Now what? When he wakes up will he want sex? Will he expect sex? She wished she could see his face. She closed her eyes again. She felt his arm under her neck and his chest against her back and...A firm presence pressed against her backside let her know what Jon was dreaming of. Spirals of passion stirred within her, sending dangerous messages to her brain. Messages demanding that she act on her feelings.
She threw back the duvet and ran to the bathroom area. She turned on the water tap in the tub to mask the sound of her using the toilet. I need walls. I need a door. She filled the tub and slipped in a few capfuls of the bubble bath Willa had included in her last Christmas girlie gift basket. The fragrance of gardenias and citrus filled the space. Max brushed her teeth, squirting too much toothpaste onto her toothbrush in the process and causing her to foam at the mouth like a mad dog.
She stripped out of her panties and tee, tossing them beside the tub and stepped into the bubble-filled void.
She sank down into the water, surrounded by the fragrant foam until only her face was above water. The heady scent was cloying but tolerable.
“Millie?”
“I’m in the tub!” She was well aware that he stood on the other side of a piece of canvas which she’d considered an adequate barrier up until now.
“Close your eyes,” he said. “This is your only bathroom and I have to come in.”
Max closed her eyes. She heard a sound like Niagara Falls. She opened her eyes and saw Jon standing in front of her toilet. I need walls. I need a door.
She took a deep breath and slipped below the water. She held her breath until she thought he’d been given adequate time to relieve himself and depart. She’d had to fight a brother for bathroom time, after all.
She surfaced, wiping the suds out of her eyes. Sure enough, Jon was gone. One more embarrassing moment avoided.
“Scoot up.”
She turned to find Jon standing behind her. He seemed to be stepping out of his boxers.
“Scoot forward. I’m coming in.”
“What?”
He grinned down at her. “I’m joining you. We can save water.”
Her heart did a tumble and roll. “What are you doing?” she yelped.
“I’m taking a bath,” he said. “I like your tub. Could you pass the shampoo?”
Wordlessly, she passed the sweet-smelling shampoo from Willa’s gift basket.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Millie,” he whispered close to her ear. “I’m the guy who loves you. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.” A dawning awareness that she was seated comfortably between Jon’s thighs caused a ripple of excitement to course through her.
His voice held a smoky quality as he leaned close to her ear. “I loved holding you in my arms as you slept.”
Chills scurried across her shoulders and down her spine. “It was nice.” She struggled to sound casual.
“And I loved waking up with you, but you jumped out of bed so fast I didn’t have a chance to say good morning.”
Yeah! Right! Is that what they’re calling it now? “Good Morning.”
Jon chuckled, embracing her with both arms.
“No—I can’t do this,” she said, pushing away.
“You are doing this,” he said. “We’re here together, enjoying an intimate moment and anticipating whatever else comes with it.”
A feeling, not unlike pain rose from her gut. “Those words come easy for you. It makes me think you’ve done this a lot. You’re so smooth. I feel like I’m falling down into a deep bottomless pit.”
“It’s different with you,” she insisted. “You seem to know where we’re going and I’m not certain I want to go there.”
“I’m not pushing.”
“I can’t make you feel something if it’s not there, no matter how much I want it.”
“Close your eyes,” she ordered. “And no peeking.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He closed his eyes, grinning as Max stood up to rinse her body and step from the tub.
She wrapped herself in her blue robe as someone began banging on the metal door.
“I...I don’t know.” She slipped outside the canvas barrier to open the door for Willa.
“Hey, Max,” she said. “I brought cappuccino and doughnuts. Nothing jump starts the creative process like carbohydrates and caffeine.”
“Oh, uh, well. Here’s your cappuccino,” she said. “I’m going to get a plate for the doughnuts.”
A sudden rush of water sounded as they heard him rinsing under the hand held shower.
Willa stared at Max, openmouthed. “Omigod! I must have blinked. When did your relationship go into high gear?”
“Later,” Max said.
“Millie, would you bring my pants?” Jon called out.
Wrapping a towel around his hips, Jon gave her a sharp look. He reached for the jeans but took Max’s arm as well, drawing her near.
“I heard what Willa said,” he growled. “She thought Max was in your tub.” He gazed into her eyes as though he might find some answer there.
“What are you implying?” Max tilted her head, gazing up at him defiantly, as her stubborn streak came surging to the fore.
“Are you having an intimate relationship with Max Foster?”
“And if I was?” Max raised her eyebrows and felt her lower jaw jut out a bit.
A muscle in his jaw worked. “I’d be very disappointed,” he said. “But it would explain a lot.” His dark eyes seemed to be penetrating her soul.
“Such as?” Max knew her voice had taken on a defensive quality.
“Such as your reluctance to be involved with me.”
