Chapter Twenty

Axel

One Year Later

One year had passed since that first Christmas with Star.

The days had blurred together after that holiday, but they all felt like pieces of a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

“Honey,” I called out as I leaned back in my chair.

The office door was wide open, as it always was, but there was no response.

I stood from my desk and made my way toward hers.

When I stepped into the reception area, my eyes widened at the sight of her sitting on the edge of her desk. She was wearing a red sweater that clung to her curves in all the right ways and a black pleated skirt that hung just above her knees. My blood heated instantly, and my mind flickered to that first Christmas when she wore a skirt for me—something I’d never forgotten.

“I’m right here, Axel,” she purred.

My pulse quickened, and I ran a hand through my hair as I tried to calm the fire building inside me. “I thought you said we needed to be on the road by two,” I managed to choke out, my voice raspy.

Star shrugged casually, and her eyes never left mine. “It won’t hurt if we’re a little late,” she said as her lips curled into that devilish smile I’d come to crave.

That smile drove me crazy. I couldn’t wait any longer. My feet moved on their own and took me toward her.

I stopped between her legs, and my hands rested on her thighs. My body was so close I could feel the heat radiating from her. We kissed.

Kissing Star was what I always wanted.

Her lips were soft and eager, and I felt my chest tighten. After a moment, I pulled back, needing air, but the longing in my body only intensified.

“I thought you outlawed wearing skirts to the office six months ago?” I asked, my voice hoarse with desire.

Her smile grew wider. “I thought you deserved an early Christmas present,” she whispered, and her eyes flickered with mischief. “Me.”

And just like that, she had me. The memory of last year, the holidays we spent together, flashed in my mind, and it felt like we had come full circle. I hadn’t gotten enough of her. One year had never been enough, and I wanted every second, every minute, every year of this.

Star gasped softly as her hand slid down to her stomach, and I instinctively placed mine over hers.

“Did he kick?” I asked softly.

“Yeah,” Star said with a smile. “Junior got crazier when I hit the twenty-four-week mark.” Her eyes softened as she gazed down at her stomach, and then she wrapped her arms around my neck. “It’s hard to believe we only have four months before we meet this mister.”

“I know, honey. I can’t wait to see him.”

She pressed a kiss to my lips, and I let myself sink into it. My hand moved slowly from her stomach and caressed her bare thigh as I played with the hem of her skirt.

“This really is an early Christmas present?” I asked in between kisses I pressed to her neck.

Star nodded. “One of many,” she promised, and her hand slipped into my hair and tugged me back into a kiss.

“Then maybe I should give you one, too,” I said and reluctantly pulled away. I reached into my pocket and felt the small box tucked inside. The cool weight made my hands tremble slightly as I pulled it out.

Star raised an eyebrow, and a curious smile tugged at her lips.

I opened the box and held the ring I had bought two months ago in front of her. It was simple—a silver band and a brilliant princess-cut diamond—perfect for her. She gasped softly as her eyes met the ring, and her hand covered her mouth. “Axel,” she breathed.

My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. “I know you and I started out pretending,” I said, my voice steady. “But I haven’t pretended for one second since. Not in the way I feel about you. You make my world brighter, Star. You’ve given me a family when I thought I had none. You’ve made every day better just by being you. And this... this ring isn’t just a gift. It’s a promise. A promise that I’ll love you, protect you, and be with you for the rest of my life.”

I paused for a moment and watched her face soften as her eyes filled with tears.

“Star,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Will you marry me?”

Her eyes shone with unshed tears as she reached for the ring and took it from the box. She looked at me, and a lone tear streaked down her cheek. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely a breath. “Yes, Axel, a thousand times yes.”

I took the ring from her and slipped it onto her finger. “I love you, Star.”

Her eyes connected with mine. “I love you, too, Axel.”

She looked down at the ring and laughed. “Mom is going to go crazy when she finds out. Next year, she will not only get a new grandson but also get to help me plan a wedding.”

“Last year, you brought home a biker. This year, you’re bringing home a fiancé.”

She leaned up and pressed a kiss to my lips. “And next year, I’m bringing home a husband.”