I tried to look at the bedside clock, but there was something blocking it. My hand stretched across the mattress and found a note propped up against the clock. My mind registered that it was after nine in the morning as I pulled the piece of paper close to my face. I blinked away the blurriness as I read the words.

Bear,

As usual, you made all my dreams come true last night. I probably won’t see you until tomorrow after the game, but I’ll be thinking of you. I love you, baby.

Love, Ax

PS Get your sweet, beautiful, tight, hot, sexy ass in my bathtub and soak. I left you some Epsom salts with arnica and rosemary—excellent for soreness.

I stood and made my way into his magnificent bathroom and turned on the water in his deep tub, adding a couple of handfuls of the salts. I looked in the mirror and smiled. My hair was all over the place, and I had bruises on my hips and a hickey on the side of my boob. I was a hot mess, but I looked like a woman who had been thoroughly fucked. I felt twinges of achiness with every movement until I finally lowered myself into the fragrant, hot water.

When I emerged forty minutes later, I felt a million times better. I hadn’t known I would be staying the night, so I didn’t have any clean clothes with me. I grabbed a pair of Axel’s briefs and slid them on before adding one of his big T-shirts and a pair of sweats cinched tightly at the waist. I sent him a bathroom selfie and a text message.

Blaire: Hope you don’t mind. I’m wearing your clothes.

Axel: I just got a chubby. You look hot.

Blaire: I didn’t have clean underwear, so…

Axel: Sweet Jesus! Are you going commando?

Blaire: Actually, I’m wearing some of your underwear.

Axel: Even better. I have a fat ass boner now, BTW. Thanks a lot.

Blaire: You’re welcome. XOX

I reread his note and held it to my chest like the big sap that I was before tucking it away in my purse. When I got to my car, I saw boxes and a bag arranged neatly in the backseat. There were six pairs of shoes, a little pair of white shorts, and two Wranglers jerseys I noticed as I dug through them. Axel had apparently put the results of his and Carrie’s shopping spree in my car this morning before he left.