The brown ceiling was the first thing that I was saw upon opening my eyes. I groaned and then stretched my arms over my head. I felt stiff all over and still sleepy. I cupped my forehead when I felt my head ache. I looked around, still in a sleepy state when my eyes widened upon realizing that I was in an unfamiliar room.

I sat up abruptly in panic and was about to get out of bed when I felt something. I looked under the sheets and my eyes almost came out of its socket when I saw that I was only wearing an oversized shirt. Aside from that, nothing.

Cazzo! Where am I?! How come, I'm here in this place?!

Then, my questions were answered when everything came back to me. I almost face-palmed. I couldn't remember where Maximus brought me to because I fell asleep in the car. I didn't have the energy to argue and fight because my body felt weak and tired.

My cheeks reddened upon remembering what happened after he rescued me from those two men...

"Are you okay, mi hermosa?" I heard Maximus ask but I ignored him. My eyes were closed and I was already shaking in cold. I wanted to remove my wet clothes but I didn't have any change of clothes. Even Maximus was all drenched up.

We've been on the road for about 20 minutes already and I couldn't care less of where we were heading to anymore because I began to feel terrible and weak inside.

I felt like I was going to get a fever because of staying under the rain for so long. My clothes were still wet and I was already cold. He'd been telling me to take off my wet clothes but I didn't listen to him.

He's been throwing me weird glances while his jaw was flexing tightly.

"Damn it!" I heard Maximus grunt before pulling up the car on the shoulder of the road. He pulled the handbrake to keep the car still before going out and opened the trunk without turning off the engine of the car.

After a couple of seconds, he came back inside and then threw the thing that he was holding to the backseat. I didn't even recognize what he took from the car because my eyes were half-closed.

The rain was still pouring hard but I didn't care anymore. I felt weak that I couldn't do anything but to close my eyes and decided to sleep. I hugged myself, trying to seek for any heat and comfort but it was futile. The heater of the car was on but it wasn't enough.

Ever since I was a child, I've never spent that long under the rain. I couldn't even remember an instance where I got drenched in the rain because my nanny and royal guards were always there for me. They always have anything that I need like umbrella and other stuff.

Then, I opened my eyes when I felt his hands on my top. I scowled at him.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked when I saw that he was unbuttoning my top.

"Removing your wet clothes. If you won't do it then I'll be the one to remove it for you." My eyes widened.

"And why would you do that?! Don't tell me you're—" He put a finger on my lips to silence me.

"—I am merely removing your clothes because you're so hard-headed. I've been telling you to take off your wet clothes since a while ago but you were so stubborn. Look at you. You look like you're about to get sick now because of staying under the rain for too long not to mention that you stayed in your wet clothes." He released a harsh breath. "Don't worry, I have an unused blanket here. You can use it to cover yourself up for now." He then continued unbuttoning my top.

I wanted to protest but I knew that he was right. I needed to take my wet clothes off.

After unbuttoning it, he took it off me and then threw it to the backseat. He was about to take off my bra too when he stopped as he raked me a stare. Longing, lust and desire were evident in his eyes as he swallowed hard. My body's reaction was automatic. I began to feel hot as if a fire licked my skin. My cheeks reddened.

Did he really think that he still had the right to remove my clothes off like before?!

I hugged myself to cover myself up. "Pervert! Don't look at me like that!" I rebuked in a mixture of anger and embarrassment. I caught him swallow hard again before averting his gaze the other way.

"Pervert? How come?" He asked, feigning ignorance and I glared at him. He scratched the back of his head and heaved a defeated sigh before distancing himself from me.

"Fine. You can take your remaining clothes off yourself." He then leaned the back of his head against the headrest and then stared before us.

"Close your eyes and turned your back on me." I commanded sternly. He snapped his head to my direction and stared at me as if he was making sure if he heard what I've said right. His lips were even parted.

"But why, mi hermosa?" Even his voice sounded clueless and I wanted nothing but to smack him at that moment.

"I said, close your eyes and turn your back on me not the other way around!" I hissed in annoyance. I caught him gazing at my breasts even though I was covering them with my arms.

"C'mon, mi hermosa. Just take your clothes off. You're really going to get sick if you won't remove your wet clothes now."

I gritted my teeth. "I said—" He sighed loudly and then cut me off.

"—Fine, you win." He really turned his back on me but I wasn't sure if he closed his eyes or not. I quickly unhooked my bra and then began easing off my jeans.

I didn't want to undress but he was right. I would surely get sick if wouldn't. I bit my lower lip as I stared at my panties. I didn't want to remove it but I didn't have a choice. It would be very uncomfortable wearing wet undergarment.

I released a harsh breath and then just removed it from me.

I folded my wet clothes neatly and then put in on the backseat. I looked for the blanket that he threw there a while ago and groaned inwardly when it was at the farthest part of the backseat from me.

