38 • No, We're Not Friends

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆

We reached her hotel room in three minutes or less. Alone. Enjoying the little privacy we still had.

Once I shut the door behind us, my phone buzzed in my back pocket, but I ignored it. The feeling of her entire body leaning against me trumped everything else.

In the dimness, I nuzzled the side of her ear as my hands traced the curve of her hips, earning me a muted sigh from her. A sigh of regret? Or total submission? Perhaps both.

"Maxim, we can't." Adreana spoke in a hushed voice, perhaps out of embarrassment and worry. Her warm breaths fanned my cheeks and mouth, and her soft hand wouldn't stop caressing my chest.

"Yeah. I know."

"We just can't right now. Sorry."

"Don't apologize," I murmured after gently kissing her temple.

"You know why," she went on upon glancing at me, her sigh prolonged. "Love, I just wanna be safe."

I pulled away. Did she just say "love"? Was it a pet name she used with her other friends? Did she have any friends? "I know."

"Goodnight kiss?"