Page 40 of Secret Confession
Maximus turns to face me and grabs hold of my other hand, so each of his is holding one of mine. There’s a seriousness about his expression that makes my heart race and my stomach do tiny flips. Then his lips tilt into the sweet smile that he reserves just for me, and I melt into his touch.
Maximus pulls in a ragged breath, almost like he’s nervous. “I love you, Courtney. I love you and I’m never letting you go. I’m ready for the entire world to know about us.” His voice may be shaky, but every word is dripping with sincerity, and it makes me soar.
“You love me?” I repeat, sounding small and so full of hope.
I’m wondering if I heard him right—I’m hoping I did.
There should be no way a handsome, dangerous, sex god like Maximus Morelli could fall for a shy, innocent nobody like me. Yet he’s looking at me like I’m his entire world.
He pulls me closer to him before letting go of my hands, so he can place both of his on my cheeks. He lifts my head until I’m looking up at him through hooded lashes. His expression is completely open to me, letting me see the truth behind his words.
“I love you so fucking much, Courtney. I don’t know when it happened, but it did, and now I can’t imagine my life without you.” There’s no shaky voice this time. He means every single word.
“I love you, too.”
As soon as the words leave me, he slams his lips against mine, claiming me in a passionate kiss that I’m more than happy to return. He kisses me like it’s the only thing grounding him to this earth, and I know exactly how he feels.
As he pulls back, he keeps his forehead resting on mine, his breath fluttering over my cheeks as he says, “I never saw this coming, but I’m so fucking glad you came into my life. I can’t even remember what it was like before you, and I don’t want to.”
I can’t stop from smiling as I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him closer to me. “I’m the same. You make me feel safe, confident, happy, and loved. As much as I hated being stalked and threatened, I’m glad it led me to you.”
He pulls back just enough that I can see the wicked glint in his eyes. “Speaking of being stalked… We have some unfinished business, Little Lamb. You owe me that tight arse of yours. I’ll give you a ten second head start, but wherever I catch you, that’s where I’m fucking you.”
My breath hitches as my heart speeds up, the anticipation of the chase flooding adrenaline through my veins, making me feel electric. “Yes, Daddy. I want you to finally own all of me,” I tell him, squeezing one of his arse cheeks for emphasis.
His eyes narrow on me, and I watch as his emerald green colour darkens with lust, sending a shiver of need down my spine. “Run, Little Lamb. Daddy’s coming for you, and when I catch you, I’m going to ruin you.”
I press a quick to his lips, startling him, before I turn and run out of the room, my laughter tinkling behind me as anticipation propels me forward. I sprint as fast as I can in my dress, grateful I didn’t put my heels back on when Marcus walked in on us.
I hear Maximus’ deep voice echoing behind me. “Times up, Little Lamb. I’m coming for you.”
Even though I’m pushing to run as hard as I can, it’s only to indulge in the thrill of the chase. I’ve never wanted to be captured more in my whole life.
Maximus already owns my heart, and I can’t want to give him the rest of me, safe in the knowledge that he’ll treasure it. I have no doubt that Maximus will love me and keep me safe for as long as I’ll let him, and I don’t plan on ever letting him go.
“If you keep pacing, you’ll wear a hole in my expensive rug,” Maximus jokes, pointing at the patch of carpet I’ve been walking up and down for the last ten minutes.
My nerves are getting the better of me, and I can hardly stay still. I’ve picked at the skin around my fingers until they’re close to bleeding, and the only reason I’m not still doing it is because Maximus told me he’d spank me so hard I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week if I carried on hurting myself.
So instead, I’ve taken to pacing in what I’m now sure is a failed attempt at keeping my nerves under control.
It’s been exactly two weeks since Marcus walked in on his dad licking my pussy on the dining room table, and now the timer he set for me is up. I’ve spent the last fourteen days trying to come up with the best way to tell Miles about me and Maximus, and I still have nothing.
I have mentally run over so many scenarios, it actually feels like I’ve already told him. When in reality, he’s walking around blissfully unaware I’m hiding such a big secret.
In the end, Maximus took control and invited Miles round to talk. He said he needed to have a meeting with him about a work-related issue, which was enough to get Miles here on his own. After that, it’s allon me.
Maximus offered to be the one to tell Miles, and as grateful as I am for that, it has to be me—I owe Miles that much. He’s more than just my brother. He’s been like a father to me, and a best friend, too. I owe him much more honesty than I’ve given him over the last few months.
I know he’ll be mad. I just hope he can see how happy I am and forgive me.
There’s a knock on the office door, and I freeze. Maximus is leaning back in his office chair, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world, with a lazy smirk on his face as he watches my every movement.
“Come in,” he shouts, and Mrs Branch opens the door.
“Miles is here to see you, Mr Morelli,” she replies politely, using the professional tone she only has when we have visitors.
Miles pushes into the room, pausing when he sees me. He looks confused as his gaze rakes over me, no doubt checking to make sure I’m okay, as he didn’t expect to see me here.
