Page 69 of Maxim

“I miss her.”

“I know, you’ll see them soon enough. You have my word.”

When I hear laughter, I look over my shoulder. I watch as a couple draws closer and can’t help but tense.

“Easy…” Maxim murmurs.

I look over at him and see that he’s completely at ease.

Shit, have I been locked up for so long that just seeing others makes me think the worst?

She’s happy, and happiness looks beautiful on her. Olena’s always been attractive, but today it’s different. It’s like she’s sunshine personified, and I fucking love it.

I like her, and I shouldn’t. It’s fucked up on so many levels. The last thing I want is her developing feelings for me just because I saved her or because she feels like she has no other options. Shit, would it even be possible to turn this around where we started on such messed-up terms? Would she want that?

“This is delicious,” she mutters as she breaks off another piece of the bread.

Out of all the things I thought she would reach for first, I wouldn’t have picked that.

“Have you ever had that before?”

She shakes her head. “No, never.”

“If you like that, you will probably like pumpkin bread too. Especially when it comes with cream cheese frosting.”

She leans forward. “And where do we find that?”

I can’t help but laugh at the seriousness on her face. “I’m not sure. I think usually it’s a seasonal thing, but I can figure that out.”

“What should I try now?” she asks as she dusts the crumbs off her fingers.

“Do you like chocolate?”

“Is the sky blue?” she deadpans, making me laugh.

“Try that,” I say once I get myself under control.

She picks up the container of chocolatey goodness and pulls two out. Wordlessly she hands one to me. Instantly I bring it up to my mouth and take a bite. My eyes shut as the flavor hits me.

“Fuck yeah,” I mutter.

The first time I saw a brownie with frosting, I thought it would be overkill. Why take something that’s already delicious and risk fucking it up? Then I discovered brownies with Oreo filling for frosting and topped with crushed Oreos.

I’m a fucking whore for Oreos.

When I open my eyes, I find that she’s staring right at me with heat in her eyes.

Yep. The interest definitely isn’t one-sided, that’s for sure.

I clear my throat. “Are you going to try it or just hold it?”

Her eyes flutter shut as she takes a bite, and she makes a little noise as she chews.

I wonder if I could have her make that noise again…just with her clothes off.

I shake the dirty thought away. This isn’t the time or the place to be thinking with my dick.

“So, what do you think?” I rasp.

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