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On a long exhale, Max pressed me into the windows with his body, his mouth dropping to my neck. I arched for more of that incomparable feeling of skin on skin. His fingers stroked down my sides with reverence, lighting fires that lingered in my breasts, my stomach, my hips.

When he found his way between my legs, I whimpered. I expected him to growl how wet I was, or what he wanted to do to me, but there was nothing. Just this look of absolute need in his eyes.

I’d asked for the intimacy, but couldn’t have predicted how it would feel to have him touching me with such reverence.

With every touch, Max was proving his words to me.
You’re the only one I see
.

I’d asked for the way kissed me deep and slow, his tongue whispering secrets to mine. For the gentleness in his hands as they cupped my breasts, teasing the peaks with his thumbs until I gasped.

If this was a fantasy…

Then I never wanted to wake up.

Max’s hard cock brushed between my legs and he groaned, reminding me of the urgency just beneath the surface. The fire building behind his eyes matched the one in my body. Being stoked with every brush of skin on skin into a blaze that consumed everything in its path.

“Payton,” he muttered, pressing his hips into mine and rubbing the head of his cock against my skin. My head fell back against the window as I gave in to the sensations, craving the release only he could bring me. “I want you like this.”

I knew what he meant and my heart leapt in my throat. I’d never had sex without a condom, but I was on the pill and I trusted him. More than that, I needed him.

“Yes. Please. Do it.”

Max half-laughed in the darkness, but I could see underneath how my words affected him. “I’m not plugging in a computer cable.”

I was too far gone to care. “Now,” I begged, and on a groan, he responded.

He stroked his hands over my hips and lifted my legs so they hooked around his waist. With a last look in my eyes that had my heart squeezing, Max plunged into me.

I arched back, overloaded with feeling. My back merged with the windows, nothing but sweat and glass between me and an eleven-story free-fall. I should’ve been terrified, or self-conscious, but I couldn’t feel either with him worshipping me.

Max filled me completely, like hard silk. He nudged us into a rhythm that started slow, but built. Steady and undeniable, like a bass drum.

But it wasn’t just our bodies, it was something else. When he pulled back to look in my eyes I felt the emotion rise up.

I squeezed him involuntarily and he grunted, fingers digging into my hips.

“Payton.” I’d never loved my name more than I did hearing it from his panting lips.

He shifted me higher on him, changing the angle so he could look into my eyes with each thrust. In the light coming in the window, Max could see every tremor, every emotion on my face.

And I could see everything on his.

My throat burned at the intensity of it. We were not in control. This, this was so far out of control.

I had fallen for him. Totally, completely.

I’m in love with you, Max Donovan.

I felt his hesitation. Felt his biceps shake just a little under my hands as his rhythm slowed.

Now each stroke was deeper, filling me to the hilt.

“Max?”

I could see the sweat beat at his brow as he moved in me. Hear the grunt starting from the effort, even as the sweet ache built in me.

Closer.

Tighter.

The orgasm blindsided me, my body clenching around Max’s and my nails digging into his shoulders. Everything went black as I cried out. It felt like I
was
being shoved off the eleventh floor, and I scrambled for something, anything, to hold on to.

But it wasn’t Max throwing me over. No, he was there with me.

I heard my name again, over and over. Max’s voice was far away but he was still part of me.

I felt his pleasure like it was my own when he jerked inside, an inhuman groan in his throat that echoed in the silent room.

Max collapsed onto me, his weight crushing me into the glass and his hair tickling my cheek. His heart hammered through his chest, beating a stilted staccato against mine.

I wanted to hold him in me forever but when he finally pulled out, the cool air hit my body like a salve.

Instead of crossing to the bed, Max pulled the blanket off it and laid it down at my feet. He pulled me against him and rolled to face the window.

I gazed sightlessly at the skyline as Max held me in his arms. My body ached but I’d never felt more perfect. Whatever I’d expected he’d given me more, even if he didn’t know it.

“How many people do you think are out there?” I mused, my voice dreamy as I took in the firefly lights marking windows and doors, homes and stores and churches.

Max’s low voice rumbled at my back, his lips grazing my ear. “Doesn’t matter. You’re still the only one I see.”

My heart squeezed unbearably as I turned to face him. My gaze played over his, luxuriating in the physical exhaustion of what we’d done. But the satisfaction was dwarfed by the need, the sheer hunger for this man to be mine.

“Max, this was the best birthday ever. I mean it.” I trailed a hand from the barbell in his eyebrow down over his cheekbones to his parted lips, his chin to his chest, feeling his heart gallop under my fingers.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Payton,” he said, as if he knew those words weren’t enough.

