Page 79 of Bound in Possession

Suddenly, a firm, distinct knock echoes against the heavy oak door.

I jump, a sharp gasp escaping my throat as my hands instinctively fly to my chest.

Maksim just lets out a quiet, dark laugh, completely unfazed. He casually slips his length back into his briefs, fastens his trousers, and adjusts his jacket before casting a calm look toward the entrance.

"Come in," he calls out, his voice instantly returning to its smooth, commanding Pakhan tone.

The heavy door creaks open, and Dmitri peeks his head inside, his eyes strictly glued to Maksim's face, politely ignoring the heavy tension floating in the air of the private box. "Pakhan," Dmitri says quietly. "Matteo Rossini has just entered the grand hall. He and his inner circle are making their way toward the upper private lounges."

Maksim nods, his eyes darkening as the sharp edge of business snaps right back into place. He turns back to me, leaning down to press one last, firm kiss against my lips. "I’ll be right back, princess."

"Be careful," I whisper, nodding softly.

He gives me a small, lethal smile, then steps out of the box, shutting the double doors securely behind him.

The second the door clicks shut, my knees give out slightly. I sink onto the plush leather seat, leaning my head back against the velvet tapestry as I take a long, deep, desperate breath to calm my racing pulse. My thighs are still trembling, my heart is hammering against my ribs, and the lingering heat between my legs is a sweet, throbbing reminder of what just happened.

Whoa.

I trace my fingers over the diamond necklace resting on my collarbone, letting out a breathless, disbelieving laugh into the quiet room.

That was... utterly wild. And so, so sexy.

I pay attention to the opera now that I’m alone. It’s good. Really good. The soaring vocals and tragic harmony swell through the darkened theater, carrying an intensity that pulls me in completely. I don’t know how long Maksim is away, but by the time he returns, I’m fully invested in the performance, leaning over the gilded railing with my chin resting in my hand.

The heavy door clicks shut quietly behind him. A second later, Maksim sinks down into the plush leather seat beside me. He leans in immediately, pressing a warm, soft kiss against my cheek, his breath fanning hot against my skin.

I turn my head toward him, searching his dark eyes in the dim light. "Is everything okay?"

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CAMILLA

He lets out a low hum, his jaw tight as his eyes sweep over the room before settling on me. "Everything is handled for now. But we should leave immediately princess."

I glance down at the stage below, where the soprano is mid-aria, her voice electrifying the entire hall. I really don't want to break the spell of the evening just yet.

"Can we stay?" I ask softly, placing my hand over his and looking up at him pleadingly. "Just until the act ends? I’m actually really enjoying it."

Maksim stares at me for a beat, the lethal, hyper-vigilant Pakhan shifting back into the man who ate burnt toast for me in the middle of the night.

"Okay," he murmurs softly.

He adjusts his position, and his large, calloused fingers slide between mine, our hands entwining tightly in the dark as we turn our attention back to the stage, watching the rest of the opera together.

During the final act, as the orchestra reaches its swelling climax, every single light in the grand theater snaps off at once. Plunged into pitch-black darkness, the music abruptly dies, replaced by a wave of gasps and confused muttering echoing from the audience below.

Beside me, Maksim is on his feet in a microsecond, his grip on my hand tightening like a vise.

"Viktor," he growls under his breath, his voice laced with cold fury. He turns to me in the shadow. "Do you have your phone?"

"No," I whisper, my heart instantly racing. "I left it in the car."

He swears violently under his breath, his free hand dropping to the heavy weight beneath his jacket. "Mine is in the car, too. After the meeting with Matteo, I sent Dmitri down to the car to get the convoy ready." He steps in front of me, shielding my body with his own. "Let's go. I'm getting us out of here now."

He pulls me securely against his side, his arm wrapped firmly around my shoulder as he ushers me out of the private box and into the pitch-black hallway. Panic is erupting all around us—screams echo off the gilded walls as the high-society crowd scrambles blindly toward the main exits in the dark.

Suddenly, a heavy body slams into us at full speed, driven by the surging crowd. The force of the impact shoves us apart, snapping our grip.