Chapter 19

“Oops!” she exclaimed briefly, then continued on her way, the too big boots making her stumble here and there.

Oops, indeed. Emil wasn’t ashamed of freaking out or even Joy’s little outburst afterward. He was fucking annihilated by his own prejudices and how he could see them hurting Makai. He just hoped Makai didn’t think he was racist. Sure, he’d been surprised as fuck when the big guy had used the word “trigger” so casually, but he hadn’t meant anything by it, and now Makai was hurt.

Joy babbled about things as they made the slow trek back to her side of the little lake. The day had started beautiful, and Emil wished it had stayed that way

Makai had been everything and nothing he’d expected.

He was just as big, tall, and gorgeous as Lotte had whispered to him that day when he arrived to look after Joy. He was also kind, very protective, and had a gentle soul.