BOUND TO THE TEXAS TYCOON

Chapter Fourteen

Adonis POV

I was lying in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, when the door swung open without a knock.

“Your wife rejected you again, didn’t she?” Maya’s voice cut through the quiet.

I sat up, shocked to see her standing there. Before I could say anything, she kept talking.

“Adonis, she doesn’t love you. Isn’t it obvious? Can’t you see me? I would make you so happy.”

She stared at me with a playful smirk, then slowly loosened her robe and let it fall to the floor. She stood completely naked in front of me.

“What the hell is going on, Maya?” I got up quickly, grabbed the robe from the floor, and draped it back over her shoulders. “I don’t want to lose my temper tonight, but I need to be very clear. I don’t feel anything romantic for you, and I never will. I love you as my childhood friend, and that’s where it ends. I’m married. If this happens again, you will leave this house and my life.”

“Get out. And don’t ever barge in on me again without knocking.”

“Adonis, you really can’t be doing this to me. You know how I feel about you. You’ve known for years.” Her voice cracked as tears filled her eyes.

“Can you understand that I’m a married man now?”

“Yes, but to a woman who doesn’t love you. Who will never love you the way I do. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to feel your lips on me, your hands, all the tattoos on your body. Adonis, please. I’m begging you. Don’t push me away for a girl who doesn’t deserve you.” She stepped closer, clutching her chest as tears ran down her face.

“Stop. Just stop, Maya. You’re only hurting yourself more. I don’t want to see you like this.”

“It hurts that no matter what I do, you never see me. It hurts more that you keep turning down the kind of love you need. But it’s my fault, isn’t it? If I had told you how I felt earlier, everything would be different, right?” She reached up to touch my cheek, but I stepped back.

“Maya, it doesn’t make sense for you to stay here after this. Would you go to the city and work at my tech company? It might help you move on from all this.”

She wiped her tears, but her expression hardened. “Adonis, sending me away is the same as telling me to die. Don’t make me leave you. I’ll control my feelings. I swear on my father’s grave. But I can’t stay away from you. I can’t go a single day without seeing you.”

“Maya, this can’t continue.”

“You promised my dad before he died. You promised you would always stay by my side and take care of me. You can’t push me away now. I promise I won’t do this again. Trust me. It won’t happen.” She begged, pulling her robe tight around herself.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhausted. “Okay. Calm down. Let’s forget this happened. But you need to respect that I’m married to Jasmine now, and I’m madly in love with her. I need you to understand that.”

“Fine, Adonis. I’ll respect your decision from now on.” She paused. “Can I hug you before I leave?”

“Maya, you don’t listen, do you?”

“I just want to feel your heartbeat before I go to bed. If you won’t hug me, that means you’re still really angry.”

“Come here.” I pulled her into a quick hug and stroked her hair lightly. “Maya, why don’t you go out more often instead of staying at the ranch all day? You might meet new people.”

“I’ll go out the moment you start letting Jasmine go wherever she wants and do whatever she likes.”

“Since when did you start taking Jasmine’s side?”

“You wish. I don’t see us ever being friends. I just want you to treat me the same gentle way you treat her.”

“So you think keeping her restricted is me treating her like a baby?”

“I don’t care. I’m jealous of that part. She doesn’t even know how lucky she is to have you, Adonis Salvatore.”

“Alright, Maya. That’s enough.” I tried to pull away, but she held on tighter.

“I’ll just call the guards tomorrow to help you pack your things,” I threatened.

She let go immediately and rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to be so mean. Goodnight, Adonis.”

“Goodnight.”

Once she left and closed the door behind her, I dropped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling again. The room felt too quiet. I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the frustration. Jasmine was the only woman I wanted, but Maya’s constant presence and guilt trips were wearing me down. I had made a promise to her father, and I took that seriously. But for the first time since that promise was made, I wondered if keeping it was costing me the woman I loved.