[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-416":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},416,68,"Chapter 68: \"Don't Be So Good To Me\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna was completely stunned by his words. She sat there for a long moment, unable to form a coherent response.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I... well...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She scrambled to organize her thoughts, but nothing came out. Eventually, she gave up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell looked on, offering the advice with an air of pure, helpful concern. \"This way, you won't strain your hand, and your arm won't go numb.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Technically, it made sense. But something still felt... off. She couldn't quite put her finger on what, though.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna, feeling dazed, let him take her hand and guide it toward his bare torso. \"Place it here. You won't be putting any pressure on yourself.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The moment her fingertips brushed his skin, she instinctively recoiled, but Maxwell—half-gently, half-firmly—guided her hand back to his body.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He placed it perfectly over his abs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna’s breath hitched. Her soft palm rested against his stomach; beneath the skin, she could feel the taut, defined lines of his core. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy and suffocating. She stayed frozen in her initial, stiff posture, palm pressed against him, not daring to move.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s fine,\" Maxwell said. \"You can touch.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"???\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Realizing how that sounded, Maxwell gave a light cough and regained his composure. \"I mean, feel free to put your hand wherever is comfortable. Whatever works for you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That sounded even worse. She parted her lips to speak, then thought better of it and just shut her mouth. She honestly couldn't find a single reply. She knew he was just being kind, but this was all just so…\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't overthink it,\" Maxwell’s voice was warm and smooth. \"I just want you to be comfortable so you aren't in so much pain. You have to work tomorrow, after all.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Was Maxwell a mind reader?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna quickly reined in her wandering thoughts and replied with an earnest nod. \"I know. Thank you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mm. Go to sleep.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He massaged her lower abdomen with a steady, rhythmic pressure that chased the cramping away. With her hand still resting against his firm, warm abs, she felt a strange sense of grounding. Once he had pointed out the logic, all her lingering, fluttery thoughts vanished. Her mind went completely blank—a clean slate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She fell asleep within five minutes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell lay on his side, watching her. He didn't stop the massage, his hand moving in slow, soothing circles. Arianna’s breathing was even; her long lashes were shut, casting shadows over her pale, delicate skin. She had a dainty nose and soft, natural-pink lips.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell kept his dark eyes locked on her, the intensity of his affection clear and unmasked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Partway through the night, she shifted, curling into a ball on her side. Maxwell adjusted his position to keep up the massage. Perhaps because the touch was so comforting, Arianna relaxed completely, drifting unconsciously toward his hand until her forehead rested against his shoulder.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her soft, shallow breaths ghosted against his skin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell carefully regulated his movement, terrified that if he were too rough, he’d wake her, but if he were too soft, the pain would return.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Maxwell,\" she whispered in her sleep. \"Don't be so good to me. I'm afraid I'll...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell’s breath hitched. \"You'll what?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She went silent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He froze, his heart pounding against his ribs, afraid to finish the sentence in his mind. Was she going to say she'd \"love\" him, or \"hate\" him?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Arianna?\" he prompted, his voice tight. \"What will you do?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There was no answer from the other side.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A moment later, it dawned on him: she was just talking in her sleep. He exhaled a long, shaky breath and stared blankly at the ceiling. He knew exactly what he was hoping for, and exactly what he was terrified of.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In the deep hours of the night, Arianna stirred.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The bed beside her was empty. A light shone from the bathroom, and the faint, rhythmic sound of running water drifted through the door.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She blinked, heavy with sleep, trying to make sense of the scene before drifting back into a deep, dreamless slumber.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Inside the bathroom, water cascaded down, soaking Maxwell’s hair. He slicked it back, baring a sharp, clean forehead. Water droplets tracked down his neck to his collarbone, trailing over his pale, solid chest and the defined muscles of his abdomen.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A low, gravelly groan mixed with the sound of the shower. The veins on his forearms stood out, a testament to the restraint he was desperately holding onto.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next morning, the heavy curtains remained drawn, though slivers of bright, early morning light cut through the gaps to create dappled patterns on the floor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The figure in the bed was still buried deep under the covers.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The alarm had already gone off once. A few minutes ago, Maxwell had watched with silent amusement as she’d grumbled, shoved a pale arm out from under the duvet to fumble for her phone, and cracked one eye open just long enough to kill the alarm before tucking herself back in with utter contentment.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She hadn't moved since.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell checked the time. It was early enough; he didn't mind waiting. He sat quietly at the edge of the bed, watching over her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Arianna,\" Maxwell said, his voice soft and amused. \"It’s getting late. Time to get up.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A muffled, sleepy voice drifted from beneath the quilt. \"What time is it?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The tail end of her sentence dragged, thick with the drowsy, congested tone of someone who had just woken up. It sounded sweet, lazy, and unintentionally like a pout.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell paused. He suddenly felt like the cold shower he’d taken in the middle of the night had been entirely wasted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He checked his phone after a long beat. \"Seven-thirty.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The moment the words left his lips, the covers were kicked off. Arianna bolted upright, a dazed, disbelieving look on her face. \"Say that again. What time?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Seven-thirty.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She leaped out of bed, shoved her feet into her slippers, and practically sprinted toward the bathroom. \"Wait for me! I need to get ready.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell stayed where he was, feeling a bit confused.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna moved with lightning speed, brushing her teeth and washing her face. Just as she was dampening a towel, a knock sounded on the bathroom door.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She cracked the door open. \"Yeah?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell stood there, looking relaxed, leaning against the doorframe. \"How’s the stomach? Still hurting?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">If he hadn't brought it up, she would have forgotten all about her period. \"It’s fine now,\" she replied sincerely. \"Thank you for last night.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't mention it,\" Maxwell replied. He looked at her, tilting his head. \"You aren't supposed to be at the office until eight-thirty. Why the rush?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna froze, clutching the towel to her chest. She stared at herself in the mirror for a few seconds before the realization hit her: she was on a business trip.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The schedule was different; her start time was pushed from eight to eight-thirty to accommodate the client's office.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell leaned back, looking entirely unbothered. \"It takes five minutes to get from here to the office, tops. You still have an hour. No need to panic.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"…Right. Got it.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272908215]