Chapter 9 In the Dark, It Was Easy To Ignore

Carolina turned toward him, caught off guard.

"Hi?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what I mean," he said. "I can't stand that." His hand lifted to her face, brushing along her cheek before he pulled her closer. When their lips met, she didn't resist. The kiss felt warm and steady, leaving her lightheaded.

"Hmm... but I really don't-"

His hand moved lower, cutting off her words.

"So responsive..." he murmured under his breath. "I found that little item in your things, Carolina."

"But that's..." she tried to explain. "Maximo... that can't-"

Her voice broke as his touch shifted, making her lose her train of thought.

"Then explain how it ended up there."

"Maybe..." She paused, then suddenly reacted. "Wait... I know!" Her hand gripped his shoulder as she shifted closer, her body moving with intent. "Stepmotherrr!"

He pulled back slightly, then moved over her, positioning himself above. Without thinking, her hands slid along his arms, tightening around him. One side felt rougher beneath her fingers, but she didn't pay attention to it. That reaction didn't go unnoticed.

"Let go of my arm," he said. She didn't respond. Her focus stayed elsewhere, lost in the moment. "I said let go of my arm!"

His voice rose this time, sharp enough to cut through everything, and the room went still right after. The only sound left was his uneven breathing. He caught her wrists and guided them above her head. With his size, one hand was enough to keep her from moving.

Without holding back, he pressed closer, and the reaction it drew from her came instantly.

He lowered himself over her, his lips brushing along her neck while he murmured something she couldn't quite make out.

"Maximo... you're heavy," she said softly. A slight nod followed, and he shifted, easing himself down beside her instead.

"Sorry," he replied after a moment, "for raising my voice."

"It's fine. I didn't even notice I was holding onto you like that." A small laugh slipped out. "Actually... that's on you."

Even in the dark, he turned his head toward her.

"My fault?" he asked with a quiet laugh. "Go on, explain that."

"You left me all confused."

"Me? You're the one who keeps pushing things."

"You're the bold one here," she responded, laughing again.

In the dark, it was easy to ignore what lay beneath. If there had been light, he might have remembered things weren't that simple.

"Let's get some sleep. I'll head to the bathroom, clean up, change, and put the mask back on."

"Wait," she called out. Her hand reached for him, brushing against the uneven skin marked by the flames. The contact made her pull back almost instantly. "Doesn't that bother you?"

"It won't kill me," he replied, bitterness creeping into his voice. "If the fire didn't finish me, a mask won't either."

"If you want, I can go back to my room. You'd be more comfortable that way."

A quiet sigh left him. It would have been easier, that much was true, but he pushed the thought aside.

"No. I'm staying. I need to keep an eye on you, and that's enough reason. Sleeping with the mask isn't a problem."

He didn't give her a chance to argue. He stood up and moved toward the bathroom.

"Maximo!" she called just as he reached the door.

"Hmm?"

"I need a bath too. You... well..."

"I'll help you once I'm done."

"Okay." With that, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Only then did the light come on.

Carolina remained under the covers, her mind drifting from one thought to another. The way he acted didn't make sense to her. At times, he seemed controlled, almost distant, and then suddenly, he would shift into someone else entirely. She only hoped he wouldn't wake up in a foul mood again, because if he did, she might actually snap at him.

She knew she had never raised a hand against anyone, and she didn't think she ever would. Even so, she had let him get close to her without holding anything back. The memory of how he reacted when she grabbed his arm still lingered in her mind.

"At least it's dark. He's already intimidating... and when he gets angry, it's worse." She pondered.

In the bathroom, water streamed down Maximo's body as he stood beneath it, letting it run over him.

"She didn't recoil from my skin..." The thought crossed his mind. "But that was because she was caught up in the moment." Or maybe she believed whatever she would gain from it made it worth it.

