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It was almost too hard to pull away from him, and that's how she knew she had to. Axel stirred something in her that she hadn't felt since before her ensnarement in the cockroach's den, and she wasn't all that sure she'd ever feel it again after what she'd endured there. Both physically and emotionally. Even putting that day aside, he had a natural ability to provide warmth, comfort, security.. He was a good man, and even if some things he'd done would've seemed immoral to others.. they were paved with good intentions. Tempest believed in the death penalty, and she held no remorse for the life she'd taken. She'd do it again, and again. She only wished every trafficking pig could be taken out the same way, to save other girls from going through the pain and hardship she'd faced. She wished more cops were like him, who understood the needs of redemption to the powerless. That day had given them more than just a criminal connection, he'd understood what she'd needed. He didn't think her lesser for it, but reassured her. He was her Knight, and he still made her feel like a Queen when she thought so little of herself sometimes. A part of her, a rather large part of her, wanted to make him feel like a King instead. <br/>
<br/>
When she emerged from her room, all she sported was the over-sized pain black tee shirt and the panties she wore beneath. The fact she'd removed her bra was almost blatantly noticeable, but when she removed clothes for a living, she'd all but forgotten what modesty meant. Hiding her body wasn't really something she thought about anymore. Her dull brown eyes fixed on her warm smile, and she returned a small one herself before she laughed softly to the nickname that amused her all too much. "Alrigh', peaches." She made her way over, slipping around the coffee table. She grabbed her beer before plopping down onto the cushion beside him, close enough to feel the heat radiating from him without actually leaning on him. Holding the chilled bottle between both hands, her head turned to settle her gaze on him when he started speaking. She swallowed when he spoke of the day, but she didn't look away or interrupt him. She listened, watching him as he struggled a couple times to get the words out and she chewed on a plump bottom lip when he spoke of her being strong. She chimed out a laugh to her <i>fine ass </i>but seemed to grin at the idea of them being Bonnie and Clyde. "We go from murder to robbin' banks, peaches? Ain't that a bit of a downgrade?" She teased, just to shoot him a playful glare. "Another ploy to get me to quit dancin'?" The coyness in her smirk was snuffed out by the lift of her beer to take a swallow. She leaned back when he did, not wanting to have to crane her neck to look at him. Even if eye contact was a little difficult for her now and then, she couldn't say she didn't like to look at him. <br/>
<br/>
It wasn't so much that she needed the comfort. But after a moment of him leaning with his arm draped on the back of the couch, it was like there was a magnetic pull from her shoulder to his side. There was a lot of things she drew a line in the sand for, but after all this time.. he'd told her time and time again that she could lean on him. She was positive it wasn't meant so literally at the time, but now seemed like an invitation too appealing to turn down. Leaning into his side, she was rigid for a moment before she relaxed inch by inch. The more she relaxed, the more she settled in. Crossing one leg over the other as she tilted her hips on the cushion, her knee brushing against the outside of his leg as her head rested against his shoulder. The feel of his arm hooking around her, drawing her closer with that sentiment made her look up at him with a lift of brow. She didn't quite know how to respond to hearing he was proud of her, and her expression said so. The flush of rosy color that spread over her cheeks before she looked down, swallowing a mouthful of beer. "Sappy fu-- now that's more like it," she smirked, when he finished about her being a deadshot. The initial statement was a defensive tease, she hoped he knew it. <br/>
<br/>
She glanced over when he checked his watch, she was waiting for the <i>well, time to go it's getting late </i>statement. She was starting to sit up, expectant until she surprised him enough to make her stumble back into his side. She looked at him with confusion when he mentioned her usual answer for everything, but it quickly turned to surprise. "You want to... stay?" She swallowed hard, looking down at her beer as she scraped at the label with her thumb nail. The thought of him sleeping in the next room was comforting, and his offer warmed her in more places than her heart. But at the same time, she was terrified of him seeing her if she had a terror tonight. He said he wouldn't be offended if she wanted him to leave, and a part of her wanted to tell him to. She opened her mouth to say so, that it wasn't a good idea and that he should go home. But one glance to how quickly he'd polished off his beer sprang concern. Sure, it was only one.. but he had to have downed it quickly. She eyed him speculatively, suspiciously. <i>Sneaky fuck.... </i>She might have been thinking all of that. Mother hen trying to watch over her tonight, and drank his beer too quickly to get her to say yes! Bastard! Smart detective bastard! <i>Or you're paranoid, Temp. Nah, he's a bastard. </i>She pursed her lips when he mentioned more beers, just to wrinkle her nose for the tucking in. It was the bedtime stories that had her huff and swat at his chest with her palm. "Axel!" She barked, just to squint and lift her chin. "You know the Big Bad Wolf, Ax Man? No, no reading. You gotta <i>act </i>it out. Even the grandma part. I'll let you borrow a dress," she flashed an impish grin, knocking back a swallow of her beer to collect her thoughts before she eyed him once last time. "Fine, you can stay tonight. But I swear if you Mother Hen me, I'm gonna steal your car," she squinted at him threateningly. "I'll do it and you know it..." No, she wouldn't. He knew it. </span>