“Mine,” he whispered again, softer but no less intense.
Sin’s legs tightened around him as he slowly freed her from the restraints, rubbing her wrists and arms one by one. The moment she was free, Sin reached for him, her hands tangling in his hair as their lips met. His passion matched hers, the bond between them thrumming, insatiable.
When he pulled away, his voice was gentle. “I need to show you something.”
Sin struggled to swallow. “Can I get water first?”
His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Come on, love.”
Sin’s chest tightened at the pet name, but she followed.
Once dressed, they appeared in a kitchen, startling the people there as Max smiled before they vanished again, reappearing in a small library. One she didn’t recognize, but the scents were distinctly books and Max.
“This is yours?” she asked.
“It is. It’s spelled so only I can enter, or anyone I bring in. Even my father doesn’t know about it.”
Sin narrowed her eyes. “How is that possible?”
“This used to be a storage room for tables and chairs.”
That answered why she’d found a hidden alcove filled with tables and chairs before. She wondered if Audrira knew.
He led her to a plush leather sofa covered in cozy blankets. “This is my personal study. I’ve been meaning to show you since I started collecting them.”
He was nearing a shelf when she asked, “Collecting what?”
He grabbed several books and returned to sit beside her. “Your books.”
Her eyes widened as he set the stack in her lap. As she sorted through them, Max approached the massive fireplace, starting a fire to keep them warm. Some books were about the basics of witchcraft, others deliciously smutty…
She laughed, the sound foreign to her. “How did you know I’d like these?” Suspicion was clear in her voice.
“Oh,” he shrugged, “just a hunch from our first time.”
She bit her lip, contemplating whether to tell him. As if he read her thoughts, he gave her an accusatory smirk.
She sighed. “Would you believe me if I said that was my first time?”
Finishing with the fire, he approached her, but didn’t sit. “No.”
Her brows furrowed at his expression.
“But I knew from the blood on my sheets, and immediately realized you’d read the filthiest books in the realms.”
A laugh escaped her despite her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“You fucked me like you’d been studying for it your whole life. Like you wouldn’t accept anything less than perfect scores.” He finally sat down, throwing an arm over the couch behind her. “I searched high and low for the most depraved books Icould find, hoping to give you something you wouldn’t fall asleep over.”
His smile was boyish and bright, softening her expression. Every ugly thought had ebbed from her mind, leaving only him.
She didn’t know how much time passed as they looked at each other. With each passing moment, their expressions grew more intense. She forced herself to look away, but his hand pulled her face towards him, and he kissed her before she could register what was happening.
Her entire body surrendered to that kiss. The books fell to the floor, and she panicked. “No!” She reached for them, placing them neatly on the table.
She swallowed hard when she turned back to him.
His shoulders shook as he reached forward, his fingers slowly closing around hers, kissing the top of her hand. “Open the bottom one.”
