About a minute after Sita left my room, I heard a knock on my door. I gritted my teeth. I already told her to tell everyone not to disturb me but someone still had the nerve to disobey.

"I said, I don't want to entertain any visitor right now!" I said sternly with a loud voice so that the person outside my door would hear me. The knocking stopped and I sighed in relief.

I remained lying on my bed while staring at the ceiling, still confused. I heaved a sigh and was about to doze off, hoping that I would be okay when I wake up, when I heard the door open. I huffed in anger and sat up.

"Didn't I tell you—" Whatever I wanted to say was cut short when I saw who enter my room. It was none other than Maximus. My jaw clenched.

"Didn't you hear what I've said? Why are you here?!" I asked angrily. He shrugged his shoulders and then closed the door before sauntering towards me.

"I heard it." My eyes squinted in anger. My emotions were in haywire as if I was about to erupt.

"Then, why the hell did you still come in here?!"

"Because I wanted to." He sounded casual and unaffected which added to my anger.

"You—"

"—Why did you leave like that? You were even angry." He asked and then stood at the right side of the bed while gazing at me intently.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I denied and avoided his gaze. He sighed and then sat next to me. My heart started racing again. Cazzo!

My body jerked when he touched my cheek with his warm palm and gently caressed it lovingly. I bit my lower lip, suppressing the moan that almost came out of my lips.

"Look at me." He commanded but I didn't oblige. He chuckled.

"You're really a stubborn one, mi hermosa, but I think, you're more irritable now than ever. Don't tell me, you're jealous of your own cousin?" There was a tinge of playfulness in his voice and it made irritated.

I looked at him with fiery gaze. "Why would I get jealous of Sese? Because you've been hanging out together all morning? So, what? Spend as much time as you want with her, I don't really care!" I couldn't hide the anger and jealousy in my voice and it was already late for me to take back what I've said. I felt like my chest was about to explode if I wouldn't let my emotions out.

I gasped against my palm upon realizing that I sounded so jealous! To my surprise, he laughed. My cheeks heated up and wanted nothing but to get out of there if only I could.

To save face, I glared at him and he stopped laughing right away.

"Fine. I won't laugh. Looks like you're about to kill me with those glares, mi hermosa. I didn't know that you're this scary when you're jealous." I gritted my teeth, couldn't accept that fact.

"I said, I am not jealou—" Before I could finish my sentence, he sealed my lips for a hot kiss. He really loves doing that.

I thought, he would be rough and deepen the kiss right away but he just gently moved his lips against mine as if seducing me, coaxing me to kiss him back. He gently bit my lower lip and a moan escaped my lips. Damn! He really is an expert seducer!

"You don't have to be jealous of Serra. You're the only one for me, mi hermosa. No one else but you." He uttered huskily and then leaned his forehead against mine while his hands were gently caressing my cheeks.

I was about to deny if further but he put a finger on my lips, preventing me from speaking.

"Shhh. Don't bother denying it, mi hermosa. I already know the truth. Now, I finally have a solid evidence." He planted another kiss on my lips and my wall of defense was slowly crumbling down.

But then, I was still scared and hesitant, didn't know what to do and how to handle the situation. I hit him on the chest because of frustration and unexplainable negative emotions within me. He looked taken aback.

"Why? What happened, mi hermosa? Why did you hit me?" He looked confused.

"Why are you doing this to me?! Damn you! Damn you!" I couldn't take it anymore. I felt like my heart was about to explode. He gathered me into his arms and embraced me tightly. My eyes brimmed with tears for an unknown reason.

"Damn. I've never thought that you would be this scary when you're jealous." He kissed my temple. My heart melted. Just feeling our bodies pressed together gave me unexplainable but pleasant feeling.

It's useless denying it anymore because my feelings are betraying me. My heart is beating for Maximus. Yes, only for him. I pulled away from him.

"Fine. I won't deny it any longer. Yes, I got jealous of Serra. I said terrible things to her and it's your fault!" I stared daggers at him. His eyes went wide.

