As long as it doesnt cost me anything, Max said with a laugh. Listen, Im going to lunch. Im turning my phone off. Ill be back by one-thirty.
Okay, see ya then.
He turned his phone off and looked at Jane, who was studiously repairing her lipstick in the rearview mirror. Change your mind? he asked.
She looked at him, raising one eyebrow. Did you?
Are you kidding? I just bought us- he looked at his watch -an hour and fifteen minutes.
Jane looked like she was about to burst. What are you waiting for? Drive.
Chapter Twelve
Max turned the key. Where to?
Your place. She didnt want to make love with Max on the Princess II, where memories of Scott might intrude. My bed is tiny.
Jane applauded Maxs control. He didnt break any speed limits driving to the Shell Beach Condos. But he didnt dilly-dally, either. After whipping into a parking space, he was out of the car and opening her door before she could even get her seat belt off.
They practically sprinted to the front door. Max opened it, punched in the security code to silence the beeping alarm, and before she could take a breath he had her up against the closed door.
He could take her right here on the tile floor and she wouldnt object. Shed never been so hot for any man.
With Maxs help, she shed the silk blouse and tailored skirt shed so carefully chosen this morning and threw it on the ground. Standing there in her plunge-front bra, high-cut panties, stockings and heels while Maxs gaze devoured her only made her hungrier.
Bedrooms this way. Rather than waiting for her to follow, he scooped her up and carried her up the stairs like some medieval maiden about to be ravished by the castle laird.
The image made her shiver with anticipation. In fact, pretty much everything increased her eagerness-the cool air-conditioning on her bare skin, the sight of his enormous bed, the faint traces of his scent on the pillow as he set her down on soft, cotton sheets.
He yanked off his dress shirt while she worked on his belt buckle, but he didnt need much help from her. In seconds he was down to his silk boxers, but she had only a moment to admire how he looked in sexy underwear before he shed those, too, and he was standing before her gloriously naked and awesomely aroused.
As he climbed into bed with her and covered her body with his, Jane reveled in the exquisite contact of hard muscles against her softer flesh. He radiated heat and desire, and his gaze burned with intensity as he stared into her eyes.
You really are the most beautiful-
Yeah, you, too, she said distractedly as she unhooked her bra. She wanted his hands on her breasts. His mouth on her breasts. His mouth everywhere, oh, yes. No need for pretty words.
He slid her panties off with deliberate slowness, grazing his fingers along her bare thighs as he removed the wispy garment, making her whimper with wanting. He slid off her heels, too, but he left her thigh-high stockings on.
She was coming unglued. If she didnt have him inside her in the next ten seconds, her whole body was going to go up in flames. She beckoned him to her, grasping his muscular hip with one hand and his beautiful arousal in the other as she opened herself to him.
Wait, honey, wait.
Wait? Did he have no idea how desperate hed made her?
But then she realized he was reaching for the bedside drawer. He was thinking about protecting her, and all she could think about was getting her satisfaction.
Thank goodness one of them had a shred of sanity left.
He took care of that little detail in one smooth movement, no fumbling, which reminded her that Max wasnt exactly inexperienced when it came to women. The image of his little black book sprang to her mind for just a moment, but she banished it.
Who cared about the past? Or the future, for that matter. Max was here and now, and in moments he was going to be inside her and she was positive it would be the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Max resisted the urge to just dive into Janes luscious body. Hed dated a lot of women, gone to bed with quite a few, too. But none had made him feel like this, like he wanted to sip and savor and create an experience that would live in their memories forever.
Moments ago hed been in a rush. He couldnt get her or himself naked fast enough. But now that they were committed, he wanted to take it slower, to look and touch and taste.
Max? Jane asked a little desperately, and he realized hed gone still while poised above her and was just looking, taking it all in.
He leaned down and kissed her, hoping she could feel even a fraction of what he felt right now.
Again she opened herself to him, and this time Max accepted the invitation, taking it slow, letting her grow accustomed to him. Every time he moved she made a little noise in the back of her throat, like a wild creature. The sounds only inflamed him further.
When he was perilously close to losing control, he plunged all the way in.
Ah, yes, finally, Jane said, and he smiled, thinking she probably hadnt meant to speak aloud.
His movements steadied into a rhythm. Jane met him thrust for thrust, her eyes open and gazing into his, trusting, giving, generous. He pressed his cheek into her hair, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance as he tried to make it last.
