Mihai
MIHAI
T he room is pitch-black except for a sliver of moonlight slicing through the blinds, just enough to cast faint shadows across the bed. Maddy is lying with her back turned toward me, and every nerve in my body is on edge.
I can hear the soft, steady sound of her breathing, feel the warmth radiating from her side of the bed. My mind’s a mess. Every instinct is screaming at me to close this maddening distance and just take what I want.
But I keep reminding myself that she’s here for safety and protection. I can’t let this go somewhere it shouldn’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t.
But damn, it’s hard.
And fuck, so am I.
I’m supposed to be the king of control. I’ve built myself on that. I’ve survived insane situations, kept my cool when everything around me was falling apart, but this… just lying next to her… is testing every shred of discipline I’ve got left.
I close my eyes, trying to breathe deeply, to ground myself. Her scent isn’t helping. Strawberries. Of course, it’s fucking strawberries. Sweet, fresh, and damn near intoxicating. It’s clinging to her hair, and it’s all I can smell. I try not to think about how soft her hair is, how it would feel to run my fingers through it again.
Stop. Just fucking stop. She’s lying right next to you. And if you’re not careful, you’ll ruin whatever trust she’s finally given you.
She’s been through hell, and I’m over here thinking about… shit, I can’t even admit it to myself. I squeeze my eyes shut, gritting my teeth, trying to tune out the feel of her warmth, the way her scent fills the space between us, pulling me closer in a way I haven’t felt before.
Then I feel the bed shift slightly, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her turning onto her back with her face tilted up toward the ceiling.
Now it’s even worse than before. Which God did I piss off in my past life?
I’m trying hard not to look, not to let my gaze drift over her, but it’s impossible. She’s right there, her hair spread out on the pillow, her skin catching the faint glow from the moonlight through the blinds.
My fingers curl into the sheets, and I let out a slow breath, fighting off the thoughts that threaten to run wild. I turn my head just a bit, and I can see the way her lashes rest against her cheeks, the faint rise and fall of her chest.
My gaze drops to her lips, and that’s my first mistake. They’re soft, parted just slightly, and the memory of her laughter, her voice, is enough to make me want to taste them.
I’m fighting a losing battle even as I look away. I know I am, but I don’t care. I’m too far gone.
Focus, . Just focus.
I fucking can’t. The tension is coiling tighter and tighter, winding up inside me until I’m certain I’m going to snap. And then, barely a whisper, I hear it.
“,”
My name on her lips is my undoing.
I turn my head toward her, and she’s looking at me now, her big brown eyes catching mine in the dim light. There’s something in her expression—uncertainty, maybe curiosity—but it’s enough to light me up from the inside out.
The words slip out before I can stop them.
“Fuck it.”
And then I’m moving, rolling onto my side, my hand reaching out to cup her cheek. Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t pull away, doesn’t flinch. I lean in, and the second my lips meet hers, it’s like the world tilts on its axis.
Her lips are soft against mine and she lets out the faintest gasp against my mouth, her hand coming up to grip my wrist. I kiss her gently at first, testing, waiting for any sign that she doesn’t want this.
But she doesn’t push me away. Instead, she leans into me, her lips parting slightly, and I take that as all the permission I need.
The kiss deepens, and my control slips further. I pull her closer, my hand sliding to the back of her neck, tilting her head so I can kiss her properly. She moans into my mouth and I swallow that sound like I’ve been starved for it.
She’s so fucking soft, all curves and warmth, and she fits against me like she was made to be in my arms. There’s nothing delicate or fragile about her, not in the way she feels. She’s real—something I can hold onto, something I want to hold onto. The way her curves press against me —plush, feminine, perfect— it drives me insane.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing heavily, her face flushed, her eyes searching mine. I rest my forehead against hers, trying to gather my thoughts, trying to rein in the chaos she’s just unleashed.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” I say finally, my voice low and rough. But even as I say it, I don’t regret it. Not one fucking bit.
She shakes her head, and her lips twitch into the faintest smile. “I’m glad you did.”
That’s it. That’s all it takes to completely wreck me.
My lips are on hers again and her hand comes up, tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. I deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of tension, every unspoken word into it.
It’s intense, and I’m not holding back anymore. I can feel her relax with every caress of my tongue against hers, her fingers tracing along the back of my neck, and it drives me fucking wild.
