Page 14 of Spice and Revenge

Maximo is my on-and-off fling. But before that, he was my friend. He is the reason I’m able to live my life freely, without being tied to my past. I throw my hands around him, and I’m rewarded by the sound of his deep chuckle. His woody colognewafts into my nostrils. I bury my face further into his chest and remain like that for a while.

“You missed me that much, huh?” he teases.

I nod shamelessly. It's been over a year since I last saw Maximo.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as he leans into me. “I thought you were somewhere in Miami.”

Unlike me, Maximo never stays in the same place for too long. It works for him since he does his cybersecurity job independently. He comes to see me occasionally, but we’ve both been so busy with life that we haven’t had time to meet in more than a year.

“I missed you,” he says, poking my cheek playfully. “I just got back yesterday, in fact, I figured I would stick around for a few weeks. I heard about your new gig. Living the dream as a live-in chef now, huh?” His smile is infectious.

“And how did you find out about that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Baby, I have eyes and ears everywhere. Plus, I swung by your place and found it empty. It didn't take much Instagram stalking to piece it together from a couple of pictures on one of the Vitale kid's feeds. Easy as pie.” Maximo is the most resourceful person I know; his knack for gathering intel while still being charming, sweet, and effortlessly handsome needs to be studied.

It's one of the reasons why I didn’t bat an eyelid when he made a move and kissed me last year. Before Maximo, I had zero experience with men. Running away at eighteen doesn't exactly give you a crash course in romance.

Maximo was my first, and when it first happened, he was gentle and caring. With him, everything felt right from the start. It was almost like he knew how to make each moment special. We’ve only had sex like three times now, minus other stuff, but every time with him, it always leaves me eagerly anticipating the next.

“I don't know much about the Vitale besides their obscenely wealthy business empire. Especially Leo, the head of the family. The guy's like a ghost online. I've had more luck getting to know the twins and the youngest daughter, but it's mostly been extravagant trips and TikTok videos.”

“Yeah, Leonardo is a tough nut to crack. I still haven't met the kids myself.”

“I see. But are you enjoying the job?”

“Yeah. The job is great, but my boss is a pain in the ass,” I hiss, annoyed that I’m even thinking about Leonardo when Maximo is right here.

“Need me to do something about it?” he asks, his overprotective side showing.

I laugh. “No. I can handle him.”

“I knew you would say that,” he chuckles. “But remember, I’m always here if you need me. Even if I’m miles away, all you need to do is give me a call or text me.”

“Got it.”

“And I need you to stay safe. You really shouldn’t be walking alone at night. What if someone saw you?” I bristle at the reminder.

“But no one did. It was just you,” I say, ignoring the dread crawling up my spine.

“I could have been anyone,” Maximo says, and I hate that he’s right.

I blow out a breath, before pressing myself against him.

“I don’t think we should be talking about things that don’t matter right now,” I say, my voice dropping to a seductive purr.

In the darkness, I see Maximo’s eyes flash with desire. A pleasant thrill runs up my body as Maximo’s hands come down to squeeze my ass.

I have been on the edge ever since I met Leo. Thankfully, Maximo is here to take that edge away. My body aches for something, anything, and I can feel the hunger in my gut building as Maximo leans down to press his lips against mine.

There is nothing soft or slow about the kiss. It feels raw, almost savage, and completely hot. In one smooth motion, he pushes me back against the alley wall, pinning my hands above my head as his tongue sweeps inside my mouth.

He bites at my lower lip, drawing it into his teeth. I moan, arching into his touch. Maximo’s hands find my breasts through the thin cotton of my dress. They skim over my clothed breasts, sending a ripple of pleasure from my toes to the top of my skull.

People are walking by us on the road and sidewalk, but they don’t seem to know what is going on in the alleyway. For a moment, I imagine Leo standing by the edge of the alleyway, watching us. The thought sends a moan out of my lips from somewhere deep in my chest.

Maximo’s erection presses against my thigh as his other hand slides under my gown.

“Look how wet you are for me,” he drawls, slipping a finger inside me.

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