by Cindy Kirk
She expelled a breath, gave a quick nod. “What can I get you? Ice cream? A glass of wine?”
“I’ll start with the wine.” He motioned to the chair. “You sit. I can get it.”
“The bottle is on the counter. You can find a glass in the cupboard to the right of the sink.” She collapsed into the chair and brushed back a strand of hair with a hand that trembled slightly. “The, ah, wine is perfect with chocolate ice cream, so if you change your mind . . .”
He glanced at her dish. “If I decide I want some, I’ll whine until you offer me some of yours.”
She chuckled and he was pleased to see color returning to her cheeks.
Max returned moments later with the bottle and a glass. When he set down the bottle, he noticed the mail. “Don’t tell me you’re being audited, too.”
“What?”
He took a sip of the wine and savored the unusual taste. The hint of raspberries teased his tongue, and he decided it probably would be excellent with chocolate.
“The envelope.” He gestured with his head when he saw she was waiting for a response. “Looks official.”
The light in Prim’s eyes disappeared.
“It’s the settlement check.” At his apparently blank look, she continued. “The lawsuit over the defective climbing harness.”
He hesitated. “That must be a relief.”
“Financially, it’s a godsend. The severance from my job back in Milwaukee was set to run out next month. I plan to look for work once the boys are back in school, but I might have had to look sooner if this hadn’t come through.” She paused as if realizing she’d been babbling.
“Then receiving the check is a good thing.” He took a sip of wine, giving her time to steady. “Why the long face?”
“It feels like blood money.” She waved a hand when he started to protest. “I know it’s not, but it feels that way, like I’m capitalizing on Rory’s death.”
Feelings weren’t always rational, Max knew, and she certainly had a right to feel any way she wanted.
Impulsively, he reached over and took a big spoonful of what turned out to be rocky road into his mouth. “Ummm, this is delicious. Really good.”
Her mew of displeasure had his lips wanting to twitch, but Max suppressed the impulse. The light was back in her eyes and he felt a surge of fierce satisfaction.
“You’ve got chocolate on your mouth.” She leaned close, dabbed at the edge of his mouth with a napkin, and made a tsking sound. “I can’t take you anywhere.”
Her face was inches away. When she looked up and he gazed into those beautiful hazel eyes, Max realized that while he might regret kissing her, he’d regret not kissing her more.
Without taking his eyes from hers, he set aside his glass and the bowl, then closed his mouth over hers.
Prim’s pulse was a swift, tripping beat. Max was going to kiss her. And she had a pretty good idea where that kiss would lead. Logic told her to take a step back.
She didn’t move a muscle. Just for tonight she would be that young woman with that happy smile and her entire life—and endless possibilities—stretched out before her.
Just for tonight, she’d follow her heart.
Before she had time to reconsider, Max’s lips were on hers, exquisitely gentle and achingly tender.
If he noticed the momentary hesitation before she began kissing him back, he gave no indication. He continued to kiss her with a slow thoroughness that left her weak, trembling, and longing for more.
“I want you, Prim.” His voice was soft, reaching inside her to a raw, tender place.
Blue eyes had darkened to black in the dimness, but she didn’t need light to read his expression. This was it, the moment of truth. Did she have the strength to reach out and grab what she wanted . . . just for one night? Something told Prim if she turned him away now, he wouldn’t ask again.
Leaning over, he nuzzled the base of her jaw, then took the fingers of her hand and kissed them, feather light. “How far we go is up to you.”
Where she went with her life had never been fully up to her.
She and Rory had dated for so long, it had been simply understood they’d one day marry. Like it had been understood she’d become an actuary, even though tax work was what really interested her. Even now she understood—and accepted—that her needs were subjugated by her children’s needs.
But tonight was hers, and oh, how she wanted him.
As she gazed into Max’s eyes, the contact became a tangible connection between them.
“Max.” She spoke his name, then paused, not sure what to say next.
He waited, his steady gaze shooting tingles down her spine.
Time seemed to stretch and extend.
Gently, he stroked her back, cradled her head. “Tell me what you want, Primrose.”
What she wanted. Her heartbeat hitched. The thought was empowering; heady. Anticipation fluttered through her.
After the tiniest hesitation, she smiled.
“I want you.” Her voice came out as a husky caress.
A look of tenderness crossed his face. “I’ll make it good for you. I promise.”
She gazed into his eyes. Could he hear her heart pounding? Running her hands up his chest, Prim kissed him. “I’ll make it good for you, too.”
The grin he flashed was lopsided, his fingers not quite steady as they touched the curve of her cheek, trailed along the line of her jaw.
She wound her arms around his neck and he folded her more fully into his arms, anchoring her against his chest as his mouth covered hers in a deep, compelling kiss.
Prim stepped back from his embrace, her entire body quivering with need . . . and yes, excitement, too.
“Race you to the bedroom. But first, one for the road.” She gave him a ferocious kiss, then took off running, her breaths laced with laugher as he surged to his feet in pursuit.
