Beyond Eighteen

by Gretchen de La O

  I yanked the collar of my hoodie down off her shoulder and pressed my lips to the curve of her frame, giving my mouth the freedom to taste every inch between her neck and the tops of her breasts. It was as exciting as tasting her for the first time, all over again.

  “Listen, either we go upstairs now, or I’ll have to take you right here,” I growled against her.

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “What? You don’t believe me?” I leaned away, meeting her eyes.

  “Nope,” she smiled as she slid her hand down my chest to the front of my pants.

  “Fine! You asked for it,” I barked before I snatched at the button of her pants and tugged with such force her zipper came down at the same time. I stretched my fingers down either side of her hips and thrust her pants down past her thighs. Her white silk and lace panties clung to her perfectly. I stretched my mouth to hers. I wanted to take her like never before. I plunged my hand down between her legs.

  I pressed my fingers into her as she swung her hips against my touch. Her breath caught and she moaned when I drove my fingers deeper. Her warmth trapped me and threw me with a shark-frenzied mentality. Whether we were in my room or here, I knew she wanted me and I wanted her; nothing else mattered except my need to be inside of her.

  I slipped off her panties and slid my hands under her arms, lifting her onto the sink. I half expected her to tell me no, but when she cleared her pants from around her ankles and kicked them aside I knew she wanted what I was about to give her. I pulled at the bottom of the hoodie and she helped me take it off. Now the only thing she had left covering her body was her white silk and lace bra, the matching mate to her panties that were now lying on the tile floor. I needed to taste her, thrust my tongue against her, make her shiver and push and drive her wild. God she was so damn hot. Sexier than ever before.

  I pushed my mouth to her chest before I caught her nipple between my teeth. She whimpered. Her fingers tangled in my hair as she pushed me lower, and I dropped to my knees. I knew what she wanted, but I wasn’t going to give it to her. Not yet.

  “Maaaaxxx,” she moaned as she spread her legs apart and leaned back.

  I pressed my lips to the inside of her thigh and kissed everywhere except the space she wanted me to. I let my hands trace her hips to the small of her back as my mouth teased and tickled just enough of her.

  “Please, God, please, Max,” she moaned. Damn, just hearing her beg was making it hard for me not to lose it.

  “Oooh…my…Gawd…Maaxx…Plea—” she whimpered even louder before I reached up and covered her mouth. I stood up, pulling her off the sink. I couldn’t take it any more. I needed to be inside her—feel her tighten, constrict, and orgasm against me.

  “Turn around,” I commanded in a rough whisper as I spun her around to face the sink. I unbuttoned my pants and slipped my hand along her spine before pushing her chest down against the counter. She stood up on her tiptoes, ready for me. I hovered behind her long enough to feel her legs begin to tremble. I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want to think, I just wanted to take her.

  I pressed a little into her, teasing her just enough before I had to pull back. I was reaching for a condom but instead she pushed back against me and I slid deeply into her. Automatically we began to sway and move together. Damn, she was so warm, so tight…so ready for me to make her combust. Our bodies fell into a familiar rhythm with one another and I was driving myself deep within her. I placed one hand firmly against her spine while I reached around front and massaged her with my fingers. She was humming, shaking, and balancing on the edge of losing it when I realized I didn’t…Shit, I can’t…I don’t have a condom. Fuck. Stop! Now! Fuucckkk. She shook, vibrated, shuddered, and moaned my name over and over again. I growled as I thrust into her a few more times before I exploded, too, and fell against her back, our bodies damp with the heat of what we just did. I felt her fast-paced breathing unify with mine and suddenly the realization of my mistake scared the shit out of me. What did I just do?

  Chapter Fifteen

  ~ Wilson ~

  Max pressed his mouth between my shoulder blades. His hair tickled my back. His breath, hot and damp, rolled against my sensitive skin. Oh my God! Having sex with Max in the downstairs bathroom was completely and totally incredible. I think I’m still shaking. I pulled my hand out from under my chest and held it out in front of me. Yeah, I’m totally shaking.

