The pressure of his palm on the small of her back brought her back to the moment.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Alice.Open the door.You can do it.”
His soothing tone boosted her confidence.He wanted her or he wouldn’t be here.She pushed her insecurities aside and finally inserted the key into the lock.
Chapter Six
Axel didn’t want toremove his hand.For goodness’ sake, he wanted to touch her actual skin, to run his fingertips across every inch of her body.He yearned to demand she kneel before him and suck him off.
He was well aware that for the time being, it would have to remain a fantasy.He hadn’t read her notebook.He’d been truthful.Reading one page had been enough.His Baby Girl had anxiety, and everything scared her.The last thing he wanted was to join that list of frightening things.No, he had to gain her trust, to show her he would be her support, not something to flee from.He had no idea how he was going to do that without fucking her brains out, but he had to try.
They entered the small apartment, and he reluctantly let go of her as she switched on the lights.
“It’s small,” she said apologetically.“New York is expensive and—”
“There’s no need to apologize.I lived in the city too and I was young and broke once.”
“Um ...you were?”
He laughed.
“I haven’t always been forty.”He made his way to her worn gray couch.Setting some throw pillows to one side, he sat down.“Yes, I paid my way through college and then got into, er, art consulting before I made enough money to open the bar.”
“How long has it been open?”
“A few years.I met, some ...um,” he hesitated unsure if he should tell her.“Other shifters,” he finally said.Honesty was the best policy and there was no point in denying the truth from his mate.His heart skipped several beats as he waited for her to say something.He could sense her unease.Her gaze darted left and right and the vein in her neck throbbed in quick pulses.
“You must have questions,” he gently prodded her.
“I don’t want to be rude.”
“You won’t be.”He smiled encouragingly.
“What are you?”Her gaze lifted to his and dropped just as quickly.Her cheeks reddened and she hurried to busy herself picking up the contents of the coffee table.
“A lion.”
