Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny, the weather warmer than it had been all week. I had surgeries all morning, so I was up earlier than everyone else, sipping my coffee in the kitchen. I was surprised to see Axel walk by with a bundle in his hands since he didn’t have to get up for another hour and a half. I set my coffee cup down on the counter.

“What are you doing up so early?” I asked, following him to the laundry room and noticing that he was stuffing our sheets in the washing machine. A hint of Milan’s perfume hung from the fabric. Oh.

“I wanted to see you before you went to work,” he said, adding the laundry detergent before starting the machine. He lifted me by the waist and set me on top of the washer before taking my face in his hands. He had obviously showered after I left last night because he no longer smelled like the Wicked Bitch of the Northeast. He planted soft kisses all over my face, his stubble scratching enticingly over my skin. “I needed to tell you how much I love you.” More soft brushes of his lips, this time across my own.

I draped my arms over his shoulders and leaned into his body. “I love you, too, Ax. Even when I’m mad at you.”

“Love doesn’t have to be perfect,” he started.

“It just has to be present,” I finished, stroking his unruly hair with my fingers. Jesus, he’s sexy in the morning. All stubbly and shirtless with his messy hair and deep, gruff voice. “Thank you for telling me. I needed to hear it.”

He pressed his forehead to mine, his lips continuing to graze against mine. “I’m sorry I haven’t said it much this week. I should tell you every day. Every minute of every day.”

“Well, you’ve been a little distracted,” I said.

“That’s no excuse. I’m going to tell you every day, baby. I love you.” Then his mouth covered mine, his tongue sweeping through my parted lips, then deeper. He hardened between my legs, and one of his hands dropped to my lower back, pulling me tight against him. The washing machine began to vibrate lightly, and Axel pulled back and grinned. “This washing machine has possibilities.”

“Definite possibilities. It’s even better than BOB.”

“I’m better than BOB,” he insisted with sexy smugness. “I’m going to literally thrash BOB tonight. You’ll forget BOB ever existed when I’m done with you.”

Yeah, if we even get that far.

“We’ll see. Your ex seems to have some type of surveillance system on my vagina. As soon as she senses I’m nearing an orgasm, she pops her bitchy little head up.”