Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

LUNA

A fter our initial meeting last night, I didn't think I'd be eating breakfast in Axel's kitchen this morning. He seemed to feel badly about running into me this morning.

He'd cradled my body to him when we were rolling down the hill, bearing the brunt of any rocks and tree roots. I'd barely processed the feel of his hard body pressed against mine before we came to a stop, and he rolled to hover over me.

It had been difficult to draw in a deep breath because his face was etched with concern. He'd morphed into rescue mode, whereas I was wrapped up in his scent and body heat.

I was hyperaware of him when he'd probed for injuries, his large hands covering every inch of my body. When he'd cupped my ass and squeezed, he'd stolen my breath, but he'd seemed unaware of the affect he was having on me.

By the time he pulled away, I was trembling with desire, and he was worried about how I was going to walk home.

He'd lifted me in his arms so easily, belying what Rex had said about my weight because it was nothing to Axel. He was a much bigger man than Rex, stronger and bulkier. He'd had no issues lifting me, and it was a huge turn-on.

My head was all mixed up as we walked home. Axel sent me careening down a ravine, but he'd also taken care of me.

I was still in shock over the way my morning turned out. After last night, I wasn't sure I should stay at the cabin.

I'd come here to forget about guys, to figure out the next step in my life, but Axel was here, and I couldn't ignore him.

Axel ate standing up at the counter, almost as if he couldn't get close to me. Either because he didn't want to, or he'd been away from people for so long he wasn't sure how to interact with them.

The cabin was rustic but worn. The thing that struck me was that it was neat and clean. Every item meticulously put away. If I opened the pantry, I suspected the cans were lined up in a row, the labels pointing out.

I'd expect that level of organization from a guy in the military. But I wanted to shake him up a bit. Take him out of his comfort zone.

I wondered what he'd do if I went into the hot tub every night naked. At one point, would his careful control slip?

Did I want it to? Did I want this man to show me how he could take care of me in other ways?

I had a feeling he'd be different than any other guy I'd ever been with. That he'd make me feel alive again. Those thoughts had my blood pumping and my skin humming with desire, despite my aching knee.

When we finished eating, Axel cleaned the dishes by hand, then set them in a rack to dry.

“No dishwasher?” I asked, my brain already spinning with what we could do with the place.

Axel turned to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. “I never updated the place. There was never a reason to. People come here for a rustic cabin getaway. As long as it has plumbing, that's all they care about.”

“You want to make a list of the improvements now?” I asked hopefully, not wanting our time together to come to an end. If I went back to my cabin, I'd be alone. That's what I had wanted when I came here, but it was hard when I was used to being surrounded by family.

His brow furrowed. “I don't want to interfere with your day.”

“I want to make a list first. Then I can put together a timeline.”

Axel considered me, then finally nodded. “Let me show you around.”

I was aware of his large body taking up all the space in the small cabin. I took notes on my phone, placing a star next to anything that should be a priority in a remodel.

I was getting the impression that Axel would do the bare minimum without some encouragement from me. I suppose that was because he'd been in the military for so long. He probably wasn't used to surrounding himself with luxury.

He stopped in the doorway to the master bedroom. I stood next to him to get a better look. It had large, heavy furniture, a gray comforter, and white sheets. It smelled like Axel, a delicious combination of cedar and man.

Had he ever had a woman in here? I didn't think so. He didn't strike me as a guy who frequented bars, picking up women for one-night stands. And if he did, he wouldn't want to bring them to his home.

I got the impression this was his safe place, and he didn't invite many people in. It made me feel special that he'd trusted me. And we'd only met yesterday.

But maybe he sensed that I was a good person just like I'd sensed that he wouldn't hurt me.

Axel finally moved into the room. “What do you think we could do in here?”

I swallowed hard because I had lots of ideas. Missionary, doggy style, him bending me over the side of the bed. It was just the right height for him since he was so tall.

Had he thought of me naked in the hot tub last night when he was alone in this bed?

Axel raised a brow. “Luna?”

I forced myself to pull my gaze from the bed that seemingly took up all the space in the room to the man who was occupying my thoughts. “The floors. The walls?”

His lip twitched. “Are you asking me, or is that what you think?”

I felt hot to the point of being feverish. Sweat prickled my forehead. This man oozed sexuality, and I had no business being in his inner sanctum. I wasn't here to jump into another relationship. I certainly couldn't handle anything that was purely physical. And this man was giving off pheromones that would draw me in without much effort.

I didn't stand a chance.

