“It’s not about trust, love. I told you that.”
“Of course it is,” she countered. “You keep saying twenty-five is the magic age I need to reach before you tell me, but I don’t see myself suddenly becoming a different person in the next few days.”
“You’re killing me, Grace,” he said.
“Honey, I’m not going anywhere. You can trust me.”
He closed his eyes for a second. “You know that drives me crazy.”
“What does?”
Max grasped her hand. “When you call me ‘honey.’”
“Tell me...” Grace smiled. “...honey.”
“My brother, Kinnon, the one we just buried, has had a drug problem for a long time. We believe he may have had something to do with the death of our sister—”
“You had a sister?” she interrupted.
“Aye. She was”—he shook his head—“ah, she died a while ago. I’d rather not get into that. Suffice it to say, she’s gone, and now Kinnon’s gone as well. He was a screwed-up bastard, who should have died a long time ago. I’ll not mourn his passing.”
Grace squeezed his hand. “It’s okay to mourn him, you know. He was your brother.”
“Not by choice,” he argued. “Stupid bampot who’d do anything to get high. Good bloody riddance.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry.”
He kissed her palm. “No, love. I am. I don’t really want to talk about Kinnon. I’d hoped to find out what you’re doing on Friday.”
“Well, since it’s my birthday, my family always does a big dinner, as I mentioned. Do you want to come?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
“My dad will be back tomorrow...are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Grace smiled. “You don’t need to check your schedule?”
“My schedule’s whatever you want it to be.”
Grace laughed. “You’re easy.”
He leaned forward. “You have no idea.”
He kissed her and pulled her into his lap. She slid her fingers into his hair and deepened the kiss, wishing she was in her apartment and not her parents’ home. But then again, maybe it was a good thing...
She broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against his. “You are lethal.”
Max grinned and kissed her again, this time, quickly. “Friday doesn’t come fast enough.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What is the significance of my birthday? I don’t get it.”
“I have something planned. I don’t mean to tease you, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
The front door slamming had Grace scrambling off Max’s lap and situating herself on the opposite corner of the couch.
“Grace?”
“In here, Mom,” she called, narrowing her eyes at Max, whose expression was one of mischief. “Don’t you dare do anything naughty.”
Max gave her a cheeky grin.
Her mother walked into the room, her arms laden with grocery bags. “Hello, Max, I thought I saw your driver outside.”
“Good afternoon,” Max said, and rushed to assist her.
“Thank you,” Lila said, and set her purse and keys on the desk. “This is a surprise. We weren’t expecting you for a few days.”
He smiled his death-by-charm smile and nodded. “Our plans didn’t quite take as long as we expected. I was able to return early.”
“How nice,” Lila said, and put a few fridge items away.
Grace rolled her eyes and Max gave her a look of innocence, mouthing, “What?”
Grace started to help unload the groceries, but her mother shook her head. “Honey, you need to rest. I’ll put everything away.”
“I feel great, Mom,” Grace said. “I’m happy to help.”
Lila faced the couple again. “Will you stay for dinner, Max?”
“I’d love to, if it’s no trouble.”
Lila smiled. “Not for me.”
“Grace?” he asked.
“Excuse us, Mom,” Grace said, and pulled Max from the kitchen. Once inside the front room, she closed the French doors for privacy. “You’re really okay with sitting at a dining room table with my sister fawning all over you and my brother asking you inane questions like...well, no never mind. I don’t really want to go there.”
Max chuckled. “I enjoy your family, Grace. They love you, which means they have impeccable taste. Would you rather I not join you?”
“It’s not that. I guess I just want you all to myself for a few hours.” She pointed to her slippered feet. “And maybe take a moment to look a little less like Old Mother Hubbard.”
“I still have to check into my hotel, so why don’t I do that and come back?”
She nodded. “Where are you staying?”
“Just up the street. At the hotel off the freeway.”
Grace gasped. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Why?”
She wrinkled her nose. “That’s just so...I don’t know, low-brow for you.”
Max chuckled. “There’s not much to choose from in Vancouver, sweetheart.”
“That’s not entirely true. There’s the brand-new hotel downtown, and there are so many others to choose from in Portland. Why aren’t you staying at the Governor again?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Because it’s not close enough to you.”
“You’re slumming it for me?” she asked, as she linked her hands behind his neck.
“Slumming it might be a bit harsh. I understand the hotel’s quite lovely.”
“Hmm-mm,” she countered. “When have you ever paid less than a thousand dollars a night for a hotel room?”
“Not for a very long time,” he admitted. “But Kenna booked me a suite, and the hotel has some very nice reviews.”
Grace giggled. “Oh, how I love—” She cut off her sentence and pressed her lips into a thin line.
“I’m sorry, Grace,” he challenged. “What was that?”
“Ah...Oh, how I love that you’re so close,” she modified.
He grinned. “So. Dinner?”
“Dinner,” she repeated. “What will Bruce do?”
“You don’t need to worry about Bruce, sweetheart.”
“Would it be weird to invite him to join us?” she asked. “Unless you have anyone else with you. I’d hate him to be alone in a strange place.”
