ne task as she waited for the moment he would walk through the door again. She busied herself with Amelia and Camilla, filling her d

g them a bedtime story filled with adventurous knights and brave princesses. As she drifted into her own thoughts, sh

le longer, hoping she wouldn't drift off before he returned. A little after midnight, a soft sound broke the stillness o

, instinctively reaching for a glass to fill with

Are you

she replied, her voice

er breath away. Maximo stood there, his silhouette framed against the light from the living room, a tall, commandin

him when he stepped forward,

fabric clinging to her curves as she turned to face

ment, something primal washing over

o be seen by m

nd and something dangerous

with fear but with the thrill of desire. She took a sip of water, trying to mask

, but the words trailed off as her c

oser, his presenc

d teasing, the edge of danger hanging in the air. "That a

ed by the raw intensity burning in his eyes. "You just surprised me," she manag

ound deep and dark, sendi

e in the middle of the night

losing the distance between them. "Maybe I was hoping you'd no

sfaction curling at the corners of h

ed to fade away, making room for the connection that crackled between them. Maximo's gaze

laced with a teasing tone. "What do you think they'd th

he moment. "Maybe they'd think I'm pretty bold," she replied, a s

rushing it back before stepping back just enough to assess her fully. Clara could see the

t about you," he admitted, voice shi

to share you, even

the depth of his sincerity-a statement th

he husky tone of his voice sending shivers

something stirring deep within her, a need

she challenged softly, feeling

layful and serious. "You asked for it," he said

se, their breaths mingling in the night air. Clara's heart raced as the world around them disappeared,

an invisible force neither could deny. And as the weight of the week dissolved into the moment, Clara surrendered to the connection