I felt like going crazy as Maximus continuously thrusted inside of me vigorously. The wet slapping sounds of our intimate parts just added to our desire for each other. I kept on moaning his name while my hands were busy caressing his muscled body.

"I can't believe how you're making me crazy, mi hermosa. Damn! You feel so good!" He groaned gutturally and then captured my lips for another passionate kiss. I automatically wrapped my arms around him as I kissed him with equal fervor.

"More, Dolce metà, more." I urged him full of lust as our lips pulled away. His eyes darkened with so much desire as he straightened his back and held me by the waist, holding me into place, before picking up his pace.

"Ahhh!" I almost screamed in pleasure. It was too much. He reached for the pillow and put it underneath my butt. Because of what he did, the alignment of our sensitive areas made me almost lose my mind. I couldn't believe how good it felt.

We make love almost every night but the desire, lust, passion and heat were still the same as the first time that I couldn't describe the intensity of it. It was overwhelming my senses, leading me to an unparalleled ecstasy everytime.

When Maximus opened the door for me a while ago, he didn't waste any more time. He took me onto his arms upon closing the door and then brought me to the bathroom. Just like I've already expected, he really was the one who bathed me but not after his quick shower.

Of course, he was so naughty that he already started the foreplay just halfway before finishing my bath. He's really insatiable but I couldn't complain. Seeing the evidence of his desire for me was enough to rekindle the flame within me.

After he dried my body using the towel, he made me c*m using his talented mouth. My whole body shook wildly upon reaching my org*sm.

I screamed his name to the top of my lungs and he looked so pleased while watching me quaver with so much pleasure.

After that, he carried me out of the bathroom and then put me onto the bed. I knew that he wanted to take me right away already but he still had the time to blow-dry my hair using the hair dryer because he was worried that I might get sick.

That's one of his traits that I like the most. He's really gentle and caring when he wants to. He's sensitive to my feelings and needs which made me full in love with him even harder.

After that, we resumed what we were doing and this time, our passion for each other was hotter and wilder.

"Mi hermosa, I can't get enough of you!" He roared and then pounded into me like there's no tomorrow. My nails dug into his flesh as I bit on his shoulder as my whole body shuddered when the ball of pleasure within me erupted like an atomic bomb. My eyes rolled back and I felt like the world stop revolving for a moment.

"Athena!" He roared like a wild beast when he reached his peak. He held himself inside of me to the hilt as he let himself go.

I could feel his hot essence bathing my quivering insides and it almost robbed me off my breath. My whole body turned into jelly and it overwhelmed my senses.

"Maximus!" I reached another climax and it was more intense. When the shaking of my body finally stopped, Maximus cupped my face and then looked me in the eyes full of love.

"I love you." I could see the sincerity in those tantalizing eyes of his while uttering those sweet words and it made my heart skip a beat. We were still both catching our breath. I raised my hand and caressed his cheek while smiling contentedly.

"I love you too. So much that I can't probably take it if you leave me." I suddenly felt emotional. An unknown emotion passed through his eyes before it disappeared as soon as it appeared.

He pecked my lips for another kiss before answering. "I won't ever leave you, mi hermosa. I promise you that." Hearing that gave me assurance. They say promises are made to be broken but I chose to trust and believe in him because I knew that he would keep his promises.

We kissed once again before he pulled out of me.

"Oh, God." I couldn't help but to moan because of the sensation that it sent me. Our mixed juices dripped out of me. I bit my lower lip when he stared at my womanhood full of lust.

"Damn. You look so enticingly beautiful right now." He voiced out huskily and swallowed hard. I knew that my cheeks were already red because I suddenly felt shy. How couldn't I? He was staring at my core as if he wanted another bout.

"Stop staring at it." I gently rebuked and he laughed heartily.

"I can't help it. Look." He pointed his finger between his legs and my eyes widened when I saw that he was already hard again.

"Gosh! Again? You're really so insatiable." His laugh became louder because of amusement. He leaned his head and then kissed my pelvic area before reaching for the tissue box and pulled some. To my surprise, he wiped my p*ssy using it then threw it in the garbage bin.

After that, he gathered me into his arms and we cuddled in bed.

"Thank you." I whispered and then kissed his chest.

"You're welcome, mi hermosa. That was so hot as always." Maximus answered as he tightened his arms around me and then kissed my forehead. Just like me, he was still breathing hard.

