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gone. When I twist my ankle back to its starting position, there’s a slight stabbing sensation, but it’s nothing like it was before.
    “Look at that,” I say with a smile. “I’m all healed.” I hold my hand out for my keys and he drops them in my palm. “Thank you for everything, Axel.”
    “No problem.” He smiles a sincere smile and his eyes glisten under the light of the hallway lights. “Goodnight, Alyssa.”
    “Goodnight.”
    And just like that, I turn to my door and twist the key, but instead of going inside, I hesitate, my eyes leveled with the doorknob. From behind me, I can feel his shadow drifting away, and hear his feet padding along concrete. I spin around, wincing in unexpected pain, and see Axel walking down the hallway with his phone pressed against his ear, obviously calling a cab.
    “Axel,” I call out, and he stops and turns around. “Why don’t you come inside?”
    He covers his phone with his hand. “Excuse me?”
    “I just invited you in.”
    He narrows his eyes. “Seriously?”
    “Look, it’s been a shitty night.”
    “We all have bad nights.” He lowers his phone, sticks it in his pocket, and takes a measured step toward me.
    “Maybe. But it’s actually been a really shitty year, to be honest. And you were nice. And… Oh God, I can’t believe I’m going to say this.”
    “Say what?”
    I groan and force the words from my throat. “I’m horny and I haven’t had sex in what seems like forever, and I just figured it would be a great distraction.” My cheeks burn, flushing red with embarrassment. “If you’re not interested, don’t worry about it.” I wave him off and shift my attention back to the door.
    His shadow passes over me and I freeze in place. “Oh, I’m interested,” he says and I spin around to face him. My back is pressed against the door, and inch by inch, he closes the distance between us. “I know I should do the honorable thing and turn you down because you’ve had a bad night. It’s possible you’re not thinking straight.”
    He’s pressed up against me now, warm body heat and hot breath, and eyes that command attention. I can’t look away. I can’t speak. I’m just a standing pile of want, my chest heaving and my breath fragile.
    “Are you?”
    I blink. “Am I what?”
    “Are you thinking straight?”
    I nod.
    “Then if you really want me to stay, I’ll stay.”
    “Please…” I brace one hand against his chest as my body shakes. “Stay.”
    “Whatever you want,” he drops his hand to the doorknob, “I’ll give you.” He pushes the door, and it swings open behind me. Just when I’m about to fall backward into the open space of my apartment, he catches me at the small of my back, and there’s this crazy, wild grin on his face.
    My heart thumps wildly.
    What the hell have I gotten myself into?
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Axel
     
    She feels great under my touch, like a heaven-sent angel. Despite where she works, I’ve talked with her enough to know she’s too pure for what’s about to go down, but my blood is pumping, racing, through every part of my body. I’ve been wanting to touch her, really touch her, since the moment I met her, and I no longer have the control to stop myself.
    I crush my mouth down on hers, savoring the taste of her cherry lips. With a quick kick of my foot, I close the door behind us and we’re entrapped by darkness.
    Alyssa pulls away from me and rips a cord to a lamp. The room is lit in a dirty yellow hue, but even under this particular lighting, she’s an angel to me.
    I caress her cheeks with my palms and sink back into her lips, stealing her breath the same way she’s stealing mine. She stumbles backwards, and I remember her hurt ankle. With one swift movement, I pick her back up, cradling her ass in my hands as I carry her through the hallway, guessing where the bedroom door is.
    I choose the right door and rush to the edge of the bed, before settling her onto a white comforter. Then I