****I'm thinking this book is ending in probably another ten chapters....anything anyone wants to happen before then??****

<3

I wake up pinned to Maddox, he has his arms around me and his whole body is spooning mine. I stop the alarm on my phone I keep under my pillow. I try getting out of his hold without waking him. "Stay with me." I hear him mutter, still groggy from sleep.

"I can't, I missed all these classes all ready this week." I reply wishing I could stay in bed.

"Fine. Call me if you need me, I'll be at the office so I'll be close." He says following me into the shower.

"I'll be fine. Can you drop me off? I need to get my car."

"Yeah. But I'll pick you up for therapy and we’ll get your car on the way home."

"All right."

"Before you leave, I need you to look at a few design proposals for the house and tell me which ones you like."

I start thinking of Alex's house and the baseball game I'm supposed to go to on Saturday. How can I cancel? I better tell Maddox.

"Alex wants me and Chris to go to his game on Saturday. I said yes but I'll cancel if you don't feel comfortable with me going. Please be honest with me."

"I don't want you to go."

I knew that would be his response. I have to respect his wishes. I can't imagine Maddox going off with someone who was as in love with him as Alex appears to be with me.

"I won't go. It will upset them but you're right about Alex. He definitely has strong feelings for me. I just never really thought it was as bad as it is. I'm sorry, I should have never dismissed your feelings about it like I did."

"Don't worry, I'm used to you not seeing things. You're blind when it comes to male attention. It's frustrating yet completely adorable."

"I'm not blind." I say defensively.

"Yes, you are." He reiterates.

"Am not!" I say pushing him. When he doesn't move I push him again. "Ah, you butt lick! Move when I push you." I say chuckling.

"I'll show you butt lick." He says smirking.

And I run out of the shower. He catches me in the bedroom and picks me up laying me on the bed. We stop laughing when our lips meet. I feel his arousal and know he's about to enter me.

"We have to be fast." I say panting.

"Yep. In and out." He says thrusting himself inside me. We moan together and Maddox moves at a steady rhythm. His hand finds my sensitive nub making me come within minutes and he quickly follows.

"You can be that fast? Why haven't we done that every morning?" I ask.

"Watch what you say, kitten, or you won't be leaving this bed today." He threatens.

I smile but climb out of bed and head to the closet to get dressed. Fully aware that Maddox is watching, I put on my dark green bra and underwear. Then slip on my dark green dress. The one I wore the day I met Maddox. I grab my brown cardigan and brown sandals and leave the closet. Maddox is still in bed. "Get ready, you're giving me a ride, remember?"

He smiles then gets up and walks to the closet. I leave and go to the kitchen making a whole grain waffle and half a bagel. Maddox steps out ten minutes later and we leave. I kiss him goodbye when he drops me off and get out of the car. On my way to class, I take out my phone texting Chris. Telling him Maddox and I don't think it's a good idea to go to the game because of Alex's obvious feelings for me. I wait until the last minute to switch my phone off and still no reply.

Professor Miller walks in and I take out my textbook and notebook. Class went by quickly and I started packing up to get to my next class. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Professor Miller with keys hanging in front of his face. My keys.

"Where did you find them?" I ask relieved.

"Under the tree you sit at. After I dropped you off I remembered seeing them out by your folder. So I came back and checked. Turns out they were still there." He says shrugging.

"I must have taken them out when I was trying to find all the office hours I needed. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

"I need to get to class, bye. Thanks again." I say, walking out of the classroom.

**********

I wait for Maddox to come pick me up. We got let out ten minutes early so I check my phone for any response from Chris, nothing.

I decide to call Alex. "Hello, Blondie."

"Hey, Alex. I need to talk to you about Saturday. I can't go." I say getting to the point.

"Why?" He asks.

"I didn't know how much you cared about me, Alex. After seeing you and the house it doesn't seem right to be around you without Maddox."

"I thought you were leaving him. You said you were done." He says getting angry.

"We talked about everything. I love him, Alex, like you love me. I can't walk away from him, ever. I'm so sorry, but I don't think we should see each other until you're ready to move on. I don't want to lose you, but I think it's for the best for now."

"No. Please don't do this. I'm right for you, he's not. You deserve more than what he can give you. Please think about it, make sure this is what you want." He begs.

