Chapter 19 - Maxim

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I yell, dodging another punch as Stefano swings in a blind rage.

“You fucking Dubrovs are all murderers, and I need to get the fuck out of here.”

“Don’t you think you would be dead already if that is what we wanted to do? Why the hell would we waste our time looking after you for weeks just to kill you?”

I have to shout, because Stefano doesn’t seem to be listening at all.

He grabs a small statue from the hallway table and flings it at me. I catch it in the air, wondering what he”s trying to achieve. I move to set the statue back down on the table.

“Stefano, just take a breath,” I say, stepping toward him, and he slaps my arm to the side, sending the statue flying again. This time, it shatters against the wall.

“For crying out loud,” I yell, getting more and more frustrated.

Stefano spins toward me again, and as he moves, I step aside, then twist my arm around his throat and throw him to the floor. This is getting ridiculous. I don’t even know what triggered his anger.

“Stefano, stop,” Chiara shouts, stepping closer. She has been hanging back and watching us in horror.

“Chiara, stay there,” I snap.

She steps away again, to my relief. I don’t want her getting caught in the middle of this mayhem.

I lay the weight of my body over Stefano and press his face against the floor. He squirms and yells, trying to get me off him, but my arm is locked around his neck and he can’t move.

“Just kill me and get it over with,” he says, sounding defeated.

For a second, that is exactly what I want to do.

Every moment that he disrespected Chiara over the past few weeks flashes through my mind. He”s been treating her like shit, speaking to her like shit, and being a total fucking asshole, even though she has been gentle and kind the entire time.

My lips curl into a snarl, and I want to tell him that it”s about time I end his ungrateful waste of an existence.

But instead, I close my eyes.

I clench my jaw.

That isn’t who I am.

Violence doesn’t solve anything, even against this idiot who only knows how to use it in any situation.

“Take a fucking breath,” I snap.

Stefano kicks.

“Stefano. Take a breath. Calm down for one fucking second, man.”

I ease my grip around his neck, and he doesn’t fight. His body is limp, and his breathing is heavy. “Stef, seriously, fighting like this is not the solution. You have to get over this hatred, or whatever your problem is with me and my family. If you can’t, we”ll never be able to solve anything.”

“How can I get over the fact that you fucked up my life?”

I sigh.

“We didn’t fuck up your life. Just be open to the idea that you might be wrong about how you think things happened. Stop blaming us for everything.”

I lift my weight off him and stand up. Stefano slowly moves onto his knees, still looking furious. I step back, giving him space as he runs his hands through his hair. His entire body looks tense. So is mine, though. All of the adrenaline is still coursing through me.

As Stefano gets to his feet, I step between him and Chiara, unsure about what he will do.

He glares at me. “Let me go.”

“Stefano, I’m sorry, man, but you can’t leave here.”

“What the fuck,” he snarls.

“You have to stay here until we figure out who is behind all of these attacks. Both your warehouse and mine, and all the other shit that”s been going on.”

“My warehouse got attacked, too. Obviously, I”m not behind it.”

“I can’t assume that. So, unfortunately, I have to take every precaution. You”ll be staying here until this is resolved. From now on, my security team will be watching you closely, and if there is another incident like this one…well, let’s just hope that you don’t cause another incident like this one.”

My eyes are narrowed as I stare at him. I hope he understands the gravity of my words. I will not accept this kind of behavior in my home, and certainly not around my wife.

“So now you”re finally admitting that I”m your prisoner?” Stefano snarls.

“Unfortunately, yes, if that is the word you want to use. I would prefer to call you my forced guest, as you will still be comfortable, and all your needs will be met. But this shit has gone on long enough. So perhaps you want to take this time to consider how you can help solve this puzzle while you”re here instead of making things worse. The sooner we find out who is behind this, the sooner you can leave.”

Chiara steps out from behind me, and I immediately hold out my arm to stop her from walking towards Stefano.

Stefano glares at her as well. “You”re on board with this? I”m a prisoner here now?”

“Stefano—”

“It’s fucking bullshit,” he yells.

I nod at my security team. “You can escort Stefano to his room for now. I think he needs some time to calm down. It’s late, and we should all get some rest.”

I step back, pulling Chiara with me. I can see she wants to talk to him. “Chiara, let’s just give him some time.”

She nods, looking upset. I hate the fact that she looks upset.

I reach out and wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against me. I kiss the top of her head. “It’s going to be ok,” I whisper to her. “We”ll figure this out.”

My men lead Stefano away, and Chiara and I walk toward my bedroom. It”s late, and that confrontation drained my energy.