When they reached the bedroom, she spun around to face him, her pulse rioting. She swallowed her nerves. Tonight, she would be herself. Or how she’d always longed to be. “Bet my clothes hit the floor before yours.”
He chuckled, a low, pleasant rumbling sound. “I like your style, Primrose.”
Seconds later his clothes landed in a heap beside hers.
Then, before she even had a second to breathe—or to worry if this might be a mistake—his lips were on hers. The taste of him was new, yet somehow familiar. Like raspberries and chocolate, it was a combination Prim found wildly erotic.
“I won,” she murmured against his mouth and felt any remnants of her nervousness fade at his quick laughter.
“No.” He scattered kisses along her jawline. “I’m definitely the winner here.”
He shifted, gathered her close against him, and kissed her temple. “Before we get too crazy, I need to ask if you’re protected.”
“No worries.” Prim tipped her head back to gaze into his eyes. “I was having trouble with my periods. I went on the pill last year.”
“I always used a condom.” His expression turned serious. “I’ve never had sex without one. But I never expected tonight . . .”
Prim felt like a balloon that had been popped just as it was ready to soar.
“That’s okay.” Somehow she managed a smile that hovered briefly on her lips. “I understand.”
“I, ah, don’t want you to get the idea I’m some guy on the make, but things have been so hot between us, I just happen to have one with me and a whole box at home. I wanted to make sure if we ever got to this point you’d be fully protected.” The words were like a caress as he twined strands of her hair loosely around his fingers.
Relief surged and Prim’s heart tripped at the desire in his eyes. “Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this party started.”
He made a sound low in his throat, his mouth suddenly voracious on hers.
Her body responded with breathtaking speed. Though she sensed Max would move slowly if that’s what she wanted, a desperate need fueled her action
s.
She wanted to run her hands over his body, to feel the coiled strength of skin and muscle sliding under her fingers. She wanted him to touch her in the same way, wanted to feel the weight of his body on hers. Longed to feel him inside her.
The warmth in her lower belly turned fiery hot as they continued to kiss. His hand closed over one breast, cupping it high in his palm, circling the peak.
Desire became a pulsing need. She slipped her hand between them, smiling when she encountered a hard bulge.
His shaft jumped. Max rested his forehead against hers and laughed softly. “You’re not going to want to do that again.”
Her heart performed a series of flutters. When she offered him a sly smile, he kissed her nose. “We don’t want this party to be over before it has even begun.”
No, Prim definitely didn’t want that. Though she did want to devour him, one greedy little bite at a time. She nipped his shoulder just to get a taste.
She didn’t recall moving to the bed. All she knew was she was beside him, her mouth plastered to his, the kisses urgent and fevered. It was as if they both feared this was a dream and they might wake at any moment.
Her fingers trembled as she caressed his face, his silky hair. Her senses spun like an out-of-control Tilt-A-Whirl. Prim was glad she was lying down or she’d have lost her footing.
Then his hands were back on her, his fingers lifting and supporting her yielding flesh as his thumbs brushed across the tight points of her nipples. The stroking fingers sent shock waves of feeling through her body.
Her nipples stiffened, straining toward the delight of his touch. Before long, his mouth replaced his fingers. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her breasts, kissing and licking each pink peak thoroughly, dragging his teeth across the sensitive skin.
Prim bowed up, surging against the pleasure that swelled like the tide inside her. She squirmed, whimpering in frustration. She pushed her hips against him, rubbing his erection.
She wanted, no, she needed . . . “Inside me.”
“Not yet.” His hands stroked, brushed, lingered until every nerve ending in her body was on fire.
It took only a second for him to roll on the condom; then, reaching up, he grasped her arms and pulled her to him for an openmouthed, intimate kiss. Desire, hot and demanding, flooded her.
Just when Prim thought she would break apart—or go mad with longing—he plunged into her with a hard thrust.
She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him to her. Reveling in the fullness, the feel of him inside her, she met him thrust for thrust.
Fire scorched her veins as her pulse throbbed hard and thick. The orgasm hit with breathtaking speed. Her entire body clenched and released in spasms of pure pleasure.
Seconds later, with a low, savage sound, Max climaxed deep inside her.
After they were spent, he rolled off her. She tried to sit up, but he wrapped his arm around her, not confining but comfortable. They lay that way for a long time, just listening to each other breathing.
“How was it?” His breath was warm as he spoke softly into her ear.
With a start, Prim realized she was stroking the back of his neck, twining her fingers in his thick, soft hair. “Passable.”
She giggled, honest-to-goodness giggled, when he gave her shoulder a little nip.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“Passable?”
“Okay, okay. It was terrific. Just don’t let it go to your head.”
“You go to my head. You’re lovely.”
His husky voice, the way he looked at her, as if she were the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, gave her a pleasurable jolt.
She drew air slowly into her lungs. Had this been a mistake? It didn’t feel like one.
With his gaze still fixed on hers, Max bent his head and kissed her softly on the mouth.
“What was that for?”
“For being you.”
Definitely not a mistake.
He propped himself up on an elbow.
“Spend the weekend with me.” Shadows played in his eyes, making them unreadable, but his voice was soft, persuasive. “We’ll hang at my place. Just you and me.”
