In slow motion, Maddox reached to touch Tatiana's cheek with the tips of his fingers. Delightful sparks jolted his mind, and he observed Tatiana who was lying on the floor of the boat and looking at him without moving a muscle.
He didn't expect her to thank him, or to say anything kind. After all, he did what he wanted to do, and no one forced him.
Their every interaction so far ended either with an argument or with her ignoring him. If they stop this meet right here, it should be considered a success.
What Maddox really wanted to do was to embrace her tightly until they merge into one so that she always stays by his side. He wanted to caress and kiss her all over, but instead of doing any of that, Maddox moved to stand up.
By now, Tatiana realized that all this was real. She ended up in trouble and Maddox rescued her. Why did he bother with her? How did he find her?
They argued, and she left the bar without even acknowledging him. He is her mate, yet she ignored him. That must have hurt, and he still came when she needed him. Wasn't that proof of his words how he will do anything in his power to provide for her?
He spoke about taking care of her, and she doubted if that was all bullshit just to get into her panties and that he won't care about her beyond the bedroom. After all, the only things she heard about Alphas was that they are powerful and lusty, and her initial impression of Maddox was just like that. But now he rescued her, and it seems that he was leaving even though his gaze was full of longing.
How can she allow him to leave?
Maddox's knees rose off the floor when he froze in an awkward half-squat. He would wonder who was holding onto his wrist, but the sparks prickling his skin told him it was Tatiana.
He looked at his wrist, to confirm that delicate fingers with a few golden rings on them were wrapped around his wrist, and then he moved his gaze to look at Tatiana questionably.
Tatiana wanted to thank him for rescuing her. She wanted to tell him that she will give him a chance. She wanted to acknowledge him as her mate and to tell him that treating her well doesn't necessarily mean romantic dinners and flowers and presents… she wanted to say many things and to apologize for being inflexible and for not believing him, but there was no way she would say any of it.
However, she was holding onto his hand, and he was obviously expecting her to say something.
Tatiana remembered Caden's words. Maya would pretend to be weak so that Caden can save her, and that men like to be knights in shining armor.
Tatiana coughed weakly. "I am not well. I need to see a doctor."
"We are taking you to the pack hospital.", Caden said right away.
Everyone on the boat was silent, so they all heard Tatiana's words.
Tatiana ignored Caden and she continued looking at Maddox. "Will you take me there?"
Maddox wondered what game Tatiana was playing this time.
Did she enjoy giving him hope only to push him away?
Their first meeting was a full-blown make-out that ended with a slap. They held hands in the car, only for her to ignore him later. And then they went for a walk and Maddox thought things were going rather well up to the point when Tatiana told him that she won't be able to forget what happened that morning and that he should court her forever.
Maddox figured out that Tatiana was playing some hot and cold game, and he was not willing to participate.
Maddox didn't see that Caden's eyes lost focus as Maya mind-linked him to stop meddling because Maddox should take care of Tatiana.
"Caden will take you.", Maddox said to Tatiana dryly.
Tatiana's grip on Maddox's wrist increased. "Will you be OK with another man holding me?"
Maddox frowned. Of course, he won't! But… what did this mean?
He needed clarification. "You want me to hold you?"
"Is that a problem?"
"No.", Maddox said reluctantly.
As they spoke, the boat was approaching the shore.
Maddox looked around. "Where is Damon?"
"Alpha Damon and Talia went underwater to help you out.", Caden explained. "They know you are out of the water and that we are taking Tanya to be checked out by a doctor. Talia stayed underwater longer than she should, and she was lightheaded, so Alpha Damon took her to the packhouse to rest."
Axel frowned at this. The last part was new.
Surely, others might believe in the mermaid story, but he knew what he saw, and his wolf definitely stirred when that silvery light exploded within the depths of the lake. Axel was confident that those were powers related to the Midnight Guardians pack, and how much he knew, there were only four people down there, and two of those four were in the boat with him.
Right on cue, Axel heard Maya asking, "Did you see the mermaids?"
"Mermaids?", Tatiana asked.
"While you were down there, some white light came from the lake.", Mindy explained.
"Tanya was unconscious.", Maddox said. "I saw the light, but no mermaids."
"Did you see anyone else?", Axel asked.
"No. I was trying to get Tanya untangled."
Actually, Maddox glanced in the direction from where the light came, thinking that a submarine or something like that was nearby, and he saw two figures, but then he focused his attention on untangling Tatiana. By the time he freed Tatiana from that kelp, the light was gone and he was in a hurry to get to the surface.
It was time to get out of the boat, and Tatiana raised her arms up toward Maddox, like a child who wants to be carried.
Maddox hesitated. When Tatiana said that she wants him to hold her, he thought of holding hands, or maybe supporting her under her arm, but now it seemed that Tatiana wanted to be princess-carried. She was wearing only a bikini. That will be a lot of skin-to-skin contact and his swimming trunks won't be able to conceal his erection. What if he gets carried away and goes for a kiss? Will that earn him another slap?
"Can't you walk?", Maddox asked.
"My legs are shaky.", Tatiana responded.
Maddox glanced at the people in the boat who suddenly all looked up or around while avoiding eye contact.
Kalina smiled a little. Her willful sister would always find the strength to show how she can do things on her own, yet now she was pretending to be weak. It seemed that Tatiana forgave Maddox, at least a little bit, but now they faced a problem of Maddox being dense because he asked warriors if they have a stretcher.
"What stretcher!?", Mindy hissed. "Just pick up Tanya and carry her. It will be faster. The pack hospital is ten minutes away…"
"Five minutes", Maya chimed in quickly before Maddox could come up with another way to avoid carrying Tatiana.
Kalina confirmed that Maddox was the only one who didn't get what Tatiana was trying to do. The best thing would be to give them privacy. With Tatiana not pushing Maddox away, they would get together sooner or later, as long as the conditions were right. No one can resist the pull of the mate bond.
"Is there a need for all of us to go to the hospital?", Kalina asked.
"Not really.", Caden said and looked around. "Do you want to head back to the beach, or to the packhouse?"
"Packhouse.", Axel said right away. He heard that Damon and Talia went there, and he was eager to talk to Talia.
Except for Caden who went to accompany Maddox and Tatiana to the hospital, the rest headed to the packhouse. The day was eventful, and they decided to take it easy until dinnertime.
