Maximo's POV

The silence that hangs between us after that moment is heavy, thick with everything we've said—and everything we haven't said. I can feel the weight of his body against mine, warm and solid, like he's trying to convince me that he's not going anywhere. But I don't need convincing. Not anymore.

I'm more than sure of what I want now. I want him. Kai. And not just for tonight. Not just for a fleeting moment. I want every part of him, every inch of his body, his mind, his heart. Even if he's still figuring it out. Even if he's not ready to admit what I already know—we belong together.

I move slightly, my arm tightening around his waist, pulling him closer. His body responds without hesitation, his hand sliding to my chest like it's meant to be there. I feel his fingers brush against my skin, sending sparks of desire through me. But I have to hold back, just for a little while. I can't rush this. Not with him.

I can't show him just how badly I need him yet.

Not yet.

I glance down at him, finding him staring up at me with those damn eyes of his. It's like he's trying to see through me, trying to understand what's going on in my head. Maybe he is. Maybe he's just as confused as I am.

But one thing is clear: He's not pushing me away. Not like before.

"Max..." He says my name, and it feels different this time. Like he's testing it out. We're both still figuring out what this is between us, but I can feel his acceptance, his willingness to go further.

"Yeah?" I respond, keeping my voice steady, trying to sound casual even though I'm anything but.

"I... I don't know what this is between us," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. But I hear the uncertainty there. "But I'm not running from it."

Not running.

I hear it clearly. And for the first time, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. His words settle deep in my chest, and I realize just how much I needed to hear them. But I don't let him see how much it affects me. I can't. I won't show him that side of me just yet.

I lean down, kissing him softly but with a sense of urgency that's been building between us ever since that first touch. The kiss is slow, deliberate, like we're savoring it, feeling each other out. His lips part slightly, and I take that as my cue to slide my tongue into his mouth, tasting him again, feeling the heat of his body as it presses against mine.

And damn, he feels so good. So right.

I pull back just enough to look at him, my hand sliding down to his waist, feeling the muscles beneath his skin. He's tense, but it's not from fear anymore. It's from the hunger building between us. The need to explore, to discover just how far this can go.

I can't stop myself. Not when I've wanted this for so long. Not when I can feel his breath hitch every time I move, every time I touch him.

"You're so damn tempting, Kai." The words come out of me before I can stop them, my voice husky with desire.

He doesn't say anything, but I see the flicker of something in his eyes—a mixture of surprise and something deeper, something darker, something that matches the craving I feel.

His hand moves lower, tracing the line of my abdomen, and I suck in a sharp breath, feeling every inch of his touch. His fingers brush the waistband of my pants, and before I know it, he's pulling me closer, urging me to take the next step.

He wants this.

No, not just that. He needs it. He needs me, just like I need him.

I shift, positioning myself between his legs again, our bodies pressed so close I can feel the heat radiating off of him. His hands grasp at me, urging me to take the lead, to make the next move. And damn, I'm ready.

I glance at him, meeting his eyes, and there's a certain understanding there. Something that tells me we both know what's about to happen.

"You want this, right?" I ask, my voice a low growl, my hands roaming over his body, testing the waters.

He nods, his lips parting as he breathes out, "Yeah... I do."

That's all the answer I need.

I kiss him again, harder this time, my hands pulling at his pants, discarding them in one swift motion. His body moves with mine, matching my every action. His skin is so soft, so perfect against mine, and I can't get enough of him.

His body arches slightly as I begin to move, pushing him into the sheets with each thrust. The sounds of our bodies connecting, the soft moans, the breathless gasps—it's all I need. It's all I've wanted.

My mind is barely hanging on, and all I can think about is him—Kai. The way he feels beneath me, the way he's moving, matching each thrust with his own hunger, his own need. His body is soft yet firm, and every inch of him is like a siren call I can't ignore.

