Mystery frowned. “She walked out on a husband and four boys? Just left?”

“Yeah. Said she was going to the grocery store. She drove into town, cleaned out our bank account, took our only car, and drove off. Last I heard, she’d shacked up with some guy in New Orleans.”

God, he must have been confused, sad, angry, lost. “You could track her down now and ask why.”

Axel shook his head, his frown telling her that he held in an emotional torment that haunted him. “I know why. She wanted more out of life than cooking and cleaning and working shifts at Walmart as a checker. She wanted adventure and money, not another fifteen years with the guy who’d knocked her up in high school. She’d been a baby having babies, and she’d come to the point in her life where she wanted something totally different than us.”

Her heart ached for him. She reached for Axel’s hand and squeezed it. “That had to be tough on you. How old were you?”

“Eight.” He didn’t state that her abandonment had hurt, but the stoic protector in front of her couldn’t keep the pain off his face.

Mystery slid out of her chair and climbed onto his lap. “You deserved more. She didn’t stay around to see what an incredible man you’ve become, and it’s her loss. You amazed me the day we met. You keep doing it every minute I’m with you.”

“Why do you keep leaving me, then?”

He asked the question so quietly, and it ripped her in two. She’d never imagined this big badass could look so vulnerable, and Mystery hated the fact that she’d put doubt in his heart.

“Look at us, both kind of lost in our own insecurities. You’re thinking I’m going to run out on you because it’s what your mother did. I’m thinking I’m not interesting or pretty enough, and a guy like you could get any woman he wanted, so of course you’d want women other than me. I’m just waiting, like my mom did, for you to cheat on me, even though we never committed to anything.”

“Bullshit. Maybe not with words, but what happened at Dominion felt pretty damn serious to me. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me that was just sex.”

Mystery shook her head. “That’s why seeing you with Misty crushed me. I’m afraid and I don’t want to wind up like my mom, you know?”

Axel held her close. “I do know. I don’t want to become a bitter, lonely alcoholic like my dad. So here it is: Giving you up after your rescue was something I had to do, not something I wanted to do. Giving you up now is something I won’t do without a damn good reason. I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before I’m telling you that I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”

Her insides went warm and gooey at his words. Just like everything else about him, his straightforward honesty amazed her. No game playing. No fronting. Just his unvarnished truth.

She smiled at him. “I’d like that.”

Axel brought her closer and gripped her face in his big hands. “But if you leave me again, I’ll be done. It’s not a threat, but an honest reality. I know myself and my limitations. I’m willing to stash my concerns now because we’ve had extenuating circumstances. But we’ve talked, so from here on out . . . If you run off, I’ll know it’s because you wanted and meant to. Are we clear?”

A bolt of fear struck to the bottom of her heart. Then she dismissed it as foolish. As much as she adored Axel, why would she intentionally leave him again? “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure out where and how we can be together later.”

“I’m never going to fit into that whole Hollywood scene.”

She scoffed at him. “Neither do I. Why do you think I’ve retreated into books? Why I didn’t protest the move to London, despite the mostly dreary weather and terrible food?”

He heaved a breath. “I don’t have much—”

“Stop there. Without my dad, I don’t, either. He buys me nice things when we have to appear in public because my image affects his. If I showed up in something I bought three years ago at Debenhams, the press would write about it.”

“De what?”

She laughed. “It’s a department store in London. Decent stuff, but nothing designer. Dad won’t have it if we have to walk a red carpet. The rest of the time, I live pretty normally.”

He raised a tawny brow at her. “The TMZ shit?”

“Only happens in the States. Frankly, I didn’t expect anyone to even care that I was back in the country. But I guess having a renowned director for a father, a mother who died an infamous death, and being dramatically rescued from a kidnapper only to become a recluse makes me interesting to these people, huh?”

“I’m sure.” He shrugged. “Look, I don’t have all the answers, but I know I don’t want to let you go again, Mystery.”

A warm glow suffused her. She smiled at him with her heart in her eyes. “I don’t want to let you go, either.”

Axel gave her a slow nod. “Good. The man in me is satisfied that we’re on the same page and talking. I like it.”

Mystery had a feeling she knew where he was going with this, and her heart tripped, then speeded up. Her breasts turned heavy. Her pussy began to ache. “But the Dom in you?”

He sent her a dark smile. “Is itching to punish you, princess. Go upstairs and wait for me, naked and kneeling by the door.”

Chapter Fourteen

AXEL watched the sway of Mystery’s hips as she sashayed out of the kitchen. The room was small and frilly and dated, but somehow welcoming. He’d also bet it was well stocked. If Gail Leedy liked baking, then she’d have drawers full of pervertables. Axel wished like hell that he’d brought a toy bag, but he’d only managed to throw a few necessities in his duffel before the Santiagos’ plane had been fueled and ready. He didn’t like being unprepared, but he’d figure out how to adapt, improvise, and overcome.

Quickly, he found a wooden spoon, a few clothespins, a plastic container of rice, and a cutting board. He bypassed the twine probably used for things like tying turkey legs together. That stuff was tough on human circulation, and he wanted Mystery tightly but safely bound for what he had in mind.

Just as he perched the smaller items on the block of wood to take upstairs, he heard the back door creak open and slam shut. Axel cursed under his breath. Heath. Talk about bad fucking timing.

When the other man stormed in the kitchen, he didn’t look like the fresh air had improved his mood. Axel wished the asshole would give he and Mystery some breathing room.

Heath glanced at the bundle in his hands and cursed. “Are you joking, fuckwit? You’re going to paddle her with a wooden spoon like a naughty little girl for protecting her heart before you could crush it.”

Axel raised a brow. “And you helped her right out Dominion’s door, didn’t you?”

“She was upset,” he defended.

“She was vulnerable,” Axel growled in his face. “You took advantage of that because you’re dying to stick your cock in her and fuck her into next week. But Mystery is mine now. Get used to it. I intend to keep it that way.”

Heath ground his teeth together. “I shouldn’t be surprised you assume I have the most lascivious motive possible. I care about that girl—”

“That makes two of us.”

“I would lay down my life for her,” Heath argued.

“I did that when I barely knew her. I’d do it again. Are you trying to convince me that you’re not interested in having sex with her?”

“My personal feelings are none of your concern. Mystery’s safety and happiness are what I’m paid to upkeep, and frankly, I’ve given you too much latitude.”

“You haven’t given me shit except a hard time,” Axel argued. “Mystery and I talked through our problems just now and we know where we’re heading. I think I can make her happy. I have no intention of leaving, straying, or hurting her. You still got a problem with me?”