Master of his heart

Chapter 453

It wasn’t exactly fair to take it out on Max, but maintaining composure around him was like trying to hold onto water–it just slipped through your fingers.

“Max, pick me up in three days, okay?” she murmured, the heaviness in her heart making it difficult to keep her voice steady.

Max just stared at her, a silent sentinel, not quite grasping where things had gone awry.

Brielle’s lashes fluttered downward in a vallant effort to dam the emotions threatening to spill over. She let out a sigh, rose on her tiptoes, and cradled his face in her hands, sealing their lips together in a tender kiss.

Max’s resolve melted like butter on a hot skillet. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her so close it felt as though they were trying to merge into one person. Their kiss deepened into at sweet, inescapable addiction.

Eventually, amidst the heat of their embrace, Max swept aside the clutter of papers on his desk. and in a smooth gesture, Brielle found herself perched atop the cool wooden surface.

Her legs twined around his waist, and the temperature In the room seemed to soar with their closeness. But she had to pull away. The wounds she bore were still healing, and any further exertion risked reopening them. Besides, If Max’s hands wandered to those areas, he’d discover the scars that marred her skin.

So she gently grasped his wandering hand, stilling it. “Don’t you have a visit to the sanatorium?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Indeed, Max was due to visit the sanatorium, and her teasing had flustered him more than he cared to admit. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he released her after a moment’s hesitation. “Brielle, are you doing this on purpose?” he asked, a note of Irritation creeping into

his tone.

“he’s even

help?” Max took a deep breath and remained standing, motionless,

room fell quiet, and Brielle sat alone on the desk, gazing out at the city’s twinkling lights through the window. The room’s earlier charged atmosphere had dissipated, but his scent still clung to her, warm against her cool

a hand, touching the spot where she’d had an appendectomy. The bandage

hard to build up her

11:50

Chapter 45.3.

she could face him, even though her

as she didn’t cry, she would

skeleton. Even after hastily burying the bones and planting trees and flowers over the spot, she

his gentleness, all she could

noticed a stranger peering around hesitantly, seemingly searching for someone. “Can I help you find someone?” she asked, sizing him up. She hadn’t seen him on this floor before:

Adrian. I’m looking for my girlfriend, Sydney. She’s been working late a lot these past few days

was a thermos, no doubt filled

one in the department was working late tonight. Brielle was the last to leave, which was why Max had come

in the department

an hour ago, and she

office.”

you try calling her again?”

hadn’t given Sydney’s potential infidelity a second thought. After all, Sydney always came across as bubbly and straightforward,