My hand tightens on her waist, and it’s like she was shaped to fit there, the curve of her body filling my palms in a way that makes me want to pull her even closer.
I pull back, breathless, I see the look in her eyes—surprise, and fucking need.
“Maddy,” I murmur, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “If this is too much, if you want me to stop…”
She just shakes her head, her eyes bright and focused on me. “Don’t stop.”
I can’t fucking help but kiss her again, deeper this time, letting myself drown in the warmth, the softness of her. Everything else falls away, and for once, I’m not thinking about anything but her.
My fingers trail down her hips, possessive and light, her body soft in all the places my hard edges crave. I knew from the first time I saw her that her silence would be mine to break and no one else’s.
I break off the kiss, trailing my lips to her neck while my hand slips down her soft body.
And fuck, the way she responds to me—it’s enough to undo me. Every soft moan, every slight press of her hips against mine, it’s like she’s pulling me under, and I don’t want to come back up for air.
“,” she says my name again, and my cock fucking throbs.
“The way you say my name… Fuck, I could get addicted to that real quick,” I murmur, pulling back and peering down at her. “Speak, sing, whisper—I want every fucking sound.”
I watch as she swallows hard, her eyes flicking up to meet mine, and I can see the challenge there, that fire that’s always been in her.
“And what if I don’t say it? What will you do then?”
My hand grips her waist, pulling her just a little closer, daring her to keep me waiting. “I’ll make you scream it again.”
Her breath hitches, and she looks up at me, eyes wide but playful. “I didn’t know you were that possessive about my voice.”
I lean down, my breath brushing against her ear. “When it comes to you? I’m worse than you think, Little Rebel.”
I pull back just enough to see her face, her flushed cheeks, her lips swollen from the kiss. Her chest rises and falls quickly, her breath matching the rhythm of mine, and it takes everything in me not to dive back in.
Instead, I let my fingers trace slow, lazy circles on her waist, grounding myself in the warmth of her skin.
“I’ve wanted you since the day at the creek,” I admit, my voice low, raw. “Maybe even before that. But I didn’t want to scare you off.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and then she grins, that playful spark lighting up her face. “Scare me off? I may seem like it now, but I’m not fragile, .”
Her confidence catches me off guard, and I can’t help but laugh, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. “You think so, huh?”
“Think so?” she teases, her grin widening. “I know so.”
But then her smile falters, the light in her eyes dimming as something else takes over. Her gaze drifts to the side, like she’s pulling away from me even while still lying in my arms. I frown, my thumb brushing against her side.
“Maddy,” I say softly, coaxing her back. “What is it?”
She hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip before finally meeting my eyes. “I don’t belong in your world, . You know that.”
Her words tighten like a vice around my heart, but I don’t let it show. I tilt her chin up gently, making sure she’s looking at me.
“Then I’ll make space for you in it.”
Her lips part, her eyes searching mine like she’s trying to figure out if I mean it. I lean closer, brushing my nose against hers, letting her feel the truth in my touch.
“You don’t have to fit into anything, Maddy. I’ll make sure there’s room for you exactly as you are.”
She swallows hard, her hands sliding up to rest on my chest, and I can feel the tremble in her fingers. “You say that now, but what about later? What happens when your world demands something I can’t give? Wouldn’t Sofia be a better option since she grew up knowing what to expect from this life?”
“I don’t give a fuck what my world demands,” I say, my tone sharper than I intend. “I’ve spent my whole life doing what’s expected of me, following the rules, playing the game. But you…” I pause, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You make me want something more than what my legacy demands. And no, Sofia is not a better option, because she’s not you.”
Her eyes well up slightly, and I can see the battle playing out inside her—hope warring with doubt. She blinks quickly, banishing the tears, but I don’t miss them. I won’t let her go back to hiding from me, not now.
“You’re too good at this,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “At making me believe it’s possible.”
I smirk, leaning in to brush my lips against hers. “That’s because it is, Little Rebel.”
She shivers at the nickname, her fingers curling into my hair as she pulls me closer. “You’re impossible,” she murmurs, but there’s no bite in her words—only softness, only surrender.
“And you’re mine,” I counter, my voice low, possessive. “Whether you realize it yet or not.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, letting myself linger there for a moment, breathing her in, letting the strawberry scent of her shampoo fill every corner of my mind. I’m not giving this up, not when she’s made me feel alive for the first time in years.
I just need to get us out of immediate danger first.