“I’d like to shower first but I’m down if you are.” She smiled when she tripped up the stairs and turned, putting a bit more swing in her hips as she climbed. Of course the bedroom he put her in was huge and the big bed screamed wealth. The wood frame was heavy and expertly carved, with intricate flower designs and swirls on each post and the headboard. “Same artist as the light fixtures?”
An impressed smile crossed his face. “Good eye.”
“Thanks,” she muttered. He didn’t need to be so surprised, like she couldn’t know art. She opened the door to the en suite bathroom harder than she needed to and looked around. Too bad she was too pissed to enjoy the beauty. The shower was large enough for at least six people and it had a bench, because you know, showering is such hard work. Rich people, she shook her head but she couldn’t wait to get in there. The tub was large and deep, with candles and soaps decorating the edge. The black and silver marble made the room comfortable and relaxing. It was a beautiful bathroom and that shower was calling her name. Opening the door and turning on the hot water, Blaine removed her shirt and returned to the room. Where Max still stood waiting for her.
She smiled when he saw her. Those sexy blue eyes couldn’t tear themselves away from her boobs. “Are you joining me in the shower?”
“Are you offering?” His voice was gruff but in a different way this time.
She shrugged and hooked her fingers in the waistband of her pants, slowly dragging them down her legs. “It’s big enough.”
Max cleared his throat but his eyes roamed over her body, taking in the details of Blaine in nothing but a sheer black thong and matching bra that showed off those pert brown nipples. “My room is right across the hall. I’ll go see about dinner.” He closed her door behind him.
“I guess that’s a no,” she smiled and finished undressing.
~
Max couldn’t escape Blaine’s room fast enough. The damn woman was the definition of temptation with her sassy mouth, bad attitude and her fuckable body. The image of her in that see through underwear was burned into his memory and all he wanted now was to put his mouth where those scraps of material had been.
Shit. He couldn’t think about getting Blaine naked. She was hot sure, but she was also trouble and he was here to keep her out of trouble. He needed to remember that.
The shower clicked on and he tried to ignore the images of Blaine’s naked body covered in drops of water that were flashing in his head. He needed to update his security settings for the cabin and activate them all before he did anything else. The program was one of the first he’d created, and the first one that garnered a multi-million dollar payday. Every entry or exit was wired to the local police and sheriff’s station for starters. All the glass was bullet proof and made with an unbreakable polymer, making the cabin virtually impenetrable. It was a fort, it was his fort.
He pulled out the satphone and called Tag. “What’s going on?”
“We’re in D.C. now, gearing up so we can leave before midnight. You got her?”
“I got her,” he grumbled, making his brother laugh.
“That bad?” Max said nothing. “That good? Oh shit, don’t tell me Trina’s computer whiz is a sexy version of you?” His laughter rang in Max’s ears, bringing a smile to his face.
“Among other things. She’s also mouthy with a bad attitude. But fuck Tag, she’s hot as shit.”
“Then it looks like you got the better deal here. Lucky bastard.”
Max’s shoulders sagged. “Yeah but I’d rather be helping get Levi.”
“I know Max but none of us can do what you can. Working with Blaine you two should be able to find everything we need to take this bastard down.”
“I know.” He did but dammit he still didn’t feel good sitting on his ass while they went into danger to get Levi. “I just don’t like it.”
“Shit Max we all know you could help us out here, but then what could me or Reece do there? Jack shit, that’s what. So get over yourself and let’s destroy that fucker. If you need to feel good, fuck that pretty little hacker under your care. Later.”
Fuck. Tag hung up before Max could deny what he knew was undeniable. “Shit!”
“Problems Maxin?”
He turned and bit off a curse. “Do you ever wear clothes?”
She smiled. “All my naughty bits are covered. Are you a prude under all that hair and muscle?”
“Hell no I’m not, but damn you can’t just walk around in a t-shirt.”
“And panties. I’m wearing panties.”
