Seeing Chloe come was a privilege, Maxwell thought. A true privilege. That buttoned-up, respectable, professional woman in the neat slacks was gone, replaced by a wild creature of pure pleasure. She was writhing, squirming, crying out, swearing as her whole body shook and shivered against his. He wanted to give her every last bit of pleasure he possibly could before he let go. Because she deserved it. She deserved everything.
Finally, as her cries peaked, Maxwell let go, coming hard as the last throws of her orgasm squeezed tight around him and their bodies melted into each other like they were one flesh, bound together.
When their bodies stilled, Maxwell felt boneless, exhausted and completely content. Content, because now there was a warm, smiling, and clearly equally exhausted Chloe in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Her soft breath tickled the tiny hairs at the back of his neck, but he didn’t mind. He wanted to feel that breath every moment that he could.
“So, I was a good girl, huh?” Chloe smiled against him.
“I couldn’t resist,” Maxwell told her. “When I said that to you in the cave, I thought you kind of liked it.”
“Oh, I did,” Chloe said softly. “I really did. Actually, I shouldn’t have made you a pocket square.”
“No?”
“I should have made you a medal,” she said. “For being so fantastically talented. Seriously, you deserve one.”
Maxwell chuckled, hugging her closer. At that moment, it felt like everything was perfect. He wished he could stop time and just live in this moment forever. The light of the fire was soft and warm, he could smell the leatherbound books on the shelves, the crisp night air kept at bay by the double-glazed windows. There was just him and Chloe. The rest of the world – the past, the future – none of it mattered. Just this.
“I think you deserve one too,” he said. “Seriously. With you, it’s like…nothing else.”
Chloe shifted in his arms like she was shaking her head. “That’s sweet,” she said. “But I’m not naïve. You’ve been around a long time and you look like a movie star. You must have had thousands of women.”
Maxwell made a sound, not wanting to agree. It was technically true, but it didn’t mean what he had said was any less true either. “You’re still the best,” he said firmly, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“Mm, I bet you say that to all the girls,” Chloe teased, but Maxwell didn’t like to hear her say it. It was like she didn’t want him to be too serious, too affectionate. Like she didn’t want to hear what was in his heart.
“I don’t,” he said, stroking her cheek. “I hope you can believe that.”
Chloe smiled against his skin but didn’t say anything. A few more long moments passed, but less peacefully than before. At least for Maxwell.
“I should tell you something,” he said finally. He needed her to know that this was different for him. That whatever this was between them, it was important to him.
“What?” Chloe looked up, a tiny frown between her eyebrows.
“About why I got cursed,” Maxwell said carefully.
“I thought you didn’t know why?”
“That’s…not the whole truth,” Maxwell admitted. “I was in New York, at a club for paranormals. And I met a witch. Well, she and her friends were with my friends and…”
“I can imagine the rest,” Chloe said drily.
“You probably can,” Maxwell said. “It was just a casual thing. I mean, I thought we both knew that. I was only with her a few times, and it wasn’t like we ever talked much. I barely knew her. But then…”
“Then?” Chloe pressed.
“Then she saw me with someone else,” Maxwell confessed. “And she, well, she got upset. Very upset, actually. I tried to talk to her, to explain that we had never actually…you know, been a thing. Certainly never discussed being exclusive.”
Maxwell felt Chloe stiffen in his arms. Clearly, she wasn’t a huge fan of this anecdote.
“I see,” she said after a moment. “And then she cursed you?”
“Pretty much,” Maxwell said. “She said she wanted me to suffer, as she had. I had no idea anyone else could be affected by the curse; I hope you know that’s true. But my friends didn’t want to run the risk, and so—”
“So you ended up here,” Chloe finished. “And I got the brunt of the curse when you looked at me with unbridled lust in your heart.”
“Well, yes,” Maxwell said, feeling ashamed. “But that was only when I first met you. Now, it’s different. I know you, and I…” He faltered, searching for the right words. But they wouldn’t come.
“That witch really liked you, huh?” Chloe said, and he could see her smile was forced. “Can’t say I blame her.”
Maxwell huffed out a forced laugh. “Well, I don’t know if she really did, that’s the thing. She kept talking about how she thought I’d make her a vampire. I think that’s what she really wanted, anyway.”
Chloe made a sound of surprise. “Really?” she said. “That’s weird. I can’t imagine actually wanting to be a vampire.”
And wow, that hurt. Hurt more than Maxwell could have possibly expected. Clearly, it showed on his face.
“Sorry!” Chloe said quickly. “I mean, it suits you. I’m certainly not anti-vampire. It’s just weird that she wanted to be turned. I guess it’s different for witches.”
Maxwell nodded, feeling like he had been not just punched in the gut but kicked repeatedly by a Super Bowl champion. “I guess it is,” he said. Well, that certainly settled one thing, he thought. Sean had been wrong. Chloe, it seemed, had no intention of even considering turning. Certainly not for him. The very idea seemed to repulse her.
“She was wrong to curse you, though,” Chloe said, patting his chest. “I mean, you didn’t promise her anything. In your position, why would you be looking for anything long term? It wouldn’t make sense.”
And that was another round of kicks. The whole team was having a go now, kicking and kicking until he was bruised inside.
“Well, I…” Maxwell began, shaking his head. “I wasn’t,” he said finally. He wanted to tell her that it was different with her. That when he thought about a future with her, it felt…good. But he wouldn’t say it. Not now. Not after she had made it clear that such a future was impossible.