Page 16 of Wicked Lord

Something about the way Axel said it, as if he already knew Brock was a piece of shit, sent a prickle of heat burning the back of my eyes.

I blinked quickly to drive back the tears. No way I’d let Axel see me cry. I folded down on the opposite side of the bed and swept back an errant tear before it fell. “Umhmm,” I murmured.

Axel shifted, the entire mattress sinking at his massive form. I could feel his intense stare burning into the side of my face. Luckily the marks on my neck had faded, but clearly their impression on him hadn’t.

“Lorelei… if this guy hurt you…”

“He didn’t,” I spat and whirled around, searing him with a narrowed glare. “And you need to stop insinuating that, okay?”

He raised his hands innocently. “I haven’t insinuated it to anyone but you, so relax, Battenberg. I’m just saying, if hedid, I’d have no problem teaching the asshole a lesson or two about how you treat a lady.”

An unexpected cackle slipped free.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“It’s just surprising coming from you…”

“What’s so surprising? My mama taught all of us Vanderhart boys exemplary manners.”

“Sure, okay, maybe she did. But you do remember how Killian treated me, right?”

He shook his head. “That was different, and you know it, Lorelei. Kill might have had his unique preferences in the bedroom, but he never hurt you.”

Maybe not physically.

Emotionally was another story.

Still, I’d been stupid to put up with Killian for so long when he’d made it clear I meant nothing to him.

“Anyway, you were clearly into all that dark kinky shit as I recall from your over-the-top moans.”

The heat of embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I whacked Axel on the arm.

Damn, was that a mistake.

The guy’s biceps were like a cement walls. I bit out a squeal and rubbed my sore palm.

He chuckled and the warm sound vibrated his big, barrel chest. “Sorry about that, but at least now you know firsthand what I’d do to that fucker.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

“And I’d be happy to punish that arrogant oil tycoon if he laid a hand on you.”

I released a long breath, dragging it out to consider the offer. As much as I loved the idea of someone smashing Brock’s snooty nose in, it wouldn’t fix my dilemma.

“He didn’t,” I breathed out and ran my fingers over the faded mark on my neck. “It was an accident with a silk scarf. It’s totally embarrassing really.”

Axel nodded, but a faint tick of his jaw made it clear he wasn’t buying it.

“Anyway, Brock’s gone now,” I added. “I probably won’t see him until the end of the summer when our engagement is officially announced.”

“Damn, I can’t believe you’re actually getting hitched.”

I twirled a lock of blond hair around my finger. “After senior year, everyone’s going to move on anyway. I might as well lock in my future now.” Shit, I sounded miserable. “What about you and Cordi? Any wedding bells in the future?”

He grunted, his expression immediately souring. “We’re just fucking around. It’s not serious.”

“Really?” I arched a skeptical brow. “That silly grin on your face when I caught you two in the alley belonged to a guy who was downright smitten.”