I was speechless for a couple of seconds, couldn't find any words to say even if I wanted to. Suddenly, my throat felt dry as my heart thumped fast. I swallowed hard.

"W-What the heck are you doing here in my room?! Didn't I tell you not to come near me unless I told you so?!" I hissed upon gathering myself together. Just like usual, Maximus didn't seem to be affected by my anger. He remained serious while leaning his back against the wall.

"Answer my question. Is he the reason why you've been avoiding me like I was a plague these past few days?" He couldn't hide the frustration and jealousy in his voice. Jealousy?! Impossible!

"Even if that's the case, it's none of your business. Now, get out of my room. I want to be alone." I commanded and raised my chin defiantly. Our gazes met and I noticed how his jaw flexed tightly.

He stood straight and began walking. At first, I thought, he would go straight to the door but to my horror, he was sauntering towards me.

"Why are you getting closer? I said, get out!" Even though my heartbeat was going wild, I tried my best to hide it as hard as I could. He didn't even flinch. Just smirked.

I gasped when he bended over and placed his hands on the armrests of my wheelchair. Our faces were so close, and our lips were almost touching.

"Are you really this cold hearted and insensitive? You know how much I like you, but you keep on avoiding me. Not just that, you're always with that guy. Tell me. Do you like him that much?" My lips parted. His voice was indeed full of jealousy!

I placed my palms against his chest, intending to push him away because I couldn't think straight anymore. It became hard for me to breath because of how close we were but as stubborn as he was, he didn't even budge.

"Maximus! Stop with these games!"

"I'm not playing games with you, mi hermosa. Now, answer my question because I feel like I'm going crazy right now thinking that you like him more than me!" My heart pounded like a drum.

"I said, it's none of your business! Lucca is a special person in my life and—" Whatever I wanted to say was cut short because he already closed that tiny gap between our lips and kissed me hard. I gasped loudly in shock, but I didn't have the chance to protest because he already dominated the kiss and made me succumb onto him just like that.

His kisses were like a drug that I couldn't resist no matter what I do. I couldn't believe that he has this kind of effect on me. It was scary.

"You're mine, mi hermosa. Mine!" He proclaimed possessively when our lips pulled away.

"You're crazy. You don't have the right to claim that I'm yours because we both know that I'm not." I answered with an almost inaudible voice while catching my breath.

I felt like my breath got trapped in my lungs especially when he drew his face closer to mine again until our lips were almost touching. His fiery eyes were staring into mine and the pounding of my heart became harder and faster.

"Tell me that you don't feel anything towards me, and I'll stop pestering you." I averted my gaze. For some reason, it was hard for me to talk while those tantalizing hazel green eyes of his were staring into my eyes as if trying to read the depths of my soul.

"I don't have any feelings for you." Thankfully, I managed to utter that without stuttering. If I would just forget my fears and doubts, I knew that I would say the opposite. Maximus is a tease, a temptation that is hard to resist but I know better.

I couldn't risk getting hurt again. I've had enough of heartache that brought by the men that became part of my life.

I thought, he would finally concede after hearing what I just said but to my surprise, he chuckled. I looked back at him and saw the amusement on his face. My lips parted as I gasped in awe. I couldn't help it. He looked so handsome with that expression on his face.

He cupped my face with his hands. "You're lying." He sounded so sure.

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are. Just one look and I already know that you're lying. I don't want to sound conceited, but I know that we both can feel it. We feel the same way. Just like what I've said before. Don't lie to me because I won't believe you." He pecked my lips with a sweet and soft kiss. "From now on, you're already mine, mi hermosa."

My eyes widened. "What are you saying?" He smirked.

"You heard me, mi hermosa. You're my girlfriend now." I squealed when he suddenly scooped me up onto his arms and carried me towards the bed.

"Maximus! What do you think you're doing?! Put me down!" He indeed put me down on the bed but to my horror, he laid down next to me and then snuggled with me. I felt like my whole body stiffen as he wrapped an arm around my waist and then buried his face on the crook of my neck.

"Shhh. I just want to cuddle with you. I couldn't sleep these past few nights because of too much thinking about you and that guy." My forehead knitted together.

"What do you mean?"

"Even if I've been wanting to punch him and take you away from him everytime you two are together, I held myself back because I didn't want you to get mad at me. These past few days were hell, mi hermosa. You don't have any idea how much I've been controlling myself not to do anything stupid because I really thought that you like that guy." I bit my bottom lip, unsure of what to say to make him give up on me.

"Yes, I like him."

"But not the same as the like that you feel for me." He confidently answered with a low voice and then yawned. I was at a loss for words. If another guy has said those words to me, I would surely have punched him in the face right away. But with Maximus, everything's different.

He makes me feel these strange feelings and I couldn't resist him no matter what I do. Such a dangerous man.

"You're really conceited, you know that?" He didn't answer. My forehead crinkled and angled my head to get a glimpse of his face. My jaw dropped when I realized that he was already sleeping.

"What the—Maximus!" I called for him and gently shook his arm, but he just groaned as he tightened his arm around me. My body went hot. Darn it!

I could feel his steady breathing against my neck. Who the heck falls asleep that quick? Unless, he really was sleep deprived...

I sighed in defeat and then looked at the ceiling. What the heck are you doing, Athena?

