Let Him Knock

Maxwell looked slightly ill-at-ease, though he was forced to concede, "Yeah. It’s fine now."

"Then there’s no need to get water," Arianna said. "Let’s head back down. There’s hot water and paper cups downstairs."

Maxwell hadn’t anticipated that particular obstacle.

He stood frozen for a moment, his posture stiff, before he murmured, "Actually, it still hurts a bit. Walking might be a struggle. I think I’d like to sit for a while longer."

Arianna frowned, puzzled. He had looked perfectly fine just a moment ago, moving with the ease of an athlete.

"Alright, you sit. I'll go get the water."

"It's alright. I can manage to get some water."

Maxwell was acting very strange tonight. Something was definitely off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what. Regardless, he wasn't the same Maxwell she was used to.

Arianna was lost in thought when a cup was held out toward her. A clear, gentle voice drifted down from above. "Careful, it's hot."

"Got it. Thank you."

She reached out to take the cup, only to realize her mistake a split second later. "Wait, no, I..."

Maxwell offered a knowing, graceful smile. "It's fine. Consider it a debt—you can pay me back later."

"..."

She couldn't believe he was actually talking about "paying back" a thank-you. It seemed she would have to add the word "thanks" to her list of forbidden topics.

He sat back down on the sofa, his posture relaxed and devil-may-care, yet his gaze remained tender as he looked at her. "Want to watch a movie?"

A movie? In here?

Arianna deferred to him, pulling out her phone. "What do you want to watch?"

Maxwell scrolled through his phone for a moment before selecting a three-hour nature documentary. The opening sequence featured a jagged, towering mountain peak—the quintessential nature special.

Arianna looked at him with surprise. "You like these?"

"I do."

"Really? I've never heard you mention it."

Maxwell didn't miss a beat. "I just got into them recently. Forgot to mention it."

Fair enough.

Arianna rested her chin on her hand, quietly keeping him company. On the screen, aerial shots soared over the rugged peaks, the landscape vast and imposing under the clouds. The mountains were shrouded in mist, deep and unfathomable.

The scenery was breathtaking, accompanied by the low, rhythmic narration of the voice-over. Before long, Arianna’s eyelids began to grow heavy. She fought to keep them open, battling the encroaching sleep. Her consciousness drifted, the sound of the documentary fading into the distance. She felt a gaze fixed on her, but she was too exhausted to even open her eyes.

Suddenly, a sharp *knock-knock-knock* echoed through the room.

A man’s voice followed from the other side. "Is anyone in there? Sorry to bother you."

The sound dragged Arianna back to reality. She snapped fully awake, glancing from the door to Maxwell. She caught him staring at her with deep, ink-black eyes. He was watching her intensely, saying nothing.

She was still a little groggy, but she remembered Maxwell’s injured foot. She stood up, taking the initiative. "You stay seated. I’ll get the door."

Maxwell didn't speak. He kept his eyes locked on her, his expression dark and unreadable.

The knocking sounded again.

"Sorry to disturb you. Could you please open up?"

Through the thick door, the man’s voice was muffled by the thrum of the bass from the music outside. Arianna didn't suspect anything; the voice just sounded vaguely familiar.

She reached her pale, slender fingers toward the handle. Then, a delayed realization hit her: Maxwell had locked the door from the inside.

As she moved her hand down to the deadbolt, her wrist was suddenly caught and pinned against the door.

Arianna was caught completely off guard. She let out a small gasp and instinctively stepped back, her entire body pressed against the heavy wood of the door. Maxwell, who had been several feet away just a moment ago, was now standing right in front of her.

He leaned in, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes dark, swirling, and bottomless. His look was cold, almost glacial. She didn't know what had triggered this sudden shift, but one thing was certain: he was displeased. Extremely displeased.

Arianna’s voice dropped to a whisper, terrified that the person outside would hear her. "What's wrong?"

Maxwell pulled her into his arms, his grip bruisingly firm. He held her shoulders, as if trying to melt her into his very bones. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear, his voice low and raspy. "Don't go out there."

Arianna was still dazed. Trapped in his embrace, she felt as if the air was being squeezed out of her lungs. She whispered back, "Go where?"

Maxwell pulled her head firmly into his chest. His voice had lost its usual gentleness, replaced by an immovable authority. "You are not leaving this room tonight."

Arianna was stunned. *We’re in the 21st century—what is this, an old-school kidnapping?*

She couldn't believe her own internal monologue. She tilted her head toward the door. "But someone's knocking."

Maxwell held her stubbornly, with no intention of letting go. "Ignore him. Let him knock."

*Alright then.*

Even though Arianna had no idea who was outside, or what kind of history they had with Maxwell, she respected his wishes. If he didn't want to see them, she wouldn't open it.

Only, a thought struck her— "Am I not allowed to leave this room at all tonight? Where are we supposed to spend the night?"

She glanced behind him, scanning the room. "The sofa? The table? Or the floor?"

"None of the above," Maxwell murmured, still holding her. After a long pause, he finally explained, his voice thick, "That's not what I meant. I just meant... don't go out yet. Not right now."

"Oh. Then—"

Before Arianna could finish her sentence, Maxwell grabbed the back of her head and crashed his lips onto hers.

He didn't give her a chance to speak, nor a chance to prepare. He dived straight in, his lips and tongue sliding into her mouth with a provocative, claiming intensity. Unlike their previous gentle encounters, this kiss was urgent, carrying an undeniable, aggressive force.

She was pinned against the heavy, solid door. Maxwell gripped her wrists, his fingers interlacing with hers, pressing them hard against the wood. He loosened his grip on her waist, but his mouth remained relentless. His breath was ragged, his hunger almost predatory as he devoured her. The kiss deepened, moving from her lips down to the line of her jaw and the sensitive skin of her neck.

In all their time together, this was the first time Arianna had seen this side of Maxwell. She was momentarily paralyzed, forgetting even to push him away.

Outside, the person hadn't left yet. The rhythmic *knock-knock-knock* continued.

Arianna held her breath, her heart hammering against her ribs, terrified that the person outside might sense something was wrong. After a few more knocks, the man outside gave up on politeness.

"Arianna."

"Arianna, I know you're in there."

"Open the door. I have something I need to tell you."

Shocked, Arianna’s eyes went wide. She looked at Maxwell.

*The person outside is Cameron Hughes?*

How did he know she was in here? How did he even find her? Her thoughts were spiraling, but she was cut off when he bit down, not too hard, on the tip of her tongue.

Maxwell pulled back, giving her two seconds to catch her breath. "Mrs. King, focus, would you?"