Shit. I had no idea how to get out of this.

Feeling Cass’s laser stare burning through me, I sighed in defeat and asked, “What do you want to know, Cass? I don’t really wanna talk about it… it’s private.”

When she smiled excitedly, I knew I shouldn’t have spoken.

She screwed up her face, deep in thought, then pursing her lips, she asked, “What’s he like in bed? Hung? Fuck of the century?”

Choking on my sip of wine, I spluttered a cough and looked to Lexi and Molly who were trying real not to laugh at Cass.

“Cass!” Lexi admonished, her lips pursed in humor, “Stop it!”

Cassie’s face scrunched up in confusion. “What?”

“You can’t ask things like that, Cass,” Molly said tiredly, causing me to momentarily forget my exasperation at Cass and grow concerned for her instead.

“Yeah, I can. We’re all friends here! And I friggin’ heard you and Bullet fucking and screaming more than I wanted to back in College, so there’s no need for shyness now, Mol! Ain’t no secret you’re at it like bunnies!” Cass’s hand landed on my arm as Molly’s eyes bugged out. Rome coughed behind us, and Cass plowed on regardless. “Well? The sex? How is it?”

Blowing out a breath, I could feel my face flame, but I replied quietly, “The best of my life, Cass. It’s… he’s, amazing. There, you happy now?”

Cassie grinned and I dipped my head to look at Axel, who was staring at me, his gaze lit with the heat I’d come to adore. He wanted me. And, Christ, I wanted him too.

“And looks? What does he look like? I need a visual,” Cass asked.

“He’s dark, beautiful, muscled… pretty damn near perfect,” I whispered, realizing that I was betraying more of how I felt about Axel than intended. “Putting it simply, he’s the most incredible and staggering man I’ve met, in all ways, not just physically, though he’s beyond words in that department too.”

“Well, shit, Al!” Cass said, for once, her voice at low volume, “I didn’t know you were gone for the guy, like fallen head over heels, gone. I thought it was just sex?”

My heartbeat accelerated to match the speed of a Hummingbird’s wings, and I blinked too fast. Cass’s arm threaded over my shoulders. “You really like this mysterious guy, huh?”

Inhaling a shuddering breath, I cast a side-glance to Axel who was gripping the neck of his bottle with a fierce intensity, waiting with bated breath for my reply.

“He’s stolen my heart,” I whispered, “It’s hopelessly and irreparably fused to his.”

“Ally…” Lexi hushed out and I saw water fill her eyes. “I had no idea…”

Feeling the room aquire a deafening silence, I looked up to see all my friends staring at me in surprise. Clearing my throat, I nervously asked, “What y’all staring at me for? She asked me, I was just being honest.”

Molly sat forward capturing my attention. “Just never seen you this smitten with a guy before, sweetie. It’s a blessing to witness.”

As I stared into the golden brown eyes of my best friend, I said, “That’s because he’s not just any guy, he’s my more, my bolt of lightning, the one I’ve been waiting for all my life.” A smile pulled on my lips as I stared at the floor and I whispered, “Él es mi corazón.”

I knew they couldn’t understand that I’d just called Axel my heart, and I was glad, it was my admission to myself.

When I looked across the room, Axel was sitting forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees. Then, as if feeling my stare, and unable to cope with such a declaration, wordlessly, he got to his feet and walked out of the room.

Feeling like the air had been stolen from my lungs, I drained the rest of my wine and got to my feet too. “If you'll excuse me a moment,” I requested, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Leaving my friends to mull over my confession, I walked into the hallway and, on my left, I saw Axel enter the kitchen.

As I looked down at the empty glass in my hand, I knew, if caught, I could use that as my excuse for being in the kitchen with Axel. I simply needed more wine. That was plausible, right?

Not giving it anymore thought, I entered the large kitchen, immediately spotting Axel. He was bent over, hands placed firmly on the countertop. His back was rising and falling with deep controlled breaths.

Checking no one was behind me, I walked forward and stood beside him. Axel jumped on sensing my presence. His guarded expression melted into one of deep want when he saw it was me.