Somehow, being together with Maximus like this made me feel safe and relax. His warmth against my body felt so good. He felt so strong yet gentle at the same time. I couldn't believe that a big and muscular man like him could be gentle in some way.

I didn't know how long we were on that position until sleep engulfed me. Strangely, I slept like a log and I couldn't believe it. It has been so long since I've had a good night sleep and it felt kinda surprising.

When I woke up, it was already dinner time. Maximus wasn't no longer in my room and my traitorous eyes kept on looking for him. I bit my lower lip.

I was about to reach for the intercom to call Rita when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" The door opened and my lips parted in surprise upon seeing Maximus come in. He was pushing a kitchen cart with food on it. I thought, the one who knocked was Rita, but I was wrong.

"Did you sleep well, mi hermosa?" He had that suave smile on his face. I swallowed hard.

"Where is Rita?" I asked instead. He chuckled and then sat on the bed.

"She's eating her dinner now. Your grandparents left this afternoon and until now, they haven't returned home yet. Signor De Falco called a while ago and told Rita to tell you to eat your dinner without them because they would be coming home late tonight. Rita was about to come here but I told her not to worry about your dinner because I would be the one to serve you tonight" My jaw hung open.

"What? And why would you do that?"

"Well, I just wanted to be with you. Thankfully, Rita is very understanding." I could feel my cheeks blushing. Maybe my nanny Rita has the wrong idea about us by now, not to mention that she saw us kissing before.

I groaned inwardly. "Maximus..."

"I cooked these for you." I raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

He chuckled and proudly said, "Yes, mi hermosa. I actually know how to cook." He pulled the kitchen cart closer to the bed. "Come on, eat up." I looked at the food that he made. Looked like he cooked paella, some kind of a dessert and juice. There's also a glass of water.

"Is this paella?"

"Yes, it is." I then looked at the dessert. Everything looked appetizing.

"And what's this one?" I asked curiously.

"It's my specialty, crema catalana. I made it specially for you. This is my mother's version of this dessert. She taught me how to make it when she was still alive." My heart jumped and I almost punched myself for reacting like that but when I heard about his mother, I couldn't help but to feel sad. I suddenly remembered my mother.

"So, we're the same."

"What do you mean, mi hermosa?"

"Our mothers are already both have passed away." I caught a strange sad emotion that passed through his eyes before it disappeared just like that.

"Don't be sad. I'm sure that our mothers are in a happy place right now so we should be happy too." He uttered because a smile broke across his face.

When I didn't say anything, he took the spoon and scooped a spoonful of paella. My cheeks heated up when I realized what he was about to do.

"I can manage." He chuckled when I took the spoon from him and then began eating. I froze for a second or two in surprise when I realized how delicious it was.

Somehow, he was acting differently. He became sweeter for some reason. I've never thought that he actually knows how to cook.

"Do you like it, mi hermosa?" He looked kinda worried and I couldn't help but to get amused. I remained serious.

"Hmmm. It's okay."

"Is that it? You don't like it?" He scratched the back of his head. "And I was even confident about my cooking skills." He sounded disappointed. He was looking at me with puppy-dog eyes and my heart melted.

"Fine. It's delicious. Happy?" A wide smile appeared on his face. He then cupped my face with his hands and then planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"Maximus!" I rebuked in disbelief, but he just laughed. I could see how happy he was.

"You don't have any idea how happy I am right now because you liked the food that I cooked for you." I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't know that you're this corny." He scratched the back of his head again, looking embarrassed even though he was trying to hide it.

"Come on, mi hermosa. Don't embarrass me." I sneered and then continued eating. We both became quiet after that. He just watching me eat.

"What about you? Have you eaten dinner yet?" I asked after a couple of minutes, a little bit embarrassed that I forgot to ask him.

"Yes. I wanted to eat dinner with you, but I didn't want to upset you again." I didn't know what to say about that, so I chose to remain silent until I finished eating. It actually surprised me that I managed to eat everything. Well, everything was delicious.

"Thank you for the meal." I said gratefully and he smiled.

"You're welcome, mi hermosa. But I think, I don't wan a simple thank you in return." I cocked up an eyebrow and then crossed my arms across my chest.

"And what do you want me to do other than saying thank you?" He beamed, pointed his finger on his puckered lips. My eyes went wide when I realize what he wanted to happen.

"Maximus!"

"Come on, mi hermosa. Just one kiss." Those puppy-dog eyes again. I huffed.

"Fine." I then pecked a kiss on his lips and was about to pull away right away when he cupped my face and conquered my lips with a deep passionate kiss. I gasped for air, but he only took that as an opportunity to deepen the kiss even more.

"I'm addicted to your lips, mi hermosa. I could kiss you all day and I would never get tired of it." He whispered when he finally let go of my lips. We were both catching our breaths.

"Maximus..." He tucked my stray hair to the back of my ear while gazing at me lovingly.

"I like you so much, mi hermosa. Tell me you feel the same way." Before I could answer, he captured my lips for another hot kiss.

"Come on, mi hermosa. Tell me how you feel." He coaxed and then bit my lower lip. I couldn't hold back the moan that escaped my lips. Darn it! My brain was becoming hazier with each passing second and it was becoming harder to control my feelings anymore.

Before I could think straight, my arms moved on their own and wrapped around his neck as my lips moved on their own and kiss him back with equal fervor. He groaned triumphantly and deepened the kiss even more.

I got lost just like that and threw all the cautions to the wind.