Billionaire’s Regret: The One He Lost

Rain lashed against the car windows, wrapping the inside in a tight, charged hush. Maxine Mason was pressed flush against Braxton Payne, their movements making the old sedan rock slow. Desire bloomed between them like wildfire, unstoppable—his kisses, soft at first, quickly blazed into something hungry.

"Braxton, slow down…"

"You really think slowin' down feels better for you?" Braxton teased, never pausing his advance for even a second. "Someone's gotten way more sensitive lately."

Maxine's cheeks burned bright red. Conversation was the last thing on Braxton's mind, so he just trailed hot kisses down the curve of her neck and over her collarbone.

Much later, when the heat faded, Maxine lay limp and exhausted against his chest, his fingers still wandering lazily over her skin.

"Braxton, that's enough…" Maxine mumbled, pushing his hands away soft.

"You sure you don't want another round?" he teased, leaning in to nip gently at her earlobe.

A shiver raced down her spine, and a soft little moan slipped out, "Mmm…"

"My mom's throwing a welcome dinner for you tomorrow. Wanna go?" Braxton asked casually, his dark eyes growing darker.

"You can handle it like you always do," he said, totally unbothered.

Her legs still shaking, Maxine slid off his lap and started straightening her rumpled clothes. "Braxton… have you ever thought about gettin' married?" she asked, only holding his gaze for a split second before looking away.

His eyes went ice-cold, and he studied her hard. "No. Why d'you ask?"

"Oh, nothing. Just curious," she answered, faking indifference, even though his answer left a strange, heavy ache settled deep in her chest.

Maxine finished dressing in silence, the air growing thick and awkward.

"You're not askin' 'cause you wanna marry me, are you?" Braxton's eyes probed hers, a faint smirk of amusement playing on his lips.

Startled, Maxine laughed it off. "If I said yes, would you?"

His blue eyes stayed locked on her, unreadable, distant. After a long beat, he said, "No."

A hollow emptiness swallowed Maxine's heart, and all the color drained from her face. She'd seen it coming, but it still felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped right over her head.

Braxton's gaze grew colder, his voice sharp with warning: "Maxine, remember our arrangement. It's just physical, no strings, no emotions attached."

The truth cut deep. Their relationship was nothing more than a casual, no-strings hookup between two consenting adults. She was the daughter of a deadbeat gambler, and he was way out of her league.

From the very start, Braxton laid down all the rules. Five years ago, her dad piled up a mountain of gambling debt and sold her to pay it off. When she was terrified, about to be dragged away, Braxton stepped in and saved her.

After he brought her back to his place and let her clean up, his first words to her were: "You wanna be my companion?"

She had no other options. Refusing meant being forced into a life of