I looked around, getting paranoid that someone was watching us from the outside but there was nothing but trees.

I knelt on my seat, facing the backseat. I bended over through the space between the shotgun seat and then driver's seat in order to be able to reach for the blanket when I lose a grip onto the headrest of the shotgun seat and because of that, I lost my balance.

I squealed as I held onto the edge of the backseat so that I wouldn't fall face first on the floorboard of the car.

"Mi hermosa! What's happening—" Whatever Maximus was about to say was cut short upon seeing my position. I heard him gasp loudly and I wanted to die in embarrassment, especially when he finally managed to pull himself together and pulled me by the waist to help me until I finally managed to sit properly on my seat.

Then, Maximus took the blanket from the backseat and then quickly handed it to me.

"Cover yourself up while I still have my self-control." He sounded like he was having a hard time as he averted his gaze from mine. I felt like my whole face down to my neck turn red like a tomato because of what happened.

I quickly covered myself up. I wanted to say something, anything to save myself from that embarrassment but I couldn't think of any to say. A while ago, I was so furious because he forced me to come with him. But now, all I wanted was to disappear from there because of the embarrassment that I was feeling.

I've never experienced this kind of humiliation until now and the worst part was, it happened in front of Maximus!

Well, it's better than in front of other people, right? A part of my brain said and I almost smacked myself. I could feel my cheeks burning and I groaned inwardly.

Cazzo! You just embarrassed yourself in front of him like an idiot, Ath! Good job! I chastised myself inwardly.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, mi hermosa. Until now, I still memorize every detail of your beautiful body; the softness of your skin, your smell, even the smallest mole in your body, everything...It's just that, I missed you so much that it's almost impossible for me not to ravish you right here, right now. The only thing that's stopping me is the fact that we haven't talked properly yet and you're still mad at me." He said without looking at me. I noticed that his grip onto the steering wheel was tight and he even swallowed hard.

"Just like what I've said; we don't have anything to talk about anymore." I answered bitterly. That was when he finally looked at my direction.

"Believe me, mi hermosa. We have a lot to talk about and I won't let this chance to pass by. I finally had the chance to talk to you so I will do everything for you to listen to me." He looked determined and I knew that I couldn't do anything for him to let me go.

He released the handbrake and then maneuvered the car out of there. I chose to just keep quiet because knowing Maximus, his determination is one of a kind.

I closed my eyes and decided to just ignore him. I didn't know how long we travelled because I fell asleep after that...

I looked at direction of the door when I heard it open to check who came in. It was none other than Maximus, holding a tray full of food.

"I'm glad you finally woke up, mi hermosa. You made me so worry. You've been sleeping since yesterday so I'm sure, you're starving. I cooked something for you." He said and then placed the tray on the bedside table.

I looked at the time and my eyes went wide when I saw that it was already 8 pm. I've been sleeping for more than 24 hours!

I was about to get off the bed but I suddenly felt nauseous that I leaned my back against the oversized headboard as I cupped my forehead.

"Are you okay, mi hermosa? You had fever yesterday that I had to call my friend who is a doctor. According to him, you just got a fever because of staying under the rain for too long yesterday. I hope you're feeling fine now." He said as he sat on the edge of the bed, next to me.

I bit back a gasp when he suddenly cupped my face and then drew his face closer to mine until our foreheads touched. Our lips were so close and it became hard to breath for some reason.

"You still have a little fever so don't force yourself. Just stay here and rest." He then kissed my forehead before letting go of me and then took the bowl of food that he made.

"You need to eat. I'm sure that you're weak right now because you haven't eaten anything since yesterday." He scooped a spoonful of the rice porridge that he made and brought it closer to my mouth.

"C'mon, eat up." My heart pounded for some reason. He was so close. I bit my lower lip.

"You don't have to do this. I can eat by myself." I said impassively without looking at him. When my nausea finally went away, I got off the bed. Maximus quickly put the bowl back in the tray and then hurriedly approached me.

"Mi hermosa—"

"—Where is the washroom?" I interrupted him coldly and he raked his fingers through his hair in obvious frustration before answering.

"That door." I went inside the washroom. I looked at my reflection in the big mirror. I still looked kinda pale. I groaned inwardly. Now, what? I pulled my hair in frustration. I didn't know how long I was staring in the mirror, thinking of what to do next, before I huffed and then decided to wash my face.

I opened the drawer under the sink and saw a pack of unused toothbrush. I took the liberty to take one and used it. After that, I was about to go out the washroom when I remembered what I was wearing. I touched the oversized t-shirt. Looked like it was Maximus'.

Thankfully, it was big enough to hide the fact that I wasn't wearing any undergarment. I huffed and then decided to just go out. I opened the door and was about to walk out of there when I gasped in surprise because Maximus as at the doorway and I almost bumped into him.

