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“You held your composure longer than you thought you would.”

A faint laugh escaped me. “I tried.”

“I know.” He pressed a kiss to my temple. “You begged beautifully.”

My lips twitched. “Well, you said I would.” Little by little, I slipped back into my own body. He moved his hand slowly over my back with broad, steady strokes. No rush. No urgency.

I shifted closer, tucking my face into his chest.

His hand tightened slightly at my shoulder. “I had you the whole time.”

My chest warmed, and I couldn’t rein the words in.

“You still do.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“Any regrets?” he asked after a moment.

I shook my head. “That was exactly what I asked for. Something unforgettable.”

His breathing caught, but he didn’t loosen his arm. “Good.” Another kiss to my temple. “You’re safe. I’m here. Breathe.” His hand never stopped moving, never left me.

When my tremors had fully subsided, and the room finally felt steady again, I realised something important.

Max hadn’t just controlled the scene. He’d carried me out of it.

I feel… whole.

Fifteen minutes must have passed, not that I was much good at judging time right then, and I was still half draped across him with neither of us pretending there was a clock running.

“You can go if you need to,” Max said eventually.

It didn’t feel like a dismissal, but more like habit.

I tilted my head to look at him. “Do you want me to?”

He paused, and that was unexpected. “No,” he said at last.

That was unexpected too. The first time, everything had been structured. Clear entry, clear exit.

Now there was space.

“I don’t want to go,” I admitted.

He studied me, and I knew instinctively that he was searching for neediness, for dependency.

He won’t find it.

I was simply there, in the moment.

Max nodded once. “Then stay.”

It felt less like an instruction and more like an invitation.

I shifted closer, resting my chin on his chest. “You were different tonight.”

He stilled. “How?”