“So you’ve been fighting it, too.”
He says nothing.His face is pure misery.I’ve been there.Just talking about his mate must be torture.
“Say no more.”
“Maisy and my friendship is real,” he adds then stiffens.Upstairs, Maisy is moving around.I shake off my adrenaline and loosen my stance.
“Guys?”Maisy walks down the stairs, yawning.Her hair is tousled from sleep.I hold out my arm, and to my delight, she comes right to me and tucks herself into my side.
“Hey, Axel,” she greets him.“What are you guys talking about?”
“Just planning to get back to Bad Bear,” I lie.
“Oh.”Her shoulders sag.“All good things must come to an end.”
Maisy
I try to get Axel to stay for breakfast, but he refuses, saying he has to get back to Vegas.“Maisy, will you walk me out?”he asks, and I feel Matthias stiffen.Something’s up between them.
Before I can ask what, Matthias releases me.“Go on,” he urges although I could’ve sworn he was reluctant for me to go only a second before.“I’m making omelettes.”
“Yum, thank you.”
I escort Axel to the door.He won’t let me go outside because I’m barefoot, even though I’m warm enough in the blue lounge set and the sunny and 60 degree Vegas January is so much warmer than New Mexico.
“You good?”Axel asks, studying me intently.I noted him staring at my diamond necklace when I was in Matthias’ arms.As if he knows it’s more than a necklace.
“Yeah,” I say.“Better than good.”I resist the urge to squirm.I feel like he can see the marks that are under my lounge set.
“Good.If that changes, let me know.”He leaves me frowning.
Does he think that he needs to protect me from Matthias?Matthias seems to think so too.It makes me resolve to prove that I can handle him.
“Hey hubby,” I return to the kitchen and give Matthias a kiss.“So, we’re leaving?”
“Tomorrow.As much as I’d like to keep you here…” he doesn’t look happy about heading home, and that makes me feel better.
A spike of anxiety hits me.It’ll be good to get back to Bad Bear but what happens between me and Matthias?Will we still be a couple?I mean, we’re legally married, and he’s giving me sex lessons, but does he have any intention of keeping this up when we get back?Or will it all be over?
“I guess honeymoons don’t last.”
I wait for him to say it won’t be over, but he’s all business.
“We need to deal with Lucky Lou and Allen.We're keeping tabs on Lucky Lou.He’s searching for your father, too.”
“Got it,” I say briskly because I'm an adult, and I can handle this.“What will you do when you find him?”
“It’s up to you, beautiful.”
“I don’t know!”I’m flustered.I don’t want my dad hurt or in trouble, but I also never want to see him again.
For a moment his eyes flare with a blue light.“Whatever you want, I’ll do,” he rumbles.
I grab us both coffee and wait for him to serve up the omelettes.“What was that with Axel?”I ask because I don’t want any secrets between us.“You both seemed tense.”
He puts down his fork, a muscle jerking in his cheek.“I asked him if he was in love with you.”
“Axel?With me?”
