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She doesn’t seem convinced. "You don’t have to do this, Theresa. You don’t have to marry him."
I do, though. How can I explain it to her? This man is my last chance to feel connected to Xander.
And that is really, really the wrong reason to marry someone.I push the thought away. "I'm good, promise," I lean over and kiss her cheek. "I’ll be in touch."
I slide out of the car behind Axel and he slams the door shut. Seb drives away, leaving me alone with Axel. I follow him to the door, which he unlocks with a set of keys.
I am inside and he’s locked the door behind him before I finally realize what he just did. "Hey," I call out as he begins to climb the stairs, "where’s the rest of the household staff?"
"I gave them a few days off."
"And Sheena?"
"I am taking a break from the physiotherapy sessions."
A ripple of fear runs up my spine. So, I am alone with him? I can’t be alone with him. Not that it would stop him from doing whatever he wants in the privacy of his or my room. But still, knowing that Sheena was here and that there were other people around had provided me with some modicum of safety…which has just been pulled out from under me.
I burst into a run and take the stairs two at a time. "Is that wise?" I pant as I draw up close with him. "Taking a break, I mean? Surely, you need to keep exercising—"
"Which I am doing on my own."
"But it’s too soon after your being shot; you need an expert to monitor your progress and help you and—"
"I am improving by leaps and bounds, the doctor says." He pauses at the top of the stairs so quickly that I bump into him.
He turns and grips my shoulders, staring down at me from his elevated height. "At this rate, I’ll be back to my former strength in a few days."
"That…that’s great."
"Not for you."
"Excuse me."
"Not that it matters," he looks me up and down, "I have plans for you, Sunshine."
"Don’t call me that." I tug at his grasp. He releases me and that increases the churning sensation at the pit of my stomach. A hot sensation coils in my chest. My pulse begins to race. Why am I feeling so nervous? I am going to marry this guy. Most likely, I am going to spend the rest of my life with him, so why am I so afraid of him?
His gaze intensifies. He stares at my mouth and my throat goes dry. I step up onto the top of the staircase, forcing him to take a step back.
This also decreases the height difference between us. Not that it helps, because I still have to tilt my head all the way back to meet his eyes.
He smirks, and hell, why do I find that so hot?
"I am not afraid of you." I toss my hair over my shoulder.
He barks out a laugh, "I’ll remind you of this when I finally have my way with you."
My nerve-endings stretch and something inside of me seems to snap. With a low snarl, I throw myself at him.
25
Axel
She crashes into my chest, and it’s a good thing I have moved away from the top of the staircase; chances are good I might have tumbled down.
I grab her around the waist, and haul her to me as she raises her hand. Her palm connects with my face and my neck snaps to the side. Anger courses through my veins and adrenaline laces my blood.
"What the fuck?" I grate out as I carry her up the corridor. "What’s wrong with you?"
