Maxed Steel

by Fields, MJ

  I see Mom, and she’s smiling so damn big as they all laugh.

  “No shame in my game.” I shake my head and laugh. “Love you, Mom. Love you, Dad. Sisters.”

  “Just tell them you love them, too, because God knows, if you don’t, you’ll be on a tangent about that next.”

  “Love you, meddlers.” I blow them a kiss, end the call, then look down at Mila. “Love you, Blue.”

  She doesn’t say it back, again. That’s fine, I think as I get up.

  Her smile wobbles, and she whispers, “Are you mad at me?”

  “About that phone call? No. It was funny as hell. Made Mom happy, too. Thank you.”

  She pushes up to a seated position. “I’m scared, Max.”

  “Yeah? Want me to check under the bed before I leave?”

  “I’m scared that, if I say the words back, then you will—”

  “I don’t want you to say the words until you really mean it.”

  She looks down at her hands, all knotted together, and shakes her head.

  “Seeing you laugh just a beat ago, that’s the most chill and at ease as you’ve been since the party at Oakley’s, Blue. Don’t get all twisted up about this, yeah?”

  “You’re not understanding me.” Still looking at her hands, she shakes her head. “Please don’t look at me like you’re disappointed, because that hurts worse. Knowing that, when the test results come back, if they don’t read how I so desperately want them to, I’ll see that again. It makes it even harder to look at you, Max.”

  She looks up. “I’ve lived so long thinking I don’t deserve good things. My dad was so mean, and when I say mean, I don’t mean normal mean. He was physically and verbally …” She swallows hard and looks back down.

  “Baby.” I sit next to her and take her hand. “No one should put their fucking hands on any woman.”

  Eyes glassed over, she continues, “I begged her to leave, and she was so beaten down that she simply said to me, ‘be thankful we have a roof over our head, and food in our bellies.’”

  “I’m sorry you’ve been through all that.”

  “Even when Aunt Pam got sick, it was better than living with him. And I hate that I feel resentment toward her for not leaving him, but I do. When it was just us, life was so good. I focus on that hard. Cia will never carry those scars, either. And when I had Saylor, I wasn’t scared of this tiny, not even five-pound, little baby. I knew that I would make sure she would never, ever, ever live like that or believe that having food in her belly and a roof over her head was enough. Even living where we do, we can live a good life.

  “Tonight, when I came back, I cried so freaking hard, and Lindsey reminded me that I need to stop fighting the good that comes into my life.” She smiles at me, fucking smiles so beautifully, and continues, “Just because I’m scared to say those words, or admit that I have hated on you for the whole Stanford thing, lied to myself that it was because they had family housing, and you screwed it up for me, I hated so hard I seriously believed it was you, that doesn’t mean that, two years ago, I wasn’t falling in love with you, and it doesn’t mean that stopped because you stood me up or fucked half of Seashore after you ghosted me. And now, right now, I’m still falling, and here you are, so freaking beautiful and confident. Jesus, Max, you are seriously confident. Do they sell that shit at the Black Card only store?”

  “Confidence comes from being raised by strong people, Blue. Look at Saylor; you did that.”

  “I’m a good mom, Max, and until you walked onto campus, I didn’t care what one person thought of me. I am here for a purpose, and that purpose is to make sure Saylor doesn’t ever have to dumpster dive for coupons so she doesn’t run out of shampoo.”

  “Not gonna lie, we need to teach her that, because it blew my mind seeing all those people that a single mom, full-time college student, and full-time goddess was helping.”

  “I will always do this, so you need to know that you have a girlfriend, one who wants to be yours”—she closes her eyes and smiles—“who does love you, Max Steel, and would give you a dozen babies, because she believes who you are and what you say, who will always be clipping coupons and helping people to get by so that they might break a cycle and not just be happy they have a roof over their head and food in their belly, because everyone deserves more.”

  “Could have easily gotten lost after closing my eyes. I love you, Mila, but just so you know, I heard every fucking word you said, and I see who you are and where you wanna be. I’m here for all of it.”

