Axel (Carolina Reapers 1)

But saying the words made it more official than our contracted, timed marriage, and I just…fuck me, I wasn’t there yet. Not because of anything he’d done, but because I was afraid of letting him down.

Afraid of having to work too much or too long at the wrong time.

Afraid of having to tell him no because of business, even if my heart always screamed to say yes to him.

I didn’t want to be split down the middle again.

And I knew the clock was ticking, but I hoped I had enough time to figure out a way to own myself one-hundred percent while also belonging to Axel just as much.

With two minutes to spare, I thanked the driver and hauled ass—as fast as I could in my black pumps—into the event, barely having time to marvel at the gorgeous historic building Harper had chosen to host the celebration.

The ballroom had been transformed into an elegant party filled with hundreds of people, some familiar faces and others new, but there was only one I was interested in.

I scanned the room, finally spotting my Viking in a slick, all black suit, his hair tightly pulled back. He was all the way across the ballroom, chatting with a laughing Lukas and grinning Faith. Sawyer, Noble, and Harper completed their little circle, and something sharp stung my insides. For the first time ever, I cursed my fucking job. Those were my friends, my family, and I wasn’t there to celebrate with them.

The crowd of people around me started chanting, “Ten, nine…” as I pushed and shoved and sprinted across the marble floor.

“Eight, seven…”

I hurried, not caring about etiquette or manners in that moment.

“Six, five, four…”

A few more steps.

“Three, two…”

I burst through my circle of friends, Axel’s eyes sparking wide as I flung my arms around his neck and crushed my mouth on his just as everyone screamed zero! His arms immediately slid around my hips as he drew our bodies flush, never breaking our kiss. Something tight loosened in my chest as I parted my lips, letting him in fully as he stroked and teased my mouth until we finally had to break apart for air.

Cheers of Happy New Year! rang out around us, and we shared a smile as I tugged him lower so he could hear me over the crowd.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” I said into his ear.

He arched a brow at me, genuine surprise in his eyes. “It’s okay, Langley. I understand the demands of your job.”

I sighed, the worry that had gnawed on me the whole way here easing a bit.

“I really tried to get out earlier—”

“It’s fine,” he said, cupping my cheek. “You never have to choose with me.”

The words were sweeter than any I love you ever could be, though it was a super close second. The words built inside my heart, pushing and shoving and begging to burst free.

“I—”

“You made it!” Harper squealed, throwing her arms around me and successfully wrenching me from Axel’s grasp. I laughed and hugged her back.

“I’m so sorry I missed the beginning,” I said as she released me, waving me off.

“No worries!” She raised her champagne flute. “This party is just getting started! We’re about to head to Scythe! We need to feed the men more than the tiny hors d'oeuvres they served here.”

“I’m dying to see this famed bar,” Sawyer said and patted his stomach. I was so happy he accepted my plane ticket to fly out for the event. I’d also given him the keys to the apartment by the arena, the one I’d never slept in but kept just in case I needed it, so he wouldn’t have to hotel it all weekend. “And yes. Please. Food. Now.”

Harper and Faith laughed, and I joined them. I reached back to interlock my fingers with Axel’s. “You hungry?”

“Starved,” he said, but something hot and molten in his eyes suggested it wasn’t only for food. Heat dusted my skin, and I bit back my smile as I turned back to the girls. “We’re in!”

* * *

The girls and I took our usual seats at the bar, Sawyer electing to sit with us, leaving the rest of the Reapers to their normal tables in the back corner.

Echo sauntered out from the kitchen clad in a black lace cami and dark skinny jeans, her purple hair half braided back, the rest dusting her shoulders.

“Yes!” she hollered, practically skipping toward us. “Here’s my second rush!” She surveyed us all in suits and ball gowns. “See no one chose to tell me it was fancy-schmancy night. I would’ve pulled my Cinderella dress out of the attic.” The hint of snark in her voice had me wondering if she truly owned a gown or was purely making fun of us.

Harper raised her arms in a victory stance. “We launched the helmet to the public!”