"Huh? Why? What did I do?" He feigned innocence and it added to my irritation. Because of that, I pinched him on the side of his abdomen and didn't let go until he finally conceded and begged me to stop. He grunted.

"Okay, okay. You win." He sighed in relief while rubbing the side of his abdomen. "You're really like a lioness when you're mad. A pregnant lioness to b exact." I glared at him and he laughed. "But you're more beautiful too, being feisty like that." He added after that which made my heart skip a beat.

I could feel my cheeks getting redder than a while ago. He's such a sweet talker.

"Sometimes, I really don't know whether I will be pissed at you or not for being like this." I admitted and he laughed heartily.

"Sorry. I couldn't help it. You're the only one who brings out this side of me. Honestly, I am not like this to other people. At first, I couldn't understand why I had this urge to show you the good side of me. I kept asking myself, why.

"But when I realized that my feelings for you were already that deep, I told myself to do everything I could for you to be mine. This is the real me that I haven't shown to anyone; the truest and most vulnerable side of me. I let you see it because you're my woman." My heart thumped but I didn't let him see how those words affected me.

I cocked up an eyebrow. "Your woman yet you didn't even exert an effort to court me." He swallowed hard.

"Why, mi hermosa? Don't you like it? If you want, I could start courting you right now. What do you want me to do? Just tell me and I will do it in a heartbeat." I couldn't suppress the chuckle that escaped my lips. He was already in panic mode for some reason and he looked adorable.

His jaw dropped. "Y-You just chuckled." He uttered as if it was his first time seeing someone chuckle.

"So?"

"Well, this is my first time seeing you with that kind of expression while talking to me. Somehow, it made my heart jump." I rolled my eyes.

"You really have this corny side of you, huh?" He laughed and then cupped my face. He stared into my eyes lovingly as his face slowly turned serious.

"You're the only one that my heart wants, mi hermosa. I hope that you give me the chance to be your man." His eyes were begging and my wall of defense totally collapsed just like that. Before I could even think properly, my head moved on its own and nodded.

Maximus' eyes widened in shock. "Y-You mean—"

"Yes." I responded with a smile. He beamed happily and quickly captured my lips for a passionate kiss. I automatically wrapped my arms around his neck as my lips moved, mimicking every flick and assault of his hungry mouth.

He really loves kissing me. He's the only one who kisses me as if he couldn't get enough of me. I could feel his passion, hunger and desire for me and it makes my heart swell everytime.

There was different in that kiss that we're sharing. It was so delicious and addicting that I lost my mind just like that. My mind turned hazy and I couldn't think clearly anymore. He was kissing me as if I was the most desirable woman for him and the feeling was incomparable.

"I can't get enough of kissing you, mi hermosa. Your lips are the sweetest." He uttered huskily and kissed me once again. Our tongues mated wildly and it was overwhelming.

"I can't believe that you got jealous when I was talking with Serra. I was losing hope these past few days because you've been avoiding and pushing me away. It was frustrating and scary you know? Especially that you were always together with that Lucca." I could hint the jealousy in his voice upon saying the last sentence.

I was about to answer when my phone suddenly rang. I gently pushed him on the chest. "W-Wait. My phone is ringing."

"Just ignore it, mi hermosa." He answered hoarsely as his hands began caressing my back erotically as he kissed his way down to my neck.

"Ohhh!" I moaned deliriously when he gently bit the sensitive part of my neck and then sucked it as if he was planning to leave his mark on me. I was beginning to get lost with what we were doing again but my phone kept on ringing incessantly.

"Wait. It might be important." I said breathlessly and then pulled away from him. He grunted when I reached for my phone that was on the bedside table. It was Lucca.

"Fùcking disturbance." He uttered upon seeing who the caller was. I gave him a sharp look and he sighed in defeat.

