Unable to handle the heart-wrenching wound, and knowing this was the end for us, I headed for the kitchen to grab my purse as tears dampened my cheeks. At that moment, overwhelming regret kicked in. I had waited too long. I let my pride and insecurity get in the way of a blooming relationship. I wanted to crawl into a hole and sob until I could forget this day, until I could feel nothing and forget Max and what I’d done to us. Before I walked out of his life, I needed to tell him how I truly felt.

“I know I haven’t said the word before, but I can say it without a doubt. I am in love with you, Maxwell Knight. I love you, and I want you to be mine. I want to belong to you, and only you. Do you hear me, Max? I love you. And I will say it a million times and shout it out to the world to make you hear me.”

As my words flew out of my mouth fast and loud, Max’s eyes sparkled and his blank expression turned into raw hunger. His stride was long and fast, with a purpose. Oh God! He was coming for me! My body was already pulsating, reacting to him.

Before I’d lost any more of my dignity, I wanted to run out the door. When I reached the doorknob, Max swung me around.

“Jenna, we are not done, nor are we broken. I had to see how you would react. I needed to know. Now I see you truly love me.”

Confused, I peered up at him as I wiped my tears.

“No matter how many times you tear us down, I will build us back up. I will be patient with your insecurities and lack of experience in relationships. I will continue to show you time and time again, how much you mean to me. I will wait for you. You are everything to me. That is the reason I can’t let you go.”

I felt as if I had breathed in the sweetest air. He awakened me, making me feel high. His words went straight to my heart. He had torn me apart, but then he put me back together with his love. Max continued speaking, as his hands weaved through my hair, pulling me closer to his lips.

“I’m going to enjoy punishing you for what you put me through, but not in the way you think. I would never hurt you. I’m going to punish you with my lips, my tongue, my hands, and my body. You’ll be begging me to stop. I’m going to make you feel every single bit of worth. I’m going to strip you down naked to your soul, so you’ll feel everything I’m feeling. Until you know how much you mean to me and how much you turn me on. Until you understand how much I love every part of you, your beautiful body, your heart, your mind, and your soul.”

“I still wonder why me, when you can have anyone?”

“Why not you, Jenna? Don’t you get it? I’m in love with you. Only you. No one can control who they fall in love with. Just the sight of you drives me wild. And God help me, because I can’t control myself around you.”

His passionate words, hungry eyes and body so close to mine, made me lose all control. I slammed my lips to his so hard that it hurt. It felt as though we were kissing for the first time and we couldn’t get enough of each other. God, he tasted so good. I had missed kissing him, devouring him. I needed him NOW!

Max responded with the same intensity and passion. His stubble pricked and scratched my lips, but I didn’t care. When his arms tangled in the strap of my purse, he slid it off my shoulder. “You’re not going anywhere.”

As he was sucking my lip, he yanked my sweater off. “Sorry, babe, I’ll buy you a new one.” We both watched in amusement as several buttons bounced as they hit the ground. With a short chuckle from Max, I was lost in his endless kisses to my face and neck, all the while undressing both of us.

Scooping me up, my legs dangled over his forearm. Along the way, he grabbed his tie. Midway up the stairs, he stopped and placed me down. Piercing his eyes into mine, they were heated, domineering, and possessive. “Say it again. Tell me you love me.” His tone was gentle, yet demanding.

I took a step up so we could be eye to eye. Taking pleasure in brushing my hands across the incredibly sexy stubble covering his face, I lovingly looked into his eyes. “I love you, Maxwell Knight. I will never love another man as much as I love you.”

Max radiated a smile I hadn’t seen in a while. Then his eyes laid on me tenderly, but with desire. “Sit,” he ordered. “I said I would punish you and you know I don’t back down on my word.”

Seeing Max stroke his tie enticed me, leaving me to wonder what he was going to do with it. Sitting down in the middle of the stairs, I tilted my head back, but Max had already kneeled down to me. Moving swiftly, he not only tied my hands together, he tied them to the poles on the stairway too. I had never been tied up before but holy shit! This was beyond anything I’d ever experienced before.

Max gave me a sexy wink while he spread my legs apart. “Enjoy your punishment.” Then with one long stroke of his tongue on my clit, I exploded. Arching my back as I took in the pleasure of being consumed by him, I wanted to touch him. I wanted to run my hands over his back and through his hair. I wanted to touch any part of him, but I couldn’t.

The throbbing, aching need got worse when he leisurely glided up to my breast with his tongue as he nipped and sucked on my nipple, producing both pleasure and pain. Every caress and every kiss from Max scorched through my veins like a blazing fire, igniting again and again. I was smoldering between my legs from missing him. I ached with the realization of almost losing him. I was soaking wet. I needed him like I needed air, and I was both hungry and thirsty for him.

“Max, I want to touch you,” I breathed, unable to focus as he sucked and nipped at my ni**les, while his fingers teased the hell out of my clit.