Page 26 of Maximum
I shifted my body and blinked my eyes fast. “Are you saying that you grew up in a cult?”
“Yes. I didn’t know it at the time. In fact, we used to laugh when outsiders sometimes accused our large and unusual family of being a cult. We thought that was ridiculous, but the truth is that I only barely escaped with my life that night. Charles and Liv saved us by calling the police. Later, in the aftermath of the tragedy they adopted the five surviving teens, including myself.”
“Wait, does that mean River was in the cult too?”
“Yes. Lumi, River, and Nathan were brought into the cult, while Atlas and I were born into it as the biological sons of Conor and our mother Ciara.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Maximum was already touching my hand but now I squeezed his with a look of empathy.
“My brother married Jolene, who is a psychologist, and apparently his blood relationship with our father didn’t stop her from having a child with him, but I still thought you should know.”
“Is it genetic?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What made your father the way he was?”
“His twisted brain, I suppose.”
“Did you ever talk to your grandparents to understand how he grew up and where he got it from? Did he have any siblings?”
“I don’t know. I’ve wanted nothing to do with my father, so I’ve never searched out information like that, and growing up, I never met any of my parents’ family members. Maybe Atlas would know. He was always eager to find answers.”
“I’m a bit shocked, really. You seem so normal…” I trailed off and tilted my head. “Although I do sense a heavy energy around you sometimes.”
Still holding on to my hand, Maximum kept silent.
“It’s weird, but you’re not the first person I’ve met who’s been in a cult. There’s a man here in South Africa that once came to one of my weekend courses. He used to be a cult leader.”
“You’ve met a cult leader?” There was an edge to his voice.
“A former cult leader,” I clarified. “Now Anthony writes books and teaches meditation. He doesn’t live far from the park we’re going to. He’s actually incredibly kind and wise.”
“He admitted to you that he was a cult leader?”
“Yes, he’s American and hyper-spiritual, but apparently his cult dissolved before it got as far as the cult you grew up in.”
Maximum looked thoughtful. “Hmm. Cults rarely end peacefully.” He yawned and squeezed my hand. “We should get some more sleep but think about what I said. I like you, Fleur, and I’d love for us to kiss some more.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Maximum beat me to it. “Don’t tell me I’m too young. I’m not a fucking teenager. I’m a fully grown man and now that you know I didn’t have a traditional upbringing you’ll understand that I aged ten years in a few days when my parents and almost everyone I considered family died.”
“You really don’t know me, Maximum. We’ve only met a few times.”
Pulling my hand to him, he kissed my knuckles. “Trust me when I say that I felt an instant connection to you. Our kiss at the gallery today wasn’t just about sending Pierre a message. I kissed you because I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first time I met you.”
“How do I know you don’t say that to every woman you meet? You could be a player for all I know.”
“I’m not!” His words came out fast and resolute.
When he yawned again, I automatically yawned with him. “By the way, I should thank you for helping me deal with Pierre tonight. He would have been more persistent if you hadn’t been there, so thank you.”
“Any time.” He closed his eyes, but muttered, “Why do I get the sense that you don’t take my interest in you very seriously?”
Arranging my pillow, I answered, “It’s nothing personal. I just avoid male attention altogether. Let’s get some sleep, and thank you for taking the time to talk with me.”
“Did it help?”
“Hmm… it gave me new questions to consider.”
“Like what you should name our children?” Maximum moved back to lie on his side.
His words released an instant rush of adrenaline and made me softly swat his shoulder. “Don’t say that.”
Maximum pulled the cover a little higher and hid a large yawn before speaking on his exhalation. “If you don’t want to make a baby then I might as well go back to sleep.”
I knew he couldn’t be serious, but watching this large, handsome, and probably very virile man next to me was stirring up dreams from a closed chapter of my life better left forgotten.
