They tried to maintain their composure on their walk across the lobby to the elevator. Only Marie was barefoot. Her shoes were killing her and once they were in the lobby she slid out of them and sighed in pleasure when her feet hit the cold marble floor.
"Act natural," Axel said and with heads held high they strode through the lobby and tried desperately not to laugh. Once they were alone in the elevator he pressed her back against the mirrored wall and kissed her deeply.
She kissed him back, her hands grabbing at his shoulders and pulling him closer. "God you're strong," she whispered as he kissed her neck. Her hands were on his shoulders and she could feel his muscles through the fabric. Pectorals and other muscles she couldn't name bugled and rippled beneath her fingers.
Axel came up with a chuckle and kissed her again. They barely managed to keep their clothes on as they made their way to his suite.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Axel worked the bag as he waited for Marie. They had returned from Philadelphia two days ago and he hadn't seen her since. They had texted, but it wasn't enough and already he missed her. He didn't like having to go entire days without seeing her. It seemed like too much time. He didn't trust it. He wanted to see her every day.
She was late, but only three minutes. It wasn't too strange. Sure, she had always been on time or earlier every other time they had met, but that didn't mean something was wrong. Maybe something had happened with Cate. Maybe there had been an issue at the mansion. He checked his phone but there were no missed calls or texts. He returned to the bag, punching and jabbing at it as the minute hand moved and she was five minutes late.
Hayden was gone. It was their new routine. Marie was not mentioned between them. If Marie was at the gym, Hayden was somewhere else. He acted like Marie didn't exist and it was starting to make Axel mad. Hayden's immaturity was starting to be a real problem. The thought had at first seemed inconceivable, but now Axel was seriously thinking of getting rid of his lifetime trainer. It wasn't an easy thought. He had no idea how he would do such a thing.
When she was eight minutes late he couldn't take it anymore. He took off his gloves and started walking to the stairs determined to go and find her himself. He was at the foot the stairs when the door opened and she appeared. The bright lights lit up her dark brown hair and she gave him a nervous smile as she hopped down the stairs.
"Sorry I'm late. It was just a thing with Cate." She wasn't looking him in the eye. She was making a show of taking off her long sleeve t-shirt and taping up her knuckles. She was busying herself to distract him. But he knew better. She was lying. Something was up.
"No worries, but don't make a habit of it," Axel said. "Let's go do some sit-ups. "Marie, lay down on a mat and began to lift herself up as Axel held her feet. He counted as she completed each sit-up and he waited for her to speak.
She was silent and her eyes were looking everywhere but at him. She was starting to strain with the effort. She was at forty sit-ups and struggling to come all the way up. Her face was beet red and already she was sweating. At fifty he told her she could stop.
He pushed her hard. Not relenting, not letting up. He started with weights almost doubling the amount she had to lift. She was struggling by the end of each rep, but she refused to quit and he kept pushing her.
Just tell me, he thought as he sparred with her. They were in the ring and he wasn't going easy on her. He refused to let her land a hit. He easily swiped away her kicks and punches, but refused to attack. He would block her hit and wait for her to try another. He was in control the entire time, so she was forced to spend her energy trying to get through his defenses. She was growing tired, her hits were weakening, and finally she threw up her hands and quit.
She flopped down on the mat leaning back against the harsh ropes. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps. Axel sat down beside her and rubbed her back as her breath slowed down. She guzzled water and then handed him the bottle. She swiped the sweat off her breast and off her forehead. "What the hell, man?" she finally asked, turning to look at him. "What was that for?"
"Why were you late today?" he asked, keeping his voice even. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She continued for a moment and Axel looked at her and said, "don't lie to me."
She shook her head and looked to the sky, but she didn't move. He waited, hoping she would open up to him and then, her eyes still on the ceiling, she said, "I thought I saw a man taking my picture." She shook her head at her own foolishness and then glanced at him before continuing. "I wasn't sure. So I followed him for a few blocks. But then he got in his car and drove away." She shrugged her shoulders as if to say the whole thing meant nothing to her.
"You followed him?" Axel asked. He was half mad and half impressed.
"Yeah," she said with a wan smile. "Probably not the best idea."
"No," he said. "But it's still pretty ballsy."
She laughed only it came out more like a sigh. She put her head in her hand and looked at him waiting for him to say something.
"Was he taking your picture? Were you sure?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. And he was worried there was sparkle of a tear in her eye. "I don't know. I just thought I saw something. But I feel like I see something suspicious every day. And now I'm putting this on you before your fight and I feel like a real jerk."
"Don't say that." Axel said. "It's fine. You don't have to worry about me." She stood shakily to her feet and Axel gave her his hand and helped her out from between the ropes. She was shaky as she walked to the shower. "Want me to come in there with you?" he asked pointing to the women's locker room.
She smiled but shook her head and gave him a kiss before disappearing. Axel waited outside, his mind running in circles as he wondered if anyone actually had taken her picture or not. She came out fifteen minutes later looking fresher and a little more solid on her feet. He was worried he had pushed her too far, but he could see now that in a day or two she would only be stronger.
"I'll walk you home," Axel said taking her bag. Outside on Main Street it seemed impossible that a bad thing could ever occur here. The town was like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Nineteen-fifties' style storefronts and little old ladies taking their daily walk. There was no way a man had been taking Marie's picture on this street, was there? He still looked. In every car, in every window, in every gesture, he looked for anything suspicious. Was anyone looking for Marie? Was that guy really a delivery man, or was he a spy in disguise? But nothing looked strange to him. The people he knew waved at him and the rest ignored him. There was nothing suspicious or dangerous he could say. Marie was just worried and she was seeing ghosts.
She whined at every step up to her apartment. She had to stop three times and rest and she glared at him. "My legs don't work anymore and it's all your fault."
Finally, she crashed on the couch in her apartment and he made her a protein shake. She was watching one of those horrible Real Housewives shows when he came back with her drink. She managed to sit up and she drank it quickly and then fell back and closed her eyes.
"I don't think I saw anyone," she said as she snuggled against him. Axel said nothing, he put his arm around her and she continued, "It was probably just an overactive imagination." He squeezed her shoulders hoping she was right.
What would he do if Austin showed up here? It was Axel's nightmare: getting a late night phone call that Marie was missing. He was constantly worried he would be expecting her and she would be gone, just disappeared. He feared Austin coming in and scooping her up. If she ever left, he would never be able to stop looking for her.
Is that was Austin thinks? some dark part of his mind asked. Axel didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to have anything in common with a man like Austin St. Clare. But some dark part of him understood how hard it would be to lose Marie and how much he would want her back. But, no, he shook the idea off. There was nothing similar between him and Austin. Axel would never hurt Marie and if she wanted to leave him, he would let her. He would never hold her against her will. Austin wanted to control her. Axel loved her.
He had restrained his instincts over Thomas Middlemarch. He let Marie make the choice. Axel had never mentioned Thomas' little gambling habit that had almost cost him his house. Marie chose Axel on her own. She ended things with Thomas at a coffee shop while Axel was at the gym. Thomas had been a little sad, Marie told him, but they had only gone on one date, so it wasn't the end of the world.