Baddest Bad Boys (32 page)

From the first moment Max had met Ellie, he’d known she was special. Unfortunately, he’d been too dumb to act on it. Given his parents’ track record to the altar—they’d had eleven marriages between them at the time—Max hadn’t been in any hurry to settle down. His father’s demands that he produce an heir—the firstborn son of the firstborn son—fell on deaf ears.

The biggest mistake Max had ever made was telling Stefan how he felt about Ellie. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think love at first sight was true,” Max had admitted.

Sadly, the two men rarely got along. Stefan had later taken perverse pleasure in telling Max that he’d only married Ellie to thwart Max. “I’m grateful you never told Ellie how you felt about her,” Stefan had laughingly thrown in Max’s face. “You made it easy for me.”

But Max had come close to telling Ellie once, on her wedding day. Another big mistake. The bad blood between the half-brothers had grown worse after that. In fact, the last words they’d exchanged had been heated.

Max had confronted Stefan on his infidelity, had threatened to warn Ellie. The two men were on their way to a board meeting in the Alps. Stefan had been driving…and looked away from the road. He had died instantly when the car plummeted off the road. Max had escaped with only cuts and bruises. And enough guilt to keep him away from Ellie.

Until the court battles erupted over Stefan’s estate, that is. Max was executor and everything, rightfully, had been left to Ellie, with Max as temporary overseer. But then there had been claims of illegitimate children, which DNA proved false, followed by palimony suits filed by four mistresses. He had previewed their depositions, knew each promised a scandalous trial.

That’s when Max pulled the plug. It had taken a gargantuan effort to make it go away, but he did it. Unfortunately, he hadn’t acted soon enough to save Ellie’s public reputation. The production company that had been publicly wooing Ellie with a lucrative television and designer magazine offer abruptly backed out.

After that it seemed all her clients bailed as well. She’d quietly closed her offices and started doing work privately under her maiden name.

He pushed the memories away. At some point he and Ellie needed to discuss their past. Their future depended on it. For now, though, he simply wanted to let the week unfold. She’d made the all-important first move. He’d countered. Next move was hers; his balls were in her court…

He took a sip of wine, wondered how Ellie had reacted to his gift. He probably shouldn’t have mentioned the part about her wearing only the emeralds. After all she’d been through at the beach house yesterday, the last thing he wanted was for her to feel pressured.

In another part of the house, a clock chimed. He counted seconds, waiting, then turned and strode back into the library. He’d find her and apologize—

He found her standing just inside the door.

Wearing the emeralds with a short, white sundress that barely skimmed the tops of her thighs. Her hair was tousled and curled, pinned up to fall down her back, affording him an unimpeded view of her lush curves. The halter top plunged low, nearly to her navel. And no bra…

His reaction was sudden. His cock turned to marble and strained against his trousers as he moved toward her.

Her eyes lowered, widening as she took in the bulge at his crotch. She raised her gaze, her cheeks pink.

“Take it as a compliment, Ellie. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. And thank you for these.” She touched the emeralds. Then her eyes darted down again. “After reading your note, I worried I’d be overdressed.”

We’ll fix that shortly. “You’re perfect.”

Understatement. The dress was clingy in all the right places. Her breasts were magnificent—two large, firm globes. Centered high on each was a small, pink nipple. Tightly drawn and pointed, they strained against the shimmery fabric. He remembered the taste of them, the way Ellie had responded the first time he’d suckled them.

Part of him wanted to pick her up and rush over to the plush sofa on the far side of the room, losing the dress along the way.

Instead, he took her arm and escorted her outside, to the patio. “Let me get you a drink.”

 

Ellie scarcely heard his words. She was still processing the evidence of his erection. Right before her eyes he’d grown hard. Witnessing his reaction had been heady. She sat on one of the cushioned benches and shivered.

“Cold?” Max’s gaze raked over her once again.

She decided to play it honest. “No. I’m…nervous.”

“Don’t be.” He filled a wineglass and handed it to her before picking up his own. “A toast. To our week ahead.”

“Our week.” She sipped her wine, grateful to have something to do with her hands.

“The emeralds match your eyes.” He sat next to her and stretched an arm along the back of the seat.

“The jewelry is exquisite, Max.” She touched the necklace. “You shouldn’t have.”

“A beautiful woman deserves beautiful baubles.”

“That makes it sound like you think I can be bought with shiny rocks.”

“Hardly.” He moved closer, touching one of her earrings. His fingertips skimmed down her shoulder to her arm.

Butterflies danced in her stomach.

“I want to hold you, Ellie,” he said. “Feel you in my arms again.”

The butterflies did aerobics now. On crack cocaine…She nodded.

He took her wineglass and set it aside before tugging her onto his lap. His gaze missed nothing. Then he lowered his mouth, catching her lips in a kiss that was both tender and demanding.

Her arms circled his neck. She kissed him back, surrendered without a battle. Max could do anything to her. Everything. She felt his fingers at her nape, working the ties that held her bodice. There was a slight tug and then her top fell forward. She felt the fabric puddle at her waist, the night air on her bare skin. His hands pressed at her sides, shifting her slightly toward him. And when his fingers finally closed over her breast, she moaned in pleasure and approval. Wanting more.

She tugged at his shirt, also wanting equal access.

A knock sounded, distant.

Max broke the kiss, pulling her dress back in place as the knock repeated, louder this time. When Ellie was decent, he called out. “Yes!”

A small woman appeared in the door. Max introduced Maria, then frowned as the woman relayed an urgent message.

