Chapter 7
Lacey
I trust Max.
Trust this man I hardly even know because honestly he’s shown me more respect tonight than David ever did for our entire ten month relationship. Any man willing to put himself between me and David’s fight and follow me into freezing waters when he can’t even swim is deserving of that.
Pulling away when he leaned in for a kiss hadn’t been easy. I wasn’t sure if he would get pissed at me. And then when he didn’t guilt swelled up inside me in place of the fear.
A cloud of regrets hung over me. It was suffocating. I just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t even think of kissing anyone or anything along those lines after everything that had happened.
Max wouldn’t take anything from me that I didn’t want to give. I could see that. I sensed it instinctually. That knowledge was proven firsthand when I rejected his advance.
He probably thought I was a nutcase by now. Those signals had certainly been given off all night.
Despite how much I wanted to know what his lips would feel like pressed to mine, to taste him, I couldn’t do it. Not with the dull pain that continued to throb between my legs. The feel of David’s grip holding me down on his bed burned through my arm, my thigh, my hip.
Everywhere he grabbed without my permission still ached. Pretty sure he left bruises on my hips where he painfully dug his fingers deep into my flesh to keep me still.
I couldn’t taint a kiss with Max with such a dark cloud. Maybe if it was any other guy I could’ve gone through with it. Used it as a distraction. But this wasn’t any other guy and something pulled me back seconds before our lips met knowing it was terrible timing. There was something brewing between us that was deserving of a moment more special than that.
Max blasts the heater as soon as we get back in the car as promised. I hold my fingers in front of the vent and hope sensation returns soon. He chuckles under his breath as he watches me and mumbles about how stubborn I am.
He’s right.
My gaze drifts down his bare chest to softly defined abs. Then to a sizable bulge beneath the wet, clinging fabric of his red boxer briefs. Something ignites in my veins. To say I’m attracted to Max would be an understatement. This was something beyond that.
But the timing couldn’t be worse. It’s as scary as it is exciting.
The cold water had been just the shock I needed to dampen that lusty thoughts and avoid talking about what happened earlier tonight, spilling my problems to him and unleashing the pull of attraction between us both. Sitting next to him in the confined space of the car made it hard to remind myself why I shouldn’t be noticing him in that way.
He pulls his sandy shirt over his head and reaches to the backseat to grab the to-go box with our cheesecake, completely oblivious to my pervy thoughts and stares. It was probably better that he didn’t know. It wasn’t like I was in the state of mind to do anything about it.
Hell, he already tried to kiss me once tonight and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
My fingers slowly thaw as he opens the container, sets it on the console between us and opens the bottle back up. He takes another drag from the bottle and hands it to me just as we had done on the beach.
I take a healthy gulp from the bottle, not liking the burn at the back of my throat as it goes down. The spontaneous swim must have killed my previous buzz. When I get enough in my system to last me the rest of the night I screw the top back on and stuff the bottle on the floorboard.
Max is already stuffing a piece of cheesecake in his mouth with his fingers and managed to fit about half the slice. I grab my piece, take a small bite and fumble with the radio. I’m just about to keep scrolling past an old Ludacris song when Max stills my hand.
He begins rapping along, complete with exaggerated hand gestures and head bobbing. It’s so silly that he has me laughing hysterically by the end of the song. He knows all the words and I find myself laughing too hard to take another bite.
And that’s how the next hour passes. The two of us warming up and finishing our cheesecake between rap performances. He hooks his phone up to the USB and starts YouTubing the songs he wants me to sing, tilting his phone to include me in the selections.
We end up taking turns choosing songs for the other to sing, alternating between silly duets for us to share and serious ballads for me to perform solo.
The sun begins to rise as I yawn loudly.
“You ready to get home and get some sleep?”
“I have to work at seven.”
He glances at the dash. It’s 5:46. Enough time for me to get home, shower and maybe eat breakfast before going into work.
“Maybe you should call in. Go to the doctor?” He suggests, giving me a quick onceover as if he will be able to see any injuries that might need tending to.
“No.”
I don’t want to go to the hospital. I don’t want to get examined. I don’t want to explain to anyone what happened. And I sure as hell don’t want to be getting poked and prodded and violated all over again.
I refuse to even consider the idea.
“Ok.”
He accepts my refusal without argument and starts the ignition, heading back to my apartment without directions. It’s a quiet ride as I fight from dozing off against the passenger window. When we pull up I thank him for the ride, the cheesecake and the night of distraction and I remember something.
“Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My car is at David’s. I forgot the keys in his apartment.” I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes. “What the hell am I going to do? I can’t go back there.”
“It’s ok. I’ll bring you to work and pick you up.” He assures me in a calm voice. “I can help you get your car back when you get off.”
“Are you sure you aren’t busy? I’ve already taken up a lot of your time.”
“I’m not busy. And I had fun with you tonight.”
I roll my eyes and laugh at the statement. “I made you get in freezing water, got your leather seats soaking wet and sandy. Then I ate the rest of your cheesecake when you were busy singing.”
“You did.” He nodded his head. “But you also sang for me. And you made me laugh all night. I don’t do that very often.”
“I sure did.” We stare at each other for a charged moment. “I’m going to pay you back for dinner when I get a new bank card.”
“No.”
“And gas for taking me to work.”
“Nope.”
“Yes.”
“Not happening, angel.”
“If you don’t let me I’ll just pay for all your food at the coffee shop to make up for it.”
“Stubborn ass woman.”
I throw him a smile that says I won and hop out of the car before he can think of a retort.
He rolls down his window and shouts after me as I sprint up the stairs, laughing in victory. “This isn’t over.”