Chapter 37

Ansel remained silent, and Aron sighed. “Ansel, again, we jest a lot, but these are the things that are important factors in your sessions. I can only help if I know even the things that make you uncomfortable. I’ve seen you grow so much over the years, and I hope to see that continue.”

“You’re right,” he said, sighing. “Yes, to your question. I’m still working through that part at the moment, that’s all.”

“Why?”

“Because it was unexpected. Honestly, the entire thing was. We got into a bit of an argument and next thing you know we were in bed. I only planned to tease her, but there was something about the way she looked at me that made it impossible to pull away.”

“How did she look at you?”

“With love,” he replied. “I could see it in her eyes. At first I thought I was imagining it, but the longer she looked at me, the more it seemed to grow. Next thing you know, one incident turned into the entire night.”

“…Ansel, why is it so difficult for you to entertain the possibility that she loves you?”

“I don’t know.” Growing uncomfortable, he redirected the conversation. “I suppose now we wait to see if she’s pregnant?”

Aron nodded. “From what I’m told, that’s how the birds and the bees work. In the meantime, I suggest taking the pressure off things.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s clear that something is budding between you two, so tap into your romantic side. The first morning after is a critical time where most people over analyze all actions made. Since you arrived all smiley, I’m assuming that went well too. Build on that and see where it goes.”

Ansel leaned forward. “Wait, what’s this about the first morning after?” he asked.

“The first morning after sex with someone that’s not just a one off, but you care about. It can literally make or break things moving forward sometimes, depending on the actions taken.”

“Fucking hell,” Ansel mumbled under his breath. “If that’s true, then she’s probably pretty pissed at me.”

Aron rubbed his forehead. “What have you done?”

“I was in a bit of a hurry this morning, so I left.”

“Okay…”

“While she was still sleeping.”

Aron waved him off. “Oh, that’s not bad as long as you left a note. It can be quite romantic sometimes.” Ansel rubbed the back of his neck, and Aron’s eyes widened. “You didn’t leave a note?!”

“I wasn’t thinking about it. I knew I planned on seeing her later when she moved back into the manor.”

“Wait, she’s moving back into the manor?”

Ansel nodded. “Maggie should be packing her things for my gammas to retrieve as we speak.”

“Please, please tell me you at least told Maggie what was happening so she could explain it to her.” Ansel rubbed the back of his neck again. “Wow. So let me get this straight. You spend an entire night getting acquainted and then in the morning you leave without saying anything or leaving a note. Then you send her maid/close friend to the villa to pack her things, leaving both clueless about where she’s going?” Aron slapped his knee in laughter. “By God, you cannot be this far removed from romance to think this was a great idea.”

Ansel sighed. “Yes, well, now that I’m thinking about it, the little trick I played on her probably wasn’t the smartest idea either.”

“Oh, I have to hear this.”

“We have a natural inclination to tease and provoke one another. All harmless things really, but even when we were kids, getting under one another’s skin was our favorite pastime. So I gave Maggie a list and instructed her to give it to Karin. It was of the only people she was allowed to talk to from now on.” Aron belted a laugh again that grew at the exasperated look on Ansel’s face. “I was only kidding around, but now that you’ve presented me with my prior infractions, I have a feeling that hot blood of hers is going to rear its ugly head.”

“Your feeling is right,” Aron said, regaining his composure. “From what you told me, she may not be able to kill you, but she’s certainly going to try.”

“Mhm. If I’m honest, though, it’s one of the things I admire about her most. She’s opened up more since her stay here, and I’m seeing a strength in her I was worried had been stomped out. Now, even when she’s afraid, she still stands her ground. That alone provokes me, and last night was the same. During our argument, she reacted to my touch, but she didn’t submit until I directly asked her what she wanted.”

“What was the argument about, anyway?”

The lines of Ansel’s face hardened. “Doctor Ethan proposed to her.”

Aron almost jumped from his seat. “Why didn’t you mention that before?!”

“Because it wasn’t on my mind. Things progressed so quickly, I hadn’t thought much about it, though now I realize I need to arrange for her to have a new doctor.”

“Ansel, do you think—”

The growl that came from his mouth stopped Aron’s words. “Don’t ask me a question whose answer will result in the death of a man. It’s remove him or kill him, and I want the latter, but I promised her I would spare him.”

“Then I have nothing else to say about it except to ask if this incident has anything to do with why you’re moving her to the manor?”

Ansel stood. “I have to get to my next appointment.”

“Ansel, answer me.”

Ansel’s jaw tightened. “I’ll do what is needed to protect her.”

“Protect her…or you?” He sighed. “I won’t tell you what to do, but I would be a horrible friend if I didn’t say that beasting her isn’t the way to go about this.”

“What the hell is beasting?” Ansel asked, scrunching his face.

“You know, locking her away in your bell tower while your furniture and China sing and helps her pick roses and avoid poisonous apples as she grows her hair to use for her escape.” Ansel stared and him with a frown. “It’s from a popular fairytale. I figured you would get the reference.”

“Aron, I’m pretty sure you’re mixing at least four different stories.”

“Oh crap, really?” He waved him off. “The point I’m making is you said she submitted when you asked her what she wanted. That’s because you gave her a choice. You take that away from her, then the strength of hers you thought had been stomped out will be…by you. You may not want to admit it, but it’s clear you’re in love with her. Be vulnerable. Great things may come from it.”

“He’s right,” Jeff said, pushing Ansel further. “You’re doing this because you love her. She gave herself completely to us last night. We need to trust our mate.”

“I need to go,” Ansel said to Aron. “I can’t be late.”

Aron nodded. “Not a problem. I need to make a few important calls, anyway.”

“To whom?”

Aron pulled out his phone and grimaced. “A few of my patients. If you’re right about the stories, then like you, I’m in deep shit.”