Max stepped out of the car, arms still crossed, pretending like she wasn't secretly freaking the hell out.

  Because, holy shit.

  This wasn't just some random hole-in-the-wall space. It wasn't some sad, run-down dump that Alex picked up for cheap.

  It erfect.

  A prime spot on a lively Brooklyn street... busy enough for foot traffic, but not tourist-ied. Big windows. A cssic brick storefront with a sleek, but cozy feel. And above the door? A sign.

  It wasn't fully ized yet; it was just a bnk ste waiting for its future name.

  But it was hers.

  Or at least, it could be.

  Max refused to let her jaw drop. Instead, she turned slowly to face Alex, arms still folded like she wasn't about to vibrate out of her own skin.

  "...Okay," she said slowly. "You win. I'm impressed."

  Alex smirked, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "That was never iion."

  Max squi him. "Wow. Humble much?"

  Alex chuckled, gesturing toward the door. "Wanna see inside, or are you too busy pretending not to be excited?"

  Max huffed, but her feet were already moving toward the entrance. "Shut up, Moneybags."

  [Ihe Bakery]

  Alex switched on the lights.

  The moment Max stepped inside, she knew.

  This was it.

  The space was bright, open, and already partially furnished. A geous kit setup in the back, brand-new ovens, and these were bigger than the ones she and Caroline bought, marble tertops, and enough ste for actual bulk ingredients instead of whatever fit under her apartment sink. Then there was that big freezer.

  The front had space for seating, an ter, and a freaking dispy case. The kind where she could actually show off her work, instead of shoving cupcakes into a pstitainer and hoping people noticed.

  Max exhaled sharply, running a hand over one of the pristine ters. "Jesus Christ..."

  Alex leaned against the doorway, watg her with that infuriatingly smug expression. "Good enough for you?"

  Max turned, gring. "Okay, seriously. Who the hell are you?" She gestured around dramatically. "Because this? This is -level rom- billionaire bullshit. Normal rich guys don't do this. Normal rich guys throw mo things and disappear. This is suspicious."

  Alex smirked, stepping toward her. "Suspicious?"

  Max jabbed a fi his chest. "Yes. Suspicious. Because if this is some weird forepy tactic, like, 'oh no, I bought you a bakery, guess you have to marry me now', then I swear to God..."

  Alex tilted his head, clearly eained. "Marry you?"

  Max groaned. "DON'T."

  Alex chuckled, leaning closer just slightly. "Rex, Be proposal. tracts. Just as I said before, it's a business deal. I guess you are not a very trusting person and that I respect."

  Max squinted. "A business deal that involves a foot massage?"

  Alex smirked. "I stand by my offer."

  Max threw her hands up. "WHY?"

  Alex's eyes glinted with something sharp, something undeniably amused. "Because, Max… you're very fun to mess with."

  Max opened her mouth. Closed it. Ope again.

  Because what the fuck.

  And then—oh. OH.

  Her brain caught up with what was happening.

  This wasn't just about the bakery.

  This wasn't just about the deal.

  This ower py.

  A dangerous, ridiculously hot, pletely unspoken game of chi.

  And Alex Wilson?

  He was waiting for her to flinch. He did that back at the orphanage before and in Max's mind, he was doing it again.

  Max narrowed her eyes, rolling her shoulders back. "Okay. Fine. You y this game? Let's py." She was never oo back down from a challenge. Especially wheakes involved a dangerously hot man and a nice massage.

  So, naturally, she did the only reasohing.

  She hopped up onto the marble tertop, swinging one leg over the other, the hem of her dress sliding up just enough to be distrag.

  Then—oh yeah, she smirked.

  "Alright, Moneybags," she drawled, extending her leg toward him, her high heel dangling off the tip of her toes. "Let's see if you're all talk."

  Alex smirked. "Thought you'd never ask."

  A flicker of amusement. A slow, measured g her outstretched leg.

  He didn't hesitate.

  He stepped closer. His eyes looked as if staring into her soul, like a devil, listening to her ihoughts.

  Then, ever so slowly, he traced his fingers up the length of her calf.

  Max inhaled sharply.

  'Holy. Shit.'

