Hearing Max say that, Emily truly wanted to ask why it had to be a motel instead of a hospital. The question rose to her throat. But when she saw his pale face and his still unsteady breathing, she only parted her lips slightly, then fell silent.
She could not bring herself to say it.
Max let out a soft chuckle. The smile carried a trace of fatigue, yet it was meant to reassure. He raised his hand. His fingertips lightly touched Emily's cheek. The warmth passing through her skin made her tremble without realizing it.
"Don't worry," he said. His voice was low and slow. "I just need to rest for a bit. Having you here is enough."
Emily bit her lip. The alcohol had not fully worn off yet. On top of that were the emotions she had been holding back for so long. Her thoughts were a mess. In the end, she still nodded.
She had doubted Max many times before. She had thought he approached her with impure intentions. But now, looking back, the one with the most twisted thoughts seemed to be herself.
The self blame softened Emily's heart.
This time, she chose to trust him.
Even so, deep inside, a vague feeling was taking shape. A nameless anticipation. It made her uneasy. It also made her heart beat faster than usual.
Emily helped Max to his feet and draped his arm over her shoulder. The distance between them was so close that she could clearly feel his steady heartbeat near her ear. Every small movement of his firm body brushed against her.
Max's breath brushed lightly against her neck.
Emily felt her body heat up. Her steps became slightly awkward.
Neither of them spoke. They walked together under the pale yellow streetlights. The silence lingered, filled with things left unsaid.
After a while, they stopped in front of a small hotel nearby.
After checking in and entering the room, the door had barely closed when vague sounds from the neighboring rooms reached Emily's ears. Broken noises that were enough to make anyone understand what was happening.
Her face burned.
She unconsciously pressed her legs together. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes.
At that moment, Max seemed to have recovered somewhat. He released his arm from her shoulder, turned around, and locked the door. The dry click of the lock echoed in the quiet room.
When he turned back, the distance between them quickly vanished.
Max raised his hand and lifted Emily's chin. His eyes carried that familiar teasing look. The corner of his lips curved into a half playful, half serious smile.
"You were really careless," he said softly. "Coming to a motel just to rest? Haha. Some mistakes come with a price."
Emily did not avoid him. She pretended to be angry and lightly tapped his chest. There was hardly any force.
"You really are bad," she said. Her voice trembled slightly. "But… it's good that you're okay."
"Bad?" Max let out a quiet laugh. "I'm about to do even worse things."
Before the words had fully faded, his expression changed. The lingering pain surged up again. His legs went weak, and his body sagged.
This time, it was not an act.
Emily panicked and bent down to support him. Her hands clumsily wrapped around his body. In that instant, she pressed far too close by accident. Max drew in a deep breath. The soft contact sent a shock through his mind.
His heart began to race.
It was his first time being this close to a woman's body. Combined with his surging hormones, he almost forgot about the pain.
Max clenched his teeth and pushed the ache aside. He shoved Emily onto the bed and followed, pressing down on her. His hands locked around her wrists, not allowing her to pull back.
"You're not being good like this," he said slowly. "Daring to seduce me this way means you deserve punishment."
Emily lay beneath him. Her light blond hair spread across the pillow. Her face was burning red as she turned her head slightly to the side. Her eyes still glanced toward Max, filled with confusion and expectation.
Her clothes were disheveled. Her pale shoulder showed under the light. Half hidden, half exposed. It was even harder to stay calm than seeing it clearly.
Max swallowed hard.
He was about to lean down when Emily spoke softly. Her voice was small and trembling, like a kitten.
"I… I… let me take a shower first…"
Max closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It took him several seconds to regain control. In the end, he released her and straightened up.
Emily quickly walked into the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the quiet space, steady and constant. Steam slowly covered the frosted glass, leaving only a vague silhouette inside.
Max sat on the bed with his back against the headboard. His gaze unconsciously fixed there. It was only a faint shadow. Even so, every small movement was enough to send his imagination far away.
Water sliding down. Hair falling loose. Ordinary motions. In this setting, they carried a deadly allure.
He briefly thought about stepping inside.
In the end, he stopped himself.
After a while, the bathroom door opened.
Emily stepped out with a small towel wrapped around her body. Her long, slender legs were exposed under the soft yellow light. Droplets of water still clung to her skin.
She looked at Max. Her smile was vague, carrying both provocation and nervousness.
Her hair was still wet. As Emily stepped forward, Max pulled her back and pinned her onto the bed. The force of the movement made her cry out softly, yet she did not avoid him.
Instead, her arms tightened around him on their own.
"Wait," Max said quietly. His voice lowered. "I don't have any protection. Is this… okay?"
Emily looked up at him. Her eyes shimmered. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her breath brushed lightly against his ear.
"This is my first time," she whispered. "I want… a complete experience."
A soft cry echoed in the enclosed room.
"It hurts…"
Max laughed, his voice hoarse.
"It hurts first. Later, it feels good."