The ride from the airport to Axel’s house was long, the city lights blurring past as Hazel sat in silence, her mind lost in a mix of emotions. When they finally pulled into the compound of his home, her breath caught in her throat.

She stepped out of the Land Cruiser Prado as a guard opened the door for her, and the moment her feet touched the ground, her eyes lifted to the magnificent structure before her.

Her lips parted slightly in awe. The building loomed before her like a modern skyscraper, its sleek glass walls shimmering under the Washington skyline. Even though she was from a wealthy family, she couldn’t help but admire the architectural masterpiece before her.

A deep breath filled her lungs as she took in the grand security setup surrounding the property. The sheer number of guards stationed around made her stomach twist with unease.

“The house won’t fuck you, momma. Don’t rip its glass.”

Axel’s voice cut through her thoughts, his teasing tone sending a wave of irritation through her.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes before choosing to ignore his choice of words.

“Your house is beautiful,” she admitted, deciding to focus on the impressive view.

“Is that a compliment?” he mused.

“Tag it whatever, Axel. I’m hungry.” She pressed a hand against her stomach, making her point clear.

A smirk curled at his lips. “You didn’t turn into a foodie overnight, did you? ’Cause I won’t be able to handle one.”

“You can send me out if you want,” she shot back coldly, her frustration bubbling over. “I don’t even want to stay here.”

Axel chuckled, unfazed by her attitude. “You know your dad would rather I be the one holding onto your waist every fucking time than some other man doing it.” He winked at her, and she huffed in exasperation.

She hated how he always had a response ready, as if nothing could shake him.

“Let’s go,” he urged, and they both walked toward the entrance.

Axel had been Mr. Marco’s best friend since losing his older brother in college. Even though Marco was significantly older, he had taken Axel in as a brother, honoring the bond he once shared with Alex—Axel’s late brother—before his untimely death from an unknown illness.

“The elevator would be much better, momma. The stairs will hurt your legs,” Axel remarked, pressing the button for the floor where her room was located.

“Why build it so tall when you’re the only one living here?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“And some guards,” he corrected, his smug expression making her snap her mouth shut.

She rolled her eyes, refusing to object further.

As they stepped into the elevator, Hazel’s body tensed. A shiver ran through her, her fingers curling tightly around the fabric of her dress.

The familiar fear clawed at her chest.

She had always hated elevators—hated confined spaces. The walls felt like they were closing in, and her breathing turned shallow. Her hands grew clammy, her vision slightly hazy as the anxiety took hold. She should have just objected but no. She was rather too stubborn.

Axel noticed the shift immediately. His eyes darkened as realization dawned on him.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath. He had completely forgotten that she was claustrophobic.

Without hesitation, he reached for her, pulling her against him in a firm yet comforting hold.

She stiffened, trying to push him away, but his arms tightened around her.

“Stay here, momma,” he murmured, his voice softer now.

A sharp jolt ran through her stomach at the warmth of his touch, her body betraying her as a wave of unexpected comfort settled over her.

Her cheek pressed against his solid chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat oddly soothing. His hand slid lower, resting at the curve of her waist, his fingers pressing slightly as if reassuring her that he was there.

Hazel hesitantly lifted her gaze, her breath catching as she found his dark eyes staring down at her. His face was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw and the flicker of something unspoken in his eyes made her pulse stammer.

She tried to pull away again, but his grip remained firm.

“I’m here, momma,” he whispered against her hair, his deep voice sending an unfamiliar heat rushing through her veins.

She swallowed hard.

For the first time, Hazel felt something she couldn’t explain. A solace she hadn’t expected. A warmth she never thought she’d associate with him—the man she had convinced herself she disliked.

Yes, he had always been around, a presence in her life as her father’s best friend, but she had never truly seen him. He was an idol, someone women chased after—something she had always found distasteful.

She preferred men who weren’t constantly in the spotlight. Axel was the complete opposite. He was an icon, the CEO of a world-renowned fashion company, with women throwing themselves at his feet.

The elevator was taking too long.

Axel exhaled, shifting uncomfortably. He hated the way she fit so perfectly against him, hated the way her scent filled his lungs, and most of all, hated the way his body responded to the warmth of her touch.

This was only her first day here, and already, things were pushing them into dangerous territory.

