Chapter 28

Lia

I jumped off the counter and dumped the rest of the flour over his head. He blinked, trying to keep it out of his eyes, but it fell into his mouth like it’d done in mine. When he moved to wipe it off his tongue, I turned to grab the sugar this time.

“Put it down.” He jabbed a finger at me. “You do that, then there will be no—”

I threw it at his head, giggling as it sprinkled around him like a dusting of new snow. “Oops…sorry about that.” I laughed harder, clutching my stomach. “That’s gonna be a mess to clean up.” I tsked and turned, plopping the now-empty container of sugar onto the counter.

Using my distraction to his advantage, Max leaped forward and pressed his hands on the counter along either side of my body.

“Damn right, it’s gonna be a mess,” he groaned and moved my hair aside. Some of the granules of sugar sprinkled down the back of my neck and into the front of my shirt. But I didn’t care, because the second his tongue trailed over the side of my throat, my knees went weak. “And I’m gonna have the best fucking time licking you clean.”

I gasped as his tongue moved across my neck, everything inside me coming alive. The motion was so erotic that I couldn’t help but arch my back and reach around to grab the sides of his neck to hold him in place. He ran his hands around the front of my body, first sticking the tips of his fingers inside the front of my panties, only to change his mind and lift them up and under my shirt instead. Lips still tasting my neck, he slid his palms even higher, the tips dancing across my ribs, until he reached the base of my breasts. He cupped them in his hands, the calluses of his fingers grazing my nipples.

I shut my eyes and moaned, “Max…”

Over and over, he kneaded the warm flesh, almost as though this was his first time touching a woman, with rough palms and tender fingers, all while rocking his hips slowly against my backside.

I moaned louder.

“Fuck, Lia.” My noises seemed to stir something primal inside him, while he chipped away at my carefully guarded wall, inch by inch by inch…

Using his thumbs and forefingers, he pinched my bare nipples even harder, making me gasp. The groan in his throat vibrated against my neck in turn. I braced my hands on the counter, giving myself to him.

“I want you, Max.”

He froze, his breath catching in my ear. “You’re sure?”

I nodded. “More than sure.”

Seconds later, he leaned over my shoulder and slipped the top up and over my head, letting it fall down my arms to my wrists.

No second thoughts. No regrets.

Breathing heavy, I let it fall to the floor.

“Turn around,” Max commanded, his voice gruff and unsteady.

Doing as he asked, because I wanted to, I hooked my fingers in the sides of my panties and slipped them, along with his boxers, down to join my shirt.

His eyes widened as he took a step back. Up and down, he looked his fill, trailing his gaze over the length of my body. “Goddamn gorgeous is what you are.”

I pulled my lower lip between my teeth, drawing his eyes back to my mouth. He swallowed, the pulse in his throat beating faster. Sucking in a breath, I jumped on the counter and spread my legs, still somehow keeping my panic at bay. More than anyone in my life, I trusted Max with my body, and because I loved him, I offered myself to him in the way he deserved.

“Lia, I…” He blinked and shook his head, only to rub a fast hand over his face. “I don’t even know where to start with you.”

Grinning, I opened my mouth to tell him right where I wanted him, only for him to cut me off with a smoldering kiss.

His lips battled with mine, a war of need and want raging between us. Growing braver and needier by the second, I wrapped my naked legs around his body, only to grab the edge of his T-shirt. Without hesitation, he reached down and helped me pull it off, tossing it onto the floor before collapsing against me with a groan.

The need for friction was strong, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and climbed his body, legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He palmed my ass, the flour and sugar rough between his palms and my skin. Without another word, he moved me away from the counter, only to slam me against the kitchen wall. Bowls toppled off the refrigerator, crashing to the floor, but I didn’t care. Nothing else mattered.

“Max, please,” I whispered, never more sure of anything in my life.

“But—”

I leaned forward and sucked his lower lip between my teeth. “Don’t make me beg.”

Like I’d said the magic words, he hiked me up higher against his stomach and used one hand to undo his pants. They fell to the floor with a clank, change and his keys scattering all over the tile.

He said, “Fuck.”

I said, “Now.”

And then he was carrying me down the hall, shoving open his bedroom door, and laying me on his bed with a flop. I giggled under my breath as I watched him struggle to get his boxers off, only to trip over them as he raced to his dresser to grab one of the fifty condoms lying in a heap on top.

Then he turned to me and my smile fell, replaced with a sort of desire I’d never known. I watched him fumble with a condom, tearing it open so quickly I barely had time to blink. He rolled it on, pinching the tip, and then he was on the bed, climbing over me, legs parting over mine.

“You’re sure?” He rubbed his nose over my cheek, then brought his lips within inches of mine.

I nodded when our eyes met, afraid to admit that my heart was beating twice as fast as normal, although fear was still trying to win me over. If I told him the truth, that this next step always managed to scare me, then he’d stop. But I didn’t want that to happen. Old Lia needed to learn New Lia’s way. And New Lia’s way was having Max. Loving Max. Being with Max.

“Yes, very sure.”

He kissed me slowly, biting my lip. “Not gonna last long…”

“Don’t hold back.” I lifted my hips up, not wanting to think, only to feel. Always feel.

Muffled grunts sounded from his mouth. “Fucking never. Never, ever.”

Our eyes met, and I held my breath as he slowly slipped inside me. My body tightened, warmed too. It was a delicious, foreign, full ache that I had been craving since the day he’d walked into my world. My stomach grew hard, and my hands shook so badly I could barely hold on to his waist. Max shook too, his skin already slick beneath my palms. Yet one side of his mouth curled into a slow smile as he whispered, “To think I’ve missed all these years with you…” He shook his head, straining, kissing me once, then twice, moving slowly as he did.

I sucked in a brave breath and whispered back, “Then you better make up for lost time, Soldier Boy.”

That’s when he kissed me harder, only to say “Fuck yes” against my lips.

He drove into me with no mercy, sweat dampening his flour-coated brow, my own skin on fire. Burning me in the way I wanted. In and out he pushed, while I pulled, until everything inside me lit up.

I didn’t need romance or sweet, sensual words. I just needed Max. And this… I needed lots and lots of this.

He kissed me; I kissed him back. He pushed further inside me, and I hissed, arching my spine. I clawed at his skin and he reached down, grabbing my thigh until it was wrapped tight around his waist. Flesh slapped flesh, his eyes never leaving mine as he reached one hand down between us and circled my clit.

I cried out at the contact, arching even more against him.

Below me, the cold sheets slid beneath my back, but I didn’t care. Not when everything inside me was on the verge of exploding.

I trailed my fingers over his cheek and said the words I’d never tire of saying. “I love you.”

“Lia, Jesus, I love you too…” He went faster, harder—and then I was falling, his fingers tangled in my hair, his breath hot against my lips. He stiffened and groaned in my ear, and everything was right.

Max gave me what I needed, and I gave back what I could give, and I knew nothing in this universe could ever keep us apart.