Chapter Four

MAXWELL

I stood on the terrace, watching Raya as she excused herself to use the bathroom, her figure retreating into the dimly lit house. The night was perfect, the kind of night that made you believe anything was possible. The canyon stretched out before me, a vast expanse of shadows and light, the infinity pool merging seamlessly with the horizon. The setting was ideal—luxurious, serene, and peaceful. I had crafted it that way, a reflection of the life I had made for myself out of the storm of my past. This estate was more than just a home; it was a fortress, a symbol of everything I had achieved and a testament to the power that lay within if one was only brave enough to wield it. The journey to get here hadn't been easy. It had come at great risk, requiring enormous sacrifice and unwavering commitment. Now looking out over the canyon, I knew I should be proud of what I had accomplished. Not many men could do all that I have done, after all. And yet loneliness still pricked my heart like the thorns of a rosebush. Yes, I was living life on my terms, but at what cost did this freedom come if I had no one to share it with?

My thoughts drifted back to Raya, the woman who had so unexpectedly captivated my attention. She was unlike any other woman I had met—intelligent, sharp, and disarmingly beautiful. There was a fire in her eyes that intrigued me, a challenge that I found irresistible. She was more than just a pretty face; she was my equal in many ways. But there was something about her that felt...off. She was hiding something, that much was clear. It made her all the more captivating, but also dangerous.

When she returned to the terrace, the sun had dipped low, casting the last of its golden light over the canyon. The sky was deepening into twilight, the first stars beginning to twinkle overhead. Raya sat back down at the table, her movements graceful, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of curiosity and something else—something darker, more elusive.

"It's a beautiful night," I said, my voice low and deliberate. "I was thinking we could take the rest of the wine down to the pool. Maybe dip our feet into the water. What do you think?"

She hesitated for just a moment, a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, perhaps?—before she nodded, a small, almost shy smile playing on her lips. "That sounds nice."

I poured us each another glass, then led the way down the stone steps toward the pool. The water was like a mirror, reflecting the darkening sky and the distant lights of the city beyond. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that heightened the senses, made every sound, every movement more pronounced.

Raya followed me to the edge of the pool, her heels clicking softly on the stone. She looked out at the water, then back at me, her dark eyes full of something I couldn't quite place—anticipation, perhaps, or maybe a hint of challenge. I watched as she slowly undid the strap of her dress, letting it slip down her shoulders. She hesitated again, as if weighing the decision, before she allowed the dress to fall to the ground, revealing a lacy black bra and matching panties that clung to her curves.

I felt a surge of heat, desire mingling with the thrill of the unknown. She was a vision, standing there under the fading light, the lines of her tattoos winding up her arms like serpents. I unbuttoned my shirt, pulling it off and letting it drop beside her dress. Her eyes flicked over me, lingering on my chest, floating over my arms, as I undid my belt and let my pants fall to the ground.

We stepped into the pool together, the water cool against my heated skin. It was a strange contrast, the soothing chill of the water and the electric tension between us. I moved closer to her, my hands finding her waist, pulling her toward me. She didn't resist, her body fitting perfectly against mine, the thin barrier of fabric between us doing little to dampen the heat that was building.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape, as I ran my hands down her back, tracing the lines of her tattoos. Her skin was smooth, warm, and I could feel the faintest shiver run through her as my fingers brushed the curve of her spine.

"Your tattoos," I murmured, my lips close to her ear. "They're intriguing. What's the story behind them?"

She leaned back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, her gaze steady but guarded. "I'm from Texas," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of something more—a challenge, perhaps. "Where rattlesnakes lie hidden in the grass."

Her words were layered with meaning, and I knew she wasn't just talking about the tattoos. There was something deeper there, something she wasn't ready to reveal. But that was fine. I had time. And I was willing to wait.

"Rattlesnakes, hmm?" I ran my hands up her sides, feeling the way her body responded to my touch. "I think there's more to the story than that."