  His touch was light, deliberate. Not rushed. Not hesitant. Just infuriatingly smooth, like he had all the time in the world.

  His fiips skimmed over the sensitive skin behind her knee, makiomach tighten in ways she wasn't prepared for.

  "You sure about this, Bck?" Alex murmured, his voice a low, dangerous hum.

  Max swallowed. Her heart was hammering.

  But there was no way in hell she was bag down now.

  "Shut up and rub, Wilson," she shot back, arg an eyebrow.

  Alex smirked.

  And then?

  He hooked one finger beh the strap of her high heel and slowly slid it off her foot.

  Max had to physically restrain the shudder that rolled down her spine.

  Oh.

  Oh, she was in trouble.

  His hands weren't just good, they were lethal.

  Strong fingers kneading into the arch of her foot, w their with pressure so perfect it was almost cruel.

  He pressed his thumb into just the right spot, rolling circles into her sole, easing away tension she hadn't even realized she was carrying.

  Max bit her lip.

  A mistake.

  Because Alex noticed.

  His smirk deepened, his grip tightening slightly as he dragged his knuckles along the side of her foot before trag back up to her calf.

  "Feel good?" he murmured.

  Max exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

  "Shut up."

  Alex chuckled.

  And then?

  He went deeper.

  His hands glided up her leg, massaging her calf, his fingers pressing just hard enough to make her toes curl.

  The warmth of his skin against hers sent a slow, zy heat pooling i of her stomach.

  Her head tilted back slightly.

  Her pulse thundered.

  Holy.

  Fug.

  Shit.

  The bastard kly what he was doing.

  Max sucked in a sharp breath, fighting the full-body shiver that threateo expose her.

  She refused to moan.

  She refused.

  But then—

  His hands slid higher.

  Right up to the sensitive crease behind her knee, fiips grazing, teasing, taking their sweet, agonizing time.

  And Max?

  Yeah.

  She was gone.

  A tiny, pletely traitorous sound slipped out... half gasp, half moan.

  Her eyes snapped open immediately.

  Alex froze.

  Oh.

  Oh, no.

  He heard it.

  Max was not moaning.

  She was absolutely not moaning.

  She was just... breathing very, very intensely.

  (Like, sure, her body had just betrayed her in the most humiliating ossible, but that was beside the point.)

  Alex's smirk ure sin.

  Slow. Knowing. Deadly.

  "Was that..." He tilted his head, voice dangerously low.

  "...a moan?"

  Max's brain short-circuited. "Nope. hat didn't happen."

  Alex hummed, his fingers still trag slow, wicked circles against the soft skin behind her knee.

  "So... if I keep going, you won't make that sound again?"

  Max swallowed hard.

  Her pride screamed at her to say yes. To end this ridiculous, deeply unfair game before she lost all trol.

  But her body?

  Her body was begging for him to keep going.

  Alex waited.

  Patient. Teasing. Amused.

  "Do you wao stop, Max?"

  Her breath hitched.

  Her skin burned.

  And before she could even think, before she could filter herself, she blurted out—

  "Hell. No."

  And oh, that was a mistake. Max tried to hide her smile and she was blushing.

  Because the sed those words left her lips, Alex's hands went deeper.

  His grip tightened, his fingers kneading into her calf with just the right amount of force.

  Max's thighs ched.

  Her back arched slightly.

  And then?

  Her mi bnk and she had a mini asm.

  A full-body, untrolble, mortifying wave of pleasure that hit her like a goddam train.

  Her breath stuttered.

  Her stomach tightened.

  And worst of all?

  Alex. Fug. Knew.

  His smirk turned ravenous.

  "Max..." His voice was silk and smoke and absolute destru.

  "Did you just—"

  Max panicked.

  Her body moved before her brain could catch up.

  She unched off the ter...

  Grabbed his colr...

  And kissed him.

  Hard.

  Fuck.

  Alex let out a surprised grunt as she crashed into him, fiwisting in his shirt, her lips fierce, frantic, reckless.

  It was supposed to be a simple foot massage and teasing.

  But the sed their lips met, it was over.

  Because Alex kissed her back.

  Not just kissed her.

  Owned her.