“Yes, it would be weird to invite him,” Max said.
“Why?”
“Because he works for me. He would find it extremely uncomfortable.”
“He would or you would?” she challenged.
“We both would.”
“Can I still invite him?”
“You can do whatever you like.”
Grace frowned. “That’s not what I mean.”
Max pulled out his phone and scrolled his finger over the screen before putting it up to his ear. “The Wilson’s would like to invite you to dinner. Aye. Yes, really. Aye. No. Aye.” Max raised an eyebrow. “What time?”
“Um, six probably.”
“Six,” Max said into the phone. He smiled. “Aye. Yes, exactly. Okay.” He hung up. “Bruce will join us.”
Grace laughed. “Alrighty then. Good.”
“We’ll go get checked in then and return at six. Does that sound good?”
She shook her head. “That’s hours from now.”
Max grinned. “Two hours.”
“Exactly. Hours.”
“I’m happy to stay, love. Bruce can take care of everything.”
She sighed. “No, it’s fine. I would like to look less like a tired old hag.”
Max laughed. “So dramatic, sweetheart. Especially when you’re the most beautiful woman on the planet.”
“You’re sweet,” she said, and kissed him.
“I’m honest.” He stroked her cheek. “I’ll just say good-bye to yer mum, and then head to the hotel, eh?”
“One more kiss?”
He chuckled and obliged.
* * *
Max and Bruce arrive
d at five-fifty-five. Bruce wore the same suit Grace was certain he owned several versions of, but Max had changed into jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. His clothing hugged all the right parts of his body and made Grace wish for her family to disappear.
“Hi,” Max said, and kissed Grace once she’d closed the door.
“Hi.” Grace grinned. “And, hello to you as well, Bruce.”
He smiled and gave her a nod. “Ma’am.”
“Everyone’s in the kitchen. Come on back,” Grace said.
“You’re on the news, Grace!” Maggie called as they approached the kitchen.
“Pause that, Maggie,” their mother directed. “We have guests to greet.”
Maggie paused the television and hugged Max, his presence now fully accepted. Spencer shook his hand, as did their mother.
“This is Bruce,” Grace said, and the group greeted the security man as though he were a long-lost friend and not one of Max’s staff.
“Beer good with everyone?” Spencer asked.
The men nodded, but Grace shook her head. “I’ll have wine with dinner, but thanks.”
“Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes,” Lila said. “Please make yourselves at home.”
Bruce sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, while Max pulled Grace down next to him on the sofa, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
“Okay, ready?” Maggie asked.
Grace rolled her eyes. “Go ahead.”
She wasn’t quite prepared for what came on the screen.
“Who is this Grace Wilson Max MacMillan has spent the last few months searching for? Well, folks, here she is.”
The photos of Grace and Max driving into the hotel in Alaska floated across the screen, switching to some video someone had taken. More photos popped up of them in the airport, kissing good-bye.
“We understand that Grace is a graduate of Washington State University, and part of the all-girl acapella group, Basic White Pitches. They won nationals three-years ago, and she has apparently been known to sing at a couple of the local churches on occasion. Which begs the question, ‘has good girl Grace Wilson tamed the likes of bad-boy Maximilian MacMillan, or is she just his new plaything?’ Over to you, Christine.”
“Turn it off, Maggie,” Max said.
“No,” Grace countered. “I want to hear this now.”
Max frowned, but didn’t object.
“Thanks, Deb,” Christine Beach said. “As many of you are aware, I had the great privilege of interviewing Fallen Crown just a couple of weeks ago, when they were here for their first-ever Portland show. Here’s a recap.”
The part of the interview where Max spoke Grace’s name was replayed and then the camera focused back on Christine.
“It would appear Max has found the elusive Grace Wilson, and according to a close friend of hers, plans are in the works for Grace to move to Scotland.”
Grace gasped. “What? Who would have said that? I haven’t talked about Max to anyone. Maggie? Did you say something?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing.”
Grace stared at her brother, who shrugged. “I haven’t said anything either, Grace. I guess Aisha could have, but I highly doubt she would have.”
A photo of Grace flashed on the screen, and she frowned. “That’s from two years ago. I think at Aisha’s birthday.”
Grace glanced at her sister and they both ground out, “Laurel.”
“So, Aisha’s been talking to Laurel,” Maggie snapped.
“I’m on it,” Spencer said, and pulled his phone from his jeans, heading out of the kitchen.
“Ooh, she’s such a bi—”
“Margaret Marie,” her mother snapped.
Maggie bit her lip. “Sorry, Mom, but she is.”
“Excuse me,” Bruce said, and also left the room.
“Kenna will handle the media,” Max said, and Grace deduced that Bruce was calling her to do just that.
Lila switched off the television and smiled. “Well, enough of that drama, huh? How about we eat?”
“Great idea,” Grace said, and rose to her feet.
Spencer and Bruce returned and the group sat down for a blissfully uneventful meal.