With her body so close, her curves pressed against him, he wasn’t sure how long he could resist the temptation of touching her.

Finally, the elevator doors slid open, and both of them released a breath at the same time.

Axel let loose of her, and Hazel immediately stepped out, practically running from the suffocating tension between them.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest as he followed her.

They walked in silence for a few moments before stopping in front of a beautifully designed door.

“This will be your room, momma,” he announced smoothly.

“Hazel. My name is Hazel,” she corrected with an annoyed glare.

Axel scoffed, a smirk teasing the corner of his lips.

“Doesn’t it sound weird? Calling you Hazel? It’s like I’m calling out my own name. I wonder why everything had to be so similar.”

She ignored his teasing and opened the door.

But the moment her eyes landed on the room before her, she froze.

A lump formed in her throat, her vision blurring slightly as an overwhelming wave of emotion hit her.

The room was identical to the one she had left behind in Texas. And Axel had gone past limits to decorate it in exact form the moment he learned about her coming.

“How did you do this?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

The familiarity of the space tugged at something deep inside her. She had mourned the loss of her old room, but now, standing here, she felt a sense of security she hadn’t expected.

Axel leaned against the doorway, watching her reaction with calm, observant eyes.

“Would you pay me if I told you?” he mused, his voice smooth.

She scoffed, shaking her head.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Axel simply smirked and stepped into the room with slow, deliberate strides.

Hazel turned, her heart clenching when her gaze landed on the portrait she cherished the most—perfectly placed, just as it had been in her old room.

She exhaled shakily.

“Thank you, Axel,” she breathed, her voice sincere.

A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes before he gave a slight nod.

“Freshen up and come downstairs. I’ll have the maids prepare your favorite food.”

Her lips parted slightly at his thoughtfulness.

“Thank you,” she whispered again, softer this time.

Axel stared at her for a lingering second before turning away, leaving her alone to soak in the familiarity of her new space.

For the first time since arriving, she felt something unexpected—a feeling of home.

Author’s POV

After freshening up, Hazel opted for the staircase instead of the elevator, even though it felt like climbing a skyscraper. She would rather deal with aching legs than be trapped in that suffocating metal box again.

As she reached the bottom, still trying to catch her breath, she spotted a line of maids carrying trays of food. Her stomach growled in response. She followed them, assuming they were headed toward the dining hall.

The moment she stepped inside, she froze.

Her breath hitched as she took in the grandeur before her—glass walls, gold-accented furniture, and a chandelier that looked like it belonged in a royal palace. Every inch of Axel’s home screamed luxury.

“You really need to get a escalator. Hazel muttered, exhaling roughly as she walked in to find Axel already eating.

He raised his gaze to meet hers, but his attention immediately dipped lower—to the sliver of skin peeking between her crop top and distressed shorts. His eyes lingered on her curves, his fingers tightening subtly around his glass before he lifted it to take a slow sip.

“Anything for you, baby gi—”

“Momma!” she cut him off before he could finish, realizing too late that she had reacted on impulse.

Axel smirked. “Pretence would be the end of you, momma. You enjoy hearing me call you that, don't you?”

Hazel rolled her eyes and ignored him, instead focusing on the food before her. She dished herself a portion and dug in, savoring the flavors in silence.

For a while, the only sound in the room was the clinking of cutlery.

Then, her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen and immediately smiled—it was Armstrong.

Axel’s eyes flickered at her reaction, his grip tightening around his fork. He hadn’t seen that kind of smile from her before, at least not in his presence. His jaw tensed.

“Hello, babe.” Armstrong’s voice came through the speaker, soft and affectionate.

Hazel giggled slightly and sipped her juice, trying to wash down the bite stuck in her throat. But she suddenly felt conscious, knowing Axel was watching.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled, attempting to stand, but Axel’s sharp glare pinned her in place.

“Where are you going?” His voice was low, firm—commanding.

Hazel swallowed hard.

“Hello?” Armstrong’s voice came again, laced with concern.

“Sit,” Axel ordered.

It wasn’t a request. It was an order. One she most certainly would comply with.

Hazel knew better than to test him when he used that tone. Years of childhood with him had earned her a vast knowledge about him. Without another word, she sank back into her seat, gripping her phone tightly.

“Hey,” she said softly into the phone, trying to sound unaffected.

