Page 84 of It Kills Me

He’s not watching us anymore. Axel’s message popped up on my phone.

How do you know?

I just do.

I still didn’t want to believe it.

Let me take you out tonight. Hopefully our date goes better than the last one you had.

I’m not gonna get my hopes up.

Ouch. Guess I’ll have to step it up, then.

If you want to get laid, yeah.

He sent a couple laughing emojis. Come on, Pretty. You know that’s a guarantee.

We’ll see…

Ooh, I like a challenge. I’ll pick you up at 7.

I wore a strappy black dress and heels, pairing it with gold bangles and a gold necklace. I usually wore my hair straight, but I curled it for the occasion. Axel always looked at me like a piece of eye candy, but I really wanted him to eat his heart out tonight. For my last date, I’d put in the least amount of effort possible.

He invited himself inside, dressed in black jeans and a button-up with the sleeves pushed to his elbows. Of course he looked drop-dead sexy, with the shirt fitting tight over his forearms and shoulders. But he was the one who looked me up and down then released a low whistle. “Damn…that’s one fine piece of ass right there.” He moved into me, his arms circling my waist before both of his hands palmed my ass. His head dipped to kiss me, catching my lips as he squeezed my ass harder.

I’d never been with a man who described me that way, who made me feel so desirable. Sometimes they said I was pretty or I looked nice, but they didn’t say the types of things that Axel blurted.

His hands moved to my dress and started to tug it up as he backed me farther into the apartment.

“Nope.” I swatted his hand away.

He pulled back, a playful smirk on his lips. “Damn, you’re going to make me work for it.”

“Yep. And if you don’t want to end the night inside of your hand instead of me, you better step it up.”

His smirk remained, like he knew damn well that was an empty threat. “My baby means business.” He gave me another kiss before he grabbed my hand and walked me out of the apartment.

His car was downstairs, an expensive sports car with a shiny paint job. The second he started the car, the engine was like a roar, and then he took off. With one hand on the wheel and his eyes on the road, he grabbed my hand and held it in his lap.

I’d never done that before, had a man need me so badly that he wanted me in the car, even if it was just my hand.

I knew this would end badly at some point, but I couldn’t stop now. I was fully invested in Axel, completely locked in with this man. All the consequences of this would be paid in full—and I’d gladly wipe out my savings.

We arrived at the restaurant and handed the car over to the valet. He checked in with the hostess and was given a table in the corner near the window. A candle was lit in the center on the white tablecloth along with the little vase of red roses.

Axel pulled out the chair for me, and when the waiter arrived, he ordered wine for the table.

“You drink wine?” I asked.

“Occasionally.”

“I’ve never seen you drink it before.”

“I had it the night we first met. When I had dinner with your father.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“I remember because I noticed the way your lipstick smeared against your glass…and it made me think of other things.”