Lily couldn't deny the intensity of the atmosphere that hung in the air as Maxwell and she left his family's mansion. The evening had been a carefully orchestrated display of politeness and unspoken judgments. Every word that was said felt like it was wrapped in layers of meaning, every glance shared between Maxwell's family members and her full of unspoken messages.
It was becoming painfully clear that no matter how much Maxwell tried to distance himself from his family's control, they would always be there, watching, waiting for him to slip. And she could see it on his face as he shut the door behind them and locked it with a sigh.
"You didn't have to do that, you know?" Maxwell said, his voice tight. He leaned against the door, running his hand through his hair in frustration. "I didn't want you to get caught up in all of that. It was too much."
Lily stepped closer to him, her heart aching at the weariness in his voice. She could see how deeply it had affected him. "Maxwell, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here with you, through all of it. You don't have to go through this alone."
Maxwell shook his head, a conflicted look crossing his features. "I should have warned you about how they are. They have this… way of making you feel small, like you're never enough."
Lily reached out, touching his arm gently, trying to offer some comfort. "You are enough. And I'm not going to let them make you feel otherwise."
He glanced at her, his gaze softening for a moment before the darkness returned. "You don't understand, Lily. They want me to be someone I'm not, to be part of something I don't believe in. And no matter what I do, they will never accept me for who I am. I can't keep pretending I'm someone I'm not, not even for them."
The pain in his voice was palpable, and Lily felt her heart break for him. She wanted to make it better, to take the weight off his shoulders. But she knew that this was a battle he had to fight on his own, no matter how much she wanted to help.
Maxwell moved toward the window, his back to her, staring out at the city below. The silence between them grew heavy, filled only by the sound of his breathing. Lily could feel the tension between them, thick and almost suffocating.
"Maybe it's time to let go of them," Lily suggested softly, the words escaping her before she could stop them. "If they're only causing you pain, why keep holding on?"
Maxwell's shoulders tensed at her words. "I can't just sever ties with my family. It's not that simple. But…" His voice trailed off as he turned to face her, his eyes searching hers. "I just don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
There was a deep vulnerability in his gaze, one that made Lily's chest tighten. She could see the struggle in his eyes, the battle between love and obligation. But more than that, she could sense something else—a desire that had been growing between them, one that neither of them could ignore any longer.
The space between them seemed to shrink with every passing second. Maxwell's eyes darkened, his lips parting as if he was about to say something. But Lily couldn't wait any longer. The tension had been building between them for weeks, and now it felt like an electric charge was crackling in the air, waiting to explode.
Before she even realized what she was doing, she took a step forward and closed the distance between them. Her hand reached out, gently cupping his face as she stood on her tiptoes, her heart hammering in her chest.
Maxwell's breath hitched, his hands instinctively reaching for her waist as he pulled her closer. His lips met hers in a kiss that was both tender and desperate, as if they had both been waiting for this moment but had been too afraid to give in.
The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent as their bodies pressed together, the heat between them undeniable. Lily felt her body respond to his, every nerve in her being awakened by the contact. She had been fighting this—fighting the temptation to cross the line, to give in to the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long. But now, she couldn't resist. She didn't want to resist anymore.
Maxwell's hands slid under her blouse, his touch sending shivers down her spine as he pulled her even closer. She gasped against his lips as he lifted her up, carrying her effortlessly to the couch. The moment they were seated, his lips moved from hers to her neck, his breath hot against her skin.
Lily closed her eyes, leaning back as she let the sensations wash over her. The feel of his body against hers, the way he touched her with such intensity—it was all consuming. But even as she lost herself in the moment, a part of her was still holding back, unsure of how far they were willing to go.
"Maxwell," she breathed, her voice shaky with desire. "Are we doing the right thing?"
He pulled back slightly, his eyes dark and full of need as he looked at her. "I don't care about right or wrong right now, Lily," he said, his voice low and husky. "I just care about this… about you."
His words sent a thrill through her, and before she could stop herself, she kissed him again, harder this time. Her hands tugged at his shirt, desperate to feel the warmth of his skin. Maxwell responded eagerly, his hands roaming over her body as if he couldn't get enough of her.
For a moment, the world outside of the penthouse disappeared. There was only the feel of their bodies pressed together, the heat of their skin, and the urgency that surged between them. Everything else—the family drama, the pressure of his legacy, the outside world—faded into the background.
But even as their passion ignited, Lily couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that this might be a mistake. Their emotions were raw, their desires burning hot, but what would happen after this? Could they truly separate their physical connection from the emotional complexity that came with it?
Maxwell pulled away just slightly, his forehead resting against hers as he tried to catch his breath. "Lily," he whispered, his voice thick with desire. "Are you sure about this?"
She looked into his eyes, searching for the answer that she wasn't sure she could find. But in that moment, all she knew was that she wanted him. Wanted this.
"I'm sure," she said, her voice steady. "I'm not holding back anymore."
And with that, all the walls between them came crashing down.