Page 18 of Seeking Salvation

“Fine, but can I check on Tyrique first?”

Titan glanced at the monitor Watchdog had set up the moment he arrived and could see the baby was safe and fast asleep but he also understood Maya might need a minute. “Sure, we’ll wait here.”

He watched her rush from the room, stifling the urge to go after her, before turning back to the room and finding all eyes on him, with Snow and Val grinning like idiots.

Val clapped her hands together. “I like her.”

Bás rolled his eyes. “Val, do not start matchmaking. He only just met her.”

Val waved her husband away. “Nonsense. Look at him. He likes her.”

“She’s hot. Smart too. Got a first in her degree and her IQ is Mensa level,” Watchdog added without so much as a flicker of emotion on his face.

“Will you lot shut up? She’ll hear you and I want her to feel safe, not like she’s been thrust into some freak version of The Bachelor.”

“Clearly you do not watch The Bachelor, because that isn’t how it works at all.”

Bás turned to Val, his eyebrows in his hairline. “You watch that show?”

“Of course. When you’re working late or watching some boring crap about how a door knob is made.”

“I thought you liked those shows.”

It was comical how offended Bás looked as Val dissed his favourite show.

Val patted his arm. “I don’t mind the odd one but after the first two or three, it gets boring.”

“So that’s where you disappear to? To watch dating shows?”

“Well, duh.” Snow shook her head, laughter on her lips.

“I prefer Married at First Sight.” Reaper piped up.

Titan was sure he’d entered an alternate realm. “Can we get back to the conversation at hand?”

“Oh, yeah. You like Maya.” Snow rubbed her hands together like a Bond villain, and Titan groaned.

“I do not like Maya.”

Bás winced and Titan turned around with dread in his veins knowing exactly what he’d find.

Maya looked wounded in a way that made his chest tight and he moved to her, his hand outstretched but she backed up, bumping into the door.

“Maya, wait.”

She was shaking her head as she headed into the kitchen and started to gather her bag and coat. “It’s fine, I get it. I’m particularly annoying. I’ve always known it and I did turn your life upside down.”

Titan sighed in frustration as she prattled on in this self-attack mode, which he recognised as a defence to the hurt he’d caused.

He grasped her biceps, stilling her movements. “Stop.”

Her eyes were down, her shoulders seemingly weighed low and he hated that he’d added to that with his careless words. “I didn’t mean it that way. I was just annoyed because those assholes are playing matchmaker.”

Her head lifted and he saw countless emotions swimming in her soulful brown eyes. He stepped in closer until he was chest-to-chest with her, the warmth of her body making him want to feel her soft skin against his own.

“And you don’t like me that way. I get it.”

“No, Maya. I’m so fucking attracted to you it’s driving me crazy. We just met this morning and I have this overwhelming desire to shut out the world to everyone but you and worship every inch of you.”

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