For tonight they would have to do.

Instead of answering, I pressed a kiss to his mouth before reluctantly pulling out of his arms and standing.

“You want to move to the bed?” he asked.

I grabbed two pillows and brought them back, passing him one before dropping to the floor again. “Nope.”

I curled into his chest and he pulled me against him. His arm slung around my waist and I breathed him in, more content than I could remember.

I woke up to pain. Dull aches permeated my legs, my back.

Sleeping on the floor was romantic. It was not comfortable.

The bedside clock revealed it was only seven am, so I had lots of time before work. After standing, stretching, and using the washroom, I pulled on one of Max’s t-shirts that was folded on the chest of drawers. It was the one that said “The Dandies,” that he’d pitched Harmon in. I pulled the collar up to my nose and sniffed it.

Max Donovan smells better than heaven and rainbows and watermelon put together.

Oh, yeah. I had it bad.

I padded through the apartment. Smells greeted me from the kitchen, where I found Max cooking breakfast wearing just plaid pajama pants and glasses.

He set down his cell when I entered, his expression dissolving into a smug grin. “Morning, Coyote.”

“Morning.” A matching smile stretched across my face. “You really need those glasses or do you just wear them to drive me crazy?”

“They’re entirely to get the girl,” he replied solemnly.

“Don’t you mean the girls?”

“Nope. Just one.” Max crossed to where I was leaning against the counter, and my heart kicked in my chest. “So last night.”

“Yeah
,” I sighed, my whole body shivering as I thought about what we’d done. I could almost see him reliving it in his head like I was.

Max tilted his head, a smile pulling at his mouth while his eyes searched mine for any trace of hesitation. “Yeah?”

I nodded. “Absolutely yeah. You?”

“Hell yeah.” He kissed me, and I was a puddle on the floor in three seconds flat. When he pulled back, he nodded to the phone. “Good news. Harmon wants to meet Monday morning.”

My brain scrambled to catch up. “Holy shit. That’s amazing! And soon. But you’d planned to go to your parents tomorrow until Monday, right?”

“I could fly back late Sunday night. Or…” He tilted his head. “Were you serious about wanting to be in my business? Even the messy parts?”

“Of course.”

“In that case,” he murmured, “why don’t you and Ry deal with Harmon. It would actually be a big help because I need to find someone to replace Claire on short notice. Someone we can trust. What do you say?”

Excitement bubbled up, both at the idea of doing the meeting and because he trusted me to. “Yes!”

“Great. We can catch up when my plane lands.” I grinned but Max looked distracted. “Nice shirt,” he muttered, his gaze dropping to my body. I felt it graze the tops of my thighs.

“You like it?”

“It was one of my favorites.”

“And now?” I teased.

“Now, I think I want it back.” He went for the hem the same time I did. I shrieked, and he settled for dropping his mouth on mine and pressing me into the counter.

When he pulled back, his face was skeptical. “You sure you’re good taking Harmon?”

I leveled him with a look. “I’m sure. What could possibly go wrong?”

“That supposed to make me feel better?” Max winced.

“I’m kidding. Everything will be fine.”

“Good. I’ll be back Monday night.”

“I’ll be downstairs waiting,” I promised.

Max reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “I want you here.” He reached behind me for something on the counter and slid it, under his palm, toward me.

My breath caught in my chest as he lifted his hand to reveal a key.

“It might not be forever, but it’s a start.” His earnest expression had me pressing onto my toes to kiss him again. When I pulled back, I was breathless and not at all satisfied.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just confused.” I held up the key in front of my face. “Are you saying…you’re going to start locking your apartment?”

I laughed as his hands slid under the t-shirt. The look of retaliation changed when he realized I didn’t have anything underneath it.

My laughter died just as quickly.

Chapter 25

I’m so proud of you

How’s Florida? Wrestle any alligators?

It’s a million degrees here. I think it’s colder in hell

I grinned, shifting back in my desk chair.

Are you having fun with your parents?

Not sure fun is the right word but we’re figuring it out

An image popped up of Max sitting at a table by the beach between a middle-aged couple. They were both smiling into the camera. But the real spectacle was Max in a short-sleeved button down with palm trees on it, sipping an umbrella-pick-bearing mocktail.

I knew Max and his parents wouldn’t become close overnight, but seeing him try warmed my heart.

Wow. Are you even coming back? You look pretty comfortable

Can’t wait to be home. For a lot of reasons

I warmed at the idea that he’d missed me. We hadn’t talked since he and Riley and I had prepped for the Harmon meeting before he left.