She sensed anger mounting behind his controlled words. “Are women always so easy for you?”
“Do women always fall for you?” she repeated.
“This is different. I’ve had my share of women, but not one to make me feel the way you do.” Jon’s gaze seemed to penetrate her defenses.
“Good morning, Jon,” she said. “Are you all set for the opening?”
“I talked to Cherise Friday morning and we made final plans. We need to start moving the paintings next week. I’m using a caterer who’s just starting out. He’s a fraternity brother of mine from college.”
“We’re just serving champagne and canapés. This guy used to own a restaurant. Hopefully he won’t screw up something so simple.” Jon located his socks and boots, sinking down onto the futon to pull them on.
“I’m sorry I got jealous. I just care about you so deeply.” He stared into her eyes, sending melt messages to her heart. “Is it all right if I come over later?”
“Why wouldn’t it be all right?” She tried to control the tremor in her voice.
“I thought maybe you might be getting tired of me.”
“Are you going to make dinner?”
“Sure, if you like peanut butter and crackers.”
“Not my favorite. I’ll take you to dinner,” he said. “Dress casually and I’ll be here at seven.” He kissed her briefly and reached for his shirt.
“Try the image that’s burned into my brain of Jon without the boots and Wranglers.”
“It is going too fast, isn’t it?” Max asked.
“I’ve never seen you so infatuated with a man.”
Max felt the shiver run down her spine again. “I’m scared, Willa,” she said. “What if Jon is the man I’m meant to spend forever with and I’ve permanently screwed it up by telling all my lies? I met his parents this weekend and now they’re calling me Millie.”
“How did that go?”
“They were wonderful people. Solid citizens who raised a son to be proud of. They were looking at me like the mother of the next generation of Donnells.
“Twelve days until the opening at Gilman Galleries. Hold on a little longer and I’ll fix it.” Willa reached for a doughnut. “Everything will be okay.”
“Do you really believe that?” Max asked. “Do you really think I believe that?”
Willa ducked her head, a sure sign she was prevaricating. “Just get busy and crank out a few more paintings for the show. You won’t worry when you’re painting.”
Willa left and Max got dressed. She threw herself into a new abstract, all the while thinking about the hill country landscapes on Jon’s parents’ walls. She tried to incorporate the same colors and the way the light slanted through the sugar maples into an abstract painting. Those are the elements I’m abstracting.
Surprised that her enthusiasm for the subject energized her new work, she completed it by mid-afternoon. She found a place for the finished painting on the floor toward the back of the loft. Cleaning her brushes and replacing her supplies, she looked around her dwelling.
“Delivery.”
“I haven’t ordered anything,” she shouted back.
“Mister Donnell ordered the delivery.”
She opened the door to a man in a beige coverall with a Claremont Design patch on his chest. He stood beside a dolly with a load of glass block on it.
Her heart took a leap of joy. She grinned and pointed to the bathroom area. It took several trips for the man to bring the entire load of glass block up in the freight elevator. After he’d gone, she inspected her treasure. The glass had a rippled texture that she liked. It looked like the surface of still water when someone tossed in a pebble.
By the time Jon arrived, she was dressed in her best jeans and Henley. The door was open and she sat on the futon with her feet tucked up under her.
“Too casual?”
“Too perfect,” he said.
“I’m far from perfect.” Max shot him a glance from under her lashes.
“You’ll do.” Jon sauntered to the futon and stood gazing down at her.
“Where are you taking me?”
“With me.” Jon slipped his arms around her and lifted her to her feet. “Always, with me.” He lowered his lips to hers, invading her mouth, inviting her tongue to play.
She felt the stirrings of lust rushing through her body. I can’t have sex with this man. I’m lying to him. And yet, she could only think about the man who held her in his arms. She could only feel the strength in his body and her own heartbeat pounding through hers. She could taste his kiss long after he released her.
“Thanks for the glass,” she said breathlessly. She gestured to the stacks of glass block occupying a significant portion of the brick wall she shared with the vacant loft next door. “It was an unexpected windfall.”
“Glad I could please you. We should go now.”
“Am I presentable enough for the restaurant?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is there a restaurant on the roof?” she asked as he held the elevator door open for her.
“Almost.” He selected a floor and the elevator doors shut silently, enclosing them in a private universe. He gazed at her, an amused expression on his face.
“This is your place?” Max turned around in a circle. “It’s a palace.”
His voice was deep and seemed to caress her skin. “I live here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me we were coming here?”
“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d refuse. I’ll admit that I wanted to be alone with you.”
“You should have told me.” Max wrapped her arms around herself in a protective gesture.
“This is our dinner. I told you I wasn’t handy in the kitchen.” He set the bag on the smoked glass table set for two. “Do you want to eat, tour the place or leave?”