His hand moves to my chest, nails lightly scratching my skin, sending sparks of electricity through my veins. "Max..." His voice is raw, rough, and it does something to me. It makes me want to dominate him even more, make him forget everything else except me.

"Kai..." I rasp, my lips hovering over his as I continue to move, pushing him deeper into the bed, making sure every part of him feels me. "I may be the luckiest man on right right now ..." I whisper, my voice filled with desire, but there's something else—something possessive. He's mine.

His fingers dig into my skin, and I know he can feel it too. The shift. The way this has turned from something casual, something we didn't talk about, into something far more consuming, more intense.

"Don't stop, Max..." His voice is a breathless plea, and when I hear it, it makes me want to lose myself completely in him. But I force myself to stay in control, just for a little longer.

I pull back slightly, looking down at him. His eyes are clouded with desire, but there's that spark of uncertainty again—he's still processing what this means. But I see the way his body responds, the way he leans into me as if he can't get enough of me.

I kiss him hard, claiming his mouth, my tongue demanding his, and when I feel him shiver beneath me, I can't help but smile. I'm the one who makes him feel this way.

I break the kiss, my voice low but commanding. "You like this, don't you?" I ask, my hand moving down to his waist, my fingers gripping him tight.

He nods, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "Yes... I do..." His words are almost a whisper, but I hear the raw truth in them.

"Say my name, Kai." I demand, my voice rough with need. I want to hear him say it, want to feel him surrender to me completely.

"Max..." His voice is soft but filled with a tremor of want.

God, that does something to me.

I push him deeper into the bed, the sound of our bodies meeting filling the room, mixing with the sounds of his soft moans and my own ragged breathing. The tension between us builds, and I can feel him starting to unravel. I know he's close, and I don't want to slow down now. I don't want him to hold back.

"Come on, Kai. Let go." My hand moves to his jaw, tilting his face up to meet mine. I want him to look at me, to see the intensity in my eyes as I take him, as I make him mine.

"Max..." His voice cracks, his body tensing, and I know that he's just a breath away from falling apart. And when he does, I'll be right there with him, claiming every part of him.

The world around us fades. There's nothing but the two of us—the way we fit together, the way our bodies move in sync. It's like we were always meant to be this way. It's the kind of connection I've never had before, and I know he feels it too.

"I need you, Max..." Kai breathes out, his hands gripping my back, pulling me closer. It's like he's trying to mold himself to me, desperate to keep me there, to keep me from pulling away.

And I won't. I won't ever pull away.

I move faster, pushing him closer to the edge, and his moans get louder. His name slips from my lips like a prayer, and it feels like the world is closing in on us. There's nothing else, no past, no future—just this moment.

"Kai..." I groan, losing control as the pleasure builds inside me. "I'm going to—"

He cuts me off with a strangled cry of my name, his body jerking beneath mine as he releases, his grip tightening on me as he holds on to the last shred of control he has left.

That's it. That's all it takes. The sound of his voice, the way his body convulses beneath me, the way he's losing himself to me—I lose myself too.

I follow him into that abyss, my body shuddering as I release inside him, the pleasure so intense that I can barely keep my breath steady. My name falls from his lips, and I feel it deep inside my chest—like a mark, like a claim. I'm not just here in his body; I'm here in his soul.

For a few moments, there's nothing but the sound of our heavy breathing, the quiet aftermath of our connection.

I stay where I am, my body draped over his, both of us trying to catch our breath. My mind is spinning, but one thing is clear: This is just the beginning. We're not finished yet. I won't let it be over.

I pull back slightly, looking at him, and I see that look in his eyes again—the same mix of uncertainty and something deeper, something that tells me he's feeling this too.

"You okay?" I whisper, brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. I can see how vulnerable he is now, the mask he's always kept up slipping for just a moment.

He nods, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, Max. I'm good."

I kiss his forehead softly, my lips lingering for just a second longer than usual. "Good. Because this..." I pause, holding him closer. "This isn't over, Kai. Not by a long shot."