Page 60 of Axel
“Serena…”
“I can come to you, if that’s more convenient.” He looked in the direction of the sitting room again.
“No, I will try and see you in a day or two.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Goodbye.” He hung up and stared at the phone in contemplated silence. He should have refused to see her, but there was still something there. And it was holding him back from making a decision. He had to get some sort of closure.
He was so deep in thought that he did not hear her come in until she was almost on top of him.
“Is everything okay?”
His head jerked up to look at her.
“Yes. Some issues with a project the company was thinking of taking on. Where is mother?”
“She is tending to her house plants.” Tilting her head, she stared at him. “What is it, Axel?”
“Nothing.”
“You are having second thoughts.”
“No.” Taking her hand, he drew her towards him. “I am moody and irascible. I have been so involved in building the company that it has become a part of me. An integral part of me and I cannot turn it off.”
She gave him a speculative look. “Is that all?”
“What else is there?”
“Your ex.”
His eyes sharpened and he wondered if she had heard the tail end of his conversation.
“What about her?” He asked brusquely.
“The fact that you do not talk about her.”
“There is nothing to say.”
She studied his face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He clipped. “And I am finding this discussion a little distasteful. Please drop it.”
“I am not going to compete with her.” She warned, eyes flashing.
“Youa re starting to piss me off.”
“Already?” She mocked; her throat tight. She was not going to break down in front of him and was rethinking about going to Europe. She had thought last night would have cemented things for them, but she was wrong.
“We are not even into our first week yet and it’s already starting.” She was turning to leave, when he snagged her around the waist.
“I am sorry.” He whispered hoarsely, fingers biting into her waist. “I am not good at this.”
“That’s pretty clear.” She stared at him. “Axel, I am not going to force you into doing something you do not want to be a part of. Just…,” she shook her head. “You asked me to stay!”
“I need you.” He waded in abruptly, his face harsh. “I don’t want to, but I need you and when I left that first time, it was hell. I could not think about anything else except the fact that you were no longer there.” He bent his head towards hers and inhaled her scent.
Tilting her chin up, he took her lips in a kiss that had her toes curling. Her arms came around his neck, fingers toying with the thick hairs at his temples. He pulled her between his thighs, his hands wandering down her firm buttocks, his cock hardening. Ending the kiss, he pressed his forehead on hers and grappled with his composure.