Ellie listened. She recognized the name. Tony Breeden was DSI’s Chief Financial Officer.

“Tell him I’ll call right back,” Max said.

When they were alone, Ellie retied her top. “So much for first impressions. I can imagine what she thinks.”

“Maria is extremely discreet.”

“Oh, that makes me feel better. Is she used to finding half-naked women in your arms?”

Max chuckled. “Actually, you’re the first woman I’ve ever brought here.”

She gave him a yeah, right look.

“I’m serious. San Regale is my personal retreat. I come here to escape,” Max continued. “I’m guilty of bringing work with me, but that’s it. That’s one of the reasons I picked this place for our week together. We can really be alone here, Ellie.”

“Without the phones?”

“We’ll see. There are a few loose ends I must deal with. Like this one tonight. I might be tied up a while.”

She nodded, masking her disappointment. “I’ll go upstairs, then. It’s been a long day.”

“I’ll take you up.” In one smooth movement, he stood, keeping her in his arms. “Talk to me. I can tell you’re upset.”

She started to say, it’s nothing, I’m fine, but she was weary of the false pretenses. Instead she looked him straight in the eye. “You promised me a week. Seven days. And today’s already gone.”

They had reached her room now. Max slid her down the front of his body, making sure she felt his erection.

“Our week doesn’t start until tomorrow, El. Trust me, I wouldn’t dream of cheating either of us out of one single day.”

8

Exhausted from the lack of rest the night before, when Ellie did fall asleep, she went too far under. Nightmares pulled at her, the sinister images jumbled, frantic.

Disembodied voices screamed for her to get out of Max’s bed. To get out of his life. A masked man chased her through rain that had turned to sticky black tar, making it impossible to get away. She was stuck, sinking. She heard macabre laughter. You’re mine now, Ella-baby.

Then the man grabbed her. She struggled against the hands that tightened on her shoulders.

“Ellie! Wake up!”

A light came on, harsh and sudden. She jerked upright, blinking at the too-bright light. Her heart pounded hard, making breathing difficult. The room felt warm, her gown clingy from perspiration.

Her eyes darted around, trying to take in everything—the rattan room, the wrecked covers, Max sitting beside her. She knew where she was, knew she’d been dreaming. Neither fact helped her shake the insidious sense of fright.

“Easy, sweetheart.” Max kept his voice low as he shifted closer and gently pulled her, sheets and all, into his arms.

She practically crawled up his chest. “Oh, Max!”

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” His arms tightened, making her feel safe, secure. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, his skin warm. He rocked her, stroking her hair as he made little shhhh noises, over and over.

Slowly her pulse evened out. She forced her fingers to relax, hadn’t realized they were digging into his arm.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the images rattling around inside her head. “No. I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Then don’t. It must have been bad, though. I had a hard time waking you.”

She suppressed a shudder, remembering her assailant’s laugh. “I haven’t had a nightmare like that since I was small and worried the big, bad wolf lived in my closet.”

“And here I’d hoped your fantasies would have been of me.”

She closed her eyes. She’d started out with those fantasies. Pretty hot ones. But those dreams had nothing on the comforting reality of being held in his arms. She rubbed her cheek against Max’s chest, savoring the feel of firm muscle. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

“I’m not.” He brushed a kiss to the top of her head, then lifted her back onto the bed. “Move over.”

He didn’t have to ask twice. She scooted away, tugging and lifting the sheets to make room for him. Her pulse elevated as Max leaned forward to snap off the bedside lamp. But the room didn’t go dark. He’d left the bathroom light on, the door slightly ajar, so a soft glow filtered in.

He stood and turned, giving Ellie a clear view of his profile. In the tangle of dreams and bedclothes, she hadn’t realized until just that moment that he was naked from the waist down, too.

It was impossible not to stare. His penis jutted out majestically from a nest of dark hair. It was larger than she remembered, long and thick. Semi-erect, it curved slightly away from his body, mesmerizing her.

The mattress dipped as he climbed in and stretched out on his back. He extended his hand, his voice a low and husky invitation. “Come closer.”

Nothing could have kept her away. All her worries vanished in the simple need to be in his arms. She moved in next to him and put her head on his shoulder, pressed her belly against his side. His arm stretched down the length of her, pressing along her spine, urging her pelvis into his hip. Then he shifted one leg slightly, forcing her legs apart. She drew her knee up, eased it over his. The sensation of being tucked in close was soothing and erotic at the same time.

He had entwined her fingers with his, his thumb stroking rhythmically back and forth over her knuckles.

“Better?” he asked.

Trick question, she thought. Better would mean moving her hand beneath the sheet, to touch him. Better would mean both of them naked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Good. Can we lose the gown?”

Ellie felt her cheeks grow warm. Had he read her mind? “I should refuse since you said our week doesn’t start till tomorrow.” But even as she spoke, she reached for the hem of her gown and started peeling it up.

Max helped. His fingers grazed her sides as he tugged the material. “It’s after midnight, so technically it is tomorrow.”

Balling up the gown, he sent it sailing to a corner of the room. Then he pulled her across his chest, stretching her out on top of him. His arms crossed over her back, ensuring there wasn’t one iota of her that didn’t touch him. The textures, the muscles, the heat of a full frontal hug were shocking. Delicious.

Max was a big man. All over. Hard, too. All over. Fully aroused, his erection teased her bottom. They were shoulder to shoulder, which put her pelvis closer to his navel, and still she felt him. Sensual images filled her mind. She wanted to scoot lower, to grind against his sex.