What questions?

What questions does Mr. Hayden want me to answer?

On the second night of me sleeping in the guest bedroom (I guess I can call it my own for the time being) that's all I can think about.

What if I don't want to answer his damn questions? Why am I so nervous?

It was your idea, imbecile.

Indeed, but also...shhh.

Thankfully, the next morning Harry and Edwin invite us hiking, where Milo almost throws me off the mountain chasing a butterfly. But Hayden curls his bulky arm around my waist just in time, while grabbing Milo's leash in his other hand.

A multitasker, apparently.

What questions?!

After that hormonal experience, I replace the butterflies in my stomach with fluffy, Japanese pancakes and sweet syrup, made of course, by the talented chef Edwin at their house.

Harry needs Hayden's help with some boring water piping problems (no one cares). So in the meantime, Edwin and I lounge on a plush couch and watch a murder mystery movie.

"I'm really glad you got trashed on Friday," he says in the middle of it.

I snap my head towards him. "Huh?"

"Or else Hayden wouldn't have picked up your car and found out that you live in it." For the first time, he's calm and serious. "I'm really glad that you don't have to do that anymore."

That's so sweet, but I struggle with positive emotions. "Some people have it worse."

"I know, but that doesn't minimize the difficulties you've had to face all on your own."

His therapist side is coming out. I throw him a half-hearted glare. "Thanks."

"You are so much like Hayden, it's insane." He laughs.

"I am not. Don't compare me to that heathen."

"Oh, you are. More than you realize."

"Excuse you. I have social skills. Charisma. Standards. What does Hayden have besides this angel?" I tickle Milo's chin who's sitting on the floor beside me.

"Oh, trust me." He smirks. "Hayden has charisma. You just haven't seen that side of him yet. Besides, he's still upset over his last dating situation. So he's closed off, but it'll pass."

"I would be upset too. I've also made some bad choices in my dating life. Sometimes you're just blind until it's too late."

"Nope. Hayden knew very well what he was getting into." Something in his tone changes.

I tilt my head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on. Can you imagine a world in which Hayden would like Astrid? Can you imagine them bantering and roasting each other and being friends?"

"Not at all, honestly. But that's extremely rare. Not all of us are lucky enough to meet our soulmates at the gym, Edwin." I give him a stinky side-eye, causing him to laugh.

"Hey, I saw it. I liked it. I got it."

"You made the first move?" Impressive!

"Mhm. Asked him to check if my form was correct." He covers the side of his mouth to whisper. "I was doing it wrong on purpose."

"You're terrible. Didn't he realize?" I laugh.

"Not at all! He was shy as hell. We were friends in the beginning. Until a very drunken night, when we kept flirting and..." He shrugs proudly. "One thing let to another, I worked my magic and voila. We're getting married."

"A great story to tell the kids. I met your dad by sticking out my ass, then sealed the deal by shoving my tongue in his mouth."

"And he loved it." He smacks me in the face with a throw pillow, causing Milo to bark in semi-angry protest.

"How did Hayden and Astrid meet anyway?"

Smooth...So subtle and smooth, Hazel.

"Ugh." He rolls his eyes. "Through Harry's cousin, of course."

"Ah, yeah. I remember him." And I do not care. More info, please. "But what do you mean when you said that Hayden knew what he was getting into? Are you saying he dated her, even though he knew they wouldn't work out?"

He scratches his ear. "Maybe?"

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me if it's a secret."

"It's not a secret. I just get called out sometimes for 'reading' people too much. So it's just my opinion. It's not like Hayden would ever admit it. But I think even Harry realizes it's true. That's why he was so excited to find out that Hayden is into you. You guys are so alike."

Okay, that's a lot to process, especially when my heart pounds from 'Hayden is into you.'

I look at the door and pray no one interrupts us and scoot closer.

"What do you mean?" I whisper.

"Which part?" He whispers back, amused.

"All of it."

"Well...okay. You know, how Hayden doesn't have a lot of friends, right? He doesn't really socialize?"

"Sure."

"So when Harry met me, obviously they started spending less time together."

"Naturally."

"Naturally, yeah. And it was fine in the beginning. But after some time, I think Harry started to feel bad. He felt guilty every time we'd travel or do something together, if he knew Hayden was home alone."

"But Hayden's a grown man. Harry is allowed to spend time with his loved one."

"And he knows that. So does Hayden. They've never discussed this, so don't mention it to either of them. Okay? This stays between us."

I gasp and scoot closer. "That means we're becoming friends. Tell me."

"Obviously. We're already friends. What did you think—"

"Stop getting distracted!"

"Okay! Jesus. Well...what was I saying?"

I slap him with the pillow, but gently. Then fix his hair, because I feel bad.

"Oh, right." He continues as if nothing happened. "So Hayden had no one. Harry felt guilty. Hayden knew that Harry felt guilty. I think that's why he lied to himself that he likes Astrid, so that Harry would stop worrying about him."

I make a disturbed face. "I actually believe you. That is something that Hayden would do."

"Right?" His eyes widen. "I mean, sure she's good-looking and she was a part of the group—sort of. Not really. But that's it. Even Harry was confused. We both knew it wouldn't last. There was no connection between them. At all."

"You're telling me Hayden dated her so his best friend wouldn't feel guilty about leaving him alone?"

"I think so."

The front door opens and we both jump. I actually shriek, causing Milo to stand in alarm.

"What's going on?" Hayden demands.

"Edwin farted," I blurt out.