Max carried Grace into his bedroom, a large bed sat adjacent to a wall of windows that overlooked a loch. Setting her on her feet, he slid his hands up her back, under her T-shirt and unhooked her bra, then pushed her shirt and bra up and off her head. He cupped her breasts, running her nipples between his fingertips as he gently sucked each one into his mouth. Grace whimpered when she lost his mouth to pull his own shirt off, but since the sight of him shirtless was beautiful, she forgave him.
She ran her fingers over his lean, smooth chest, licking her lips as he removed the rest of his clothes and (after he’d divested Grace of the rest of her clothes) lifted her onto the mattress.
He grinned, leaning down to kiss her, and then moving his way down her body, his face disappearing between her legs. She moaned when his mouth connected with her clit, sucking it gently, then applying pressure with his tongue. She fisted her hands in the sheets and arched against him as he continued to feast on her pussy, his tongue lapping at her already slick folds.
“Max, I...I’m...I can’t wait.”
He didn’t respond verbally... just put more pressure on her core with his tongue. She anchored her heels to his shoulders and bit her lip, trying to keep her climax at bay. But she couldn’t hold it for long and cried out his name as she came.
Max kissed the inside of her thighs then hovered over her and slid inside. She moaned with need—
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Grace’s eyes flew open and she sat up with a gasp. She no longer heard the sound of a car alarm, but her arousal was front and center as she flashed back to her dream.
Flopping back on the pillows, she dragged her hands down her face. It was 3:00am Friday morning and she was exhausted...probably because (as per tradition) she and Charlotte talked at 11:59 the night before and said goodnight at 12:01.
She decided to take care of herself since Max wasn’t there to do it, and then forced herself back to sleep.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Grace paced the family room. Max and his brother were due to arrive any minute for an early birthday dinner with her family, and she’d been climbing the walls all day.
Grace was surprised by how quickly her flu disappeared once Max returned. She’d been well enough to spend part of the day before shopping with Kristen. But she’d been distracted. She’d felt different ever since she woke up. She’d had yet another extremely vivid dream that had seemed so real, she’d been disoriented when she woke up...and (once again) horny has hell. And now, she missed Max more than she ever had. Knowing he wasn’t far away seemed to make the fact that he wasn’t there with her all the more wrong somehow.
“Gracie, why don’t you set the table?” her mother suggested.
“Good idea,” she mumbled.
“It’s your birthday,” Spencer argued. “I’ll set the table.”
“It’s fine, Spence. I need something to do.” Grace grabbed the plates and silverware and headed for the dining room. She placed the last knife on the last napkin when she heard the doorbell.
Her heart raced and she took a deep breath before yelling, “I’ll get it,” and heading for the door.
She pulled open the front door and before she’d even laid eyes on Max, his arms were around her and lifting her off the ground. “Och, I’ve missed you, love.”
Grace giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You just saw me last night,” she said, although, she knew what he meant. She felt whole again, like he was the missing half of her.
He kissed her cheek and lowered her to the ground. “Hours ago. How are you feeling?”
“Still good,” she said. “Especially now.”
“My turn.” Niall pushed his brother aside and hugged Grace.
“Hi, Niall,” she said. “I’m really glad you could
make it.”
“Me too. Even if I didn’t have the plane at my disposal.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Oh, you poor baby. Having to fly first class.”
“It was torture.”
“Hi, guys,” Spencer said as he came walking down the hall with their father. “How was your flight, Niall?”
“Great, thanks,” Niall said, and shook Spencer’s hand.
“Daddy, this is Niall,” Grace said, and then smiled shyly at Max. “And this is Max.”
Max and Niall shook her father’s hand.
“Come on back to the kitchen, Niall,” her father said. “I’ll get you a beer. Grace, I’m assuming you want a few minutes with Max before joining us?”
“That would be good, yes,” she said.
The small group headed back to the kitchen and Grace led Max into the formal living room, where he pulled her close and kissed her. He broke the kiss and stroked her cheek. “What’s the matter?”
She frowned. “How do you know something’s wrong?”
“I can tell.”
“You can?”
“Aye.” He smiled gently. “Tell me.”
“Honestly, it’s just a feeling. Despite her tendency of doing too much, Maggie’s still really sick, but the doctor said it was just the flu.”
“You don’t think it is?”
“No. I think something else is going on. She couldn’t get in with my doctor, so she had to see the one on-call. He was an idiot. Told her to take Sudafed and rest. Now she won’t go back.”
“Why won’t she go back?”
Grace sighed. “She hates doctors. She always has. She broke her arm when she was around eight and the doctor didn’t have a great bedside manner. He scared her. But my doctor’s awesome. She’ll probably know what’s wrong with her immediately. She’s freaky like that.”
Max hugged her. “Will she go if the lead singer of her favorite band tells her to?”
Grace giggled. “She might.”
“I’ll talk to her then.”
“You can’t.”
Max cocked his head. “Why can’t I?”
“Because if you do, people will know you use your power for good. It’ll ruin your street cred.”
Max laughed. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Thanks.” Grace squeezed his hand. “Ready to face the grilling?”
“Of course.” He kissed her palm. “Are you nervous, love?”
Bound by Song (Cauld Ane Series, #4) Page 16