"Gosh. You really tired me out." I complained but with a smile on my lips. He laughed.

"Don't you like it? You will surely sleep tight later because you're spent."

"You're really naughty most of the time. I was wrong about you in the beginning. I really thought, you were the serious type of a guy but, Lord, I was wrong." His laugh became louder.

"To be honest, I'm different when I'm with you. Just like I've told you before, you're the one who brings out the best in me. I can't barely recognize myself whenever we're together because those traits that I've never known I possessed come out naturally just like that. At first, it's scary to think that you have this kind of effect on me, but I forgot all that because of my love for you. Besides, I know that I have the same effect on you." I lifted up my face to look at him. My heart was racing.

"You're really one hell of a woman." He continued and my heart swelled.

"I'm glad I have that kind of effect on you even though I'm like this." His forehead crinkled as the smile on his face faded.

"What do you mean?" I looked away.

"Like this; bound to a wheelchair and nothing but a responsibility." He went silent for about three seconds or so before I heard him release a breath.

"You're not just a responsibility, mi hermosa. If you're going to be bounded in your wheelchair your whole life then I'll take care of you. But we both know that you will not if you want to because you still have the chance to be able to walk again." I bit my lower lip.

"Where did you hear about that?"

"From Her Majesty." He answered. Suddenly, everything that happened in the past came back to me and my heart filled with that incomparable pain, sorrow and guilt. My eyes watered.

"I-I don't know, Maximus. Yes, I still have the chance to be able to walk again but I feel like I don't have the right to do that; to be happy and live normally like nothing ever happened." He cupped my face and made me look at him.

"Whatever the reason why you're feeling this way, you're wrong. You have every right to get up and explore the world using your own two feet. Just like everyone else, you deserved to be happy and I want to give you that happiness. I have a friend who could help you with your therapy. I can call her to come here. Just say the word."

I smiled bitterly. "It's better for me to stay like this and suffer because—"

"—Nonsense! Don't you have any plans of going somewhere with me, freely without hindering you to do whatever you want? Don't get me wrong. I can take care of you if you can't walk because I love you, but knowing that you still have the chance to live normally again, I want to give that to you. I will not let you give up in life just because of whatever happened to you in the past.

"What about me, mi hermosa? What about us and our future children? Don't you want to experience chasing after them whenever they run away from you when they learn how to walk on their own two feet? What about playing with them and lull them to sleep in your arms whenever they're not feeling well? Don't you want to experience all those?" My jaw dropped after hearing his litany.

For some reason, I couldn't hold back my smile even though my tears fell. Worry flooded his face.

"I'm sorry, mi hermosa. I didn't mean to make you cry like that. I just wanted to—" Before he could finish whatever he was about to say, I silenced him by putting my finger on his lips.

"—Shhh. I understand."

"R-Really? Then, why the tears?" I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and then responded.

"Because I didn't expect that you were already thinking about our future family even though our relationship is just new."

"Of course, I've been thinking about it. I even want to have our little rascals already but I know that you're not ready yet. You can't even let everyone know about our relationship." I could see the pain that passed through his eyes but it disappeared right away.

My heart ached seeing him with that kind of emotion.

"I'm sorry if you're hurting because of that. I'm sorry because I've been selfish without realizing it." I took a deep breath before continuing. "Even though we still have a long way to go with your relationship, I know that we will stay together forever. Because of that, I've made up my mind over something."

"About what?" There was a tinge of anticipation in his eyes while waiting for my answer.

"You're right of what you said a while ago. Before, I was already determined to stay like this for the rest of my life especially when Warren left me." Jealousy and possessiveness were evident on his face upon hearing what I've said.

"But now, everything's different because you're with me. You're right. I should've considered our future. I don't want to just stay in my wheelchair while watching our little rascals play and explore the world. I want to be there in every step of the way." His eyes widened.

"Y-You mean—?" I smiled and then nodded my head.

"Yes. For you and our future children, I'll undergo another therapy to be able to walk again. This time, I'll push as hard as I could." Happiness flooded his handsome face.

"That's good to hear. Don't worry because I'll be there to support you. Soon, you will finally walk on your own two feet and when that time comes, we can finally experiment with new positions." My eyebrows creased.

"What position are you talking about?" I asked, didn't get what he meant right away. But when I noticed that naughty look on his face, I finally got it. My cheeks burned.

"Maximus!" He threw his head back as he laughed heartily. Such a naughty man!

