Max's POV

Adriano has been helping me with some work for the past hour so we decided to take a small break. "Do you want something to eat or drink," I asked him and he nodded. So we got out of my study and made our way to the kitchen. Walking down the stairs, I saw that there was a movie playing and I didn't see anyone watching. So I walked to the sofa to search for the remote when I saw Athena all cuddled up with her two friends. Seeing her in this position, I clenched my fist. All three of them were asleep. Jacob was hugging her legs and Dereck was hugging her against his chest.

Staring at her beautiful face, I realized that I have been staring at her for way too long and it might seem creepy. "What are you doing still standing here," Adriano said as he came back in the living room. "I'm just taking Athena to her room," I said as I went and freed her from Jacob's and Dereck's arms. Picking her up, I saw Adriano looking at me with a frown. "Wait so you guys don't share a room," he asked me making me realized what I said. "She likes to have her personal spaces from time to time," I said and he nodded. Thankfully, he didn't ask any further questions as I climbed the stairs.

As I put her on the bed, I covered her with the blanket. I turned to leave when I suddenly saw a sketchbook on her nightstand. I remember that she was sketching something the other day. Maybe I shouldn't look, right? Well a little peek wouldn't be too much now, will it?

I was about to pick up the sketchbook when I heard her tossing and turning of the bed. Freezing in place, I turned to check whether she woke up and well I was right. She stretched and sat up. "Sorry little dove, didn't mean to wake you up," I said as she finally noticed me. She looked confused. "When did I get here," she whispered to herself but she said it loud enough for me to hear. "I just brought you up. The sofa was way too small for the three of you guys," I said as I watched her intently.

Athena's POV

"Oh by the way, at what time are we going to your parents place," I asked as I tried hard not to stare at him openly. It has been very difficult for me to do so for some weird reasons. Whenever I see him, I have this urge to stare at his face and admire his perfect facial structure. I still question how can someone look this ravishing. He straight up looks like a Greek God. On top of that, he is always dressed so formally. He ooze confidence and anyone gets intimidated by his presence. I still think that I am not fit to even be his pretend fiance.

"Hey what's wrong? I have been calling you," Max said looking a little bit amused. "I'm sorry I just zoned out. So yeah what were you saying," I asked as I mentally scolded myself for literally daydream of the man who is right in front of me. "As I was saying, we will be leaving at 6 and we will most probably be staying over," he said and I nodded. "So tell me a little bit about your family. What should I expect? Are you sure I should go with you today? Maybe you should go by yourself for now and just tell them first. Do they even know that you have a fiance? Oh shit what if they don't like me? This will defeat the whole purpose of the contract. Max I think you should choose someone else. What if your mom sees right through me? I'm bad at lying-" I stopped when I suddenly heard Max laughing loudly.

I chuckled as I saw him clenching his stomach. "What's so funny Mr Knight," I said as I smiled just looking at him laughing this much. He looks so breathtaking when he is laughing. He looks like he has no worries at all. "Oh little dove, you are so adorable," he said making me freeze. What is happening? He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself. "Well you don't have to worry, my family will love you. I never thought that you would freak out at the last minute like that. I mean you were very calm when I told you about it a few days ago," he said looking at me with his captivating brown orbs.

"Well realization just hit me Max and it's not like I have ever been introduced a man's family. Does that even make sense," I said while shaking my head. "I get it. Anyways it will be fine. My family is nice and they will definitely not kick you out," he said while chuckling. "Ok so how many people will be there," I asked and Max seem to start thinking. "I'm not sure. Maybe like 40 people," he said making my mouth drop to the floor. "Is it a party or something," I asked and he shook his head while frowning. "It's our monthly family gathering," he said.

"We will have to act in love in front of all of them ok," he said making me roll my eyes. "What does that involve," I asked him as I was truly curious. "Well that involves us holding hands like this," he said as he slipped his hand in mine. As I have said before, his mere touch sends ripple of electricity throughout my body.

"We will have to kiss like," he said before his hand slid to my hips. It settled there as he made me stand up and pulling me closer to him. I inhaled sharply as I was currently against his rock hard chest, chiseled to perfection. "Why does he have to be this perfect," I said to myself. I placed my hands against his chest intending to push him away but instead, I left them there.

His breathing quickened along with mine as I saw him leaning closer and closer to my face. His head was slightly angled to the side and quickly, his lips met mine. It felt like time stopped. My heart fluttered inside my chest, I took in the slow, soft and comforting feeling radiating from the kiss. His other hand cupped my face, soothingly caressing my cheek with his thumb. Our breaths mingled making me weak to the knees.

After the blissful moment, we both pulled away to catch our breath. Our forehead resting against each other, I couldn't help but stare into his gaze. At that moment, I couldn't form any type of words so I just kept looking at him. My gaze soon fell on his lips, those lips that I just kissed. The lips that made me lose myself as they touch mine.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door making me jump away from Max but I couldn't really move because he still had his arms around me. The door then opened revealing Dereck. "Delia, me and Jacob have to get going," he said as he rubbed his eyes. He must have just woken up. I managed to get out of his grip. "Go ahead, I'll come in a few seconds so wait for me," I said and he nodded and went out.

I turned to Max, still feeling flustered from the kiss that we just shared. What are you supposed to tell someone that just gave you the most mind-blowing kiss of your life? "I'll be ready by 6," I said whatever came to my mind. I heard him chuckled as he took in my distress state of mind. "I'll wait for you," he said as he came to me and placed a kiss on my forehead. He then left the room with me still frozen in shock by his action. "What just happened," I said to myself as I shook my head.

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