  She opens her eyes.

  “Now tell me what I wanna hear.”

  She climbs up on my lap, straddles me, takes my fucking face in her hands like she’s got it like that—and FYI, she fucking does—and says, “I love you, Max, and I want to be yours.”

  “Always have been, Blue, always will be.”

  She kisses me. Her mouth tastes like sugar, and her still damp hair smells like strawberries and cream.

  Tongues stroking tongues, unhurried and exploring. I immediately move my hands to her hips, rocking her slowly against me, my cock hardening immediately.

  She groans into my mouth and moves to my cheek, down my jawline, my neck. Her hands lead the charge, sliding down my shoulders, my biceps, then across my chest as she kisses back up my neck, my cheek, and traces her tongue across my lips while continuing to touch every muscle appreciatively. I make a promise to myself that I will never stop working out just so she touches me like she is now.

  She skates her hands down my abs, and then she grips the hem of my shirt. She lifts it up, leans back, and licks her lips as she looks me over in a way I have never been looked at before, making me feel like I’m a ten-course meal and not just a snack.

  “Not gonna lie, Max; you were always hot, but now … now you’re fire.”

  I wrap my arm around her to flip her on her back, and she pushes me away.

  “You had this afternoon.”

  “Take what’s yours, Blue.” I lift my arms, and she pulls my shirt up over my head then tosses it to the floor.

  “I plan on it.”

  Her lips start on the base of my neck as she moves to all fours, backing that ass up as she moves down my body, kissing, licking, nipping her way lower and lower.

  She grabs my waistband, and I don’t play cute or coy, and I don’t even try to act hard to get; I lift my ass up and help her remove my shorts.

  One hand wrapped part way around my cock, lowering herself to her elbows, she cups my balls with the other as she looks up at me, black lashes like a veil over gray eyes, as she takes one end of the barbell in her mouth and gives it a tug.

  “That’s all you, Blue,” I groan.

  She circles her tongue around my crown, right before she takes me so deep, so fast, that her lips are almost framing the root.

  “Fuuuuck,” I nearly cry when she sucks all the way back to the tip, her tongue flat on the underside of my cock, and I swear I do shed a tear when she goes back down.

  I fist her hair as if it’s grounding me, stopping me from levitating off the bed as she sucks, licks almost deep throats my cock, looking up at me as if she’s starving.

  When I’m about ready to come, I do the gentlemanly thing and warn her.

  She licks a circle around my head and tugs at my barbell again, and then she begins stroking me faster, squeezing my balls a little harder as she says. “I want every drop.”

  She slides her hot, wet mouth down my cock, and I do all I can do not to deliver. I’m not ready yet. No, I’m not a fucking boy; I’m a man and unashamed that I only last another … thirty fucking seconds, at best.

  I swear to God above, I black out for a few seconds, and when I open my eyes, she’s climbing across me and sliding under her covers.

  “Not done yet,” I say, tossing them back.

  She yawns. “I have to work at the gym in five hours. I love you, Max. I want you but, right now, I need to get some sleep.”

  I lie on my side, lean in, and kiss the ba
ck of her neck. “Love you, Mila, so fucking much.”

  She yawns again. “Can you make sure to take the sock off the door so Lindsey doesn’t think we’re having sex in here and can come in to get some sleep?”

  “Yeah, of course.” I kiss the back of her head. Then I throw on my clothes and head to the door. There, I look down where Lindsey is circled up on the floor, using a towel as a pillow.

  I squat down and say, “Hey, Red, the coast is clear.”

  She wakes up slowly, and when she does, she asks, “You two good?”

  “Damn right, we are. I’m gonna wife that girl.”

  She pushes herself up as I stand and hold out my hand, pulling her up.

  “I’m so glad.”

  I lean down and whisper, “Might need your help with a plan I have tomorrow, to surprise her.”

  “I would love to help,” she says as she walks into her room.

  I walk over to say goodnight to Mila, but she is already out cold.

