His Unexpected Lover Page 0,32

control. She stood in front of him with pink cheeks and sweat glistening on every inch of her perfect, pale skin. He took a deep breath, but that didn’t help since all he could smell was Kiera’s sweet scent and it made him ache even more.

“I’m here to pick up Mia. Ash said he towed your car in for repairs.” He spoke to Mia, but his eyes remained on Kiera, noting the sweat glistening on her chest and shoulders where the yoga outfit didn’t cover her skin. “Are you ready to go?”

Kiera stepped in front of Mia, shaking her head. “Mia didn’t do anything to make you angry. I’ll drive her anywhere she needs to go.”

Axel was having a hard enough time not pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she didn’t have the strength to argue, so her belligerence only sparked his anger hotter. “Kiera, so help me, after this morning, I’m likely to toss you over my shoulder and finish our argument. So just let me get Mia and get out of your way, or prepare for a battle you won’t be able to win.”

Kiera considered his words, not really sure how to handle him like this. She’d never seen him so furious but she wasn’t going to let her friend get into his car. “I’ll take…”

“It’s okay,” Mia said behind her, laying a calming hand on Kiera’s shoulder. “If Ash sent him, I’m sure everything is okay.”

Kiera thought about that for a moment. “Are you going to behave?” she demanded of Axel, getting angry herself, nervous that he was too angry to drive.

His eyebrows went up at her challenge and he was intrigued that she would even dare him in such a way. “What are you going to do to stop me if I don’t?” he challenged, actually stepping closer to her and glaring down at her.

She told herself that she wasn’t afraid of him, and fervently hoped that she was faking it well. “I’m not going to let you take Mia.”

He almost chuckled at her brave words, noticing the rapid pulse throbbing at the base of her throat. “And you think you’re big enough to stop me?” he asked, his voice silky soft and smooth now.

“I think I could take you down,” she replied, but the words didn’t have any force to them now.

“Everything okay?” a new voice called out to everyone.

The new voice was the instructor who was busy gathering up the next class. Kiera looked over at the kind woman and smiled. “Everything is just great,” she said and looked up at Axel. “Isn’t it?”

“Great,” he replied back at her. “Ready to go Mia?” he asked, still watching Kiera.

Mia smiled and nodded brightly, understanding the underlying tension between these two people. “Very ready,” she replied, trying to stifle her laughter as she watched the two combatants try and intimidate each other. Axel was so similar to Ash in this way that she wasn’t worried in the least. She knew that Axel wouldn’t harm anyone and Mia also knew that Kiera was pining for this man quite urgently herself.

Axel turned and looked at Mia, forcing a smile to his face. “Let’s hit it then,” he said and put a gentle hand on her arm to lead her out the door.

Mia’s smile broadened and she started walking, but right before they reached the door, she turned around and winked at Kiera before running ahead and pushing the doors open to precede Axel.

Kiera watched, furious for some unexplainable reason. When the two of them were out of sight, she turned around with a low growl and started stuffing her towel and yoga matt into her gym bag, trying to ease the anger out of her body. She’d felt so good after her yoga class, then she saw the man who only infuriated her further. Every time she saw him her emotions became extreme! Why couldn’t she just remain calm and unaffected?

Autumn and Cricket had remained back about a foot during the entire confrontation. Even now, they glanced at each other then back at Kiera as she furiously stuffed clothes, yoga mat and water bottle into her gym bag.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Cricket asked Autumn.

Autumn nodded her head, her eyes wide with surprise. “Pizza?” she suggested to Cricket who immediately agreed. “And ice cream,” she added in, just in case.

“Maybe even chocolate,” Cricket sighed, completely understanding what Kiera was going through.

Kiera didn’t hear the others, but was totally in agreement when they pulled up