After everything changed, rejection had followed him more than once. Even someone he had once paid had turned him down. That had happened not long after Jade left him. Her words had stayed with him, cutting deeper than anything else. She had made it clear that no one would ever want him again, no matter what he offered. That moment had left a mark on him.

And yet, Carolina hadn't reacted the same way. She hadn't pulled away, even after seeing parts of what he tried to hide.

"So this just means she knows how to handle it. And I'll make sure she's rewarded for that. She's bold... and she knows how to keep up."

The image of her lingered in his mind, and he let out a quiet breath. Desire had always been something he never held back, something that had never been fully satisfied before. What he had with Jade had never been enough, though he had ignored it because of what he felt for her. Carolina, on the other hand, didn't shy away.

A low sound slipped from him without meaning to. From the bedroom, Carolina caught it, and her attention shifted toward the bathroom door.

"I can't believe that..." The thought lingered, and a hint of sadness followed. If he still wanted her, then why hadn't he gone after her? "Get a hold of yourself, Carolina."

Sleep eventually took over. When she opened her eyes again, the room had changed. The window stood slightly open, and the space beside her was empty. Maximo was gone. She pushed herself up and pulled the sheets aside, expecting to find a mess. Instead, everything was clean. At some point, he had taken care of it.

Her gaze moved toward the bathroom, then to the door. She needed to go, and waiting for him wasn't an option. With care, she got to her feet, slipped into her nightgown, and made her way to the bathroom with a slight limp. Her foot still throbbed, swollen and sore.

On her way out, she walked straight into something solid. Looking up, she met Maximo's green eyes fixed on her.

"I told you not to walk around."

"I needed to use the bathroom," she replied.

"Are you ready for your shower?" he asked, his tone serious.

"That depends."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"On what, Carolina?"

She could tell his mood hadn't improved, but that didn't stop her.

"On what kind of shower you're planning to give me."

Before she could react, he had already lifted her and thrown her over his shoulder, drawing a startled sound from her.

Even with the way she affected him, Maximo forced himself to stay focused. He had things to deal with, and letting himself get distracted by her wasn't an option.

This time, the bath felt entirely different. He kept it quiet and restrained, settling her into the tub without even brushing his lips against her skin. The lack of contact left her annoyed, though he couldn't figure out why.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"Nothing," she replied, her tone sharp.

He understood what that answer usually meant. When a woman said "Nothing" in that tone, it rarely meant nothing at all. Still, he didn't push it. He wasn't in the mood to argue, and he had never been the type to press further. If she chose to leave it there, then so would he.

After that, he carried her back to the bed and mentioned that breakfast would be brought up. Once she had changed-after he briefly stepped out to get her fresh clothes-he didn't linger. He turned and left without another word.

"What a strange man," she said to herself after he was gone.

Not long after, someone brought in her coffee along with two small boxes. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

"It can't be..."

Curiosity took over, and she opened the first box. Inside, a white gold ring rested neatly, set with a delicate stone. The second box revealed a bracelet, its surface catching the light in a way that suggested fine craftsmanship.

For a moment, irritation flared inside her. Then her thoughts shifted to the day before, to the conversation she had with the bookstore owner.

A smile slowly formed.

Bastian had shown her everything. Photos, plans, and the work he had started with the children in the village. It had stayed with her. Teaching had always been something she wanted, and now there was a chance to finally do it. It wouldn't bring her money. That didn't matter. What mattered was being able to help.

"At least these can be put to good use," she muttered to herself. Returning them or arguing about it wouldn't change anything. She already knew how Maximo was. Stubborn, unyielding. Pushing against him would only drain her, and nothing would come from it. Besides, she wasn't planning to stop what they had. She enjoyed being close to him. Just thinking about it made her cheeks warm.

Another thought settled in her mind. Bastian would still be around.

They hadn't known each other long, yet something about him felt easy. Over the years, she had struggled to build connections. Women kept their distance, and men only brought trouble. Being seen with her often turned into something else, something unpleasant.

"With him, it won't be like that."