“How's the master bathroom?” I asked, moving toward the door.

Axel just gave me a perplexed look before turning to push open the door to his bathroom.

The bathroom was just the distraction I needed. There was blue tile. “Really. Blue?”

Axel grimaced. “It looks bad, but it's functional. Mostly.”

I walked around the space slowly. If we demolished everything, there would be room for a standing shower, a two-sink vanity, and a toilet. But not much else. It would be a good size for a rental though. “We can work with this.”

“I was hoping you'd say that.”

I turned to leave the room, but Axel blocked the doorway. Had I ever noticed how wide his shoulders were? How his T- shirt clung to his pecs? If I touched him, would I feel every ridge of his abs?

I licked my lips, and his gaze dropped to track the movement. I was in way over my head. “I should get back. I have some work to do.”

His brow raised because I'd told him at breakfast I could work whenever. But suddenly my laptop was calling to me. My desire for self-preservation was kicking in hard.

I didn't know what I was doing here except tempting myself. I wanted him in the worst way. Every inch of my skin was vibrating. I wanted him to touch me, to kiss me. It was completely out of line. I'd only met him yesterday, but then again, our timeline wasn't normal. He'd already seen me naked.

The memory should have been a splash of cold water on my face. But instead, my body was revved up and ready for action.

I had to get out of here. If this man decided he wanted me, I wouldn't be able to say no. I wouldn't remember the reasons why this was a bad idea.

We were temporary neighbors but nothing more.

Axel held my gaze, then finally dipped his head before stepping back.

I stepped past him, my shoulder grazing the soft cotton covering his chest. It was hard. Like I needed confirmation. I kept moving until I was free of his bathroom, then his bedroom. I didn't suck in much needed air until the hallway, and it still wasn't enough.

The air was stuffy, the space confined. I couldn't breathe.

I kept going until I pushed open the front door and landed on the porch. I sucked in the cool air as if I hadn't been exposed to it in far too long.

The sun made me squint. Finally, I nodded. “This is good.”

“Are you referring to my cabin or something else?”

I spun so that I was facing him. “The cabin, of course. What else would I be talking about?” Then I cringed.

He stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest in a deceptively calm position. His muscles were tense, poised to react at any moment.

If I indicated I wanted him, would he pounce? Would he erase the space between us, placing his large hands on my hips and pulling me into his body? I swayed toward him. This was bad.

I couldn't stop thinking about him and all the things he could do to me.

How would we work together and keep it professional?

Did he know what I was thinking about? That I'd imagined us on his bed? That heat was soaring through my body, threatening to throw off my balance every second I was in his presence.

“I'm going to work.” I gestured lamely at my cabin. The one I hadn't been inside since before my run when everything went off the rails.

He just stared at me as if I was a specimen he was examining under a microscope.

My skin tingled. Why did that sound so attractive? I wanted to be a mouse to his cat.

Last night, I'd vowed to stay away from Axel. He was too much man for me. I couldn't handle everything he had going on.

Not only was he physically large, but I sensed he was holding something back. He was hiding out from his family for a reason. It had to be something more than just acclimating to civilian life. I had no idea what that could be, and I shouldn't stick around to find out.

“I'll see you later.” I waved weakly, but before I could step off the porch, he asked, “You're still going to help me?”

I smiled wanly, wondering if it was possible for me to back out now. “You should renovate. It would be a vast improvement whether you're selling, renting, or living in it yourself. You don't need my help.”

“But I'm asking for it.”

My skin flushed. I'd told him how my brothers didn't want my help when it came to construction or design. But Axel was playing to my weak spot. Was he doing this on purpose, or was he just trying to be nice?

Was he affected by my presence in his bedroom? I hadn't noticed because I'd been so lost in my head. But it was doubtful. A man like him would attract female attention everywhere he went. He wouldn't have to do anything besides an acknowledgment with a slight tilt of his chin, and a woman would be all over him.

Heat pooled in my core. I had to get out of here. “Let me think about it. I have work to do, and I'm supposed to be here to take a break.”

His expression softened slightly. “I wouldn't want to impose on your vacation.”

He just watched me as I slowly turned, then stepped off the porch. I jogged down the few planks, then across the space that separated our houses. What could he see last night before he approached? Had he known I was naked? Had he wanted to see more?

My body was on fire from the memory and the heat of his gaze on my backside. I didn't need to turn to know that was where his gaze was fixated.

