Nisha grins at me from the kitchen stool she’s perched on in her and Calum’s apartment. It’s taken a while, but with the love and support of us all, including Calum, she is almost back to her old self. The bruises may have faded a while ago, but she is still traumatised by her experience. Smithy is still on the run, but Calum is working day and night with the police and the security team to track the bastard down. The thought that he’s still out there kills all of us. It had been a mistake to underestimate him, and Nisha paid the price. But there is a silver lining; it brought her and Calum together. It’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.

“You’re going to Thailand? I’m so jealous. You’re one lucky cow,” she says, chopping up the red bell pepper.

“I know, right? I mean, it’s crazy to think this time next week I’m going to be lying on a pristine white beach with turquoise water lapping at my feet.”

“Alright, alright. Don’t rub it in!”

“Hey, sweetheart, what are you two talking about?” Calum says as he enters the apartment. Nisha moved in with him a couple of weeks ago after he decided that they were practically living with each other anyway. We had let go of my mum’s flat, and Nisha had stayed with us in the main house up until moving in with Calum in his apartment above the garage. It sounds pokey, but in actual fact the apartment is huge, with high ceilings, two bedrooms and all the mod cons. Nisha has settled in very well and their relationship has really blossomed. I am so happy for her, for them both.

“Oh, hey, Cal,” Nisha says, placing the knife on the table and pulling him in for a kiss. “Lou was just telling me about her trip to Thailand. I must admit I’m ridiculously jealous. I’ve never stepped out of London, let alone on a plane abroad somewhere so exotic.”

“Well, it’s just as well we’re going too,” Calum says, delight lighting his face at Nisha’s and my shocked expressions.

“What do you mean, we’re going too? You’re joking?” Nisha says, gobsmacked.

“Sweetheart, why would I joke about that? Max has just confirmed it. The brothers need me with them and they figured it would make a great holiday for you both too.”

“Oh, my gaaaahhhh!” Nisha jumps up and throws her arms around Calum, who laughs at her enthusiasm. She presses kisses over his face, then breaks free from his arms and hugs me too.

“Bloody hell, Nish, you’re suffocating me.” I laugh, almost swallowing a mouthful of her hair.

“What’s all the excitement about?” Max asks as he steps into the room. He is holding a bottle of white wine and a pack of beers.

“You, Mr Freed, are just about my favourite person right now,” Nisha says, giving him a hug too.

Max laughs. “I take it Calum told you the good news?”

“He sure did,” she replies, taking the bottle of wine from him. “This is going to be so much fun!”

“Not all fun for me and the boys, but for you and Louisa this is our way of thanking you for everything…” Max’s voice trails off as he catches Calum’s eye.

“Thanking us?” Nisha asks, looking bemused. “Shouldn’t it be us who’s thanking you?”

“Nope, it shouldn’t. We were a lonely bunch before you came into our lives. Why can’t we spoil the women we love with a holiday?” Max says with a gentle shrug, before wrapping his arm about my shoulder.

“Women we love?” Nisha says quietly, looking from Max to Calum.

“Oops, did I let the cat out of the bag?”

“I…” Calum starts, the words trailing off.

I see the way Calum and Nisha are looking at each other. Looks like dinner is off the cards for tonight. “Come on, Max. I think they need a moment. We can order in a takeaway,” I say, hooking my arm through his.

“What? But whatever Nisha is cooking up smells delicious and I’m bloody starving…” Max says, frowning at me.

“Max,” I say, tugging on his arm. “You can’t drop something like that and not expect fireworks.”

Max follows my gaze and sniggers. “I suppose not.” Nisha and Calum are kissing passionately and the temperature in the room has just gone up about twenty degrees.

“Come on, let’s leave them to it.”

“We’ll just head on out, guys. Catch you later…” Max says in a sing song voice. They don’t respond, completely oblivious to either of us.

“So, what’s it to be? Chinese, Thai, or curry?” I say, now we’re back inside the house. I flick through the takeout leaflets lying on the kitchen island. Max sidles up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He presses his body firmly against mine and rests his chin on my shoulder.

“You choose. I’m feeling a little distracted.”

“Distracted, eh?” He certainly is, I can feel his cock pressing against the crack of my arse.

“Hmm.” Max pulls my hair away from my neck and presses a hot kiss against the spot just below my ear. It’s probably one of my favourite places to be kissed. Max is fully aware of this, in fact he knows all the places I like to be kissed.

“You not hungry?” I ask, my hands curling over the edge of the counter as his glide up over my hips and begin tugging my blouse from my skirt.

“Right now, I’m feeling a different kind of hunger. You’re still wearing this tight little skirt and all I want to do is pull it up over your luscious arse and fuck you here over the kitchen counter.”

“That’s a kind of hunger I can satiate,” I murmur, my words hot and heavy. Leaning down slightly, I reach for the hem of my skirt and pull it upwards. Max moves back a fraction, giving me the space to wiggle my hips. The skirt is tight, and the movement is necessary to get it up over the curve of my bottom.

“Damn it, Icy, you’re killing me,” Max says.

A satisfied smile curls my lips. This morning I put on a cream, lace thong. Pretty underwear has become a bit of an obsession, especially since I know how much it turns my men on. Max crouches down behind me, his warm fingers sliding up from my ankles to my hips. In one swift movement he has ripped my lace panties from me and flung them aside. Damn it, they were from Rigby and Peller, and cost me a small fortune. That thought flutters away as Max presses his lips against the very base of my spine, just above the crack of my arse cheeks. Before Max, no one had ever kissed me there. I had no idea so many nerve endings existed in such an unusual spot. He swirls the tip of his tongue in small circles whilst his hands gently knead my arse cheeks. I can’t help but groan.

“Do you like that, Icy?”

“You know I do.” I shudder as his skilled fingers find their way around the front of my body, to my waxed mound.

“And this?” he whispers, pressing his finger against the nub of my clit, swirling it gently.

“Yes,” I breathe out.

“And this?” he repeats, sliding his finger between my parted legs.

This time I can’t answer him, as his lips and tongue slide lower over the curve of my arse. His teeth graze across my skin gently, alternating between teeth, tongue and lips. Max’s fingers are playing me skilfully. Beneath them I am a hot mess.

“Max,” I grind out, my hips bucking against his hand in a frantic race to reach the peak I am climbing. He doesn’t stop, he keeps fucking me with his fingers and caressing me with his mouth. The combination of desperate friction and tender kisses is explosive. I throw my head back and groan as an orgasm rips through my body. Max stands, holding my shuddering body back against his own.

“Icy, you are fucking beautiful when you come.” He waits for the wave of pleasure to subside and my heart to slow to a steadier beat, before unzipping his trousers and freeing his cock. He waits, the firm curve of him sliding against my wetness, teasing me once more.

“Max, fuck me,” I say, bending over the kitchen counter so he can slide into me easier. I don’t need to ask twice.