"Fine. I didn't say anything." I fought the urge to laugh because he looked so annoyed. I shook my head full of amusement and answered the call.

"Hello."

"Hi, bella mia. I just wanted to remind you about next week, okay? Don't forget about it. I am reminding you now because I might be too busy to call you again in the next few days." I chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'll be just here, waiting for you return. Anyway, are you home now?" I almost burst out into laughter when I noticed Maximus' hard face. He looked so jealous. His jaw was even flexing, indicating that he's gritting his teeth.

"Not yet. I'm still here in Feccina. I had to attend another meeting so I couldn't go home yesterday as planned." Lucca answered. He's currently in Fecinna, which was located in the southern part of Costavia, for business matters. It has been two days since he went there.

I was about to answer when Maximus suddenly hugged me from behind and began kissing my neck. I bit back a gasp and pinched his arm to stop him from what he was doing but he just continued.

"Stop it!" I whisper-yelled at him.

"Huh? Are you with someone there?" Lucca asked and I groaned inwardly.

"N-No. I'm alone here. What were you saying?" I bit my lower lip when Maximus' naughty hands slowly caressed their way to my breasts and gently played with them through my top. I bit my lower lip, trying my best to suppress my moans. I couldn't concentrate on talking with Lucca anymore because of what's happening. He's such a naughty guy!

"Ahhh!" A wanton moan escaped my lips when he pinched both of my nipples at the same time, rolling them naughtily with his fingers that brought delicious electric-like sensation throughout my body.

"What happening to you, Athena? Are you sick?" Lucca sounded so worried and I wanted to get embarrassed with myself.

"Athena! Answer me! You're worrying me here!" When I heard the worried and panic voice of Lucca, I knew that I had to do something. I elbowed Maximus when I had the chance, enough for him to stop his naughtiness.

He grunted. I craned my head to look at him and he looked displeased. I gave him a warning look before answering Lucca.

"I'm fine, Lucca. Don't worry about me. Anyway, see you when you get back."

"Are you sure, you're fine?" He sounded doubtful of my answer. I groaned inwardly.

"Yes. 100% sure." I faked a cheerful voice.

"Okay. Let's catch up when I get back then."

"Okay. Take care. Bye." I sighed in relief when the call finally ended. I put my phone back on top of the bedside table before facing Maximus with a sharp glare. He has that naughty grin on his face.

"Are you out of your mind?! What would he think if he noticed what we were doing here?!" I snapped at him. The grin on his face widened.

"That's what I wanted to happen so that he would finally leave you alone. You're mine now, mi hermosa, and I don't fùcking share." Even though he was grinning, I could tell that he was serious of what he was saying.

"Maximus, Lucca is my only guy best friend and—"

"—Then, I will be your guy best friend." I gave him a deadpan look. Is he serious?

"Okay then. If you insist, you will be my guy best friend." His eyes brightened. "On the other hand, Lucca will be my boyfriend." The happiness on his face disappeared in an instant upon hearing what I've just said.

His face hardened and I almost shivered when I saw that dangerous look on his face. I swallowed hard. I thought he was going to fly into a fit of rage or something but to my surprise, he cupped my face and gave me hot yet punishing kiss.

It was so deep and wild that it almost robbed me off my breath. When he finally stopped, we were already both catching our breaths.

"Were you trying to kill me just now?!" I said angrily. He smirked.

"That's your punishment for saying something like that, mi hermosa." He drew his face closer to mine until our lips were almost touching. His gaze never left mine.

"You only belong to me, mi hermosa, and no one else could take you away from me. I promise you that." My lips hang open, unable to utter any word. He sounded so possessive.

Before I could say anything, he sealed my lips for another kiss and all the doubts within me disappeared into thin air just like that.

Everything about us happened so fast but I couldn't care less anymore. I'm tired of lying to myself and avoiding Maximus at the same time. Maybe, fate gave him to me to help me cure my pain because whenever we're together, I forget everything feel like we're in another dimension where no one else exists but us...