Page 36 of Malek
Ahh, so he’d been nervous, he’d hidden it from Malek well, maybe he shouldn’t have taught Axel how to block his emotions.
“I’m so glad you said that, mum,” Axel put the tray with the tea on the side table Malek pulled out for him, when his mate stood straight again he took a deep breath. “Mum, Malek and I are getting married, and I’m moving to the Lake District to live with him.”
“I can see you’ve made up your mind, love. You never were a reckless one, so I know I won’t be changing your mind.” Sharon held his gaze, “I reckon he’ll treat you right, but if he doesn’t, he’ll have me to deal with.”
“He will, mum, he’s the love of my life…” Alex held Malek’s gaze, “…my soulmate. I love him, and I know he loves me.”
Sharon made a noise that sounded like approval, but he wasn’t sure, “Well enough of all that now, why don’t we have some tea.”
That seemed like approval and Malek would take it. He took Axel’s hand in his and pulled him to the seat beside him even though he really wanted to put him on his lap. He laced their fingers together and sat having a nice chat with his mate’s mum.
Malek listened as Axel told his mother about how they met, missing out the more colourful details.
* * *
“That was easier than I thought,”Axel smiled, relief written all over his beautiful face, as they walked into their hotel suite.
“You didn’t have that much stuff,” Malek pointed out.
“I really thought it would be so much more, but I guess I’m not quite the hoarder I thought I was,” Axel shrugged, “Or maybe my life has been boring until now.”
Malek kissed the side of his mate’s head, “I know every moment with you will be an adventure.”
Axel snorted, “I am so not the adventurous type. I have no idea how I even ended up in the Lake District most of the time. Did I tell you Rowan wanted to go to a spa in Cheshire? He even offered to pay and everything.”
“So why didn’t you take the spa day over the trek up a mountain, because, mate of mine, I know for a fact you’re barely a hiker, not to mention a mountain climber.”
Axel threw his head back laughing, “You would be correct, although I have a feeling that will be changing.”
“I want to share everything with you, and sometime that will be my mountain.”
“I’ll go anywhere with you,” Axel said, a soft expression on his face, that made Malek feel ten feet tall.
“And I you, but you still haven’t answered my question. Why did you come to the Lake District?”
“Honestly? It was the craziest thing. I wanted to get away, and I remembered this email, or maybe it was an ad I saw for the Lake District. Something like have an adventure from as low as twenty-nine pounds.”
“And you’d never been before?”
“Not since high school.”
“I think maybe the goddess brought you to me, don’t you think? Because, I had a meeting that day, but I woke up feeling the need to run, and I ran right to you.”
“Best day of my life,” Axel touched Malek’s face staring into his eyes.
“And mine.” He brushed Axel’s lips with his.
Okay, so why don’t you go have a lie down until your brother calls and I’ll go put all the bags from shopping into the car.
His mate nodded, and took his shoes off, sliding into the queen size bed in their suite for the night.
Malek hung around until Axel fell asleep before leaving the room.
On his way to the car with the shopping bags they’d accumulated, Malek couldn’t help but thank the goddess that the trip was going well so far.
Meeting Sharon had gone well. She’d gotten a little teary when Axel put his things in Malek’s boot, until Malek assured her that it was just an hour and fifteen minutes away, and Axel would surely be visiting, and she could come up to visit them.
They could have already been home, but Rowan had texted Axel on his break asking them to stay and have tea. Axel really wanted to see his brother before leaving, so they’d checked into a hotel in Manchester City Centre, with plans to meet up with Rowan after his shift.