I rubbed a towel over my dripping head and threw on a shirt. The door squealed when I opened it and my feet left a trail of wet footprints. I hadn't been out from the showers for a minute before Lera stopped me. She looked gloomy as if she was holding back the news of dead loved one.

"Hey, Max? I'm sorry about what I told you back on the trail. I didn't want to make you feel guilty or anything. I only wanted to get that off my chest."

I smiled. "Do not worry, friend. Your words didn't hurt me."

"Good." A moment of silence passed between us and I thought Lera was about to turn and go but she met my gaze. "Can you promise me something?"

"That depends on what the promise is."

"Can you refrain from telling Meghan what I said. I don't want her to feel like I'm trying to take you away from her or anything."

Jokingly, I scratched my short beard and made it look like I was pondering her request. Lera's face was strained and I knew she was anxious for my answer. To her relief, I smirked. "I think I'd be able to do that."

"Thanks, Max. Have a good evening."

I smiled again and she headed up the stairs. Boots clicked behind me and I turned to see Meghan. Luckily she wasn't able to understand what we were saying, even if she was close enough to hear.

"What was that about?" she asked nonchalantly.

I sighed and glanced at her. "Just some old business. Lera and I go back a ways. Have you heard the story of how she got that nasty scar?"

She gave me a look like I was stupid. "Are you serious?" she chuckled. "Everyone here has heard that story. You came out of the situation with a couple broken bones yet when she fought you yesterday you beat her every round."

"I'll admit that I got lucky in the first round but then she let her anger take over which made it too easy for me."

"I still beat you," she said with a devilish smirk."

"I let you win," I replied mockingly.

Meghan scoffed. "So you're saying that you let me knock you unconscious?"

"Maybe I just wanted you to feel good about yourself." My grin was untrollable now.

"Well, if you want to make me feel good, you should come up to my room with me." Her offer was horribly inviting but there were other things clouding my mind.

"I think I will pass for tonight. I wouldn't mind staying in your room tonight though."

"If you say so. I'll be waiting for you. Don't let my bed get too cold." Meghan left my side and headed for her room. I went to mine and threw on some comfortable clothes and then made my way up to Meghan.

I entered her room. It was dim and only the light over the nightstand was on. She opened up her bed so I crawled in next to her after taking my shirt off. Her hand rested on my chest while I stared up at the ceiling.

"Are you sure that you're good for tonight?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so." I continued to gaze upward for a few minutes.

"Maxim?"

I met her gaze.

"What's up? You're not yourself right now."

A long, drawn-out breath left my lungs. Should I tell her what Lera told me yesterday? She may not react to it very well but then again, Meghan was a practical person and would probably understand.

"I promised Lera I wouldn't tell you this but last night in the woods…" My words ran short as I tried to piece together how I was going to say this. "She told me she loved me at one point." It came out blunt but it came out truthful.

"So she's what has been bothering you?"

"Yes, but not in the way you may be thinking. I don't have feelings for her anymore if there were any, to begin with, but I was just thinking about what she said and our experiences together over the years. Once she told me that, I began to remember the past a little differently. That's all."

"Why did Lera not want you to tell me?"

I shrugged. "Maybe she thought you'd be jealous?"

"Psh, Jealous? I know you love me." Her face grew slightly grim. "You do love me, right?"

I glanced over at her. "I think I do." A childish grin broke my placid face and I kissed her. With our lips still together, Meghan rolled on top of me, sitting on my chest. She smirked but I grabbed her waist and rolled her off.

"Oh come on, Max," she pleaded. "Just pretend I'm Lera."

My cheerful expression quickly turned sour and I gave Meghan a nasty scowl. Remorse glowed softly in her eyes. My voice was cold. "The reason I didn't want sex tonight was that I wasn't in the mood but now you insult me by thinking I want another woman." I rolled over and put my back to her.

Meghan's soft hands rested on my bare shoulder. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean it like that."

"Then how did you mean it?" I said from the other side of the bed.

"It was just a joke."

I knew that was true but I stood fast and didn't reply. She eventually gave up and tried to fall asleep. Soon, I heard her louder breathing and felt her back press up against mine and then sink again. I shifted onto my back and stared up at the concrete ceiling.

Maybe I had taken that a little too serious but I could apologize tomorrow. But like I told her before, I just wasn't in the mood tonight.

My thoughts slowly wavered from Meghan to Lera. I thought about our first encounter, then the time I cut her face, and then last night when she told me she had once loved me. I had told myself that I didn't have feelings for her anymore but after her words, that sentence becomes more and more blurred between reality and a lie.

My eyes wandered the dark room while they adjusted. I rested a hand on Meghan's muscled shoulder and then snuggled in with her sleeping body. Perhaps tomorrow night we could get it on. The thought of her body and her passion raced through my head and I reached out into the void with my mind and tried to grasp the flying fantasies. My efforts were in vain.

I sighed. That would have to wait until tomorrow… if Meghan still wanted it after I snapped at her. Either way, all I wanted right now was sleep. My mind cleared and I closed my eyes, waiting for morning to come.

Thanks again for reading. I have big plans for this story's future. Note that the next chapter will be smut so I will post it as a second chapter to my smut version in the M rating.