"What aren't you curious what it feels like doing all those positions?" Because I got scandalized of what he was saying, I smacked him on the arm which made him laugh even more.

He kissed my cheek. "You're so cute, mi hermosa. I can't wait for us to finally do everything together and go whenever we please." I sneered at him even though I liked that too. I wanted to experience everything with him. Just imagining it was making my heart swell with so much happiness.

He chuckled. "I love you." That made me smile. Damn. I really love it whenever he whispers how much he loves me.

I cupped his face and then stared into his eyes. "And I love you too even though you're so naughty." He laughed heartily and then our lips met once again for a sensual kiss.

The next few weeks after that felt like a dream. I started my therapy with Maximus' friend named Alanis. She's such a patient and kind woman and I like her. At first, everything was so hard and I thought, it was already hopeless that I wanted to give up but Maximus, my grandparents and my best friends were there to support me.

Then one day, I just finished my therapy so we decided to go to the garden when I suddenly felt something.

"Oh, my God!" I exclaimed with widened eyes while gazing at my legs and Maximus approached me right away and knelt on his knee before me.

"What happened, mi hermosa?"

"M-My legs..."

"What happened to your legs?" He looked at my legs worriedly and even inspected it to see if something was wrong.

"It was just so sudden and brief but I managed to move them a little bit." I said full of wonder but when I tried to move them again, I couldn't do it anymore. The sensation that I felt a while ago disappeared and it became numb again.

The happiness within me disappeared.

"Really? That's good news!" He answered happily but when he noticed the sadness on my face, the excitement on his face faded.

"Why can't I do it again? I swear, I managed to move my legs a while ago! It was just so brief but I did it!" I frantically said as tears began welling my eyes.

"Shhh. That's enough. You don't have to cry. I believe you." He cupped my face and then kissed my forehead.

"But—"

"—You don't have to cry because this is surely a good sign. It's been only a few weeks but you're beginning to show signs of improvement already. Remember what Alanis said? She said that it wouldn't be easy but it's possible. Just stay positive and don't rush things. Stay focused and determined and you'll surely achieve the result that you want." He then planted a soft kiss on my lips. Our gazes met.

I was about to answer when someone spoke.

"Maximus is right, cucciola. You shouldn't feel frustrated about it. The important thing is you're beginning to show signs of improvement." I gasped in surprise, hearing my grandmother's voice. I looked at her direction and saw her with my grandfather.

I suddenly panicked. They surely saw us kissing! Cazzo! I forgot where were we and let Maximus kiss me!

"Annon, unnon, I—" I tried to explain but my grandfather interrupted me.

"—You don't have to panic, cucciola. Your annon and I already know about your relationship." I bit my lower lip as my cheeks heated up in embarrassment.

"How? S-Since when?"

"Do you really think that we didn't notice how you two look at each other since we got back from the USA? It was so obvious just the way you smile at each other whenever you think no one is watching." My grandma said full of amusement.

"Your annon is right that's why I talked to Maximus last night to confirm it and he admitted it to us." It was my grandpa. I looked at Maximus quizzically.

"I'm sorry, mi hermosa. I didn't want to lie to them. Besides, even if I denied it, they wouldn't believe me for sure because they already knew about our relationship even before they decided to talk to me." He explained.

I looked at my grandparents. They looked happy for the both of us but I couldn't help but to feel worried.

"What's with that face, cucciola? Don't worry because until you're ready to tell the truth to the royal family, your unnon and I will not say anything to them. We know the problems that it will cause you two so until you're ready, we'll keep quiet too." My face brightened up with happiness upon hearing that.

"Really, unnon, annon? You'll do that?"

"Of course. You're our granddaughter and we want nothing but your happiness. It has been so long since the last time we saw your smile and laugh and that's because of Maximus. We can see how happy you are with him and we don't see anything wrong with that."

"Your annon is right. I just hope that Maximus will keep his word though."

"You don't have to worry about that, signor De Falco. I love Athena so much and I am ready to fight for our relationship no matter what happens." Maximus answered determinedly and that made me smile.

"That's music to my ears. My granddaughter—" Whatever my unnon was about say was cut short when we heard Maximus' scream followedby a gunshot.

"Athena!" He pushed my wheelchair roughly to probablyget me out of the way before he fell on the floor.

"Maximus!" I called for his name when I saw him fall. Then, my eyes widened when I saw blood coming from his shoulder.