Page 20 of My Playboy Neighbor

"What would that look like?"she asked.

"Professional during the day.Personal after hours.I can teach you things.Show you parts of yourself you didn't know existed.But it stays physical.It stays simple."

Heat curled through her at his words, even as her heart protested the limitations he was setting."And you think you can keep it simple?"

"I have to," Dom said, and for the first time she heard the vulnerability beneath his control."I don't know how to be any other way."

Maya looked into his eyes and saw the truth—he wasn't being cold because he didn't care.He was being cold because he cared too much and didn't know how to handle it.

"Okay," Maya said finally."But I have conditions too."

Dom's eyebrows rose."Such as?"

"Complete honesty about what we're doing.No games, no mixed signals.If this is just physical for you, then be honest about that.Don't make me feel things you don't intend to reciprocate."

Something tight around Dom's eyes relaxed slightly."I can do that."

"And if either of us starts wanting more than the other can give, we end it.Cleanly.No drama."

"Agreed."Dom moved closer to the bed, his hand reaching out to touch her face before he stopped himself and pulled back."Maya...I wish I could offer you more.But this is all I have right now."

Maya saw the regret in his expression, the way his hand had moved toward her instinctively before his mind overruled his heart.This man was fighting a war with himself, and she was caught in the crossfire.

"I know," she said softly."And I'm choosing to take what you can give."

"Why?"

"Because last night was the most incredible experience of my life.And because I think you need this as much as I do, even if you won't admit it."

For a moment, Dom's walls cracked completely.Maya saw the longing there, the desperate need he was trying so hard to deny.Then he stepped back, the careful control sliding back into place.

"I should let you get ready," Dom said."We have a photo shoot this afternoon."

Maya nodded, recognizing the dismissal.But as she gathered her clothes, she couldn't shake the feeling that Dom was as trapped by his own rules as she was.

"Dom?"she said as she reached the door.

"Yeah?"

"For what it's worth, I don't think you're as good at keeping things simple as you think you are."

She left before he could respond, but not before she saw the flash of panic in his eyes.Because Maya was right—what was happening between them was anything but simple, and Dom's attempts to control it were only making it more complicated.

As Maya walked back to her own suite, she made a decision.She would play by Dom's rules, but she wouldn't pretend that's all this was.The camera didn't lie, and neither did the way Dom looked at her when he thought she wasn't watching.

If Dom wanted to keep things physical, she'd give him that.But she'd also document every moment of real connection, every crack in his armor, every sign that what they shared was more than just good sex.

Because Maya had a feeling that Dom needed someone to see past his walls, even if he was too scared to admit it himself.

***

THREE HOURS LATER,Maya stood in the resort's photography studio, reviewing Colleen's detailed notes while Dom positioned himself by the windows.The afternoon session was supposed to focus on the campaign strategy—authentic shots that would help rehabilitate his image after the Milan incident.

"So according to Colleen's vision," Maya said."she wants to show the real you.Not the polished model, but the man who stands up for what's right.The protector, not the playboy."

Dom crossed his arms."I'm not some broken man who needs saving.I made a choice in Milan, and I'd make it again."

"No one's saying you need saving.How do you feel about doing this?"

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