Her innocent smile didn’t fool him. “Great.” She laughed and came to sit on his bed.
“What’s up?”
He shrugged and tried to ignore the creamy brown thighs stretched out next to him. On his bed. “My brothers and Trina are preparing to head out.”
She nodded thoughtfully and placed a hand on his thigh. “They’ll be okay Max. From what Trina says they’re like real life G.I. Joes. What can I do to help?”
His gaze traveled the length of her legs, stopping where the t-shirt did just below her sweet spot.
“Let’s save that for later Maxi, I need food.”
“Right. Come on and we’ll see what we have.” Her soft hand on his wrist stopped him and he looked over at her.
Blaine rose to her knees and looked up at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Thanks for coming to get me even though you don’t know me. You’re brothers will be fine. We’ll make sure of it.” Using him for leverage, she slid down his body and when her feet hit the floor she walked away. “Come on Maxmilla, I’m starving over here.”
He shook his head and followed her downstairs.
Chapter Three
“Shit Max you have to see this.” Blaine sat behind a desk with a brand new laptop fired up. She and Max had been working side by side for a few hours looking for any and everything they could find to take Canady down. His office was top of the line, the walls were lined to prevent any type of electronic manipulation including jammers and data retrieval. This was every hacker’s dream room. She moved her chair over and pointed to the screen. “Jackpot.”
She closed her eyes and inhaled when he slid over and leaned in close to look at the screen. He’d showered while lasagna baked in the oven and he smelled like ocean and man. She wanted to lick his big body from head to toe. Instead she sniffed him…like a creeper.
“Are you sniffing me?” He turned a smile over his shoulder at her.
“Maybe I am. You smell good.”
“Thanks,” he laughed as he read. “Holy shit Blaine,” his hand went to her bare thigh, unthinking, “this is really good info. How’d you find it?”
She smiled but tried not to let his compliment get to her too much. She didn’t need some giant sexy bear of a man telling her she was good at her job, she already knew it. She was damn good. “I figured he wouldn’t want this information to be made public and if he used his government email it would eventually, probably in twenty years just long enough to taint his legacy. So I hacked his home computer to see where he’d been online.” She pointed to the outdated email server in the address box. “He created this not too long ago and the only emails are to and from his chief of staff.”
Max scanned several emails, clenching his jaws at the callous way they talked and joked about kidnapping soldiers. “Fuckers!” He pushed away from the desk and stood, pacing. “These bastards think they can get away with this, well they can’t. They can’t!”
“Don’t worry Max, I’m going to make sure he pays.”
“Why?”
“Why do I want to help?” She tapped her chin, a newfound anger boiling within her. “Gee Maxi-pad, could it be because what he’s done is despicable? That he’s put the lives of innocent young men at risk for his own gain? Or that my best friend, my only friend, has fallen in love with one of your brothers? Nah, I must have an ulterior motive.” She stood up and walked out of the third floor room and into her own bedroom.
Flinging h
erself on the bed, Blaine looked out the large windows at the star filled night. She could kick herself. Who was she, Blaine Stephens, to offer anyone anything, let alone comfort? Max had made it perfectly clear that the only thing he wanted from her was her computer skills. Well that was fine because that’s exactly what he would get. Nothing more.
She should be used to it now but she wasn’t. Didn’t think she’d ever get used to people looking at her and assuming they knew her, or her type. Shit, she just figured with the lust in his eyes she would at least get one last fling before whatever was going to happen…happened. It wouldn’t and that was fine, well it wasn’t fine but it was what it was.
She crawled under the covers and let sleep take her.
~
Max was an asshole. That wasn’t new information and it wasn’t really even a surprise. But with Blaine he had gone from gruff antisocial computer genius to plain asshole for no reason. She had just offered support in helping take down a bad man who tried to kill his brother and he’d questioned her like she was out to get him. What the hell is wrong with you? It was a good question, too bad he didn’t have an answer.
