I raised an eyebrow. “It’s impossible to do things without him breathing down my neck.”
“You deserve just one night to let go and have fun. Daisy and I will handle everything. You just need to show up.”
I had a feeling Max wouldn’t like this much, and that made me smile.
CHAPTER 39
MAX
My mind ran through a million thoughts a minute, each one focused on one central figure: Rosalie. I should’ve been sleeping. But sleep was impossible to find. Every time I tried to push her out of my damn head, her face slipped right back in.
Every time I closed my eyes, I could see her cunning smile. I could almost hear her biting remarks too. I could feel the madness she so effortlessly created within me.
I groaned, throwing the covers off. This was pointless.
Eventually, I got out of bed and made my way down the stairs to the kitchen, thinking a glass of water might calm my mind. Perhaps whiskey would be more effective.
I poured myself a drink and leaned against the counter. The house was quiet, but the quiet didn’t last long. My thoughts soon returned to Rosalie.Again.
The damn woman was a walking contradiction. How could she be so completely infuriating and yet irresistible, all at once? I sighed, dragging a hand down my face. She was impossible, absolutely impossible, and still, I couldn’t stay away.
Before I realized what I was doing, I found myself with a pill in my hands.Opium. I was tired, and sleep was never going tocome willingly. I’d fought to stay away from opium, but I relied on it more than I cared to admit. It was my lifeline when I thought Rosalie was gone.
Then, just as I was ready to take it, I realized there was something better than opium right upstairs.
Before I could stop myself, I found myself right outside Rosalie’s bedroom door. I hesitated, hovering my hand over the doorknob. What was I thinking? She’d kill me for overstepping.
But I couldn’t turn back.
There was this pull—something I couldn’t quite put into words.
Quietly, I took a breath and slipped through the door, shutting it behind me. The room was dim, with just enough light for me to see her outline on the bed.
I felt guilty for disturbing her. But I couldn’t help myself any longer. I needed to be near her—to feel her.
I moved carefully, placing my hands on either side of her hips, barely touching her. Slowly, I lowered my head against her stomach. I could feel the warmth of her skin through the fabric.
She stirred. Her eyes blinked open, and when she looked down at me, there was confusion written all over her face. “Max? What are you doing?” she whispered, her voice thick with sleep.
My mind raced with a million thoughts, but all I could manage to say was, “Stay still.” It was barely a whisper. “Just stay still.”
For a moment she seemed unsure. Her body continued to tense under my touch. My heart pounded, fearing she’d push me away and demand an explanation—one I couldn’t give. But then she relaxed. Her body eventually softened beneath me. I closed my eyes, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath. It was soothing, grounding me in a way nothing else could.
“You’re breaking my rule.”
I was, and she hadn’t pushed me off. That did nothing but feed into my hope.
“I get to break one, remember?” I replied, reminding her of the one card I got to play.
“Fine ...” she sighed, acting as if she didn’t find even the smallest comfort with me here. “But just this once.”
Her fingers combed softly through my hair as I nestled in closer, resting my ear against her stomach.
And for the first time in months, sleep came easily.
CHAPTER 40
MAX
