I grabbed his wrists and slid my hands up across his knuckles. He winced and his eyes narrowed in pain. I immediately pulled his hands from my face and looked at them.
“Don’t worry, he got the worst of it,” Max murmured low as he shifted back and forth.
“I want to go back and kick his ass myself.”
“He’s never coming near you again,” he commanded in a growl.
“I’m sorry,” I said before I pressed my lips to each gash on his knuckles. I looked up at him. His neck was exposed and I saw the red, rashy blotches across his skin. I wanted to kiss them too. I wanted to take away anything that reminded me of the pain I’d caused. He watched my expression change as I dropped my eyes to the snow-covered ground.
“Hey,” he whispered as he caught my chin in his hand and raised my head to look at him.
My eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t stop.
“I would fight every day for the rest of my life if it meant I wouldn’t have to spend another day without you.” He lowered his head and pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you so much, Wilson,” he whispered as slipped his hand across my cheek and pressed his fingers to the back of my neck.
Every hair on my body stood on end. His eyes twinkled and danced across my expression before he closed them and leaned in to kiss me. I wanted to push hard against him and feel our kiss. I longed to taste every ounce of wanting that surged through his body, but I couldn’t. I pulled away and lowered my chin to toward the ground. I couldn’t let him kiss me.
“I’m sorry,” I choked.
“For what?” he panted in a breathy whisper against my cheek. He swayed his stance back and forth, inching closer and pushing his hips solid against me as he tried to catch a glimpse of my eyes.
“I left. I walked out on you, remember? And I don’t know…I don’t think I can handle losing you again,” I whispered as I pulled away from him. I had to protect that part of me. Something so delicate as the love I have for his family. I didn’t know if I was ready to face the fact that I hurt his mother too. It was so much bigger than just Max.
“Hey, you can’t lose something that was never lost,” he said as he caught me by my forearms.
“Really?” I whispered as our eyes danced in a stare that made my heart fall into my gut.
“Really,” Max answered as he nudged his nose against my face a couple of times, urging me to kiss him. He smelled so good, his aroma sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to taste his flavor against my tongue. I wanted to feel his every intention push hard against me. The muscles in his jaw tightened before he pressed his lips against my neck, baiting me to give in and kiss him back.
Everything he did created a raging fire deep in my core and I wasn’t cold any more. His breath quickened as he exhaled in a low growl. Suddenly his hands were on the back of my thighs and I felt my feet leave the snowy ground. He forced me up against his car and every regret I had for leaving was squelched by the pressure of his body against mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist, locking my ankles behind him. With my hands nesting in his hair, I guess I had to admit that I wanted everything he was willing to give me.
In pitch black, in the middle of nowhere, Max pressed his lips to every inch, every bend, and every curve of my exposed skin. My breathing sped. Gasping, I watched the steam rise from my mouth. Sparks ignited low in my groin and every breath he lifted from my skin scorched passionately through my whole body.
I couldn’t push him off me if I tried; any strength I had was surrendered. My feet never anchored to the ground. Max had total control of what was going to happen between us. His teeth grazed against then pulled on my earlobe, his lips just damp enough to create the perfect balance of heat and chill to turn me on. The sound of him wanting me echoed viscerally across my ear as his breath tickled me lightly.
I loosened my legs from around him and managed to get my feet to touch the ground. I wanted to spin him around, wanted to push him up against the car. I felt passion again. Something clicked within me, something I hadn’t felt in days. Max locked his hands around my waist. I swirled around and burst free from his embrace. He let out a low groan and I felt his fingers brush my thigh in his attempt to catch me. He tracked me like I was his conquest and I was immensely turned on. Max was my only, and I hungered for him to show me. I stood in front of the car, electricity surging through my body, and I couldn’t stop myself from squealing as he caught my thigh and waist. In one perfect swoop, he dropped down, slipping under my body and draping me across his shoulder. He shoved his arm between my legs, his hand raged hot against the outside of my thigh, and I wondered where in the hell is he was going to carry me off to.
“Where do you think you’re going? You can’t turn me on like that and expect to just walk away,” Max asserted.
I pushed my hands into the back pockets of his jeans. Even though his shoulder was digging into my stomach I couldn’t stop laughing. There was no way for me to catch my breath and answer him. My hair dangled in wisps and tickled my face as I tried to raise my head to see where he was going. I kicked my feet just enough to appear like I was resistant. The only thing I knew at that moment was that absolutely nothing was going to come between Max and me…not even Nick.
He walked around the front of the car and the headlights shone brightly in my eyes. Leaning forward, he let me slide slowly down the front of him. Our breaths mingled in clouds overhead, the need growing thick between us. When our eyes met, the chill between us disappeared.
My calves hit the bumper of the car as he pushed against me and the heat of the engine permeated the back of my jeans. Losing my balance, I instinctively grabbed Max around the waist and held on. Sturdily, he wrapped his arms around my back and kept me from falling. I craved to be sandwiched between the hood and Max’s body.
“You gonna be okay making out with me on top of your car?” I breathed.