A smoldering heat flared through her. She hesitated, fearful of the intimacy yet at the same time thrilled at the thought.
“All weekend?” The nonchalant tone was worthy of an Academy Award.
“Two long days.” His finger trailed up her arm. “Two long nights.”
“Why?”
“I want to spend time with you. Carpe diem and all that.”
The music that had been playing in the background took on a seductive beat. Say yes, say yes, the pulsating rhythm urged.
Max caught her hand in his, brought it to his mouth, and pressed an openmouthed kiss into her palm. “Say yes.”
Prim let her eyelids flutter shut for just an instant and imagined having Max to herself for the whole weekend.
She’d learned long ago that regret over something you wished you’d said or done but no longer had the chance to do could be its own kind of hell.
He kissed her fingers, trailed kisses up her arm. “Say yes.”
Carpe diem. Seize the day.
This was what she wanted. He was what she wanted.
Right now she couldn’t think of a single reason to say no. The rightness of the decision washed over her.
“Yes.” Prim flung her arms around his neck. “Yes. I’ll stay with you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Max waited while Prim retrieved the suitcase she’d packed for Appleton. Spending the weekend together was a good start. But it wasn’t enough, wouldn’t be enough. The way he was feeling right now, a lifetime didn’t seem long enough.
When she emerged from the door leading from the garage, Max hurried to her side and lifted the suitcase from her hands. He ignored her protests. Prim deserved to be pampered, and this weekend he would have that privilege.
She shut off the living room lights, but he placed a hand on her arm when she reached for the doorknob. “We probably should go around the back.”
He gestured with his head. “Avoid the neighborhood watch.”
“I didn’t even think . . .” Worry suddenly furrowed her brow as if a thought had struck her. “My dad agreed to watch Boris while I was out of town. Now that I’m back, the responsible thing would be to pick him up, bring him home.”
Max kept his face expressionless. Three would definitely be a crowd, especially if one of the three was a hundred-pound dog that didn’t know the meaning of personal space.
“Your dad loves animals.” Max kept his tone even. “In fact, I’d venture to say he considers Boris a third grandson.”
A hint of a smile lifted those luscious lips he hadn’t kissed nearly enough. “He and Boris are buddies.”
“I bet Steve would like you to have a relaxing weekend with no responsibilities.” The tension gripping Max’s shoulders eased when she nodded.
She cocked her head. “How’d you get so smart?”
“Smart?” He made a scoffing sound. “Brilliant would be more accurate.”
She rolled her eyes.
He took her hand as they crossed the yard, releasing it only to open the gate between her place and his. As he’d left the French doors unlocked, there was no need for him to pull out his keys.
Once they were inside, Max locked and bolted the door. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Prim shook her head, and all that wild, glorious hair tumbled around her shoulders. “I’ve had more than enough this evening, thank you.”
He’d also had more than enough wine, but not nearly enough of her. “If you change your mind—”
“I’ll let you know.” Her gaze met his. “If you recall, I don’t have any trouble letting you know what I like.”
The impish gleam in her eyes had him shaking his head. “What am I going to do with you?”
She moistened her lips. “I have several ideas for later.”
&n
bsp; Later.
He didn’t want to wait. He wanted her again. Now.
Even as he yearned to persuade, this was her weekend to indulge. He would let her take the lead.
“If you’d like to watch a movie, I have some DVDs, or we can see what’s on cable.” Max imagined sitting beside her on the sofa, his arm settled around her shoulders. He already knew it would be impossible for him to sit close and not touch.
Instead of listening, Prim was blatantly checking out his digs.
He watched her gaze linger on the granite countertops he’d had installed last year and the distressed gray cupboards before her attention shifted to the living room. Like her house, his home had an open floor plan.
An overstuffed burgundy leather sofa and matching chair were arranged in front of a large stone fireplace.
“I love your fireplace.” Prim moved to the mantel and ran her fingers along the smooth rock.
His mouth went dry as he recalled those fingers trailing down . . .
She glanced back at him over her shoulder. “Your place is so clean.”
Max cleared his throat. “No kids or dogs.”
Prim smiled. “Makes a difference.”
“There’s a stack of DVDs, some games and cards in that cabinet.” Max gestured to the two-door cabinet to the right of the fireplace. “Pick whatever movie you want and we’ll watch it.”
Prim’s teeth caught her lower lip for a second while her eyes took on an impish gleam. “You’re being very agreeable tonight, Mr. Brody.”
“I’m feeling pretty agreeable,” he told her.
“Good to know.” She opened the cabinet and began scouring the contents.
Max stood back and watched. While the leprechaun pants and green tank weren’t particularly sexy, on her they were as enticing as black silk and lace.
She bent over and his body sprang to life.
Prim abruptly whirled. “What are these?”
His heart sank as well as a certain other body part when he saw what was in her hand.
“Feel free to toss those to the back of the cabinet.” Max waved a casual hand in the air even as his blood turned to ice. Why hadn’t he dumped that blasted deck of cards in the garbage when he’d had the chance?