He was attracted to Blaine and he didn’t want to be. She was brash, she talked too damn much and she was so fucking sexy he could barely concentrate on his work. It should have been him to discover Canady’s emails, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off those succulent lips, imagining them kissing down his body and wrapping around his cock. What was worse, he was pissed that she didn’t seem to have the same problem controlling herself even though she’d made it clear she wanted him. What was her game?
He knew less than nothing about her other than her name, which she’d only had since she turned eighteen, and that she was Trina’s go to girl when it came to finding shit people didn’t want found. He admired her skill but without a last name or a hometown he couldn’t even start digging. Should he even dig?
He called Callie. “Max do you know what time it is?”
He cringed at her sleepy tone. “Sorry Cal, I thought you’d be too worried to sleep.”
“Why, what’s wrong? What have you heard?”
He could have slapped himself for making her panic. “Nothing. Last I heard they were gearing up for the flight to Tajhari. I just meant well, I couldn’t sleep and I’m not sleeping with any of them so…you know.” Her laughter calmed him and made him feel a bit better.
“I see. I’m not fine Max but if I sit up all night worrying I can’t keep the business running with all the owners out of state.” She yawned and he heard rustling on her end. “But that’s not really why you called.”
“No,” he exhaled, “it’s not. What do you know about Blaine?”
Now it was Callie’s turn to sigh. “Seriously Max?”
“Yeah.” He knew it was low down to put Callie in this position but he needed to know. “What do you know? Last name, place of birth or social security number?”
“I do know her last name, Stephens, but that’s all I can tell you other than she has no criminal record. If you want to know more, ask her yourself. A storm is coming to Big Bear so you’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another. Goodnight.”
Yep he was definitely an asshole. With that confirmed, Max went back to digging up information on Canady and printing those emails. A plan was forming in his head and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. Canady was going to pay. By the time Max was done with him, Canady would be facing criminal charges and maybe he’d earn a trip to Guantanamo.
Hours went by and he was still glued to his chair, digging into Canady’s life. Apparently he wasn’t just a murderer, but also an adulterer and whoremonger. Max found email exchanges between Canady and several women, including times, dates and locations of their meetings. He’d also found out about his predilection for a particularly disgusting form of adult entertainment. Idiot, Max shook his head. What kind of moron used a free email service to exchange this kind of shit?
Canady deserved whatever he got. Right now he figured Canady could use a distraction in the form of a sex scandal. He sent a few emails to tabloids including emails and photos from Canady’s account. He felt the smile cross his face and knew his work for today was done.
~
Blaine woke up alone on yet another morning in a big bed with the sun streaming into her room. She was used to sleeping alone but the stress of hiding out and pretending there wasn’t amazing chemistry between her and Max was making life difficult. She’d kept her distance since the night in the office. Instead of working together Max spent all day in there and she crept in after he’d gone to sleep and left her work for him to find. She never looked through what he found, either. If he didn’t want her help, she would happily stay the hell out of it.
Since she was without her own equipment, she had no idea what to do with herself all day and she’d spent too much time in the kitchen. Just what I need, an ever bigger ass. She said these words to herself every time she pulled out a mixing bowl, yet still the counter was littered with fresh wheat bread, banana bread, and cookies. She rarely ate any of it, but dammit she needed something to do.
She slid on her fuzzy pink pig slippers and walked sleepily downstairs. She needed something to do and since it was early morning she decided breakfast would be it and got to work. When Max came down looking too damn good in nothing but a pair of sweat pants, she kept her gaze trained on her plate full of bacon, eggs and fluffy buttermilk pancakes. She rarely got a chance to cook most days, but growing up as she had meant you’d starve if you didn’t know how to cook.
“Smells good,” Max told her as he breathed in the aroma of a home cooked breakfast.
She grunted and stuffed a slice of bacon in her mouth. There was no need to break the silence after two days. She’d never tell him he hurt her feelings but he had and she wasn’t prepared to forgive him. She cooked enough for him because he was helping her and because cooking enough for two was as easy as for one.