Except for brief business calls, Max wasn’t one for chatting. He seemed to treat the visit to his parents with the same single-minded focus he did everything else.

You and Riley all set for Monday?

Yup. Don’t worry. Go swim with some dolphins or something

Harmon was supposed to have reviewed our proposal and come back with a counter-proposal. Max seemed to have no doubt it was going to be a good one, in which case he could sign off once he returned.

With any luck, Titan would have the money by end of week so they could finish Phoenix.

It was seriously needed, because Titan was burning through cash in an effort to pull all the loose ends together. Coding had gone from an eighteen-hour-a-day activity to twenty-four hours a day. Max had hired an extra couple of contractors to help. On top of it, there was a studio recording voices, plus artists working on posters and promotional materials, and an ad agency starting to work on marketing.

Despite Max’s absence—or maybe because of it—I’d had a productive thirty-six hours. I’d landed three new clients at Alliance in the past week. The dev award would be announced any day, but Charlie and I figured it was a done deal.

The money would take care of the balance my mom needed to come up with by next month. I couldn’t wait to tell her that she wouldn’t be moving out of her condo.

She’d made me dinner and a cake last night to make up for the fact that Max had taken me out on my actual birthday. We’d laughed and watched movies and she’d grilled me on Max, who she heartily approved of on the basis of his looks and dry sense of humor alone.

I wanted her to meet him again. Maybe after he got back I could get the three of us together for dinner.

The phone on my desk rang, pulling me out of my daydreams.

“Payton. Can you come to my office?”

“Sure thing.” I grabbed my notebook and headed down the hall. I didn’t know why I was being summoned, but I knew it was something good. I’d heard nothing but compliments on how Titan’s project was going, and my other stats had been solid.

“You wanted to see me?” I started as I poked my head in the open door.

Jamie was in his late fifties, with two kids who occupied serious photo real estate on his desk and bookshelves. He came from a family in banking, he’d told me, and had never questioned that this was his path.

His office was familiar, and I’d been there lots over the last year. Like the other senior directors he had a big, expensive desk. Two chairs for guests. A couch for more casual conversations.

“Why don’t you sit over here.” Jamie rose from his desk and gestured to the chair on the other side.

My pulse thrummed steadily in the back of my neck. I took a seat as I’d been asked, clasping my notebook on my lap.

“I know you’ve been working hard to win the development award. And I’m so proud of you.” The warmth in his voice had a smile pulling at my mouth. “New clients are important to this company and on top of your stellar service record…well, it’s good to see you contributing on so many fronts.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to hear you say it.”

“I wanted you to know that you were very much in the running for the award.”

“I—wait. Was?” My smile melted.

“In confidence, I can tell you that you came second, and I wanted you to hear it from me before the announcement. Avery’s closed some big deals this week. But—” he lifted a hand at my expression “—he’s been doing this a year longer than you have. I assure you, you’re on track for someone with your experience.”

“Someone with my experience,” I repeated numbly.

“Next year, who knows.” He grinned. “Keep it up, Payton.”

The walk back to my office had never felt longer.

The girl staring at me in the makeup mirror looked like…well, like she hadn’t slept at all weekend.

Harsh but accurate.

I’d been looking forward to this day since last week. Since Max had held me in his arms as we fell asleep in front of his window. Since Max had said he trusted me and Riley to take this meeting for him.

But the news from Jamie had broken my focus. I wanted to cry but refused to, because crying meant giving up. I thought about calling Max but I didn’t want to disturb him at his parents’ party. He’d texted a couple of times and even called for a few minutes last night. I hadn’t told him about the dev award, or my mom, because I hadn’t wanted to distract him from his own family.

I secretly hoped that Max seeing his parents celebrate thirty years in more-or-less normalcy would make him realize it was possible to have a long-term relationship—the kind I’d started letting myself believe I could have with him—despite some bumps in the road. By the sounds of it, they were making progress. Max’s dad was interested in hearing about Phoenix. His mom had a barrage of questions about his divorce, which he’d deftly avoided. Maybe they’d never be close, but it was encouraging to hear that they were at least talking.

I’d spent all weekend running numbers, seeing what I could do to help my mom without the significant bump the award would give me. Nothing had changed. The raise I’d get from my promotion wasn’t enough, not nearly. I could sell my car, but the problem was both my mom and I used it. I had a few thousand I could pull together from my savings and a line of credit, but not what she needed.

Still, I donned my black leather skirt and pale blush top. I’d finished putting on pearl earrings and was grabbing my bag on my way to the door when Riley called.

“Meet you there in thirty,” I said before he could speak.

