Chapter 67

Maya’s POV

The hesitation on his face vanished, and almost instinctively we cupped each other’s cheeks, plunging into a heated, passionate kiss. In the rush of desire, I straddled him as he sat upright, his hands settling on my back while my fingers traced the line of his neck, sliding his robe from his shoulders.

He broke away for just a moment, panting. “Wait—what about our friends’ deal? Are you… really okay with this now?”

I smiled, framing his gentle, handsome face in my hands. Even in this moment, he was thinking about my feelings. He always did. He knew how hard it had been for me to be with anyone after Adrian, and that was why he always held back—to match my pace. That was exactly what I loved about him.

I let him wait just a beat longer. “We’re not friends, Elias. We’re married. This is what married peopl