I watched Axel's face as he worked—his concentration, the tiny furrow between his brows, the way he bit his lip when he reached for the soap. And my heart did a flip that no amount of common sense could stop.
"You're really not going to take advantage of this?" I asked softly.
He glanced up, frowning. "Never."
"Even though I'm… like this?"
He reached out and cupped my cheek again, my thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. "You're beautiful, María. You don't need to prove anything to me. Not like this."
Tears stung unexpectedly at the corners of my eyes. I blinked fast to send it back. He still thinks I'm beautiful despite being the most ugly girl in the pack now with my hideous scar.
"Don't cry," he whispered, leaning in to kiss my nose. "You'll short-circuit the plumbing."
I laughed, sniffing. "Shut up."
"You're the one who looks like a sad, sexy teapot."
Another laugh burst out of me but this one was warmer and lighter.
