Page 74 of Maxim

And that right there is what makes Maxim so different from any other person I’ve ever met. His intentions are pure when it comes to me. Well, hopefully not too pure…

I think back to some of the scenes I’ve seen on the shows we watch. I can feel my cheeks heat.

Definitely don’t want him to be too pure.

“You don’t think I know that?” I turn and face him completely. “That’s one of the reasons I like you. You saved me before you knew me because you’re a good man. You’ve proven yourself over and over again. I don’t have feelings for youbecause of some altered state of mind. I like you because I see you, and you see me. It’s as simple as that.”

His eyes soften the longer I talk.

“You say that now, but I’m all you know. What if I get you out of here and you realize this is all situational?” he asks.

“I can’t say that won’t happen. I don’t know how I will feel once I have my siblings with me. I’ve never lived my life thinking about tomorrow, though, and I don’t plan to start now. I’ve been deprived of so much in my life. Are you going to deprive me of this too? The one slice of joy in my otherwise dark world?”

“You really mean that, huh?”

“I do, but if you don’t feel that way about me, it’s okay. I can take it.”

My heart races as I wait for him to respond. If he rejects me, it will crush me, but I’ll be okay. I’ve lived through worse, but the idea of living without him when this is all over is crushing. I can’t imagine it.

The way she braces for the rejection fucking eats at me. The last thing I want to do is walk away from her, but it’s the right thing to do, right? This was never supposed to happen. Then I saw her, and everything went sideways.

I scrub my hands over my face.

Goddammit.

“I want you, Olena. Never doubt that, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. I’m afraid you have Stockholm syndrome.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s when a hostage or someone who’s been abused develops feelings for their captor. They no longer view the person as bad and start to believe they are in love with them.” I point to myself. “I saved you, and now you have feelings for me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Humble much?”

“I’m sorry?” I ask as I shake my head.

She bites the corner of her lip as she tries to find the words to explain herself.

“Okay, we both know Szymon has feelings for me, right?” she says.

Just hearing his name makes my stomach twist.

“Yeah.”

“In all the years he had me under his thumb, not once did I ever wonder what it would be like to be with him. For him to kiss me. Yeah, there was one time when I wondered if ending up with him would be the worst thing to happen, but not once did I want it to become reality. Even when he would bring me gifts or do nice things for me. So I think it’s safe to say this isn’t whatever syndrome you mentioned. If it was going to be with anyone, it would have been him. I found him creepy instead.”

Relief flows through me.

Thank fuck.

I knew I wanted her, but I don’t think I realized how badly until this moment.

“I just want you in my life. Anyway I can have you,” she says softly.

“Come here.”

I reach over and pull her into my arms. She sits across my lap and buries her face in my neck. Having her in my arms feels right. Like she’s meant to be here and nowhere else.

“I want you, ???????.”