  “That was so intense, beyond anything you’ve done before,” I whispered, not realizing I said it loud enough for Max to hear.

  “You were irresistible,” he whispered breathily against my flesh before he rose off of me and pulled me up into his strong, confident grip. His expression switched from a sexy crescent smile to a look of severity that settled in his eyes and oozed down through his body as he continued. “I was scared I was going to lose you out there when you came toward me; I thought you were going to keep walking past me and out the front door. I was sure you were going to leave,” Max whispered.

  “At first I was going to leave. I was devastated when I saw Emily wrapped around you. But then I thought I had to take it, like I deserved it. It was my payment for everything I’ve put you through. Then when I saw you push her away and defend our relationship it sparked something deep in my core. It was like suddenly nothing else mattered but you and me. I craved feeling you against me, knowing I’m the only woman you want.”

  “You know you are my everything, Wilson. I just can’t ever get enough of you,” he teased as he pulled me close to him again. It felt so good to be in his arms.

  “And babe, when you started to moan louder, I just couldn’t take it. I couldn’t hold back,” he whispered across my ear.

  Oh shit, what if someone heard me? No, I wasn’t that loud...was I? Oh my God, what if his mom heard me? Did he even lock the door? No, nobody could hear us. Right?

  Max refreshed his embrace around me. His hands slid down to the small of my back and I finally noticed he was still fully dressed.

  “Hey, how did you get away with keeping your clothes on?” I teased him as I pushed my hands up around his collar, dragging my fingers to trace around his jaw line. He let out a low, masculine growl before he pulled his lips into a devilishly sexy smirk. Of course his verdant eyes, drenched with a wicked gleam, followed suit as they narrowed.

  “I didn’t have any time. You pushed back and I couldn’t help myself,” he said dragging his hand through my knotted hair before he pushed the loose strands behind my ears.

  “It was different this time. You were different, like a spark had been lit and we couldn’t get enough. We were downright ravenous.”

  I turned and caught our reflection in the colossal mirror above the sink. I was totally flushed, and glowing with that ‘yeah…I just had the best sex ever’ look. My hair was damp around my hairline and my eyes appeared to have an added enthusiasm as I recalled what he did to me. My mouth instantly pulled into a wide, expansive smile that seemed to take up my entire face. I glanced at Max. His shiny onyx hair lay tousled with perfect chunky parts scattered invitingly against his face. Our eyes met, and without warning, his expression turned from smoldering triumph to uncertain panic.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, worried at what his pained eyes and distant smile were telling me.

  “It happened so fast,” he started before he bit at the corner of his bottom lip. “I didn’t have a condom.”

  “What?”

  “I wasn’t wearing a condom,” he repeated.

  The visions of our lovemaking replayed in my head. It didn’t even register at the time that I didn’t hear a wrapper rip open or remember a moment of pause while I waited for him to put it on. Shit, I don’t remember even asking him if he had protection with him. I didn’t even let that second of responsibility enter into my head…until now.

  Suddenly every thought of amazing turned into fear of what could be; every if became a when, and every choice became a consequence. My heart hammered in my chest, feeling as if it
was going to bust through my sternum. What was I thinking? Obviously, I wasn’t. It was incredibly intense, and so amazingly sexy, especially since Max had never really acted like that with me before. I pulled slightly away from him, but he wouldn’t let go; instead he clung tighter to me. His hands pressed harder into my back.

  “Wilson, it was so fast, you were so incredible, I thought I’d be able to hang on a bit longer—” he tried to make me feel better.

  “Max, what if?”

  “Hey, no ‘what ifs’. It’s going to be okay, I promise,” he murmured. But I looked in his eyes and knew he was just as scared as I was.