"Maybe," she said, her tone teasing, but there was a seriousness in her eyes, a reminder that she wasn't just some toy for me to play with. She was sharp, dangerous in her own way, and I liked that.

I moved my hand to the back of her head, tangling my fingers in her hair, and pulled her closer, our lips inches apart. She didn't pull away, her breath warm against my skin, her eyes locked on mine. The tension between us was thick, palpable, and I could feel her heart beating against my chest.

When I kissed her, it was slow, deliberate, a test to see how far she was willing to go. Her lips were soft, pliant, but there was a fierceness behind the kiss, a hunger that matched my own. I deepened the kiss, pulling her tighter against me, feeling the way her body pressed against mine, every curve fitting perfectly.

We moved together in the water, the coolness of the pool doing little to quench the heat between us. I could feel her hands on my back, her nails digging into my skin as I kissed her neck, trailing my lips down to her collarbone. She arched against me, a soft moan escaping her lips as I slid my hands under the waistband of her panties, pulling them down.

She reached for the clasp of her bra, her movements hurried, almost desperate, as she let it fall into the water, her bare skin pressing against mine. The sensation was intoxicating, her warmth, her softness, the way her breath hitched every time my hands moved over her skin.

We sank deeper into the water, our bodies entwined, moving together with a rhythm that was primal, instinctual. Every touch, every kiss, every gasp of breath was a step closer to the edge, a dance that we were both eager to lose ourselves in.

The water lapped gently against us, the only sound in the stillness of the night, as I slid my hands down her hips, lifting her slightly, guiding her legs around my waist. She wrapped them tightly around me, her nails digging into my shoulders as I pressed my hard cock into her, a low growl escaping my throat.

She gasped, her head falling back, exposing the long line of her neck. I kissed it, nipping at the skin, feeling her shudder against me. The pleasure was intense, almost overwhelming, the sensation of her body tightening around mine, the way she moved against me, meeting every thrust with equal fervor.

It was a dance of power, control, and surrender, each of us giving as much as we took, neither willing to back down. I could feel the tension building, the heat rising, until it was almost too much to bear. And then, in a rush of sensation, we both shattered, the world dissolving around us in a haze of pleasure.

We stayed like that for a moment, our breathing heavy, our bodies still entwined, the water gently rocking us. It was a moment of vulnerability, something I hadn't allowed myself to feel in a long time. But with Raya, it felt...right. As if she was meant to be here, in this moment, with me.

Slowly, we untangled ourselves, the coolness of the water a stark contrast to the heat that still lingered between us. We moved to the edge of the pool, pulling ourselves out, the night air cool against my damp skin.

I reached for a towel, wrapping it around her shoulders, my fingers brushing against her skin. She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, as if trying to understand what had just happened, what it meant.

"I'll have my driver take you home," I said quietly, my voice still rough from the intensity of what we'd just shared. "But I'll see you again at Sweet Cocktails on Wednesday. After business is done, I'll bring you back here. You'll stay with me."

Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face, but she nodded. "I'd like that."

I watched her as she dressed, her movements slow, almost hesitant, as if she was still processing everything that had happened. But there was something else in her eyes now—a curiosity, a spark that told me she was intrigued, just as I was.

As she slid into the back seat of the Escalade, I watched her go, a small smile playing on my lips. This woman intrigued me, challenged me in ways I hadn't expected. But there was also a part of me that was wary, that recognized the danger she might pose. She was a snake, lying in wait, or a curious cat poking around where she didn't belong. Either way, she was in my world now, and I intended to keep a close eye on her.

***

Later, I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, toweling off the last remnants of pool water from my skin. The night had taken an unexpected turn, one that left me both satisfied and uneasy. I couldn't stop thinking about Raya, the way she had fit against me, the fire in her eyes that mirrored the intensity of our connection. She was different, special in a way I hadn't encountered before. But that difference also made her dangerous. I'd kept up my part of the bargain with the ones who had helped me. But that didn't mean I no longer had a target on my back. Was I willing to risk everything now for a woman?

