Becoming His (43 page)

“How’d you get in?”

“You really need to fix that latch in the sunroom,” I say with a grin as I lead us over toward the gate that goes into our backyard.

As I reach for the latch Max grips my arm and firmly pulls me to him so we’re chest to chest. His face is soft and he’s looking at me as though I’ve just done something significant, and earth-altering.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I push up on my toes so I can place a kiss on his lips.

“For choosing me.”

My face breaks out in a grin as I kiss him once more. “Always you,” I whisper and kiss him again.

“Come on.” I interlace my fingers with his and open the gate, leading him to the dimly lit backyard. We stop in front of the blanket I had laid out, along with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, a
crème brûlée
I had picked up at an Italian restaurant on Wednesday, and a small wrapped box.

“Come on, let’s take a drink. It’s necessary for crazy.”

“You did this for me?”

“I wanted to be the first to celebrate with you,” I answer, pouring some amber liquid into each glass and handing him one.

“You don’t like whiskey.”

“But you do, and this day is all about you.” I throw back the shot and blink a couple of times to fight the burning sensation that always bites more than licks. I smile as he shakes his head and then takes his own shot.

“What are we doing?” he asks as I take his hand in mine and lead him further into the yard.

“Going swimming.” Max looks at me trying to read my intentions. “Naked.”

“Ace …” Max quietly starts in protest.

I smile and lift the black tank top I’m wearing and toss it in the direction of a patio chair, not waiting to see where it lands before taking a few steps back toward the pool wearing a royal purple lace bra. Max shakes his head again and I can tell he’s debating with himself about objecting as I start shimmying my jeans down my legs, tossing them over in the direction of my top.

“Ace, let’s go back to my room.” I hear the defeat in his voice as he says the words he thinks he should.

I shake my head, still smiling at him as I reach behind my back. My fingers tremble slightly as I finger the clasp of my bra. I’m thoroughly impressed that I’ve made it this far, especially since Max hasn’t moved a muscle since he saw my intentions. I’m not sure if he’s caught up in the moment, or just doesn’t believe that I’ll go through with it. I slowly let my bra slide down my arms and fall to the ground before I hook my thumbs into my matching underwear and push them down my legs.

People always say to enjoy your body when you’re young and it’s toned and in shape, before gravity, kids, and stress work against you. That’s much easier to say when you’re forty looking back, rather than twenty standing stark naked in front of your ridiculously hot boyfriend.

Max stares at me for a few long moments, and then a small smile flashes on his face and he pulls off his T-shirt and tosses it toward my discarded items.

I lower myself into the warm water that feels cool as it laps against parts of me that have always been covered and turn to see Max slide into the pool, completely naked. My smile grows in my first successful planned dose of crazy.

“Your dad is going to kill me!”

“They both sleep with ear plugs, and their room faces the street.”

Max shakes his head again, as if he’s trying to push unwanted thoughts out before swimming toward me. As he gets close, I plunge down into the water and swim away. When I surface I turn to look over my shoulder and see Max looking at me with an amused grin.

“Great view,” he says, his smile growing.

I splash water in his direction. There’s no way I could reach him from the distance between us, but he takes my bait and swims toward me. I grin and swim in the opposite direction, heading to the shallow end.

“Is this foreplay?” he asks, emerging from the water.

“Isn’t there something that people say about building the anticipation and delayed satisfaction?”

Max dives beneath the water before the word anticipation fully leaves my lips and appears in front of me within seconds, locking his arms around my waist.

“I’ve lived across from you, watching you swim in this pool for years. The anticipation is about to kill me.” A small laugh escapes my lips as Max’s hands slowly travel down to explore my body as he seals his lips with mine. I don’t even realize that we’ve moved until I feel the wall of the pool against my shoulders. Max’s kisses turn more heated and greedy.

“Seriously, when we get home I’m going to bend you over my bed and take you from behind so I can see your perfect ass while I make you mine.” Max breathes in my ear and then slowly slides a finger inside of me, hitting my ache and sending a shiver through my entire body.

I don’t know if it’s his words, or the smoldering look in his eyes, or what he’s doing with his skilled hands that makes me feel unhinged, but I suddenly need Max more than I’ve ever experienced. I wrap my arms tighter around his neck and attempt to thread my fingers in his short hair. The sensation against my fingers has me reeling as my legs lock around his waist.

“Max, I need you,” I beg, kissing him hard. I feel the smile on his lips as his fingers continue their ministrations and realize that he knows what he’s doing to me; he knows he has me going half crazy. I deepen the kiss further, sliding my tongue against his, scraping my short nails against his shoulders, as I press myself against him, trying to merge us into one being rather than two.

I know instantly when Max isn’t able to continue the teasing as a groan bubbles up from his throat and his fingers clench around my thigh. His hand moves from my center, and he grips my other thigh, lifting me a little higher so I’m wrapped around his belly, making me groan in protest.

“Please, Max?” The words come out in a breathy whimper. I should be mortified by the sound, but I’m too far gone to care right now.

“Please what?” He growls.

“Fuck me,” I whisper.

He groans again and his hooded eyes turn darker and focused as he grips both of my thighs and pulls me down. With one thrust he’s inside of me and my entire body relishes in the sensation. A sigh escapes my lips, and my fingers dig into his shoulders as he does it again and we get lost in our desires for each other as he makes me his.

As we come down from our high, my legs remain loosely wrapped around Max, my head resting on his shoulder. My eyes feel heavy from bliss rather than exhaustion as I savor the way his body feels against mine. I breathe in his scent as his hands continue to run lazily along my spine while his lips softly brush against my hair.