"Hey!" He yells, turning red.

Fast forward six hours later, Hayden comes back to the house from the gym and I've been in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

He showers. Changes into dark gray sweatpants and the dark burgundy shirt that I got him when he paid me to go shopping.

I raise my eyebrow as he moseys in. "Excuse me?"

"What?"

"I thought you don't like that shirt."

"That's why it's a house shirt." He sits by the kitchen island, resting his freshly exercised arms on top of it.

Bulging. Muscles.

Veins.

I'm spasming.

In the back of my head, all I can hear is Edwin's annoying voice. Hayden is into you. Hayden is into you. Hayden is into you.

"You okay?" He watches me. Of course, he watches me.

"Perfect."

He smirks. "They're just questions, Hazel. Unless you have more things to hide."

"Aw, you thought I'd take it easy on you?" 

His brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

I turn around and open the oven, removing a large sheet of salmon surrounded by colorful, seasoned vegetables.

I set it on the kitchen island on top of a trivet and smirk. "I baked."

"And?"

"I didn't cook. I baked. You can't ask me any questions."

"What are you, stupid? Baking is cooking."

"No, there's a difference."

"Yeah? Tell me." He props his hand on his chin. "What's the difference?"

"Baking..." I start off with confidence. "Involves an...oven. Therefore, it's a... different...technique. Therefore, it's different."

"It's a different method of cooking, but it's still cooking." The corner of his mouth lifts with such amusement, I want to claw his face off. Jerk. Sexy jerk.

"Well..." I raise my chin. "You didn't specify whose questions I have to answer. Did you?" Now I'm smiling. "You said whoever cooks has to answer three questions. You didn't say they have to be your questions."

Dumbfounded, he opens his mouth to argue.

"You also didn't specify when I have to answer. So go ahead. Ask." I smirk, crossing my arms. "I can answer in...ten years, if I want to."

He deadpans. "Seriously?"

"You also didn't specify in which fashion I should answer. Words? Drawings? Imagination?"

"Okay." He stands up, fed up and defeated.

No, I'm wrong. He's walking towards me.

"The whole idea, if I'm not mistaken, was yours. Wasn't it?" He places a hand on the counter, half-trapping me and lowers his face to my level. "Did you or did you not propose that we ask each other questions, so that we can convince people we're together? Hm?"

"Yes."

"So why are you being such a fucking brat?"

"Because I can." I laugh a little. "What kind of a dumb question is that?"

He sighs through his nose, gazing back and forth between my eyes, then my lips.

I feel the effect down there. Instantly.

"Salmon?" I point at the poor, neglected dish. "It's uh, it's getting cold."

"You're really not going to answer?"

"Since my competence has far exceeded yours, I will grant you one answer." I negotiate like the fair business woman that I am.

"Since your competence has far exceeded mine?" His smile is feral. Dark. "Is that right?"

He's enjoying this. Why is he enjoying this? I love that he's enjoying this.

"Is that the final question?" I taunt back. "Careful, I might answer."

"What did you like about the BDSM club?"

"Oh my God, you're still on that?" I texted him that night that I was in his natural habitat and he asked me if I liked it. I told him that I'd tell him later and he told me that he'd be waiting.

Clearly, he has been. "I'm curious."

I roll my eyes as he goes to sit back. At least I can breathe now.

He takes a piece of the salmon, then some vegetables. "Well?"

I take a seat across from him and eat like nothing happened. "I liked that you weren't there."

He drops his fork with exasperation, causing me to laugh. "A real answer, you annoying shit."

"Well you didn't specify—"

"I'm going to murder you."

"Don't talk dirty, I don't want to leave a snail trail. Anyway, what I liked about the club..." I keep my composure while his cracks over the first sentence. "Honestly? I loved the intimacy. I know that's a weird thing to say, when there's nudity and fetish toys and whips and chains. But something about the...unflinching dedication the doms were giving to their partners was just...the hottest thing ever and the last thing I expected."

"Why?"

"Because I always imagined doms showing off their power and being mean. But they were the most attentive people I've ever met."

"Of course, they have to be attentive. They're responsible."

"Many people don't take responsibility seriously."

"Real doms do."

"But still, you're in public. People are watching. They were so absorbed in the moment."

"That's probably because of dom space."

"Dom space?"

"Yeah."

"Like sub space? The floaty, I'm in heaven, my toes are tingling, I'll do anything kind of space?"

"No. Dom space is when..." He sighs, cutting a piece of his fish. "I've never really experienced it, because I've never had that kind of a connection. But from what I've heard, dom space is when all your senses narrow on your partner. Her breathing. Her pulse. Every little reaction."

"That sounds stressful. Wouldn't you want to let go?"

"You are. Your senses become so heightened, that nothing else exists. All your worries and problems don't matter. Everything in you, in that moment, revolves around your sub. What they want. What they need. And you know exactly how to give it. It's pure instinct."

My mouth goes dry from the depth, the sensual and silky depth in his voice. There's also longing in it. Maybe even envy.

Maybe Edwin was right. Maybe Hayden does have a tendency to feel lonely. And maybe he beats himself up for not following his instincts.

"So...it's not about banging women who look like your mother?"

He slowly turns to glare and I snicker.

"Did Harry explain this to you?" I ask.

"I'm not telling you shit."

I burst out laughing. "Why not? He did, didn't he?"

"I'll answer you in ten years through a drawing in my imagination."

A/N
I love these two <3

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