Page 114 of Stains of Desire
"Thank you," we both say.
Axel rises and pulls me up. "Let's go, green eyes. You haven't had a decent night's sleep in over a month."
"It's too early for bed."
"No, it's not. Come on." He leads me down the hall and into the bathroom. "Shower, then bed."
"I don't need to be treated like a child," I snap.
He crosses his arms.
I try to leave, and he steps in front of the door.
"Move."
"No. Get in the shower."
Every bit of rage and frustration inside me surfaces. I point in his face. "You aren't my boss."
In a low voice, he says, "You need a shower and rest."
"You need to mind your own business and leave me alone." I push on his chest, but he's too strong and doesn't even budge.
"If you don't rest, you're going to get ill."
I push his chest again. "You don't know anything about me."
His jaw twitches. In the confident, no-room-for-arguing tone I usually adore, he says, "Yeah, I do." All it does tonight is piss me off.
"No, you don't."
"You're tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. I get it. But I'm not leaving this bathroom until you shower. Then, I'm putting you in bed."
I raise my voice and enunciate, "Get out of my way."
"Shower. Now."
"You aren't my—" I spin to the toilet and get sick again.
Axel holds my hair and rubs my back, just like the previous time. All it does is make me cry hysterically.
He turns me and embraces me. "Shh. You have to calm down. You're making yourself sick."
"I need my daughter. I can't keep going on without her."
He tightens his hold on me. "I know. We're doing all we can right now. You have to stay strong, green eyes."
"I can't. I'm not strong." I sob.
He puts his face next to mine. "You are one of the strongest women I know."
"I'm not."
"Yes, you are. You just need some rest right now."
"My baby," I wail.
He pulls me to his chest and keeps trying to calm me down, but I keep screaming, "My baby."