  I laugh and look back at Lindsey. “You wanna tell her I said goodnight?”

  “Sure,” she yawns and gets into bed.

  “Sleep well, Red.”

  “You, too.” She lies down and fluffs her pillow, and I leave.

  And yeah, that sucks.

  Work Out

  Max

  As she walks out of her room, I’m standing there, with flowers that, yes, I picked thirty minutes ago.

  “Did you even sleep?” she asks, acting like it isn’t a big deal that I’m standing here with flowers outside her door when she walks out.

  Is it right? I question myself for a second.

  “Slept enough. You?” I bend down and kiss her forehead.

  “You brought flowers?” she says, looking down at them, lips pinched together.

  “Not a flower girl?” I ask.

  She looks up, nose scrunched, and admits, “Never got them before.”

  I lean down and whisper in her ear, “Never gave them before.”

  She smiles and pecks me on the lips. “Thank you.”

  I peck her back. “You’re welcome.”

  Then she rocks back on her heels. “So, am I supposed to, like, carry them around or …?”

  “I mean, if you want, but I’m thinking putting them in your room might make you feel less awkward than you’re feeling right now.”

  She shakes her head. “Just new. I mean, so was giving head, but—”

  I step forward causing her to step back, landing that fine ass against the wall.

  “Last night, you knew damn well that I wasn’t chill with how things went down.”

  She bats her eyelashes, smirk playing on her sexy lips. “I was pretty sure when your eyes rolled in the back of your head that you were thinking things went down pretty well.” She ducks under my arm, opens the door, and walks into her room, placing the flowers on her pillow.

  When she turns around, I step in. “You can’t say shit like that and expect to be to work on time.”

  “Oh my God, not this at the ass crack of dawn,” Lindsey grumbles as she covers her head with her pillow.

  “Sorry, Red.” I laugh as I grab Mila’s hand and pull her out the door.

  Holding hands, both smiling, I tell her, “Life’s good, Mila. So fucking good now.”

  “I’m not gonna complain.”

  “I won’t give you many reasons to.”

  Playfully, she pretends to pull her hand away from me. “Many?”

  Following her down the stairs, I tell her, “Gonna push you every once in a while, but then I’m also gonna make you come, so it’ll all even out.”

  “And bring me flowers,” she says at the bottom of the stairs.

  I reach ahead of her and open the stairwell doorway. “And open doors for you.”

  She walks out, laughing. “All for a piece of ass.”

  To that, I smack her ass. “Kind of love the girl, too, you know.”

  She turns around, smiling. “Kind of love the guy, too. Don’t tell him, but I’d give him a BJ even without expecting flowers.”

  I lunge forward and grab her hips, pulling her close then lifting her up and giving her ass a squeeze. “I’ll take whatever you’re dishing out, as long as you do the same.”

  She nods. “Sounds like a good plan.”

  I don’t realize I’m staring at her, still holding her in the air, until she says, “Gonna be late for work if you don’t—”

  “Yeah, right.” I place her on her feet, take her hand, and start walking toward the fitness center.

  “You working out today?”

  “Planned on it. Also planned on taking you to breakfast or lunch. When do you have a break?”

  “My first class starts at noon, so I can do either.”

  “Let me clarify; I want you for either lunch or breakfast, so we need to X out at least two hours because I got skills, Blue, and—”

  “You had skills yesterday, too.”

  “I’m capable of much more.”

  “I remember your skills, Max. How does a girl forget sneaking onto a boat and being …”

  When she stops, I pull her to a halt and look down at her. “Being what?”

  “Nothing.” She shakes her head.

  “Blue, there isn’t anything between us that is nothing.”

  She lets out a slow breath and looks down. “It’s the first time I ever felt beautiful.”

  “Yeah?”

  She squeezes my hand and nods.

  “It’s the first time I thought a girl was with me because she liked me, and not for bragging rights. Only time in high school, actually.” I lift her chin so she’s looking at me. “Now, I’m gonna spill some tea about all the hos after you.”

