“You’re short, woman,” he teased, his tone playful but firm, as though it were an irrefutable fact.To drive the point home, he gently nipped her earlobe, earning a gasp that made him grin.He felt her body relax, softening against him, but he forced himself to pull back.Their last round had been more intense than he’d anticipated, and she might need a few hours to recover—not that it wasn’t tempting to start all over again right now.
“Go get dressed,” he ordered, swatting her hip lightly for emphasis.“Then you can grade essays while I work.”
Lexie turned, clutching the towel tightly around her body as she gave him a pointed look.“Max, I really need to go home.I can’t concentrate here.My students worked hard on their essays, and I owe it to them to give them my full attention.”
He walked over to her, his expression softening as he cupped her face in his large hands.“You have your own office here,” he reminded her gently.“Why don’t you settle in there if you don’t want distractions?Then we can have dinner together later and,” he added, his voice dropping to a low, intimate rumble as he leaned in to kiss her softly, “maybe experiment with more of what we enjoyed this morning?”
Lexie’s cheeks flushed, her tongue darting out to lick her lips, and Max barely restrained himself from leaning in for another kiss.But he knew himself—and her—too well.If he kissed her again, they’d end up back in bed, and as tempting as that was, they both had responsibilities to attend to.
“I’ll need to drive back to my house to get them,” she pointed out, her tone soft but insistent.
“Get dressed, Lex,” he replied, pulling away with visible reluctance.She was a walking temptation; one he could barely resist.His gaze followed her as she moved around the room, and his thoughts wandered to the future.What would she look like pregnant with their first child?The idea made his chest tighten with anticipation.
He smirked as he leaned back against the doorframe, watching her.Soon,he thought.
Max paused, reaching for a clean pair of jeans and a soft blue sweater.His thoughts wandered as he dressed.Does Lexie even want kids?He hadn’t asked her outright, but the possibility was there.After all, she might already be pregnant.This morning, he had forgotten about using protection the second round.
Not that it mattered much to him.In his mind, the future already felt inevitable—even if Lexie hadn’t caught up to it yet.And once they were married, he didn’t plan on bothering with contraception.Since their wedding was only seven days away, it didn’t make sense to start now.But then a small, niggling thought crept into his mind:Maybe I should talk to her about this first.
He made a mental note to bring up family planning with Lexie over dinner.Maybe she didn’t want children right away.Maybe she had dreams or plans she wasn’t ready to set aside just yet.That was something he needed to consider.
The thought gave him pause.Discussing things with a woman wasn’t something he was accustomed to.Normally, the women in his life had served a single purpose: stress relief and physical release.He never had to think beyond that.
But Lexie?She was different.She wasn’t just in his life—she waschanginghis life.Because of her, he’d have to figure out how to navigate a real relationship.Marriage wasn’t about dictating every decision.At least, not entirely.He’d read enough to know that a successful relationship required give and take, which would be new territory for him.
On that note, Max paused by the door, his gaze drawn to Lexie as she pulled on her jeans.His eyes lingered on the soft lavender lace of her panties before they disappeared beneath the denim.A faint smile curved his lips.Good choice,he thought with satisfaction, congratulating himself on picking the perfect color.The soft lavender complemented her pale skin beautifully.
His mind wandered further.What about black lace?Elegant, but predictable.Red lace?No, too harsh against her delicate complexion.Scarlet wasn’t her color.Pink?Yes, pink would be perfect—soft, sweet, and playful, just like her.But then… gold?Gold would bring warmth to her skin.Yes, gold could be stunning.Maybe silver?No, too cool.
He shook his head slightly, amused at himself.Stop thinking about lingerie, Max.Focus.But his gaze lingered just a moment longer before he turned away, a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest.Lexie might be challenging him in ways no one else ever had, but that only made him more determined.Whatever their future held—whether it started with a baby or just the two of them—he’d make sure it was a future they built together.
Lexie turned sharply, catching him mid-stare.Her shirt hung loosely in one hand, leaving her clad in a lavender bra that accentuated her curves and the fitted jeans.Her expression was sardonic, a silent challenge in her raised brow and the tilt of her lips that seemed to say,“Need something?”
Max chuckled, unbothered by her indignation, and stepped back to give her space.He pulled on his own jeans and sweater, then slid into a pair of loafers.When he returned, he found her frowning in front of the mirror, one hand gently brushing her jaw as she stared at the faint bruise marring her skin.
The sight ignited a spark of anger deep in his chest.“He did that to you,” Max growled, his voice low and dangerous.Stepping closer, he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.His grip wasn’t hard, but it carried a weight that demanded her attention.“I promise you, Lexie, no one willeverhurt you again.”
She met his gaze in the mirror, her big beautiful eyes reflecting not just worry but something deeper—fear.“Max,” she began softly.“When we were together last year, I didn’t know what you did.Not at first.”She paused, swallowing hard as though the admission were difficult to voice.“But I figured it out.”
He didn’t respond immediately.His work wasn’t something he had ever felt the need to defend.It was harsh, yes, but necessary.His policies and the men under his command kept the Northwest region from descending into chaos.Order required control, and Max was the one who provided it.
“You’re safe now, Lexie,” he said again, his tone firm but quiet, as though willing her to believe it.His fingers tightened slightly on her shoulders—not to hurt her, but to offer reassurance.
Her lips parted, and for a moment, he thought she might relax into his touch.But then her eyes darkened, and her shoulders stiffened beneath his hands.“Safe from Enzo, maybe,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.“But not fromyou.”
Max’s chest tightened at her words, his grip loosening as though she’d struck him.“Lexie,” he began, but she shook her head, cutting him off.
“I’ve seen this before,” she said, her voice firmer now, though still tinged with vulnerability.“The way a man uses his power to control the people around him.My father…” Her voice cracked, and she hesitated, drawing a shaky breath.“My father controlled my mother completely.She had no choices, no freedom, no life outside of what he allowed.And I swore I wouldneverlet someone have that kind of power over me.”
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Max was silent, his jaw tightening as he absorbed her admission.“You think I’m like him,” he said finally, his voice low and measured, though there was a hint of something raw beneath it.Not anger—something deeper.Hurt.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her gaze dropping to the floor.“But you scare me, Max.The way you move through the world, the things you can do… the way you just… took over my life.”
Max let out a slow breath, his hands falling from her shoulders.“I’m not your father, Lexie,” he said, his tone quieter now but no less resolute.“What I do isn’t about control—it’s about protection.You.My people.The entire region.But you?”He stepped closer, his voice softening as he met her eyes.“You’re not someone Icontrol,Lexie.You’re someone I protect.”
Her gaze lifted slowly, meeting his, and he could still see the conflict in her eyes.Fear, yes, but also hope.She wanted to believe him—he could feel it.And that made him more determined than ever to prove himself to her.
“You have my word,” he said, his tone steady as he cupped her face gently, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones.“I will never take away your choices.And I will always fight to keep you safe.Always.”