  “But what if it isn’t—okay?” I asked. I could feel my eyes begin to dampen with tears that held every drop of fear in my soul. Instantly, thoughts crashed through my head. Off-the-wall images of Max leaving me pregnant and all alone. Suddenly I didn’t want to be naked any more.

  “I think I should get dressed. I just want to get dressed,” I repeated as I leaned down to pick up my clothes off the floor.

  Max reached over and took my hand. His appearance softened as he read every fear on my face.

  “Wilson, sweetheart, I’m serious; everything will be okay…no matter what.” Max dragged his warm hands across my cheeks as he stared into my eyes. “I love you,” he whispered.

  I wanted to trust him. I wanted to believe everything was going to be okay, but how did he know? How could he stand next to me and tell me everything was going to be okay when my own father left my mother the minute he found out she was pregnant…with me?

  I brusquely pulled my panties off the stone countertop and pulled them on. I snatched my pants and was dressed all the way to my bra before I raked my fingers through my hair, pushing it back from my face.

  “I want to believe you, Max, but if this leads to something more than just you and me…I don’t know if you can handle it. My father couldn’t,” I choked, trying not to bawl. I struggled to work my shirt and his hoodie right-side-out as I answered his declaration.

  “Wilson, come on now, just wait a minute…I’m not your asshole father, and you are not your mother. Damn it, you should know by now, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you,” he steamed as he grabbed my wrists, stopping me from putting on my shirt. “You have us pregnant and broken up before we even know if there really is something to even worry about.”

  His eyes were narrow and dancing between mine as he stared at me. His strong chest rose rapidly as he breathed and the muscles in his jaw constricted as he stood looking at me. I knew throughout my entire heart and soul that Max loved me more than anything, but all the screwed up experiences that were ironed into every fiber of my childhood seem to resurface when life decides to try and trip me up. We stood silently for what seemed like forever. He didn’t make another sound or plea for his case; he just watched me and waited for me to answer him.

  “I trust you, Max.”

  “Do you really?” he rebutted.

  “Yes, I do. And I love you, Maximillain Goldstein, more than anything,” I added before I let go of the breath I was holding.

  Max let go of my wrists and helped me pull my shirt on. His fingers were rougher than usual as he guided my top down my sides. It reminded me that, earlier that day, he fought for me. He reached over, grabbed his hoodie from the counter, and held it over my head. He pressed his mouth to mine as the collar of his gray sweatshirt passed my lips. He tasted like every bit of shelter I craved, like all the loyalty I needed.

  “Maxi?” Nancy called from in the kitchen.

  Max ignored her call and pressed deeper into our kiss, urging his tongue between my lips. I released the tension in my jaw and let him push for more from me.

  “Maxi?” Nancy called again.

  My body stiffened. God I don’t want anyone to find us in this bathroom together. Please don’t let her come looking for us. Come on, Max, acknowledge your mother!

  Max, clearly lost in a moment of utter abandon with me, persisted with his kiss. When I pulled away, he pushed his forehead against mine, letting out a steaming huff across my lips. The same lips that didn't want to stop kissing him either.

  “Um, Max, your mom’s calling you,” I mumbled as I noticed his gorgeous emerald eyes narrow. “It sounds like she’s been crying,” I added in a whisper.

  I could tell Max wanted to ignore my question and my observation, but he knew. He knew there was something that didn’t feel right; her voice was shaky.

  “Yeah, I’d better go find out what’s going on. Are you okay?”

  “I think so…yeah…I’m okay.”

  “Do something for me?” he asked, still resting his forehead against mine. I nodded.

  “Tell me again that you trust me. Please,” he breathed before closing his eyes.

  “I trust you,” I sighed.

  “Remind me how much you love me,” he whispered.

  “I love you more than anything in this world,” I answered as our lips caressed each other’s delicately. Urges stronger than any addiction surged in my groin. “You’d better go.”

  “I know. Now go upstairs and wait for me,” he growled in a low, breathy voice.

  I pulled my head away from his and countered. “Nope, I think I will join you in the great room, with your family.”