Sighing, I slipped into a pair of silk boxers and reached for a glass of bourbon, letting the liquid burn its way down my throat. It was late, and I should have been getting ready for bed, but there was a restlessness in me that wouldn't let go. Maybe it was Raya, or maybe it was the way she had stepped into my world with such ease, as if she belonged there. Or maybe it was something more, a nagging feeling that a game was afoot that was quickly getting beyond my control.

I was just about to turn in for the night when a knock came at the door. It was firm, urgent, not the kind of knock that could wait until morning. I frowned, setting my glass down on the nightstand. There were few people who would dare disturb me at this hour, and fewer still who had a reason to.

I opened the door to find Alejandro standing there, his expression serious, the lines of worry etched into his dark face. Alejandro was not a man who scared easily, but tonight, there was something in his eyes that gave me pause.

"Security alerted me to a problem," he said without preamble. "You need to see the footage."

A cold knot formed in the pit of my stomach. Nodding, I pulled on a robe and followed him down the hall to the state-of-the-art security center I had installed on the property. The estate was equipped with the latest technology, and nothing happened here without my knowing about it.

The security attendant was waiting for us, his face a mask of professionalism, though I could see the tension in the set of his shoulders. Alejandro looked at me, a question in his eyes, but I simply nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities.

"Play it," I said, my voice calm but firm.

The attendant pressed a few buttons, and the screen in front of us flickered to life. I leaned forward, steepling my fingers as I watched the footage roll. It showed the inside of the house, specifically the hallway that led to my private office—a place that was supposed to be off-limits to everyone but a select few.

And then, there she was. Raya. Her slim figure moved cautiously, her head turning from side to side as if she was checking to make sure she wasn't being watched. She paused at the door to my office, her hand hovering over the handle. My heart thudded in my chest as I watched her push the door open and slip inside.

"Well, well, well," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else. "Look what we have here. A curious kitten."

The footage continued, showing Raya as she moved around my office, her hands skimming over papers, books, anything she could get her hands on. She was thorough, methodical, but there was also a sense of urgency in her movements. She knew she was running out of time.

I leaned back in my chair, my mind whirring with possibilities. What was she looking for? Information, obviously, but about what? And more importantly, who had sent her? My eyes narrowed as I watched her return everything to its original place, her movements careful, almost reverent, as if she was afraid of being caught. She was good, but not good enough.

Alejandro turned to me, his expression unreadable. "Do you want me to take care of her, boss?"

I considered his offer for a moment, the words hanging in the air between us. It would have been easy, too easy, to simply eliminate the problem. Raya was a threat, that much was clear, and I had dealt with threats before in far less pleasant ways. But something stopped me, a feeling in the back of my mind that told me this wasn't the right move.

"No," I said finally, my voice cold and calculating. "I'll handle it."

Alejandro gave a short nod, his face impassive. He knew better than to question me when I made a decision, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. He didn't like this, and neither did I, but there was something about Raya that made me hesitate.

As I watched the last of the footage, the screen going black as Raya slipped out of my office, I couldn't help but wonder what her next move would be. She had to know that what she had already done could very well cost her life. But she had taken the risk anyway, and that made her all the more intriguing.

I left the security center and returned to my bedroom. As I lay in bed, the events of the night replayed in my mind. The way Raya's body had responded to mine, the look in her eyes as we moved together in the pool, the way she had snuck into my office, thinking she was unseen. She didn't realize just how deep the waters she was treading in were, but I would make sure she did soon enough. Yes, I would handle Raya in my own way, make her purr, and keep her close. For now, I would let her think she was in control, but the truth was, I was the one holding all the cards. And when the time came, I would make sure she knew just how dangerous it was to play with fire.