Chapter 129
~AXEL~
“What’s wrong?” I asked, studying her face carefully.
Her expression shifted, and suddenly she was smirking at me. “Got you p>
I blinked. “What p>
“I was just teasing.” She pushed off the wall, smoothing her hair. “Payback for all your teasing earlier p>
My heart was still racing. “Layla p>
“Come on.” She grabbed my hand, pulling me down the hallway. “We should bathe and get ready for dinner. Ellen will have our heads if we’re late p>
I followed, not entirely convinced, but letting it go… For now.
Morning light filtered through the cabin curtains, painting golden stripes across Layla’s sleeping face. I propped myself on one elbow, watching her. Her hair fanned across the pillow, lips slightly parted, one hand tucked under her cheek.
Last night kept replaying in my mind. That kiss in the hallway, the fire between us, then her sudden stop. Was she really just teasing? Or was it about the other night when I’d pulled away?
I couldn’t tell anymore.
Deciding to flip the script, I slipped out of bed quietly and headed for the shower. When I emerged twenty minutes later in just boxers, I found her standing in the doorway with a coffee mug.
Her eyes widened, travelling slowly up my body.
“Morning,” I drawled, stretching deliberately. My muscles pulled tight, water still glistening on my skin.
She swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing pink. “Good morning p>
“Needed some fresh air?” I grabbed a towel, rubbing it through my hair slowly. “Your turn to ogle, I think p>
She laughed, but her voice had a breathless quality. “Tease p>
“Just evening the score.” I walked toward her, watching her grip that mug tighter. “Sleep well p>
“Fine. Good. Yeah.” She couldn’t seem to look away from my chest.
I stopped in front of her, close enough to see her pulse fluttering at her throat. “Want to talk about yesterday p>
“Which part?” Her hand reached out, fingers tracing my forearm like she couldn’t help herself. “The part where we won everything? Or the part where Victoria looked like she’d swallowed a lemon p>
“The part in the hallway p>
“Oh, that.” She met my eyes finally, something challenging in her gaze. “What about it p>
“You said you were teasing p>
“I was.” But her hand was still on my arm, fingers drawing small circles. “Mostly p>
“Mostly p>
“You’re trouble, Axel O’Brien.” She pulled me closer, standing on her toes. Her lips brushed mine, soft and tentative. “So much trouble p>
I kissed her back but held myself in check, savouring the slow build of tension between us. When we broke apart, we were both breathing harder.
“Breakfast?” I asked.
“Breakfast,” she agreed.
The cabin’s kitchenette was small but functional. I started the coffee maker while Layla rummaged through the mini fridge.
“Eggs, bacon, bread,” she announced. “We can work with this p>
I pulled out a pan. “I’ll handle the eggs. You do the bacon p>
“Deal p>
We moved around each other easily, surprisingly in sync. She hummed while arranging bacon strips, and I found myself smiling.
“What?” she asked, catching my expression.
“Nothing. Just… this is nice p>
“Domesticity agrees with you p>
“With you, maybe.” I cracked eggs into the pan. “Speaking of which, I got an email from Margaret this morning. The Portland deal is moving forward p>
Her eyes lit up. “Really? That’s huge p>
“Your analysis on their market position sealed it. The board was impressed p>
“Our analysis,” she corrected, flipping bacon. “You inputted a few things in the deal yourself p>
“True p>
“So we’re good together.” She leaned against the counter, studying me. “Professionally, I mean p>
“Very good.” I handed her a plate. “Professionally and otherwise p>
She smiled, taking a bite of bacon. “This is actually decent p>
“Don’t sound so surprised p>
“I’m just saying, for two people who probably have chefs on speed dial, we’re not terrible at this p>
“My mother insisted I learn basic cooking,” I admitted. “Said relying entirely on staff makes you soft p>
“Smart woman.” Layla sipped her coffee. “My father thought cooking was beneath our family. One of many things we disagreed on p>
“His loss. You make excellent bacon p>
She laughed, the sound filling the small kitchen. “Highest praise p>
We ate in comfortable silence, occasionally discussing work, the retreat schedule and avoiding the elephant in the room… whatever was building between us.
That evening, the bonfire blazed by the lake, flames dancing against the darkening sky. Ellen had everyone arranged in a circle, passing around Q&A cards.
“Alright, next couple!” Ellen’s voice was cheerful. “Axel and Layla. The question is: ’Who fell first, and who fell harder p>
I didn’t hesitate.
“I fell first. Her fire caught me from day one; the way she challenged me, refused to back down, saw through all my walls.” I looked at Layla, watching colour rise in her cheeks. “But she fell harder. Fights it constantly, but can’t hide it anymore p>
“No, I fell first, and you fell harder. You are just too Axel to admit it p>
Laughter rippled through the group, but Layla’s eyes sparked with something intense. “Together,” she finally said in a husky voice. “We fell together. And we fall harder every single day p>
The group erupted in appreciative coos and whistles. Victoria’s expression was sour, but I barely noticed.
Heat coiled low in my stomach as Layla held my gaze.
“Well,” Ellen fanned herself dramatically. “That’s what I call chemistry, folks p>
The game continued around the circle, but I was only half-listening. My hand found Layla’s, our fingers interlacing naturally.
When Victoria and Ronald’s turn came, the contrast was painful. They fumbled through their answer about “mutual respect” and “shared goals,” sounding like they were reading from a business prospectus.
“Walk with me?” I whispered to Layla during a break.
She nodded, and we quietly left the group, walking along the lakeside path. The moonlight shimmered on the water, creating silver ripples.
“That was quite an answer back there,” I said.
“Which part? Yours or mine p>
“Both.” I pulled her closer, my hand settling on her waist. “Did you mean it p>
“Did you p>
Instead of answering, I stopped walking and turned to face her fully. The moonlight painted her features in soft shadows and light.
“No more pretending,” I murmured, pulling her against me.
This time when I kissed her, it was deep and claiming. No teasing, no holding back. Just raw, honest need.
She kissed me back with equal intensity, all restraint finally gone. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, and I lifted her slightly, pressing her against a nearby tree.
“Axel,” she gasped against my mouth.
“Tell me to stop,” I challenged, my lips moving to her neck.
“Don’t stop.” Her fingers dug into my shoulders. “Don’t you dare stop p>