Page 7 of Forbidden Fruit

The door creaked open, and I peered through a small gap between the books. It was Alejandro, who I remembered from Sweet Cocktails as Maxwell’s right-hand man. He was scanning the room, his eyes sharp and calculating. For a moment, I thought he might have seen me, but then he turned away, moving to inspect something on the other side of the room.

My heart was pounding so hard I was afraid he would hear it. I had to get out of here before he found me. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t risk making a sound. I watched in terror as Alejandro moved about the room, seemingly oblivious to my presence.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned and left, closing the door behind him. I waited a few more seconds, just to be sure, before slipping out from behind the bookshelf. My hands were shaking as I carefully retraced my steps, making sure to leave no trace of my presence.

When I emerged back into the hallway, I took a moment to compose myself. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I knew I had been incredibly lucky, but I couldn’t let my guard down. I had to be more careful from now on.

As I made my way back to the terrace, I couldn’t help but reflect on what had just happened. I had uncovered something, but I wasn’t sure what it all meant yet. There were pieces of the puzzle, but they were still too scattered to form a clear picture. But one thing was certain—Maxwell was hiding something, and I was more determined than ever to find out what it was.

I rejoined Maxwell at the table, hoping he wouldn’t notice the change in my demeanor. As I sat down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was playing a dangerous game, one that could end very badly if I wasn’t careful. But despite the risks, I couldn’t walk away now. I was in too deep, and there was no turning back.

Chapter Four

MAXWELL

I stood on the terrace, watching Raya as she excused herself to use the bathroom, her figure retreating into the dimly lit house. The night was perfect, the kind of night that made you believe anything was possible. The canyon stretched out before me, a vast expanse of shadows and light, the infinity pool merging seamlessly with the horizon. The setting was ideal—luxurious, serene, and peaceful. I had crafted it that way, a reflection of the life I had made for myself out of the storm of my past. This estate was more than just a home; it was a fortress, a symbol of everything I had achieved and a testament to the power that lay within if one was only brave enough to wield it. The journey to get here hadn’t been easy. It had come at great risk, requiring enormous sacrifice and unwavering commitment. Now looking out over the canyon, I knew I should be proud of what I had accomplished. Not many men could do all that I have done, after all. And yet loneliness still pricked my heart like the thorns of a rosebush. Yes, I was living life on my terms, but at what cost did this freedom come if I had no one to share it with?

My thoughts drifted back to Raya, the woman who had so unexpectedly captivated my attention. She was unlike any other woman I had met—intelligent, sharp, and disarmingly beautiful. There was a fire in her eyes that intrigued me, a challenge that I found irresistible. She was more than just a pretty face; she was my equal in many ways. But there was something about her that felt...off. She was hiding something, that much was clear. It made her all the more captivating, but also dangerous.

When she returned to the terrace, the sun had dipped low, casting the last of its golden light over the canyon. The sky was deepening into twilight, the first stars beginning to twinkle overhead. Raya sat back down at the table, her movements graceful, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of curiosity and something else—something darker, more elusive.

“It’s a beautiful night,” I said, my voice low and deliberate. “I was thinking we could take the rest of the wine down to the pool. Maybe dip our feet into the water. What do you think?”

She hesitated for just a moment, a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, perhaps?—before she nodded, a small, almost shy smile playing on her lips. “That sounds nice.”

I poured us each another glass, then led the way down the stone steps toward the pool. The water was like a mirror, reflecting the darkening sky and the distant lights of the city beyond. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that heightened the senses, made every sound, every movement more pronounced.

Raya followed me to the edge of the pool, her heels clicking softly on the stone. She looked out at the water, then back at me, her dark eyes full of something I couldn’t quite place—anticipation, perhaps, or maybe a hint of challenge. I watched as she slowly undid the strap of her dress, letting it slip down her shoulders. She hesitated again, as if weighing the decision, before she allowed the dress to fall to the ground, revealing a lacy black bra and matching panties that clung to her curves.

I felt a surge of heat, desire mingling with the thrill of the unknown. She was a vision, standing there under the fading light, the lines of her tattoos winding up her arms like serpents. I unbuttoned my shirt, pulling it off and letting it drop beside her dress. Her eyes flicked over me, lingering on my chest, floating over my arms, as I undid my belt and let my pants fall to the ground.

We stepped into the pool together, the water cool against my heated skin. It was a strange contrast, the soothing chill of the water and the electric tension between us. I moved closer to her, my hands finding her waist, pulling her toward me. She didn’t resist, her body fitting perfectly against mine, the thin barrier of fabric between us doing little to dampen the heat that was building.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape, as I ran my hands down her back, tracing the lines of her tattoos. Her skin was smooth, warm, and I could feel the faintest shiver run through her as my fingers brushed the curve of her spine.

“Your tattoos,” I murmured, my lips close to her ear. “They’re intriguing. What’s the story behind them?”

She leaned back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, her gaze steady but guarded. “I’m from Texas,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of something more—a challenge, perhaps. “Where rattlesnakes lie hidden in the grass.”

Her words were layered with meaning, and I knew she wasn’t just talking about the tattoos. There was something deeper there, something she wasn’t ready to reveal. But that was fine. I had time. And I was willing to wait.

“Rattlesnakes, hmm?” I ran my hands up her sides, feeling the way her body responded to my touch. “I think there’s more to the story than that.”

“Maybe,” she said, her tone teasing, but there was a seriousness in her eyes, a reminder that she wasn’t just some toy for me to play with. She was sharp, dangerous in her own way, and I liked that.

I moved my hand to the back of her head, tangling my fingers in her hair, and pulled her closer, our lips inches apart. She didn’t pull away, her breath warm against my skin, her eyes locked on mine. The tension between us was thick, palpable, and I could feel her heart beating against my chest.

When I kissed her, it was slow, deliberate, a test to see how far she was willing to go. Her lips were soft, pliant, but there was a fierceness behind the kiss, a hunger that matched my own. I deepened the kiss, pulling her tighter against me, feeling the way her body pressed against mine, every curve fitting perfectly.

We moved together in the water, the coolness of the pool doing little to quench the heat between us. I could feel her hands on my back, her nails digging into my skin as I kissed her neck, trailing my lips down to her collarbone. She arched against me, a soft moan escaping her lips as I slid my hands under the waistband of her panties, pulling them down.

She reached for the clasp of her bra, her movements hurried, almost desperate, as she let it fall into the water, her bare skin pressing against mine. The sensation was intoxicating, her warmth, her softness, the way her breath hitched every time my hands moved over her skin.

We sank deeper into the water, our bodies entwined, moving together with a rhythm that was primal, instinctual. Every touch, every kiss, every gasp of breath was a step closer to the edge, a dance that we were both eager to lose ourselves in.

The water lapped gently against us, the only sound in the stillness of the night, as I slid my hands down her hips, lifting her slightly, guiding her legs around my waist. She wrapped them tightly around me, her nails digging into my shoulders as I pressed my hard cock into her, a low growl escaping my throat.

She gasped, her head falling back, exposing the long line of her neck. I kissed it, nipping at the skin, feeling her shudder against me. The pleasure was intense, almost overwhelming, the sensation of her body tightening around mine, the way she moved against me, meeting every thrust with equal fervor.

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