I shut the door behind me and clicked the lock. I didn't trust myself not to turn that knob, sprint across the property, and launch myself into his arms. I knew without a doubt I'd wrap my legs around his hips to feel how hard—how big—he'd be.

If the rumors were correct that the size of his hands predicted the size of his dick, then he'd be huge. With my back pressed to the door, I sank to the floor.

Why had I offered to help him? Why did I think I could be in the same room with him and not spontaneously combust?

His cabin was too small to work together. We were bound to bump into each other. I'd be surrounded by his scent, his warmth, and that defined body I wanted to explore with my tongue.

What was wrong with me? I'd never had such a visceral reaction to a man before. Maybe it was because Axel was so different from any other man I'd ever encountered. He was confident and sure of himself.

I was deprived of oxygen when I was around him. That was the problem. The lack of oxygen.

It had nothing to do with his body, his gruff voice, or his masculine scent. I was a victim of disappointing sex, and I had a feeling Axel could deliver on any one of my sexual fantasies. I let my head think against the wood plank.

I was imagining him sitting on the eyesore of a couch while I straddled his hips. He was so big, the position would strain my inner thighs, but it would feel so good. His large hands would grip my hips as he helped me rise up and slide down his length.

He'd fill me up.

I jumped to my feet with a groan. Thinking about Axel was bad for my health. He was a distraction I didn't need. I was here to clear my mind, not to fill it with sexual fantasies of me riding him like a horse.

I was wet from the visual.

I paced the living room in front of the windows. He wasn't on the porch anymore. Was he inside? Was he tearing apart another part of his house?

I wanted to be there by his side. I wanted to help him. I wanted to be the one to get him to smile, maybe even laugh.

But I wasn't the woman for him. He was here trying to escape from something. He had bigger issues than I had. Neither of us had any business lusting after the other.

I needed a cold shower. Then I'd bury myself in work. I couldn't let my brothers think I'd slacked on my side of the business while I was away. I'd never convince them that I could do the construction or design work if I wasn't doing what I was already tasked to do.

I jumped in the shower, turning the knob as cold as I could stand it. There'd be no more fantasies of what it would be like if Axel were in this shower with me. Whether he'd press my back against the wall and lift me so that he drove into me, or whether he'd bend me over, and place my palms against the tiles, entering me from behind.

The thrum of desire hadn't dissipated with the cold water, and the main issue was I couldn't stop thinking about Axel.

Disgusted with myself, I shampooed, then rinsed out the suds, refusing to think about Axel's hands palming my breasts, his fingers tweaking my nipples. My back resting against his rock-hard chest.

There wasn't any doubt. I couldn't work for him. I couldn't spend every day in his presence. I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.

Was it that I was so starved for good sex? Or was it him?

I needed to get dressed. If I was naked, I couldn't get his hot gaze, the desire in his eyes, out of my mind.

I turned off the shower without using conditioner. I'd use the leave-in stuff. The less time I spent in the shower, the bath, or the hot tub, for that matter, the safer I'd be. I just couldn't think about Axel, or sex, or what his naked body looked like.

I let out a disgusted groan. I couldn't believe I'd been here for one day, and I was already lusting after a new guy. Hadn't I learned anything from my time with Rex? I was expendable.

I wasn't worth whatever effort it would take for a guy to convince my brothers he was in it for the right reasons.

After my shower, I used leave-in conditioner, then brushed out the tangles. I got dressed and let my hair air-dry.

I sat at the desk with my laptop. The desk was placed in front of the window that faced Axel's cabin.

Every time he lugged a pile of debris from the wall he'd torn down from the yard to his truck, I was distracted. I watched his muscles bulge and his thighs threaten the sturdiness of the seams of his pants.

This was ridiculous. If my brother asked why I wasn't doing any work, I couldn't exactly say it was because I was watching my hot neighbor. They'd never take me seriously again.

They already thought my desire to be involved in the construction side was a whim.

Even when I was a little girl, my dad had gotten me a hard hat and a tool belt. I'd followed him all around the site. I hadn't realized until later that he'd only invited me when work wasn't going on. It was too dangerous. I'd been happy to be by his side.

At what point had he discouraged me from entering the construction sites? Was it him or my brothers? When was I pushed toward the office with my mother?

When Axel disappeared into the cabin, I refocused my attention on my blank screen. I needed to work. I wasn't here to lust after hot mountain men who were hiding out in their cabin for reasons. I had other priorities.

When I put a guy first, it never worked out for me. I wouldn't make the same mistake again. Axel was an unwelcome distraction. Nothing more.