A Certain Affection

Ok... so... when I was little, like 10-11, my 4 years older sister started reading Harlequin novels. And, of course, I read them, too. They have a special place in my heart. But... they are awful! If you ever wonder why E.L. James writes the way she does, THIS is the reason why. She also grew up reading these dastardly little pieces of crap. But, she never grew out of them. She still believes this is romantic, sexy, hot, and a love story.
No.
OK, spoilers ahead, if you care about that stuff.

The story begins with our heroine finding out that “Max” is getting married. Then we find out that Max is the hero. So, we know Max is definitely not getting married. But that is what Amy (heroine) thinks. So when Max is “flirting” (sexually harassing) Amy, she is really bothered thinking that he is cheating on his fiancée with her, that she is cheating on another woman with her fiance, hates herself for wanting it, hates him for not caring about his future wife, and her. And the bastard says nothing, even though he is well aware that Amy thinks and feels this way.
Anyway. We find out that Max and Amy met the first time when Amy was 11, and Max, 11 years older to her, wanted to make a sculpture of her, so he took photos of her.
We find out that Amy has been living with Max's family and has seen Max as a big brother her whole life. Until she was 17 and he kissed her. In a very unbrotherly way.

She was not sure now what it was that Max had done for her that had prompted her to give him a great hug and a kiss on the cheek, although she could remember doing it. She could remember rushing into the studio to thank him, running across to him and flinging her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to reach his great height. She could even remember her words.
‘Max, you're so wonderful! Oh, thank you, Max!'
It was his reaction to that small and uncomplicated kiss that had been the beginning of the end of her time here.
‘If. you're going to thank me, thank me properly,' he had said softly, his arms locking round her and refusing to let go.
‘I did!' She had looked startled, even then not at all aware of what was coming.
‘Not really,' he had assured her with one of his slow smiles. ‘I think that if you're going to kiss someone, especially me, you should do it wholeheartedly, like this!'
Now he was holding her with only one arm, a strong arm like iron, that held her to him with no offer of escape — not that she thought of escaping, not then. His other hand came to her long, black hair, his fingers spearing through it, capturing her head as his lips covered hers for the first time in a kiss that took her breath away and set her heart hammering wildly. When he reluctantly lifted his head, she could not utter a sound. Her eyes were brilliantly blue in her pale face as she stared up at him in a shocked silence.
‘Max?' she managed to say, as he simply looked down at her, watching her reaction. At her questioning and shaken look he smiled and stroked her face, still not freeing her from his tight embrace.
‘Amy?' His eyes were slightly derisive, a look she had never seen before on him, and it confused her even more.
‘Why — why did you — you kiss me?'
‘Why not ?' he countered. ‘Maybe I wanted bigger and better thanks, or maybe I'm no longer sure that I want to be such a comfortable figure in your airy life.'
‘But — but I've always loved you, Max! I look forward to seeing you. I — I need you like ...‘
‘Like an old well-known dog, like a security blanket?' he asked wryly. ‘Step one in growing up, poppet: don't take anyone at their face value.'
And she couldn't after that. The kiss had awakened something in her that she could not control. Other kisses had left her with no feeling at all, but they had been kisses given to her briefly by boys she knew, and few of them at that. This was different. It was a kiss from a man to a woman, and she wanted more.

‘But — but I don't understand! You're going to marry her! That house ...‘
‘Did I ever say I was going to marry Glenys?' he asked, his eyes holding hers.
‘No, no, I don't think so, but you let me believe ...‘
‘You weren't paying enough attention to me,' he said softly.

“I have this awful feeling I should always have my own way, especially with you. It comes from having fashioned you in permanent materials, I expect. I just have this odd feeling that I've created you.'
‘That's a pretty scary thing to say!' gasped Amy, swinging to face him.
‘Oh, I don't know,' mused Max, his eyes on her startled face. ‘I'm quite prepared to take the responsibility.'

‘But you know I do,' he said with a certainty in his deep voice. ‘You've known it all your life.'