I hadn’t noticed it when Maxwell lived with us, and thus was always technically available, but he spent a lot of time working. Now that he worked at the separate clinic, it really hit me just how long he was gone sometimes.
Jordan’s words echoed in my mind.Since he’s a doctor and all, I thought he’d be too busy to raise kids.
I tried to be logical, the same way Maxwell would be. I had evidence to the contrary, didn’t I? With a small flicker of hope I recalled when Maxwell determinedly came into my room and suggested we have a baby together.
But that was to prove my innocence to Adriel,I thought.It was a desperate measure. The last ditch effort he could think of before finally coming up with his blood experiment.
And besides that, I already turned him down. What if he thought I didn’t want kids anymore? What if going back to his work routine made him change his mind?
I slumped against the cast iron railing, feeling like a sad puppy waiting for its owner to return.
Then I saw him approach the gates. My stomach flipped.
As I rushed to greet him, I mumbled, “Here goes nothing…”
* * *
Still dressedin his white lab coat, Maxwell looked weary as I walked with him through the halls.
“Long day?” I asked.
He nodded. “It’s satisfying, of course, but some days it’s draining.”
My heart sank. If he was too tired to talk, maybe bringing up the topic of children wasn’t worth it. I didn’t want to stress him out even more.
We reached my bedroom--nowourbedroom, since Maxwell had moved into it and used his old bedroom as a spare office--and he began to undress. I watched him neatly put the coat away, then let the rest of his clothes slip to the floor.
“I’m gonna take a shower,” Maxwell said.
“Okay.”
He paused at the threshold of the bathroom door and glanced curiously at me. “That’s it? Just okay?”
I lifted my head. “Huh?”
Maxwell blinked. “Well, usually you make some suggestive comment, if not flat out asking to join me.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to smile. “Sorry. My mind’s been occupied, I guess.”
His brows raised. “Wow. So occupied that you don’t want to harass your omega mate in the shower?” he said teasingly.
But when I didn’t laugh, Maxwell frowned and came over to sit with me. “Hey, is something wrong? You know I’m not the best at telling when someone’s upset, so you have to let me know.”
“It’s not something I wanna bother you with,” I said. “Go on. We can talk about it some other time.”
“No, no,” Maxwell protested, shaking his head. “I’m tired of sneaking and lying and not talking about stuff. I want everything out in the open. I promise I won’t get mad or anything.”
“Well, if you insist… There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, since the night with the blood vials.”
Maxwell nodded seriously, not taking his eyes off me. I took a moment to appreciate how handsome he looked without his glasses. It was also a bit difficult to ignore how utterly naked he was.
“So, when your blood spilled,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat, “there was one mental image that kept popping into my head. That was the thing holding me back from losing control. I held onto it and focused it… That’s what saved me.”
“It must’ve been something important then. What was it?” Maxwell urged.
“Um.” I bit my lip. “It was of you. Pregnant with my baby.”
Maxwell’s brows raised. “Oh. I see.”