  I don’t think he expected me to answer him that way. But if I was going to be a part of his family, and he wanted me to trust him, then he needed to know that whatever was happening to his them was happening to me too.

  “You sure? I just thought you’d want to take a shower,” he said innocently.

  “No thanks, I’ll be fine. I’ll take one later,” I responded.

  “Alright then, let’s go,” he said as he held out his hand and opened the bathroom door.

  Luckily the coast was clear. No Nancy waiting by the front door or Calvin hovering in the hall waiting to talk to Max, just the extra sound of Camille and Dan in the great room. For a moment I thought, maybe I should have waited upstairs for him. But then Max pulled me down the hall into the great room and I knew…this is right where I belong, with his family.

  Chapter Sixteen

  ~ Max ~

  I wasn’t too much help to my mom as she struggled with the death of the most important person in her life. She had reached the breaking point of holding it together today as we all grieved our father. Burying Dad today landed heavy and square on her heart. I get it. There was nothing I could say to make it okay, so I just listened as she rambled endlessly about all the things he would do around the house and how he had expectations for each one of us kids.

  “You should know, Maxi, your father was very proud of you. Very proud,” she stated as she dabbed her eyes with the kitchen towel hanging from the handle on the refrigerator. I stood across from her, leaning against the sink.

  “I know, Mom,” I said carefully as I turned and began to rinse a couple of plates with the remainders of mixed berry pie. I wasn’t about to remind her of the major guilt trips dad would lay on me when I came home on holiday breaks from school. Today and for the rest of her life I’ll let her believe my dad was proud that I wanted to be a teacher instead of running the family business. Now I just wonder if this is the best time to tell her about my father’s last turn of the knife in my back? Probably not.

  “He loved you kids so much,” she cried as she came over to me and rubbed my back. Her tiny, warm hands pressed softly against my back.

  “I’m glad Dad had a chance to meet Wilson,” I said trying to change the images of me being CEO of GP that wanted to take over my head.

  “Me too. You know your father absolutely adored her…Maxi, we never really talked much about my reaction when I found out about Wilson…being…so much younger than you. It was selfish of me…to worry about our family’s reputation instead of your feelings.”

  “No, Ma, it’s over. Let’s keep that in the past where it belongs,” I said as I choked on my words. I kept rinsing dishes.

  She tapped her fist a couple of times in a dull
rhythm just below my shoulder blade. “Well, Maxi, I don’t want you to feel like I don’t love Wilson, because I do. She makes you happy and that makes me happy.”

  I stopped rinsing and snatched a small towel off the counter as I turned around to her. “Thanks, Ma, that means a lot to me, with Wilson not having family now,” I murmured as I focused down at the towel I twirled between my fingers. I didn’t expect to feel my mom’s delicate hands catch either side of my face and push my head up to look at her.

  “Wilson most certainly has a family! She has us. We are her family now,” her voice broke into a serious tone. Her emerald eyes swelled with tears, mirroring the same expression that must have been broadcasting across my face. She leaned in and stretched up and gave me a kiss. It was like I was a kid again. I wrapped my arms around her petite frame and gave her the same type of hug that I would whenever I needed my mom to make my life better.

  “Thanks, Mom,” I mumbled as I locked my chin across her shoulder.

  “You’re welcome, sweets. And don’t think I didn’t notice the marks on your neck and your knuckles. You want to talk about it?” she asked.

  I knew she noticed, but part of me wanted to believe in the theory of “if she doesn’t ask, don’t volunteer the information.”

  “Nothin’ for you to worry about, Ma; everything’s fine,” I replied.

  “Well, if you want to talk—”

  “I know,” I interrupted.

  “Okay, fine. So, where is that little lady of yours?” she asked as we broke from our embrace and she brushed her hand across the spot where her face had been buried in my chest.

  “She’s with Camille and Dan. She insisted that I take a moment alone with you, to make sure you were okay,” I answered her honestly.