"Alex." I say, hating the pain and panic in his voice.

"I love you. I love you so much it hurts. Tell me you feel that with him and I'll never bring it up again."

"I love Maddox, more than my next breath." I say quietly.

I hear a loud bang and the phone call ends. I choke back the tears and I watch as Maddox stops alongside me. I get into the car and put on my seat belt.

"Is something wrong?" He asks.

"I just talked to Alex. It didn't go well."

"Of course it didn't. I can't imagine losing you. He has to be dying inside."

"Well, thanks, Maddox. You're making this a whole lot easier for me."

"Sorry, but it's true. Maybe I should talk to him." He suggests.

I'm confused at first but then grateful in the next breath. If anyone can understand Alex, it’s Maddox. "You would do that?" I ask, tears coming to my eyes. He really is a softie. I can't believe I can fall more in love with him every day.

"Yes." He answers. "I'll go after I drop you off to pick up your car. Do you still have the address?"

"Yeah. Thank you, for going to him. I really think you can help."

We pull up to the office of the therapist and we go in. We are only sitting a few minutes before Dr. Kelly comes into the room welcoming us and we follow him into his office.

"Let's start today by telling me how things have been between the two of you."

"I fought again. I broke my promise." Maddox admits.

"Why would you do that?"

"She went to a friend of hers that is in love with her because he's not handling her rejection well. I got mad and turned to fighting. We've talked about it."

"You knew that was a deal breaker for Hadley. Why would you risk losing her?" He asks calmly.

"I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about how mad I was that she left after I asked her not to. When I get mad, I can't see things clearly. I felt worse after the fight than I ever have before. I was disgusted with myself."

"Hadley, you stayed with him?"

"Yes. After we talked about it, I understood his frustration and I should have listened to his feelings about me going to see Alex but I was dismissive."

"Maddox, I need more. You get angry and fight. I need to know why you get so upset with Hadley going to see another guy. Do you distrust her that much?"

"I trust her. I don't trust Alex. I've see the way he looks at her. It's a real love it's not a crush, it's deeper."

"And that brings you to fight. Men in love with Hadley?"

"That and other things, but lately it's that. Yes. I don't know if I need to fight, but like I told Hadley, I missed it. She's agreed that I should try an alternative. There's a mixed martial arts gym that does training in different disciplines and things, like boxing and sparring. I think it will be a healthier way to get out my frustrations."

"I agree. You need to focus your anger in a more consecutive way than illegal fighting. I think it's a great sign that Hadley didn't leave and you talked about things together. Is the issue resolved?"

"Yes." We both answer.

"I want to address why Maddox is afraid to lose you, Hadley. I know we talked about you leaving before when you fight but that ring on your finger says you're staying indefinitely. Only you can answer this, Maddox, what is it that you're afraid you'll lose?"

Maddox doesn't answer right away. I can tell he knows what it is but doesn't feel like talking. I rub his arm. "Maddox, you need to talk about it." Maddox looks at me and his sadness is plain to see.

"I don't want her to die. I stood in the room with my dead parents for hours when I was ten. I remember the smell, the blood." He shakes his head and continues. "I don't know why, but I think if she's not with me, she's not safe. That I have to protect her or I'll lose her." Maddox says looking at the floor.

"I can tell, Maddox, that you're aware of the absurdity of your thinking but it doesn't stop the anxiety. Have you felt this way before?"

"No. I've never experienced this. That's another reason I miss fighting. Fighting I can control. With this, I feel like a baby, like being with Hadley makes me weak. I hate feeling weak and out of control, it's embarrassing."

"I understand what you're saying and if fighting counteracts those feelings then as long as it's a healthy outlet and legal, I don't see any problem with it. Both of you need to be more open and receptive to each other's feelings, working through each problem as they come. Don't put them off, embrace them as steps and you'll learn more about each other and can anticipate each other's needs making your relationship stronger."

"I think both of us are starting to see that." I say smiling.

"I would like to start separate sessions with both of you. I think it would be beneficial to you and your relationship."

"We were going to speak to you about that. We both feel that we want to have separate sessions along with the couples counseling too."

"Great. That's all the time we have for today. But speak to Diana before you leave and make an appointment for your sessions and I'll see you back the same time next week together."