Page 66 of New Roots
EIGHTEEN
STELLA
I woke up to Axel peppering my skin with kisses. We were in my bed—the first time we’d slept at my place in nearly two weeks since our foray into strip poker. He felt his place was more secure, so we had chosen to stay there most nights.
“Good morning,” I whispered, my voice still thick and heavy with sleep, as I arched my body back into him.
“It is good, but I think we can make it even better.” His voice was deep, scratchy, and so damn sexy.
He did make it better. Two orgasms better. Which meant I was in a great mood as I walked into Scandinavian Sweets’s kitchen when it was time for work.
“Hmmm… I’d ask how your day’s been so far, but I can see it written all over your face.” Luna was grinning widely at me with a coffee in her hand.
I started to tell her about my night last night, but she cut me off. “Nope. Save the juicy stuff for later because I haven’t had my caffeine yet, and if you want me to actually talk with customers today, I need coffee pronto. You can tell me about it later.Allthe details.”
Luna and I went our separate ways—her working the register out front and me in the kitchen finishing up a few things Isabel hadn’t finished before her shift ended earlier that morning.
It was nearing lunchtime, and I was rolling out some dough when the door swung open and Luna’s voice called out. “She’s in the back, stud. By the way… do you have any single friends?”
I looked up to see Axel walk through the door holding a bouquet of flowers, chuckling as he spoke to Luna.
“I will ask around.” He smiled at her and then turned to me and the smile grew bigger.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, not that I wasn’t happy to see him.
“I saw these and wanted to stop by and give them to you.” He held up the flowers, but set them on the desk in my office before walking back to me.
“Plus, according to Ruthie,the babyis very upset I didn’t bring treats to work today,” he grumbled, but with a smirk on his face.
I laughed as he made his way to me. “Well, thank you. The flowers are beautiful, and I think we can find something to make the baby happy.”
He knew me well enough to know that when I was knee deep in rolling dough, I couldn’t stop. It was one of the things that was done best when the consistency was perfect, and interruptions could throw it all off.
So instead, he walked behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed my neck. “Mmmm…you always smell so good.”
I giggled. “That’s the sugar and flour and everything else in here, not me.Someone” —I emphasized that last part and turned my head toward him accusingly— “didn’t give me enough time to shower this morning.”
“So fucking worth it.” His lips were still pressed to my skin as his mumbled words came out.
It was. I would much rather spend that extra time wrapped up in Axel’s arms while he did delicious things to my body. Hence, no shower today.
Because his front was flush against my back, I felt the vibration of his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. He kept one hand wrapped around my waist as the other pulled his phone out.
“It’s Ruthie,” he said, letting go of my waist and taking a step to my side. “Probably a list of snack demands.”
I chuckled, knowing he was likely correct in his assumption. “Alright, read the list to me, and I’ll tell you if we’ve got any today.”
He leaned his side against the table as he opened the text, but he remained silent for several moments.
I looked up to see his face go from a grin to confused to very serious in a matter of moments.
“Is everything okay? I asked, realizing this may have to do with his job rather than treats.
He didn’t respond right away but typed away on his phone a little more before finally speaking.
“Apparently my parents are here.” His voice was solemn but not really upset.
“Oh,” I said stupidly.
