MAX

“What’s your family like?”

She blinks at me, leaning back on the couch to say, “My parents are still together.”

“Mine too!”

“Are yours happy?”

“They claw each other’s eyes out on a daily basis.”

Natalie laughs, “Really?”

“Totally, but it’s all in fun. They hated each other when they first met. Turns out that chemistry was just focused in the wrong direction. He gives her shit all the time just to watch her reactions. And she volleys back every time.”

“Mine are more peaceful than that. My mom is very independent, very intelligent, quiet. Dad always says she’s smarter than he is and he likes it.”

Adjusting myself I chuckle, “Excuse me for doing this in front of you, but this hand-massage you’re giving me is driving me insane.”

She pulls away. “Oh, sorry.”

“No no no.” Placing her hand on my thigh where it belongs, I trace her knuckles. “Feels good just touching you.” We’re silent for a while, watching our hands slowly dance. My body is awake, but so is my mind. I meet her gaze and see fire staring back at me. She shuts it down and glances to the notebook.

Not willing to lose her just yet, I ask, “Have any brothers or sisters?”

“I have a stepbrother,” she pauses, leaving the notebook where it lies. “My dad was married briefly before he met my mom. My stepbrother’s a lot older than me. What about you?”

“There are five of us, three boys, two girls.”

She gasps, “Five? Where are you in all of that?”

“The oldest, of course.”

“Oh of course,” she laughs, eyes crinkling in the cutest way as she reaches up and plays with my hair. “Where do you get your curls from, Max?”

“My mom.”

“I always wanted curly hair. When I get my hair dyed at the salon and they rub my head, I’m like a cat, leaning into it like you’re doing.”

“You’re not rubbing so much as stroking.”

“Semantics.”

“Correct use of the English language,” I argue on a smirk, closing my eyes again as she caresses my head with her nails. “I could stay here all day.” A rustling of fabric later and she’s gliding onto my lap, straddling me as I gaze into her smile. “Well, hello there, Natalie.”

“It was difficult to play with your hair in that position.” Gentle fingers stroke the sides of my head, the back, tracing light paths down my neck that sends goosebumps sliding everywhere. My hips move up involuntarily and I moan as she buries her lips in my neck and starts kissing me.

“This is amazing,” I rasp, caressing her arms.

“We should stop,” she whispers, her breath hot.

“Yeah, totally. Let’s stop.” Lightly fisting her hair I guide her lips to mine, brush them and hover.

She lets out this soft moan that undoes me completely, increasing the heat in my groin all over again. I press my ache into her as our tongues seek each other out no matter which way we turn our heads. Natalie moans a little higher as we start to grind. After I can’t take the teasing anymore I lie on top of her, hands exploring over the sweater. “Still want to stop?”

“No,” she breathes, arms sliding around my neck as we slowly kiss. With each passing second her legs spread a little more.

I unbutton her jeans, slowly take them off, kissing my way down. It’s not rough and angry like it was in her bedroom. Everything moves like molasses in the fall.

Her fingers unsnap my jeans, slowly slide the zipper down. “I can’t believe we’re doing this again when we should be working.”

“We should be spanked,” I smirk as my cock bounces free.

She gives it a smack. Laughing I grab her hands and pull them over her head, leaning down to tell her, “Now now, play nice with him. He gets very angry.”

Biting my bottom lip she gives me a naughty smile. “I like him angry.”

“Well, that will have to wait. Because I want to fuck you nice now.” I unlock her jaw and kiss her as I reach down, stroke her folds and guide my tip against the sweet entry point. She’s very slippery and I’m throbbing. Natalie moans as we begin to slow-fuck, bodies undulating in perfect sync, shivers of pleasure drawn out by both of us. We trace each other’s skin while we kiss. I lock eyes with her, holding my cock as deep in as it can go. She nibbles my chin. I kiss her nose. And we start to move a little faster.

Natalie arches her hips into me. “Max,” she breathes.

“Give yourself to me,” I moan with thrusts created exactly for this moment. She strains against me, whimpers, helpless as I keep control of how fast we’re going.

“It’s so good,” she moans, walls clenching around me.

“Fuck!” I roar, unleashing myself, claiming her mouth, lashing tongues as we moan. Natalie grabs my head, sighing into me as we take each other higher. When I finally can catch my breath she traces my temple until I meet her eyes.

Staring at me with a frown, she drops her hands and blinks away, wall flying up.

But I’m a stubborn man. Not going to let her vanish like that. “You want Thai food delivered while we finish working?”

She flicks a glance to me and holds for a second, surprised at my casual tone. Frowning she thinks about it. “Okay.”

“Great. I’ve got my heart set on crab fried rice. You?”

“I like curry whatever. If it’s got curry, I’m in.”

“Awesome.” I give her a quick kiss and pull out. “You get a towel and I’ll make the call.”

Laughing, “You’re not getting the towel for me?”

“Don’t want you to get the wrong idea. We’re just business partners.”

She stands up, grabs a throw blanket to wrap around her for the journey to her bathroom. “Real gentlemanly of you, Max!”

“I’m buying the food!”

“You hired me! You’re supposed to buy it!” She disappears.

Dialing my favorite Thai spot I’m smiling to myself because that wall vanished, didn’t it? Oh yes it did. And all it took was acting like I’m not starting to care for her.

As I give our order to the familiar voice at the restaurant, my gaze slides toward the hallway. A frown pierces my skin as I hear the warning she gave me that first day.

Don’t fall in love with me, Max.

“What? Oh, yeah, send over some sparkling waters, too. That’ll be all, thanks.”