  His hands gripped her waist, pulled her flush against him, and oh—oh—

  Heat exploded in her veins.

  His mouth was rough, demanding, relentless.

  And Max?

  She was losing herself. She opened her mouth more, allowing his too dah hers, his teeth to nip at her bottom lip. She gasped into his mouth as his hands slid up to cup her face, deepening the kiss further. He tasted so good, like something spid warm. Her body was on fire, craving his touch everywhere.

  Her nails dug into his chest, her body pressing way too close, pletely fetting where they were, who they were, what they were supposed to be doing...

  Until suddenly...

  She pulled back.

  Panting.

  Heart smming against her ribs.

  Her lips tingled.

  Her fingers were still gripping his shirt.

  She blinked.

  Alex stared.

  her of them spoke.

  Max's breath shook.

  She wasn't used to this.

  This feeling.

  This heat.

  This absolute, unfiltered, raw chemistry.

  Slowly, a shy, stunned smile pulled at her lips.

  "Wow," she whispered, pletely dazed. "Alex... I... I didn't mean to..."

  Alex touched her right cheek before she could expin herself. Their eyes locked. Max wao talk but was lost for words. Each sed seemed like an hour. Alex didn't say anything. But his eyes, those beautiful orbs, were filled with... something. Something Max couldn't figure out. He slowly moved his face closer to hers.

  'What is this feeling?" Max thought. She felt like she was falling and couldn't catch herself. She wao look away, but her eyes wouldn't let her. They were glued to his. His lips were ing closer. He was going to kiss her. She wanted him to do it. She wa so bad she almost fot to breathe. She closed her eyes and waited.

  Alex didn't disappoint.

  He pressed his lips to hers. This time it was softer. There was nency. It felt like he was taking his time. Tasting her. Memorizing the shape and feel of her mouth. Max parted her lips a his tongue explore her mouth. The softness of his lips made her head spin. Her knees went weak.

  It wasn't just heat.

  It wasn't just lust.

  It was more.

  And holy shit, she was in trouble.

  Because for the first time in her life…

  Max Bck didn't want to run.

  She moaned into his mouth.

  His hands tangled in her hair, tilting her head back, deepening the kiss. His tongue flicked against hers, sendiric shocks through her body. She felt like she was floating on a cloud. Her ski hot. Her stomach tightened.

  She let out a shaky breath as he pulled away. She opened her eyes to find him staring at her with an expression she'd never seen before.

  Right now, she was a disaster. (When is she not?)

  Because holy fug shit.

  She had just kissed Alex Wilson.

  Corre: she had just attacked Alex Wilson with her lips.

  And worse? He kissed her back.

  Not just kissed her back, but kissed her like he had been waiting for it. Like he kly what he was doing to her. Like he could feel the way her knees had nearly buckled beh his hands.

  Which was so unfair because excuse you, sir, this is not how the script goes! She was supposed to be the one making HIM flustered!

  But nope. Nope. Nope.

  She was the one breathless and warm all over, staring at him like she had just been hit by a truck full of sexual tension.

  And Alex?

  That smug bastard was just standing there, watg her.

  His hands were still on her waist, fingers resting casually on the fabric of her dress like he wasn't in a hurry to move them. His lips were slightly parted, still red from the kiss, and his blue eyes?

  Oh.

  Oh, she was fucked.

  Because he was smirking.

  A slow, knowing, devastatingly cocky smirk.

  The kind that said, "I won."

  Oh, HELL no.

  Max cleared her throat violently, f herself to take a step back—except her legs weren't w properly, so she just kind of wobbled like a malfuning robot befripping the ter for bance.

  Cool. Totally cool. Very normal behavior.

  She coughed again. "Sooo… that just happened."

  Alex arched an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "Yeah. It did."

  His voice was too smooth, too trolled, and why the hell did he sound so put together?! Meanwhile, she was standing there like a glitg, horny mess.

  Max let out a dry, nervous ugh. "Pfft, whatever. It was... no big deal. Just a thing. A small, insignifit thing. You know, like… like an actal high five but with mouths."

  Alex blihen chuckled. "An actal high-five with mouths?"