“I’m okay, making out with you anywhere,” Max said as he leaned into me and kissed me. His lips were scrumptious and his tongue so warm. I swung my arms up around his neck. I couldn’t press hard enough into him while we were standing up. I felt him lean over and lower me against the hood of the car. That’s when I realized it was still running. I felt the engine vibrate along my spine and down through my pelvis. Instantly I dropped my hands down and stopped myself from sliding off. Max drove his knee between my legs and used his shoulders to push me down against the windshield, lowering his solid body against mine. He was so hard, so ready to make love to me on the hood of his car. If anyone drove by we didn’t notice.
Max lowered the zipper on my jacket and kissed the skin just above my breast. Urges collected between my legs as chills rippled across my body. He worked his mouth to my ear, which was ready to hear the words he’d whispered to me just several days earlier. I wanted him to make love to me. I didn’t care if it was in the middle of a snow storm. I’d missed him—his touch, his delicate caress. I missed the way he knew where to press against my body. I wanted him so badly I ached for him.
Chapter Six
~ Max ~
Wilson tasted so sweet, like caramel. Her skin, so warm, so inviting. I just wanted to live in that moment with her as long as possible. I’d missed her like crazy. Her humor, her comfort, the magic she created when she made love to me. I wanted her so much that I could actually feel my body vibrate and my head swim. God, I need to make love to her, right here, right now. I wanted to feel her soft skin, scorching hot, drag and tug against mine. I wanted to push hard inside her, to feel her warmth, and be swallowed by her love. I pushed my hands down the sides of her body. I didn’t care if anyone saw us. I couldn’t wait to make love to her. To finally feel her again was unbelievable. I traced every swell and curve from her breasts with my tongue and lips before I settled on her mouth. I knew if I pressed as hard as I wanted to I’d hurt her. I’d never wanted someone so badly in my life as I wanted her right then.
Her lips were wet, warm, and inviting, our kiss vigorous and intentional. I no longer fel
t the fear of losing her. But then Wilson sat up from the windshield and pressed her hands into my hair as she pushed back from kissing me. I looked at her for a split second, fearful that she was going to stop me. I pushed against her lips and kept kissing her as she managed to get us to stand up in front of my car. I slid my hands up under her top and felt her sublime skin. She was so familiar, so comforting, and yet I felt like I was touching her for the first time.
She dropped her hands down to the front of my jeans. God, Wilson, please reach into my pants and feel how much I want you. She unbuttoned my pants and pushed down on the waist just enough to slip her hand down between my boxers and skin. She stroked downward, and I shivered. Her hand was freezing, but I craved her touch. I felt her smile against my lips as she continued to kiss me.
“You like that?” she said against my mouth before she bit my lip.
Hello, I’m getting into this sexy Wilson.
“Yes, Ma’am, I sure do,” I sighed breathily as I thrust my hips up through her hand. She held on to me firmly.
I slid my hands down to the front of her pants and pulled on her button, loosening her waist so I could tickle my fingers down between her legs. She was so wet. It drove me crazy and made me want to consume her entirely.
“Do you have a condom?” She whispered as she kept caressing me.
“No,” I panted.
“Oh, well, that sucks doesn’t it?” she teased me in a low, groany voice.
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know where I can get one,” I asserted.
She widened her stance and swayed her pelvis against my fingers, and I lost my train of thought. God I was done with talking; done with worrying.
“Get in the car,” I demanded as I freed my hand from the front of her pants. Her breath hitched. I led her to the passenger’s side and flung open the door.
Wilson dropped into the seat and I couldn’t hustle around to the driver’s side fast enough. Shit, the heater’s on full blast. It was stifling hot in the car. It didn’t help that I was so turned on that if the wind blew I was going to explode.
She had a way that no other woman ever had with me before. It was like I found the meaning of what true love is. I know, sounds sappy; but until Wilson, I really never could understand how guys I knew would give up everything for a woman. Fuck, if this girl asked me to stop breathing…I would.
Her aroma filled the car and immediately the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Her pheromones were screaming loud and clear. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. I shoved the car in gear and headed down the hill.
Where can I take her so we can be alone? Truly alone. I can’t take her to the cabin, my family is there. Maybe a hotel. But this being a holiday week, I doubt any will have a room available. When I glanced over, she was smiling at me. I wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but as I watched her slink out of her jacket my throat tightened and every word would have just gotten in the way. Her skin was damp and had a slight sheen to it. Fuck me, I can’t stop touching her… I reached over and slipped my hand down across her chest. She pressed her hand over mine, holding me to her heart. It was slamming frantically against my palm.
“Feel that?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I answered, swallowing the rush of saliva that built in my mouth.
“What if I told you that I’m scared?” she whispered.
Suddenly my mouth went dry and it felt like a huge truck crashed through my head. What?
“Scared?” I posed.
“Yeah,” she murmured.
“Of what?”
Wilson looked out at the frozen, snow-blanketed wilderness.
“Are you scared of being with me?” I asked softly as I reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“No,” she answered delicately.
“Then what is it?”
“…I’m scared of seeing your mom.” Her voice cracked.
