Maxwell was used to control. It was in his blood, his DNA. The firm hand he held over his business empire was the same hand he used to maneuver through life—distant, composed, and always calculated. But the moment Lily walked into his world, everything began to shift.
She was a force of nature, one that he hadn't expected, nor had he ever wanted to deal with. Her innocence was a sharp contrast to his sharp-edged world. Yet, the way she looked at him with those wide, unguarded eyes made him feel something he hadn't felt in years—something dangerous. It was as if she saw right through him, and despite every attempt to distance himself from her, she managed to break down his walls bit by bit.
Lily wasn't naive, but she was careful—too careful at times. She had worked hard to carve a place for herself in Maxwell's world, knowing how hard it would be for someone like her to fit in with a man like him. He was powerful, alluring, and made everyone around him feel small. But somehow, she felt she could handle him. She had to. After all, her life had been a constant game of proving herself, and she wasn't about to lose now.
Yet, there were moments, like today, when she could barely hold back from falling into him, from allowing herself to admit the undeniable chemistry between them.
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The day had been particularly chaotic. A series of back-to-back meetings had taken up every second of her time, and Lily was finally heading back to her office when she bumped into Maxwell in the hallway. She hadn't expected him to be there, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked in a shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that something had shifted between them.
Maxwell's deep voice broke the silence, sending a shiver down her spine. "We need to talk, Lily."
She tried to act calm, even though her heart was beating faster than usual. "About what?"
His eyes darkened, and his gaze swept over her with a predatory intensity that left her breathless. "I think you know."
Lily swallowed, trying to ignore the way his presence filled the room, making everything feel small and insignificant. "I'm not sure I do."
Maxwell smirked, his lips curling into something between amusement and challenge. "You're playing coy, but we both know there's more going on here than just business."
Her breath caught in her throat. He couldn't be serious, could he? The last thing she wanted was to acknowledge the growing attraction between them, the way she found herself lingering in his presence, or the heated glances that had become far too frequent.
"I don't know what you mean," Lily replied, her voice sounding more forced than she intended.
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing in on hers as if trying to read her thoughts. "You're not fooling anyone, least of all me." His fingers brushed against her arm, sending an electric jolt through her. It was a small touch, but it had a lasting impact, making her skin prickle with desire. She could feel the heat of his proximity, the magnetic pull of his body just inches from hers.
Her body betrayed her, leaning toward him despite her mind screaming for her to step back. She hated how easily she fell under his spell. "Maxwell…"
His name came out as a soft sigh, a whisper she didn't intend to make, but it escaped anyway. It was enough to make him lean in even closer, his breath tickling the shell of her ear. "I don't want to play games, Lily. We both know what's between us. You can deny it all you want, but it won't change the truth."
Lily's mind raced, trying to find a way to regain control of the situation. She wanted to walk away, to remove herself from the whirlwind of emotions he stirred in her. But his closeness, the way his body seemed to vibrate with energy, held her captive. It was dangerous. So dangerous. But there was something about him that she couldn't resist.
"Maxwell," she began again, her voice trembling. "You're my boss. We can't…"
He cut her off, his lips pressing gently to the side of her neck. The gesture was soft, tender even, but it sent a wave of heat through her body, causing her pulse to spike. "I don't care about the rules, Lily. Not when it comes to you."
Her breath hitched as his lips brushed against her skin again, the heat of his touch making her dizzy. She tried to push him away, but her body wouldn't obey. Her hand landed on his chest, but it didn't push him back—it just lingered there, feeling the solid, firm muscle beneath the tailored suit.
He looked down at her, his eyes burning with a possessive fire. "You want this just as much as I do. Don't pretend otherwise."
Lily's chest tightened. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and for once, she didn't want to fight it. Maxwell had a way of breaking her down, piece by piece, until there was nothing left but raw need.
The distance between them was gone in an instant, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was all-consuming. It wasn't gentle, and it wasn't slow. It was hungry and desperate, as if both of them had been holding back for too long, and now, there was nothing left to stop them.
Maxwell's hands roamed over her body, urgent, exploring, as if he needed to feel every inch of her. Lily's mind raced, her thoughts scattering, but all she could focus on was the sensation of his mouth on hers, his body pressed so close to hers that she could barely breathe.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were gasping for air. Maxwell's eyes were dark, predatory, while Lily felt a sense of exhilaration mixed with panic. "This can't happen," she whispered, even though every fiber of her being wanted it to.
Maxwell's hand cupped her face, his thumb grazing over her lower lip. "You're wrong," he said quietly, his voice low and almost possessive. "It already has."
Lily was torn. Every part of her wanted to resist, to remind him of the lines they had to draw, but it was hard to remember the rules when her body was screaming for him.
Maxwell leaned in once more, kissing her lightly on the lips before pulling back, his expression a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation. "We'll figure this out, Lily. But I'm not letting you walk away from me."
Her heart raced, her mind in a whirl. How could she walk away when she had already fallen so deep?