  She pulls her chin away from me. “I don’t want to discuss our past sexual—”

  “Didn’t fuck one of them. The first couple were because I knew Marc was fucking with them. The rest were because I kind of have a thing for love, so I watched people, saw who they were crushing on. When the fool was blowing her off, I had a little conversation with them and told them I’d help them out. Those idiots saw the girl they didn’t have the time of day for before chill with me, and they realized the little lady’s worth. Oh, and played that game with Kirk Dessner, too. He and Antione are still together.”

  She laughs at me. “If any other guy told me that story, I would know it was a crock of shit, Steel. But you”—she smiles—“I totally believe it.”

  I shrug. “See, Blue? I’m one hell of a guy and completely deserving of you. Guarantee no one else is. Promise you, if someone tries, I’m gonna probably break a nose.”

  She sighs and cocks her head to the side. “After you—”

  “Nope. Just don’t. I may appear to be levelheaded and—”

  “Levelheaded?” She shakes her head and turns, laughing at me.

  I stand there, confused. When I get my bearings straight, I hurry to catch up with her. “Tell me one time I’ve not been fucking solid with you.”

  “Levelheaded isn’t hiding in the back of a girl’s truck.”

  “Yeah, okay, let me take that back. I lost my shit after you stuck that nose in the air and walked past me after pouring my heart out to you.”

  “After you—”

  “Blue, you’re a smart girl. So smart you just proved my ass wrong, and I am”—I chuckle—“a fucking genius.”

  She reaches for the fitness center’s door, but I grab it first.

  “After you.”

  She walks past me.

  “Don’t you—”

  “There was no one else.”

  I grab her hand and yank her back. “Tell me more about after me.”

  She pushes up on her toes, kisses me quickly, then says, “I have to work.”

  “Text me your schedule. I’ll find what works best.”

  “I have a call with Saylor and Cia every day at four, so—”

  “I’ll work around it.” I kiss her cheek quickly then step away, but she tugs me back.

 
“If you’re sure that regardless of …” A V forms between her eyes as she scowls.

  “Told you I love you knowing the possibility. You said it back, so I know damn well you won’t end up with that mother—”

  “Never, Max. Not ever. God, I—”

  “Fuck, I’m sorry. Okay.” I pull her in for a hug.

  “Do you seriously think—”

  “No.”

  “Because that’s never gonna happen.”

  I hug her a bit tighter. “Well, damn, I’m being a bitch right now, huh?”

  “No, Max, you just became a little more human.” She looks up. “And what I was going to ask is: if you’re not busy, then maybe you can talk to them with me.”

  I step back and place my hand over my heart. “Is there such a thing as a heart-gasm?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Yes.”

  * * *

  My body will be sore as hell tomorrow because I whipped through a normal two-hour workout to get the hell out of the gym to take care of business.

  Sitting in my room, I hit Mom up, and she answers immediately.

  “Hey, Mom. Dad around, too?”

  “Hi, Max.” She smiles, eyes misting over. “He is.”

  “Two-parent conversation. This must be big,” Dad says as soon as he sits down next to Mom on the couch.

  “She loves me.”

  Dad states, “No shit,” and Mom elbows him in the side.

  “No, Dad, like she really does and—”

  “Again, no—”

  Mom elbows him hard enough that he reacts this time.

  “Baby, what the hell has …?” He stops his line of questioning when she looks up at him.

  Big blue pools of unshed tears, she sniffs. “She loves him.”

  “Okay, C,” he says, wiping the first tear that falls.

  “I need something big.”

  “You’re a Steel, Max; use what the good Lord—Fuck, C. Seriously?”

  “He’s having Jase in the art studio, handmade plate moment, and we’re lucky enough to be there.”

  “I more than remember the Jase in California moment where I had you in the bathroom talking to your maker.”

  She rolls her eyes, looks back at me, and throws her thumb over her shoulder at him. “Ignore him and tell me what we can do to help.”