonah told you he had a girlfriend, and you still came here with him. You have seen us together. Still let him touch you. Still kissed him. So yeah, skank seems about right."
"Looks like he wanted me and not you" Chelsea looked at Jonah, her eyes smug and sure.
"I lo—" Jonah started, but I cut him off.
"You are a liar, you’re good at that. Six months of lying to me, lying to my brother, lying to everyone." I took Axel's hand, lacing our fingers together. "But I'm done being lied to."
"Lindor, please," Jonah said, his voice breaking. "Don't do this. Don't throw away what we have."
"What we have?" I laughed, and it sounded slightly unhinged even to my own ears. "We don't have anything, Jonah. We never did. Because you can't have a relationship with someone you're ashamed to be seen with."
"I'm not ashamed—"
"Then why did you bring her?" I gestured at Chelsea. "Why did you introduce her as your girlfriend? Why did you kiss her in front of my brother, my friends, my family?"
He didn't have an answer. Or if he did, I didn't wait to hear it.
I turned to Axel, who was watching me with something like awe in his eyes. "Get me out of here."
"With pleasure," he murmured.
We walked toward the exit, hand in hand, and the crowd parted for us. I could feel everyone staring, could hear the whispers starting, but I didn't care. Let them talk. Let them see.
I was done hiding.
As we reached the door, I heard Freddy call out, "Lin! Wait!"
I paused, looking back at my brother. He looked confused and a little hurt, and guilt twisted in my stomach.
"I'll explain later," I promised. "I just... I need to go."
He nodded slowly. "Okay. But Lin? You good?"
I looked at Axel, then back at Freddy. "Yeah. I think I am."
Outside, the cool night air hit my flushed skin, and I sucked in a deep breath. My hands were shaking, adrenaline and anger and something else—something that felt dangerously like hope—coursing through me.
"That was..." Axel started, then laughed. "That was fucking incredible."
"I called her a skank in front of everyone."
"She deserved it."
"I kissed you in front of everyone."
"I'm not complaining." He turned to face me, his hands coming up to frame my face. "But Lin, I need to know. Was that just for show? Just to get back at Jonah? Because if it was, I need you to tell me now, before this goes any further."
I looked up at him, at this man who'd been patient and kind and there for years while I chased after someone who didn't deserve me.
"I don't know," I admitted. "I don't know what this is or what it means. All I know is that when you kissed me, I felt more alive than I have in months. And I want to feel that again."
His eyes darkened. "Careful, Red. You keep talking like that, and I'm going to do a lot more than kiss you."
Heat pooled low in my belly. "Promises, promises."
"I'm serious, Lindor. I've wanted you for so long, and if we do this—if we really do this—I'm not going to be able to hold back."
"Then don't."
The words hung between us, charged with possibility.
Axel's jaw clenched. "You're upset. You're angry. I don't want to be your revenge fuck."
"What if I want you to be?"
"Lindor—"
"I'm not drunk," I said, stepping closer.
"I'm not confused. I know exactly what I'm doing.
Jonah humiliated me in there. Made me feel small and worthless and invisible.
And I want to feel powerful again. I want to feel wanted.
And you..." I reached up, running my fingers through his hair.
"You make me feel both of those things."
"Fuck," he breathed, his control visibly fraying.
"Take me home, Axel. Your place. And show me what it's like to be with someone who isn't ashamed of me."
For a moment, I thought he might refuse. Thought his sense of honor might win out over his desire.
Then he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to his car.