Chapter 11

Axel had left Eden on the couch in the very early morning hours. The last thing either of them needed had been someone coming upstairs and catching them together. He pretty much stood off everyone’s radar at this point, and he liked it that way.

He’d gone for a run, then showered and decided to head into downtown Phoenix. He wanted to visit Foster and would probably also go to the club. The sexual need seemed to be building within him, and he craved the release.

As he took the elevator to Eden’s floor, his palms began to sweat, and butterflies tickled his stomach. He’d tossed this idea around all morning and decided it was a horrible one. Absolutely the wrong thing to do, but as the panels slid open and he stared at the door leading to Eden’s quarters, he couldn’t turn back.

If she had company, he had no idea how he would explain his presence, especially when he’d been forbidden from even being in the same room as her. Hell, if he got caught at her door … he’d have to think quickly. Right now, he concentrated on just getting through the next few moments without losing his shit.

He tapped lightly, and a moment later, she answered.

Her eyes widened. “Axel! What are you doing here?”

As he tried to swallow past the nervous lump in his throat, he took her in, her hair wrapped up in a towel and a huge white robe covering her body. She’d obviously just stepped from the shower. When the smell of her floral shampoo assaulted him, he wanted to bury his face in her hair.

She seemed pale, her face drawn, like she hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Well, duh. She’d been up most of the night, just like him.

Finally, his tongue untwisted and he could speak. “I … uh … I’ve got some business in town today, and I wanted to let you know in case you wanted to come.”

She stared at him, her face going from disbelief to a huge smile. “I would love to. Thank you.”

“If you get caught, I’ll deny knowing you were in the car.”

Pursing her lips, she nodded. “Of course. Thank you.”

He retreated back to the elevator as a few beads of sweat popped up on his brow.

“Axel?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“You don’t have to be nervous around me. And, thank you again. What time will you be leaving?”

Oh, yeah. She couldn’t very well stow away in the car without a time, and that damn aura … he couldn’t hide anything from her.

“Does one work?”

“Yes. I’ll try to get to the car before then.”

He nodded, then stepped into the elevator.

As the doors shut, he exhaled and leaned against the panel, relief flooding through him, calming his stomach. His muscles relaxed, and he unclenched his fists. He hadn’t realized just how nervous he’d been.