Axel clenched his jaw at the way she spoke to him—so gentle, so unlike the way she spoke to him.

“What’s happening over there? Are you in Washington already? Are you okay?” Armstrong asked.

Hazel exhaled. “You’re asking too many questions at once,” she teased, trying to ease the tension.

“It’s okay, start from anywhere.”

“I’m in Washington and I am okay. But I won’t be able to see you until tomorrow,” she explained, choosing her words carefully. “My dad insists I stay with a close relative.”

Axel’s eyes darkened at that.

Armstrong inhaled deeply, clearly disappointed, but he didn’t argue.

“I’m sorry,” Hazel whispered.

“It’s okay,” he sighed. “We’ll have school hours to ourselves.”

“Yes, exactly,” she smiled, relieved. “I’ll call you later tonight, okay?”

“Okay, baby. I love you.”

Axel’s fork stilled. His fingers curled into a fist.

Hazel hesitated. She knew Armstrong was the jealous type, and if she didn’t respond, it would only create problems. But she also knew Axel, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her.

“I love you too,” she said softly before ending the call.

A long, heavy silence followed.

“Who was that?” Axel finally asked, his eyes still on his plate as he took another bite—too casual, too unaffected. But Hazel wasn’t fooled.

“It’s none of your business,” she snapped, pushing her plate away slightly.

Axel’s expression remained unreadable, but his voice dropped a dangerous octave.

“I have every right to ask. You’re in my house, which makes it my business to watch over you.”

Hazel huffed, crossing her arms. “Who else would I be saying ‘I love you’ to?”

Axel smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Girls are unpredictable these days. For all I know, you could be experimenting with lesbianism.”

Hazel nearly choked on her juice. “I’m not a lesbian, Axel. I was talking to my boyfriend.”

Axel’s grip on his fork tightened. He clenched his jaw, his knuckles turning white.

Boyfriend.

That word left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“So you have a boyfriend now?” His tone was unreadable, but Hazel could sense the shift in his mood.

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?” She raised a brow, challenging him.

Axel scoffed. “How long have you known him?”

Hazel tilted her head slightly. “Roughly two years.”

Axel let out a humorless chuckle. “I hope he’s hitting the spot really well.”

Hazel glared at him. “Everything isn’t about sex, Axel.”

Axel smirked. “Then what is it about?”

Hazel clenched her fists. “You’re impossible.”

Axel leaned back lazily. “Your boyfriend must be a saint,” he mused. “Because if I had you, I’d never let you go to sleep without reminding you who you belong to.”

Hazel’s breath hitched.

She hated how raw he was. But even more, she hated how his words made her stomach twist in ways she didn’t understand.

“How many times have you both had sex?” Axel asked, his tone deceptively casual.

Hazel’s face burned. “That’s none of your business!”

Axel tilted his head. “So… none?”

Hazel’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

Axel stared at her for a long moment before he exhaled, a slow, satisfied smirk creeping onto his face.

“You’re a virgin.”

His words weren’t a question. They were a statement. A discovery.

Hazel’s fingers curled around her fork. “So what if I am?”

Axel didn’t respond. He just watched her, his mind racing with unspoken thoughts.

For the first time since she arrived, he was grateful her father had placed her under his care.

Because no other man was going to touch her.

Not before he did.

Later that night, Hazel decided to head upstairs to rest.

But as soon as she saw the long stretch of stairs, she groaned. She was already exhausted, and the idea of climbing all that again made her legs feel weak.

Still, she pushed through. Step by step. Until—

A pair of strong arms suddenly scooped her up.

She gasped, inhaling the faint scent of his cologne as Axel carried her effortlessly in his arms.

“Axel.” Her voice came out in a strained gasp. She wanted to protest, but her body betrayed her, melting into the warmth of his embrace.

“You’re so feeble, momma,” he murmured, his voice husky against her ear. “If you can’t even handle these stairs, how are you going to handle my cock, huh?

Hazle's heart slammed against her ribs.

And her mind raced.

His cock? How… how huge could it be?”

Axel’s arms tightened around her, his fingers brushing the bare skin of her thigh.

Hazel swallowed hard, jolting from her thoughts.

She hated him.

She hated how easily he got under her skin.

But worst of all…

She hated how much she liked it.

How much she desired more.