I sit on the edge of my bed, resting my face in my hands and feeling like a failure.

I feel the bed move as Chiara crawls across it. She kneels behind me with her chest against my back and her arms around my neck. “Maxim, are you ok?”

I shrug.

“What is it? I mean, I know that wasn’t nice to have to deal with—”

“I wish I could be as brave as my brothers are,” I blurt out in frustration.

She whispers against my ear, sounding very confused, “What do you mean?”

“They would have handled that so differently. They would never have taken shit like that from someone. My brothers would have used brute force and ended that situation before it even got that far.”

“So, if it was one of your brothers, then Stefano would have been on the floor with a broken jaw, or a broken nose?”

“They would have settled the confrontation without hesitation,” I agree.

She laughs, a lighthearted, gentle sound that catches me off guard. In confusion, I turn to face her. She shifts herself, climbing into my lap and pulling me into her arms.

“And you think that that would have been the right way to handle the situation?”

I stare at her, trying to figure out what she means.

“Maxim, you are the bravest man I have ever met. You handle situations with such dignity and control. Don’t you see having the ability to control your anger and your reactions is bravery? It means you can stop the basic instinct of rage and think things through, even when situation is as heated as it was just now. That is the most incredible, and admirable trait to have.”

She kisses my forehead. “You are braver than your brothers. Don’t ever compare yourself to them in that way. You are all amazing men, good husbands, they are amazing fathers. But you—you are the one who truly stands out to me.”

I slide my hands over her narrow waist, unable to stop the smile that forms on my lips as I stare into her dark, warm gaze. I don’t even know what to say to her. Her words have pierced into my chest like an arrow, the warmth of her gentle honestly spreading through my body, calming my soul and filling my heart.

Without words to give her, I do the only thing I can. I lean forward and kiss her.

The slow, intimate kiss begins to heat my mouth as my lips move against hers.

She runs her fingers through my hair and presses harder against me.

A soft, sweet moan flitters from her lips.

My heart begins to beat faster, but this time not in anger. This is what she does to me. She takes away my worries, and my fears, and sets them on fire in other ways.

I push her off my lap so that she is standing in front of me at the edge of the bed.

I stand and slowly begin to undress her.

There is no rush or tension, just moment by moment as I peel her clothing off, revealing her perfectly smooth skin and the beautiful curves of her body.

She kisses me again as her fingers work through my shirt buttons and she undoes my belt.

My body is so calm, and I feel so deeply at peace as we run our hands over each other, taking in the slow movements, the way our bodies feel against each other.

I stare down at her, both of us naked, and slowly brush my hands over the sides of her face.

“I don’t know how it all happened, Chiara, but the universe placed the most beautiful, most caring woman in my life, and she sets my soul on fire.”

Chiara grins and pushes me gently back onto the bed. I sit down with my legs over the edge as she climbs back into my lap, sitting with her legs spread over me, and my rock-hard cock pressing against her.

“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” she whispers against my ear as she lifts her hips and then very slowly lowers herself again, and as she sits down on my lap, I slide into her warmth.

She sighs a soft, beautiful sound as I push my cock into her. She sits with hips pressing against me, feeling the way my cock fills her up and stretches her out.

Then slowly, with her lips pressed against mine again, she starts to move on top of me. I wrap hands around her perfect ass and start rocking her, letting my cock slide in and out of her.

I groan deeply as the pleasure of her body, her entire soul, runs over me.

She places her hands on my shoulders and stares into my eyes as we move together. Her lips are swollen with lust, and her dark chocolate-brown eyes are locked onto mine.

“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” I whisper.

She holds my face in her hands as small, soft sounds escape her lips each time I move my cock deep inside her.

Her pussy is wet and warm and pulsing over my cock.

I can feel every time her muscles clench over me and hear the sounds of pleasure she makes. Despite the building tension, we continue to move slowly, neither of us wanting this moment to end.

I have never felt this before.

I have never felt so emotional during sex, or so connected as I do now.

I feel her fingers knot in the back of my hair as she pushes her hips harder against me.

“Maxim,” she breathes, and my name on her lips makes my cock pulse and throb inside her.

I grip her as tighter and start thrust faster.

She cries out.

I thrust deeper.

Her legs begin to shake, and her pupils dilate.

I watch as her breathing changes, and she starts rocking against me with urgency.

I can’t hold back anymore, and clearly, neither can she.

She cries out louder and I feel her pussy tightening around my cock.

Then her back arches as her hips thrust forward, and her orgasm shakes through her entire body.

I explode into her, lifting my hips and pushing her pussy against me, a deep growl rumbling from my chest.