I felt like the biggest asshole ever. Here I was, trying to find a way to be alone with her, and she was all caught up in her head about seeing my mom. Of course she wasn’t scared to be with me. I pulled off to the side of the road. Man, she could switch gears so quickly. I ran my hands up the steering wheel and lowered my head. I had to come up with the right words that wouldn’t terrify her or make her feel bad for leaving. It tore me up that she was scared to come home with me.
“Don’t be afraid.” I looked over at her small frame cradled in the seat. She looked so vulnerable.
“I can’t help it. If I was in her shoes, I wouldn’t forgive me for lying or leaving you in the worst time of your life.” Her words were strained as she held back from crying and rubbed the heels of her hands across her eyes.
“Well, then, thank God you’re not in her shoes,” I said as I held her hands. “Wilson, she knows I was coming for you. She’s fallen in love with you just like I have. You can’t see that? It’s just my family at the house. She wants you there with us. She’ll be so happy to see you come back with me…I promise.”
Wilson’s clear blue eyes clouded with tears. She struggled to keep her breathing from speeding as she rolled the corner of her lip between her teeth over and over again in her attempt to stop from crying. She crumbled right in front of me as she pulled her knees up into her chest.
How do I protect her? How can I convince her that she’s the only one who could’ve rescued me from such a dark place in my life? I don’t think she’ll ever fully understand what she has done for me.
“Hey, shhhh, come on, don’t cry,” I crooned as I rubbed her knee. I lowered my head and leaned across the center console, trying to catch her stare, hoping she’d let me kiss her. She rocked forward, slipping her hands around the back of my head. I felt her fingers tangle in my hair. Her nose dragged across my cheek as her lips, damp with her salty tears, teased mine. She ebbed and flowed with her mouth as she tried to nestle against me.
I don’t know if it was my inability to multi-task or the fact that I could only focus on being with her, but there was nothing that was going to stop me from giving Wilson whatever it was that would make her feel safe and show her how important she is to me.
She pulled away, catching her breath before she whispered, “I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” I whispered back. I could see her damp eyes glistening from the glow of the moon off the snow. “Let’s go home,” I said.
She nodded slightly before she leaned back in her seat. I put the car in gear and dropped my hand into her lap, waiting for her to take and hold it; and of course, she did.
Chapter Seven
~ Wilson ~
Being with Max again was like finding home. He made every shitty thing I did, every immature and insecure moment of my life disappear. I wish I could say the same thing about Nancy. I am so scared to see her. I didn’t think I could handle the look on her face when I walked through the door. I was afraid she’d be disappointed in me, no matter what Max said. I wasn’t ready to lose everything Nancy had given me.
It wasn’t the card she gave me or the food she picked out for my birthday that truly mattered. It was her gentle touch when she welcomed me and her warm compassion that filled her eyes when she looked at me. It was the love she planted in the gaping holes Candi left in my soul. I didn’t know if I was ready to see it all disappear.
Max held my hand the whole way down the twisting and curvy driveway to the cabin. My heart felt like it was going to crash through my chest and break every rib. My throat was like a desert, and no matter how much I tried to swallow, I just couldn’t keep it from going dry. By the time we reached the garage I had worked myself up again.
I can’t handle Nancy hating me. I find it hard to believe she will be able to forgive me easily. She just buried her husband, and now she going to have to face the girl who ran away because things got too heavy. Urrghh, what would J do? What words of wisdom would tumble from her lips to settle the frickin’ storm that’s raging in my body. She’d probably tell me to suck it up, face the cons
equences, and move on. And she’d be right. If I’m going to make this work with Max, I need to face Nancy and hope that she will be as forgiving as Max says she is.
“You okay?” Max asked. I didn’t even notice that he’d turned off the car and the garage door had shut us in.
“Yeah…I think so,” I murmured.
He tossed his door open and sprang up out of the driver’s side. As the door slammed shut a sheet of thick, cold air raked across my skin. I watched him as he strode around the front of his car; his eyes never left mine. It was his way of silently telling me that everything was going to be alright. When he pulled open my door I shivered.
“Are you cold?” Max asked as I clutched his waiting hand.
“Yeah, that’s it…I’m just cold,” I replied, trying to convince myself.
I stepped out of the car and wasn’t prepared for the reaction my body had to being in the morgue-chilled garage. The bone-freezing cold evoked memories of the moments we had together. The flashes of pain on his face as he told me about Dead Mallory. The feelings that shattered every cell in my body as I told him to be strong for his family. The look he gave me when he asked if he could be my family. My stomach twisted and ached, my heart thundered in my chest, and I struggled to catch my breath.
Max pulled me into his torso, his firm strong arms wrapping tight around my back as he rested his chin gently across the top of my head. I worked to take a deep breath. His aroma filled my body as he held me and swayed slightly, my body snug against his. Could I just stay here for the rest of the night? This time it was Max giving me strength to go in and face his family.
“Are you ready? Not that I’m in a hurry or anything. I can hold you like this forever.” I felt Max’s chin rub across the top of my head as he spoke. With my ear pressed tight against his chest his voice reverberated through his body. When he tried to pull away I just held him tighter.
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