“Payton.” The sound of his voice made me pull up halfway to my car. Dread settled over me.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Maria. We were just in a car accident.”

I pushed a hand through my hair, forgetting about the curls that’d taken me an hour. “Shit, are you OK?”

“I’m fine but they took her away in an ambulance. I’m on my way to the hospital. I hate to say this, but we have to cancel Harmon.”

On top of everything this week, this had to happen
…

I pictured Max’s face when he found out we delayed after Harmon had been slippery for weeks. Max’s self-imposed deadline was right around the corner. The leak to Christina might’ve been stopped, but Axel’s launch was looming. They could be starting promotions any day. If Phoenix was going to release first, we needed to finish it.

Which meant we needed the cash.

“Riley, what if I take the meeting alone?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know, Payton.”

“All that will happen is they’ll propose terms, and then you and Max can go over them later. A little haggling and you’re done. Phoenix launches as planned. Don’t even think about it.”

“Payton—”

“Seriously. Go be with Maria.” I clicked off without waiting for a response.

This was the one thing I knew I could do. I’d been on the other side of the table lots. This wasn’t really Riley’s expertise anyway—he was there as Max’s guy, but Max trusted me too. He’d even sent me a text this morning to say good luck.

It would be no sweat.

I ran through our proposal in my head on the way over to Harmon’s offices. I knew it cold because I’d written half of it.

At Harmon’s office I was greeted by a smiling woman with flaming red hair and a purple dress who introduced herself as Joan. Her colleague Quentin looked as comfortable in a pale gray suit with a bright green tie. 

“We heard rave reviews from the California team,” Quentin offered as we took our seats around a conference table in a room almost the twin of the one we’d occupied in San Diego. Light streamed in on his young, kind face. “We’re excited to work with Titan and have been drawing up some ideas based on what you shared.”

“Great. We’re in the final stages of Phoenix and the team is working hard to see it through completion.”

“Well, we want to ensure you have the financial support to get there.” Joan produced a stack of papers from a file folder in front of her.

My heart leapt as I took the papers from Joan and looked them over as she spoke.

This was cruise control for me. I’d get the terms, bring them back to Max and Riley, they’d sign, and we’d have a flush bank account by the end of the week.

“We can offer you a ten million dollar loan, with a few normal conditions,” Quentin started. My finger stilled on the page I was reading and I lifted my head. “One is that we have preferred lending status.”

Something prickled at the back of my brain. “What does that mean?” I suspected I knew, but wanted to hear them say it.

Joan’s voice was cheerful. “In the unlikely event that Titan is unable to repay its obligations in full, our loan gets paid before any others.”

“Unlikely event—” I pointed to the percentage listed on the back page. “This interest rate is more than double the rate on our other loan.”

Joan’s smile didn’t fade, but it tightened. “Your company, Ms. Blake, is already highly leveraged.”

Righteous indignation on Titan’s behalf burned in my stomach. “I understand, but it sounds to me you think Titan won’t repay. This—” I pointed at the percentage “—is gouging. If Phoenix does as well as Oasis, your ten million will be safely back in your pocket in two years. Along with an extremely comfortable rate of return.”

“I can assure you, these terms are normal,” Quentin said.

My attention dropped back to the pages and I pushed down the urge to bite my lip. Riley and I had drawn up specs for debt financing. Although we hadn’t specifically talked interest rates with Max, these were outrageous.

I’d heard of firms using stall tactics, then pressuring companies to sign on at high rates. In fact, one of my new clients at Alliance had come to me this week after having exactly that experience with another lender.

It was not only irresponsible, it was reprehensible.

When I was sitting on the same side of the table as these firms, I’d quietly ignore their practices while providing clients with a better alternative. But when I was confronted with it face to face?

I’d been keeping my mouth shut for years. Wanting to, needing to, pay my dues at Alliance while I climbed the ladder. Looking to provide for my mom in the way she always provided for me, not complaining, not criticizing.

I’d intended to tell Harmon, “Thanks, we’ll get back to you,” but when they were so obviously trying to screw us, I couldn’t stay silent. Not while they were trying to take advantage of Max.

I set the papers down on the table in front of me, smoothing the top sheet with my hands. “We’re not doing this deal,” I said quietly.

Joan frowned. “Ms. Blake. This is a solid offer given Titan’s position. And with all due respect, we’re the financing professionals.”

“I’m a financing professional. You seem to be in the business of taking advantage of small firms that don’t have options, because what you’re offering borders on fraudulent. It’s not happening today.” I rose as calmly as I could and walked out, even though I was shaking on the inside.