Ohoh She seemed to hold her breath, then looked almost surprised as the spasms overtook her body, taking them both over the edge of sanity to a place Max had never been before.
Max rode the crest of the wave for what seemed like an eternity. By the time it was over and they lay together, limbs entwined, sweaty, her hair in glorious disarray, Max wasnt sure how much time had passed. He discreetly glanced at his bedside clock and was amazed they still had thirty minutes left of their lunch hour.
He fingered a strand of her hair, then tickled her nose with it. Wish I could lie in bed all day with you.
Mmm.
On the other hand, showering with you would be nice.
Finally she opened her eyes, looking a little dazed. That was crazy good, wasnt it?
He laughed. Id say so. Maybe even worth the possible lawsuit.
She frowned. Lawsuit?
When you sue me for sexual harassment.
Oh, Max. She pulled her hair out of his hand. You know I would never do that, right?
Sure, you say that now, when everythings all rosy.
She sat up and thumped him with a pillow. Stop it. Im not the suing type. Im going into this knowing there might be consequences. What happens, happens.
So what is this?
What? Whats what?
You said Im going into this and I want to know what you think were getting into.
Jeez, Max. If you dont know, I certainly dont. Its a thing.
A thing?
A hot, sexy, what-the-hell-are-we-doing thing.
Is it a continuous thing?
She grinned mischievously. I dont know. Is it?
He grabbed her shoulders and pinned her down on the mattress. I hope you didnt do this just to satisfy an itch. I sure didnt. Then he kissed her, just to make sure she knew he meant what he said. Im not ready for marriage. The agency has to be my priority for a few years. But that doesnt mean I want this to be a one-night stand.
One-lunch-hour stand.
Jane
Sorry. She maneuvered herself away from him, and suddenly she did look serious. Almost too serious. I dont want this to be an isolated incident, either. But I understand about priorities. Im not one of those single moms shopping for a daddy for her kid.
Max hated hearing his words thrown back at him. I never imagined you were.
She sat up, wrapping the sheet around herself. Just one other small matter, Max.
What?
I thinkwhile were figuring this thing outyou shouldnt spend a lot of time around Kaylee.
The thud of disappointment in his chest seemed all out of proportion. He rolled back onto his own pillow. Oh.
Its all that stuff we talked about at the fish fry. Shell get too attached, and-
You dont have to go over it again, Jane. I really do understand.
Really?
You dont have to go over it again, Jane. I really do understand.
Really?
Really. I had another little girl get attached to me once. Her name was Hannah.
Jane said nothing.
As uncool as it is to bring up old girlfriends when youre in bed with the new one, Ill tell you anyway. Her name was Alicia, and we were together a couple of years.
You stayed with a woman for two years?
I know everyone thinks Im some kind of womanizer, and maybe thats what I became. But I was happy with Alicia. Satisfied. She offered me something that was sadly lacking in my life, and that was a family. You know, that warm, family thing?
But you have a family.
My parents got divorced when I was five. My mother had a string of boyfriends, even married a couple, but they never lasted. My dad had a couple more marriages, too. Eddie and I got bounced back and forth between them like ping-pong balls.
Oh, Max, Im sorry.
Alicia was nurturing and warm, and she was a great mother to Hannah. And Hannah-what a great kid. The two of them made me feel I belonged in a way I never had before.
And yet something went wrong.
Alicia wanted more from me than I could give. She wanted marriage, and I wasnt ready. I was only twenty-eight, still focused on my career and hanging out with friends. And I didnt love Alicia. I wasnt in love with her, I mean. Looking back, I think I stayed with her as long as I did because I cared about Hannah, not because of Alicia. All in all, I was pretty selfish. I wanted what they could give me, but I didnt want to provide what Alicia needed.
We all make relationship mistakes.
And sometimes we hurt people in the process. I devastated Hannah when I broke up with her mother. Shed never even known her real father. I was the closest shed ever had.
Max turned over to face Jane. He pulled her down and into his arms, because he couldnt stand not touching her. I dont want to hurt Kaylee that way. Shes a great kid, and I like being around her. Shes likesunshine.
But I think youre right. I think I should keep my distance.
And what about at work? Do we just act like before? Keep it secret? She pulled the sheet up over her face. Oh, God, I cant believe were having this conversation.
At work, of course we behave like professional colleagues. He hooked his finger on the edge of the sheet and pulled it down. Whats wrong with this conversation?