Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 453

It wasn’t exactly fair to take it out on Max, but maintaining composure around him was like trying to hold onto water–it just slipped through your fingers.

“Max, pick me up in three days, okay?” she murmured, the heaviness in her heart making it difficult to keep her voice steady.

Max just stared at her, a silent sentinel, not quite grasping where things had gone awry.

Brielle’s lashes fluttered downward in a vallant effort to dam the emotions threatening to spill over. She let out a sigh, rose on her tiptoes, and cradled his face in her hands, sealing their lips together in a tender kiss.

Max’s resolve melted like butter on a hot skillet. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her so close it felt as though they were trying to merge into one person. Their kiss deepened into at sweet, inescapable addiction.

Eventually, amidst the heat of their embrace, Max swept aside the clutter of papers on his desk. and in a smooth gesture, Brielle found herself perched atop the cool wooden surface.

Her legs twined around his waist, and the temperature In the room seemed to soar with their closeness. But she had to pull away. The wounds she bore were still healing, and any further exertion risked reopening them. Besides, If Max’s hands wandered to those areas, he’d discover the scars that marred her skin.

So she gently grasped his wandering hand, stilling it. “Don’t you have a visit to the sanatorium?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Indeed, Max was due to visit the sanatorium, and her teasing had flustered him more than he cared to admit. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he released her after a moment’s hesitation. “Brielle, are you doing this on purpose?” he asked, a note of Irritation creeping into

his tone.

“Great.” she thought, “he’s even angrier now.”

Brielle frowned, took a few seconds to consider, then offered, “Maybe another kiss would help?” Max took a deep breath and remained standing, motionless, as they locked eyes in a silent. standoff that lasted minutes. Finally, without a word, he turned and walked out the door.

window. The room’s earlier charged atmosphere had dissipated, but

hand, touching the spot where she’d had an appendectomy. The bandage

In the days following her surgery, she had worked hard to build up her mental fortitude. At first, the mere thought of Max had her weeping

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Chapter 45.3.

she could face him, even though her rational mind sometimes took leave.

didn’t cry,

of digging. uncovered a skeleton. Even after hastily burying the bones and planting trees and flowers over the spot, she

could think of

leave. However, as she stepped out of the office, she noticed a stranger peering around hesitantly, seemingly searching for someone. “Can I help you find someone?” she asked, sizing him up. She hadn’t seen him on this floor before: he

quickly masked his initial tension and explained his presence. “Hi, I’m Adrian. I’m looking for my girlfriend, Sydney. She’s been working late a

thermos, no doubt filled with

in the department was working late tonight. Brielle was the last to leave,

in the

to her on the phone an hour ago, and

office.”

you try calling her again?”

always came across as bubbly and straightforward, seemingly without a hint of

and dialed

that moment, Sydney, flushed and pinned beneath Spencer,

Brielle earlier, was venting his frustrations on Sydney. Adrian’s previous call

call, hesitated when she heard his command

the thrill of betrayal, and their