A tantalizing aroma emanated from the white bag. “What’s in the bag?”
“Chinese. I ordered lobster, chicken and beef so you’d have a choice.”
She gave him a little smile. “I love all that.”
“I’ve never eaten with chopsticks.” She demonstrated by clicking hers together. “It’s not so hard.”
“You’re a natural. You have a knack for fitting into whatever situation you find yourself in.”
“How could you say that?” she asked. “I always feel like an odd sock at the pairs convention.”
He gazed at her thoughtfully. “At my parent’s home, you were uncomfortable, but you managed to fit in and still be yourself.”
“Uncomfortable doesn’t describe it. Your mom is adorable but she made me feel like I was naked.”
He flashed a wide grin in her direction. “She was counting her grandchildren. She likes you. Dad does, too.”
“We will,” he said, kissing her fingertips.
The kitchen was beautifully appointed with dark woods and high-end appliances that didn’t appear to be well used. Jon’s bedroom was more of the dark browns with touches of blue and the guest room was lighter, mostly blue and cream.
“It’s a place where I relax,” he said. “But there have been times when I wasn’t alone.”
She turned and walked to the brick ledge bordering the balcony and leaned over the edge. The sidewalk was far below. A dizzying sensation swirled through her head. She stepped back, smacking into Jon’s chest. He closed his arms around her, embracing her from behind. She leaned back against him, taking momentary refuge in his strength, which both sheltered and threatened her. “Did you bring me here because you want to make love to me?”
“I always want to make love to you.” His breath was warm against her cheek. He turned her to face him and said, more slowly, “I always want to make love to you.”
“Do you now?” She tilted her face to gaze up at him.
She struggled to control the urges flooding her senses. She wanted to climb him. She wanted to bite him. Instead she concentrated on breathing in and out.
“Come inside,” he said, his voice husky with desire.
“I should really be going now.” That was definitely the right thing to say. Her mistake was in making eye contact. She was swept up in the torrent of raw desire she saw there. Her heart fluttered against her ribs like a moth held in cupped hands.
“No,” she whispered.
“Come inside, then.”
“Oh!” She jumped back.
“Easy,” he said. “Let’s just take it easy.” His softly spoken words relieved her fears.
This is Jon. He loves me. She leaned into his embrace, melted against his muscular ribs and was rewarded with his sharp intake of breath. He held her for a moment, nuzzling kisses along her cheek and neck.
His belt buckle felt cold against her ribs, but immediately, Jon stripped it from the belt loops and tossed to the floor. He reached for the zipper to her jeans and slid it open, touching the lacy panel on the panties. He smiled, placing his palm flat against her stomach.
“Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, I do.”
A ribbon of fear snaked through her. “What’s that?” She pointed at the device. “Some kind of sex toy?”
“Bootjack.” He grinned, hooking the heel of his boot into the device and using it to pull it off. “It makes getting undressed a lot easier.”
“I’ll remember that.” She expelled a shaky breath,
His jeans and boxers were tossed beside the boots.
“Oh!” She stared at the substantial male member reaching toward her.
Jon swept her into his arms and back onto the bed. He relieved her of her lacy underwear and trailed kisses down her neck to her breasts. Heat spread from her taut nipples as his mouth suckled and teased, burned a path to her core.
His fingers slipped between her legs, sending shock waves emanating from her moist core. He kneaded her, bringing swells of pleasure washing through her. She reached for him, pulling him close. He positioned himself over her and kissed her deeply. She wrapped her legs around him, offering herself up to him.
“I love you,” he said. He guided himself into her, filling her, sating her. Max let out a soft moan as their bodies connected and again with every stroke that reached deep inside. Their joining was thrilling, yet strangely calming. She felt that she was where she belonged, in the company of the man she belonged with. She loved the way he felt inside her. She loved the tender way he held her and she loved the expression on his face. Her little moans escaped with each stroke, but she couldn’t be silent. He kissed her over and over again as he made love to her.
When they lay spent, in each other’s arms she was surprised at her comfort level with Jon. Lying naked with a man she’d just made love with wasn’t something Max could list as an area of proficiency.
Max suppressed a giggle. “This is about as close as we can get and still be two people.”
“I don’t feel like two people any more,” he said. “I feel like you’ve always been a part of me.”
“The only person who’s ever claimed to be a part of me is Willa.”
“You’re nothing like Willa.”
“Why do you keep saying that?” she asked.
“Willa is a high-maintenance woman,” he said. “You’re the real deal.”
“We’ve been best friends since kindergarten,” Max said. “Trust me when I say, she’s always been a thing of beauty.”
“Speaking of, where is your partner in crime?”
“Willa’s at my loft, picking out the paintings for the show.”