Page 72 of Bound in Possession

"You have to wake up, princess," a quiet, rumbling voice coaxed beside me. "They’re here."

Maksim.

I force one heavy eye open, squinting through the morning sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains. He’s standing over the bed, completely dressed in a crisp black shirt and trousers, looking infuriatingly awake and carrying a rare, broad smile on his face.

"Who's here?" I mumble, my voice thick with sleep.

His smile widens, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. "Your sisters."

"What?!"

The word explodes from my throat, and I instantly scramble to my feet, throwing the heavy duvet off me and bolting toward the center of the room.

Maksim’s strong arms catch me cleanly around the waist, pulling me flush against his solid chest. A deep, rich laugh rumbles against his ribs as he holds me upright.

"Easy, easy," he chuckles softly, his arms wrapping around me like a vice.

"Why are my sisters here, Maksim?" I ask, my heart hammering against my ribs as I push against his shoulders to look at him.

He clears his throat, attempting to put on a stoic, dignified face, though the faint smile lingering on his lips completely gives him away. "I just... wanted to do something nice for you."

I groan loudly, running both hands over my face in absolute panic, turning on my heel to rush toward the bathroom.

Maksim’s booming laughter follows me down the hall, clear and amused. "I’ll be downstairs with them, princess!" he calls after me.

I speed through a scorching shower, scrubbing the lingering haze of sleep and last night from my skin in record time. I snatch a simple, flowy day dress from the closet, tugging it over my head while trying to tame the mess of my dark hair.

My chest is buzzing with a chaotic mix of overwhelming excitement and sheer disbelief. I am touched beyond words—deeply, stupidly touched⁠—.

I rush out of the bedroom, my bare feet practically flying down the grand staircase toward the main floor. Following the sound of familiar, overlapping chatter, I make a sharp right into the expansive dining room.

And there they are.

My jaw practically hits the floor as I stop dead in the doorway. Rosalia, Eleonora, Sienna, and Daniela are all sitting around the massive mahogany table, sipping coffee like this is the most normal thing in the world. I stand there frozen for a beat, my mind spinning as I try to wrap my head around how Maksim managed to track them down, coordinate their security detail, and clear them past his fortress of guards in a span of just a few hours.

Before I can even process the thought, Sienna looks up, her eyes going wide. "Camilla!"

Within a heartbeat, all four of them leap up from their chairs. We collide in a chaotic, tangled heap of arms, hair, and high-pitched squeals, wrapping around each other in a fierce, suffocating embrace that nearly knocks the wind right out of me. Tears instantly sting the backs of my eyes as I squeeze them back with everything I have, the sheer relief of having them in my arms making my chest ache.

Off to the side, leaning casually against the archway with his arms folded across his chest, stands Maksim. A quiet, satisfied look rests on his face as he watches us.

Beside him, the dining table is already brimming with an endless spread of fresh pastries, fruit, juice, and hot coffee—an entire feast laid out just for them.

Rosalia, ever the dutiful eldest sister, is the first to gently pull back from our chaotic group hug. She smooths down her top, shoots a quick look over at the towering figure watching us, and clears her throat.

"Alright, guys, let’s not keep Mr. Sokolov waiting," she says, her voice carrying that quiet, innate authority she’s always had over us.

Maksim shifts, pushing off the archway with a surprisingly warm tilt to his jaw. "Please," he says smoothly, his voice dropping into a low, hospitable tone. "Call me Maksim."

My sisters instantly freeze, exchanging a rapid-fire series of stunned, unspoken glances before Rosalia offers him a polite nod. "Okay... Maksim."

He steps forward into the dining room, moving directly to the head of the table. He pulls out the heavy velvet chair right beside his own, catching my eye as I approach. I slide into the seat, and he pushes it in gently, his warm fingers brushing against my shoulder for just a fraction of a second before he takes his place.

Right across from me, Daniela lets out a suppressed, high-pitched giggle behind her napkin. Sienna catches my eye and gives me a sharp, teasing wink, her brows dancing up and down.

Heat instantly rushes to my cheeks, and I burn red under their knowing stares.

And then, just like that, the awkward tension dissolves into the clinking of silverware, poured coffee, and the undeniable warmth of my family finally filling the room.