“Happy birthday, babe,” I whisper.

“This may go down in history as the best crazy moment of my life.” I let out a small laugh and kiss his neck.

“I love when you laugh. There are few greater sounds.” Max’s baritone voice rumbles against my ear and my chest.

My head tilts. “What sounds are greater?”

“The sounds you were making just a few minutes ago.” His hand drops to my backside and he squeezes once. This time his confession makes me blush slightly, though it fills me with a sense of pride.

“I have to get you to bed. You’re going to be up late tonight. Let’s go have some dessert.”

“Up late listening to more of your beautiful sounds?” His lips bury in my neck, caressing the skin with his lips as the short bristles along his jaw scratch my skin causing an erotic need to run through me.

“If you’re not too exhausted,” I say, releasing my legs from his waist and holding his arm with mine as we wade to the shallow end of the pool.

“I’ll never be too exhausted,” he promises as we climb out and wrap ourselves in towels before heading over to the blanket where we cuddle together as the cool November night air hits our bare skin.

We lie like this for several long moments, neither of us saying anything, and stare up into the sky, the faint scent of chlorine dancing off of our skin as we entwine our bodies.

“I don’t think this moment can ever be topped. I wish we could stop time right now or just slow it down so we could stay here longer.” Max’s quiet voice wraps around me in a hug as my hand traces slowly over his abdomen.

“You make me believe in soul mates,” I whisper.

“That’s because you were made for me to love. I’ll never get enough of you. I could be with you every moment of every day for the next thousand years and it wouldn’t be enough.”

We sit there a few moments basking in our love, allowing the emotion and sentiments to be properly savored.

“I have something for you,” I say, sitting up and grabbing the small wrapped box and handing it to him.

“I don’t want any wrapped gifts, unless you’re going to put a bow on yourself.”

I smile and shove it a little closer. “You already have me.”

He slowly takes the box from my hands and opens it, revealing a watch. He’d had a watch that he broke when we’d gone camping for Jameson’s birthday. When I saw this nearly a month ago it reminded me so much of him with the dark metal and the white face that was so masculine and cool, but had an edge of sexiness, it was undeniable even in a box.

“This is perfect.” His eyes look at my face, and I feel my insides flutter with happiness at his genuine excitement. Max quickly takes it out of the box and pulls the small tab out.

“What are you doing?” I ask as he slides it on his wrist.

“Stopping time,” he answers, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back down on the blanket where he holds me securely to him and kisses my lips and whispers thank yous and compliments as he strokes my hair and treats me like I’m fragile and sacred.

Eventually I pull away and sit up, knowing that it’s already way later than I expected to keep him up. “Come on, birthday boy,” I say, standing up, “you have to go to bed or you won’t enjoy the rest of your day.”

“It doesn’t matter what else happens today, not after this.” I smile and tug on his reluctant arm that I know could easily haul me back down but doesn’t. He stands up and accepts the small dish of
crème brûlée
that we didn’t get around to eating and walks me to my door where he kisses me once more before softly skimming the right side of my face with his thumb.

“I love you, Ace.”

“I love you, Max.” His eyes focus on mine for a second before I reach up to kiss him once more on his slightly swollen lips.

“I’m done with these home visits. I hate not having you in my bed.”

“Tomorrow!” I answer resolutely. “Now go have some sweet dreams of me!”

“Always,” he replies with a growl before kissing me once more and swatting my backside as I disappear inside.

A
s planned, I don’t see much of Max the next day so I can ensure that everything’s ready for the party. Sharon offers to run interference first and takes him out for breakfast. After that, it’s up to Jameson and Wes to keep him busy until seven when we’ll be meeting to have dinner while forty something people gather in his house.

I head back to San Diego early with Kendall, who helps me hang streamers and balloons, along with multiple happy birthday banners, and confetti. We set up the tables that we’d rented, stocking them with alcohol, cups, napkins, and plates. I’d ordered party platters filled with sandwiches that Jesse and Abby will pick up, along with the sheet cakes.

I’m a bundle of nerves as we sit at the restaurant waiting for the boys. I’m realigning my silverware when Kendall grabs my hand within hers. “He’s going to love it. Everything is going to be fine. Just take a deep breath.”

My eyes dart to her piercing blue ones heavily shadowed with charcoal gray and force a nod as I take an audible breath that doesn’t seem to fulfill my need for air. Breathe is starting to become my life mantra since I met Max.

When the guys arrive, they’re all looking comfortable and relaxed, laughing over something as they follow the hostess to our table. Kendall squeezes my hand in a silent assurance as we stand up to greet them. Max wears a fitted long sleeve white shirt with thin gray stripes and a pair of jeans with some black dress shoes. It’s understated and casual, but he makes it look sexy and classy with his confident grin and posture.

His eyes light up as our gazes meet. I watch his eyes drink me in, trailing over the dark gray satin dress that goes over a single one of my shoulders and dips down on the other, ending tightly at my mid-thigh.

“Hey, beautiful.” Max cups the back of my exposed neck and leans forward kissing me.

Max’s phone rings as we crowd around the table.

“Hank,” he says quietly.

His face looks uncertain. I place my hand on his forearm and smile, nodding my head to the front of the restaurant. He grins at me before lifting the phone to his ear and heading back to the front. I offer him a giant smile before we continue outside.

“A
lright, birthday boy, would you like to ride in their chariot or mine?” I ask, gesturing between Wes’s SUV and my car as we make it out to the parking lot after finishing dinner.

“I’ll ride with you,” he answers wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll see you guys at the house.”

“Why don’t we go get ice cream?” Max suggests.