  Max cpped her hands together aggressively. "Exactly. Just a simple, ptonic..." SHIT, NOT PLATONIC, "...uh, business-reted mouth situation. Nothing worth analyzing."

  Alex just… stared at her.

  With that same amused, eained, I'm-going-to-enjoy-messing-with-you-for-the-rest-of-my-life look.

  Max huffed. "What?"

  His lips twitched. "Nothing."

  She narrowed her eyes. "No, you're thinking something. Spill it, Richie Rich."

  Alex reached out, brushing his thumb lightly over her bottom lip.

  Max stopped breathing.

  "Max Bck, I won't beat around the bush anymore. I like you and you like me," Alex murmured, leaning in, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered. "Deny it all you want, but deep down, I know you want me. I know you feel this... fire between us. The chemistry. The tension." His firailed down her neck, sending shivers up her spine. He brushed her hair aside and kissed her colrbone. Max gasped. "And now," he said, his voice husky and low, "Feel free to push me bad tell me you want to leave, but if you don't, the's stop pretending we're not attracted to each other and do something about it."

  Alex paused for a sed.

  Max couldn't think. She felt like she had been put into a trance by the sound of his voice. She'd never been kissed like this before. She'd never wanted anyone so much.

  "Fine," Max blurted out. Her voice came out in a whisper. She wasn't sure what she was agreeing to, but at this point, she would have agreed to anything. "Okay. I want this. I want you. Happy?"

  Alex's lips curved into a smile. "I was expeg another quip or some witty remark."

  "I... This whole thing feels like a dream. I am not the type who jumps into a serious retionship. I am a one-night stand kind of girl," Max admitted, biting her bottom lip nervously.

  "I mean, look at you... Your status and mine. Sooner or ter troversies will arise and that won't be good for your reputation. The golden boy of Hollywood dating a nobody. Then you will break my heart and I'll end up being the vilin who stole your innoce or some bullshit like that. You get the picture. I will drown myself in cheap vodka and you will probably start dating a big celeb or maybe more like those you know, pyboys. So, let's just keep this as casual as possible."

  "You just want a casual fling because of our status?" Alex asked.

  Max nodded. "It's better this way. Safer. Less messy. Just sex. Nothing serious. Like friends with bes kinda thing."

  Alex leaned in close. "You are mine, Max Bck." He cimed her mouth in another kiss. It was hungry and demanding and full of desire. Max moahreading her fihrough his soft hair. She felt Alex's hands slide up the back of her thighs, cupping her ass, and lifting her onto the ter. He pulled away from her lips and began to kiss down her neck. Max gasped.

  "Fuck it! I'm yours," she moaned.

  His kisses felt like fire on her skin. She ed her legs around his waist, pulling him closer.

  "Fuck status and the world. I will do whatever I want," He whispered in her ears. His voice made her stomach flutter and her heart skip a beat. She was ready to give herself to him.

  He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes. Max saw the passion burning in them.

  "And what I want right now is you," Alex said, his voice husky with desire.

  Max felt her heart race. Her whole body ached for his touch. She wanted him so much. She wanted him to take her right there and then. She wao feel his skin against hers. She wao feel him inside her. She wanted him to make her his.

  However, in her heart, Max was still afraid. Very afraid. Life wasn't that kind to her, ever. So, the first thing she expected from her life was nothing but disappoi.

  Just when things were getting hotter and intense...

  Max's ph.

  "Shit!" She groaned. She looked at the s and her heart sank. It was Caroline. She had to a.

  Alex pulled back, his breathing heavy. "Important?"

  Max sighed. "Yes. It's Caroline." She slid off the ter and answered the call, putting a fio her lips, gesturing for Alex to keep quiet. "Hey. What's up?"

  "Max! Earl is having a heart attad we are taking him to the hospital. I'm calling an ambunce. I have texted you the address. Meet us there!" Caroline excimed before hanging up.

  "Crap. I have to go," Max said, pocketing her phone.

  "What's wrong? You look worried," He asked with a serious expression.

  Max sighed. "Earl... He's having a heart attack."

  "Let's go."

  Both of them were snapped out of their intimate moment and well... It is what it is.

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  [8 advance chs] [All chs avaible for all tiers]

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