"I was about to knock because I got worried of you. You were taking too long in there and I thought—"

"—Where are my clothes?" I interrupted whatever he wanted to say and walked past him. Being close like that with him made my heart beat weirdly and I couldn't stand it. I didn't want to entertain it.

I looked around the room but I couldn't find my clothes.

"I'm not sure where. I gave it to someone for laundry yesterday."

"I want to go home. Give me back my clothes." I voiced out without turning around to look at him. I could feel his hot stares in my back.

"You still have a fever so I can't allow you to go. Besides, just like I've told you yesterday, I want us to talk properly." I gritted my teeth.

"You don't have the right to keep me here. My wedding will be held tomorrow so I have to go back home to prepare now." I answered with a stern voice.

"Do you really think that I would allow you to marry that guy?" I pivoted and gave him a sharp stare.

"I am not asking for your permission! I am going to marry Franco whether you like it or not!" His eyes turned into slits. I thought, he would get mad judging by the vivid rage in his eyes, but surprisingly, he didn't explode.

"Do you love him?" His voice was calm yet I could sense the danger behind his façade. I met his gaze bravely.

"I have a duty to fulfill. Whether I love him or not, I will marry him. That's my destiny." He shook his head.

"No, he's not your destiny, mi hermosa."

"And who do you think you are to tell me that? You don't know anything." The corner of his lips twitched.

"Believe me, mi hermosa. I know a lot, enough for me to say that you're mistaken. He's not the one whom you're destined to marry."

"And who is it that I'm destined to marry, then? You?!" I retorted in anger. His eyes shone with an unknown emotion as he held me by my shoulders. Our gazes locked.

"Yes, mi hermosa. No one else but me." I was stunned. He sounded so sure and confident. I zeroed my eyes at him as my resentment and anger began surging from within me like an unstoppable hurricane.

"Stop joking around, Mr. Vázquez. Do you really think that I would marry someone like you? After what you—" Before I had the chance to complete my sentence, Maximus already cupped my face and then captured my lips with a hot kiss.

"Hmp—" I tried to resist but he didn't let me and quickly deepened the kiss. I hit his shoulder with my fist but he was unaffected. I could feel my body slowly responding to his kisses and I got scared. I knew what kind of effect Maximus had on me and I couldn't let my body surrender under his magic spell.

Everything's different now and I shouldn't be weak like this...

"Damn. I missed kissing you, mi hermosa. Your lips are still as sweet and soft as ever. Just feeling your lips against mine is making me crazy already." He uttered huskily when he finally let go of my lips. He touched my cheek with the back of his hand while gazing at me full of longingness and other emotions that I didn't want to acknowledge.

Wake up, Ath! You shouldn't let him manipulate you again!

He was about to kiss me once again when I finally gathered enough strength. I needed to get away from him while I could still think clearly.

I was about to hit his balls with my knee but looked like he sensed what I was planning to do. He swiftly moved to avoid it.

Instead of hitting his weakness, my knee landed on his leg. I grunted. Looked like I didn't have a choice. I held his wrist and pivoted around, intending to twist his arm but he was quick to counter it. I continued my attack, using every move that I learned during my martial arts training but looked like Maximus was an expert in this kind of thing because he managed to stop my attacks and then eventually restrained me without using brute force.

Now, our bodies were pressing together deliciously while his arms were around now my waist, holding both of my wrists behind me. Because he was taller than me, I was looking up at him with fiery gaze but he just chuckled.

"I didn't know that you knew a little bit of martial arts, mi hermosa."

"Let go of me!" I hissed and tried to struggle but he was too strong for me. Instead, he pulled me even closer that his muscled body ground against mine.

He drew his face closer to mine until our lips were almost touching. His face became serious while holding my gaze.

"I'm happy to see that you're finally walking on your own. I'm sorry that I couldn't fulfil my promise to be there with you in every step of the way while you were having your therapy. If I only had a choice, I would've been there for you." That familiar pain attacked my heart. My throat tightened because of the rush of negative emotions within me. My eyes watered.

"I missed you so much, mi hermosa. I really thought, I wouldn't've the chance to see and hold you like this again but God gave me another chance in life to make it up to you. I'm sorry for all the pain that I've caused you. I know that you're mad at me right now but please, give me another chance and listen to me. I love you so much and I hope, you haven't forgotten that." His eyes watered as well. His voice was slightly shaking as he turned emotional.

I gulped inaudibly. I felt like I lost the capability to talk.

He slowly let go of my wrists and then his hands slowly caressed their way up to my shoulders until he cupped my face while still gazing at me full of love. My traitorous heart skipped a beat upon hearing his declaration.

It has been so long since the last time I heard that from him and it brought me unexplainable emotions.

I wanted to cry. If I would just choose to listen to my heart, I knew that what I'd do next. If I would choose to be selfish, everything would be a lot easier. If only I wasn't a princess of Costavia then maybe...