’Our bedroom...’ Her pulse raced.
Right. This is their room. Their bed.
She suddenly realized this was the first night since their wedding that they were alone together in the bedroom, without Oliver.
Instantly, she feels her blood rush through her veins.
Axel leaned back on his palms, his eyes beaming with a mischievous gleam. "Why? Are you planning to kick me out already?"
Her cheeks heated instantly. "No, of course not. I just... didn’t expect you to come back so soon. Did he sleep already?"
"Mm, he is..." His eyes scan all over her again, before he continues. "You should be more careful walking around dressed like that, Evelyn. Your towel looks like it’s ready to betray you at any second."
Evelyn’s face flamed. "Axel Knight, stop staring at me!"
He chuckled, the deep sound making her even more flustered. "Relax. I’m not going to do anything... yet. You look like you might faint if I stand up."
"I do not!" she snapped, while tightening her grip on the towel.
"Really?" He tilted his head, amused. "Because your ears are bright red. Should I get a mirror for you?"
Evelyn was speechless.
This was another side of him she had never seen before. But she didn’t have time to be amazed. Instead, she dashed toward the walk-in closet.
She snatched her nightdress, keeping her back turned to him.
However, before she could change, she felt his eyes still on her.
Glancing over her shoulder, she asks, "Could you at least... look somewhere else?"
Axel’s laugh echoes.
"Alright... I’ll give you some privacy." He stretched lazily, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. "It’s your turn to change. Then it’s my turn to shower."
Evelyn watched him warily, still clutching the towel around her like her life depended on it.
She nearly jumped when she felt him step closer, his tall frame suddenly behind her in the walk-in closet.
Her eyes widened. "Axel, what are you doing here? This is not the bathroom..." she said, her fingers tightening their grip on the towel, afraid he might snatch it away.
He didn’t answer. Instead, a rich, deep laugh burst out of him. Not the cool, controlled laugh she usually heard from him in public, but one full of unrestrained, as-is, amusement.
Evelyn sighed helplessly before turning and staring at him with all the courage she could muster while dressed in nothing but a towel.
"Could you at least give me some space, Axel? I need to change my clothes."
Axel tilted his head with a faint smile, "Eve, I need to grab a boxer. Or do you want to fetch it for me? Pretty sure it’s in the second drawer."
"You..." But before she could snap at him, he leaned casually against the wall, waiting.
Evelyn’s face went scarlet, and she quickly stepped aside, giving him room.
He passed by her smoothly, suppressing a laugh at how quickly she retreated.
Her eyes darted everywhere but at him. She knew exactly what was in that drawer; she’d peeked earlier while arranging her clothes, only to see the sight of his neatly folded underwear and sleeping wear.
And now the image was dancing into her mind, torturing her.
"Alright, go ahead and change," Axel said after tugging out what he needed.
His grin was playful as he stepped toward the bathroom. "I’ll only be in the shower for a minute or two. Don’t miss me, Mrs. Knight."
Evelyn almost choked. Her face flamed hotter than the steam in the bathroom. ’Who would miss you?!’
She shook her head furiously, blowing out a long sigh, and risked a quick glance over her shoulder.
Only when she saw him disappear into the bathroom, moving with infuriating calm, like this entire situation didn’t bother him at all, did she finally breathe again.
Her heart, on the other hand, was still pounding so loudly it drowned out the sound of the shower. She moved quickly, slipping into her soft silk nightdress, then unwrapped the towel from her hair and began drying it.
Evelyn didn’t stay in the room; she left for a few minutes, checking on Oliver.
Her son was already sound asleep in his little bed, his cheeks flushed from the warmth of the blanket.
After she tucked him in tighter, brushing his hair back gently before tiptoeing out again.
Back in the master bedroom, she felt a rush of relief. Axel was still in the shower.
She wasted no time turning off the overhead lights, leaving only the warm glow of the bedside lamp. Then she slid under the covers, curling up with the blanket tucked up to her chin.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
Evelyn froze. She dared a glance and immediately regretted it.
Axel walked out with his hair damp. He wore only loose black pajama pants, his toned chest bare. He was casually drying his hair with a towel. He looks natural, as if he were alone in the room.
Her heart stopped when he turned on her, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. A surge of heat raced through her. Panicked, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
He didn’t say anything, just slipped under the covers beside her. It makes her relieved, and she tries to breathe normally.
The silence was unusually weighty. The bed seemed smaller than it should have been, and his familiar scent now lingered in the air around her.
She slowly turned onto her side, her back facing toward him, and she was hugging her pillow like a shield.
Axel chuckled softly.
"You know I can feel how you feel right now. Are you really that nervous sleeping next to me?"
"What? I’m not nervous," she mumbled into the pillow. Her eyes close tightly.
"Alright, I’ll take your word for it." His voice was warm with teasing. "But, if you were any stiffer, I’d think you were part of the furniture."
Her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter despite herself. "Goodnight, Axel."
"Goodnight," he said. Then, softer, "And don’t worry. I keep my promises."
Her heart tightened. She knew what he meant. He would wait. Wait until she’s ready to cross that line.
They lay silently for a while, the only sound their steady breathing. Evelyn’s eyelids began to grow heavy, and her body finally relaxed until his deep, thoughtful voice broke the silence once more.
"Evelyn."
"Mhm?" she murmured, half-asleep.
"Do you regret it? That night when we first met?"