“I was thinking we could go out today, get some fresh air and see the property.”
She stood with her plate in hand and looked at Max. “No thank you.” Quickly rinsing her dishes she stuffed them in the dishwasher and headed for the stairway.
Blaine could hear the frustration in his sigh. “So we’ll just stay cooped up in here until we get the all clear?”
“I’m not stopping you from doing anything Max. Go out, get your fresh air. I’m fine here.” She fled up the stairs before he could say anything else.
She didn’t know how much time passed before she heard Max’s heavy steps in the hall but she ignored it and continued staring up at her ceiling. She was going crazy but she didn’t want or need any alone time with Max. The man obviously had a low opinion of her, other than her cooking and hacking skills, so it shouldn’t matter. But it did.
“Now I see what’s so interesting you’d rather stay inside that spend time with me.”
She froze initially and then directed her gaze to him. “It has nothing to do with you Max. I just don’t want to go outside.” She wouldn’t admit to him or anyone else but she really was terrified that she was going to die. She hadn’t fought through twenty foster homes and two years on the streets to die over some crazy political bullshit.
Max rubbed a hand over his face and took a seat on the bed. “Are you ever going to forgive me Blaine?”
She shrugged as though it didn’t matter. “There’s nothing to forgive Max. You were just stating your opinion.” She was used to it, dammit and she wasn’t affected by his words.
“Damn you woman, I wasn’t! I was upset, one of my brothers is being held prisoner by a terrorist group and the other two are in the desert trying to find him. Shit.”
“Fine.” She turned her back to him.
“That’s it?”
Blaine sat up, eyes blazing and chest heaving. “Jesus Max, why do you care? You’ve made your low opinion of me clear since you knocked on my door so don’t get all pissy now. We’ll just stay out of each other’s way
until this is done.”
“No.” He reached for her ankle and wrapped his hand around it, yanking until she was practically sitting in his lap. “I don’t have a low opinion of you and I don’t want you to stay out of my way.”
She struggled to get away, unwilling to let his words affect her. “Max you’re a fucking liar, now let me go or live to regret it.” She kicked the leg he held trying to break free and pretending that his touch wasn’t causing her heart to stutter a beat and her pussy to tighten in anticipation. Fucking traitorous body!
He let her leg go and in one swift move Max had Blaine pinned under him, one hand gripping her waist and the other pinning her wrists above her head. “Dammit Blaine you make me crazy.”
She kept squirming only stopping when his erection pressed against where she wanted him most. “All the more reason for us to leave one another alone.” This time she squirmed with purpose, driving him crazy until he had to let her go or embarrass himself.
“I don’t think so. You want me as bad as I want you so don’t fucking deny it.”
“I’m not denying anything, but I’m also not the one who thinks you’re a low class moron out to get my money.” This time she bucked and he almost rolled off her.
“Why would you say that?” He looked genuinely confused and she didn’t know if that was better or worse.
Definitely worse, she decided. “That means you don’t even realize the shit that comes out of your mouth. Whatever Max.” She turned away from him and gasped when his cool tongue snaked out and licked the length of her neck. That doesn’t feel good, nope no different than a bum licking my neck.
“I apologize,” he placed an open mouth kiss at the base of her neck, “if I said anything,” he nibbled her ear, “to offend you.” Hands roaming her stomach, ribs and breasts, Max began an all-out assault on her body, her senses. Kissing down her neck, he stopped and tugged the hem of her t-shirt until it was lying on the floor next to the bed. “Now,” he turned a hungry stare on her sexy ass body. “I can’t wait to taste these tits,” his hands gripped her large round orbs hard enough to make her cry out, then his tongue soothed the stiff tips until Blaine was writhing underneath him. “Blaine,” he groaned and switched to the other.
BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE: The Unforgettable Southern Billionaires: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Young Adult Rich Alpha Male Billionaire Romance) Page 73