En route, he twisted to whisper in her ear, “Figured. You’re too tight to be a whore.”
Oh God, her heart sank into her guts as her eyes closed. He wasn’t making this easy for her and what was worse, every reminder of that night aroused her as much as it mortified her.
When Tally shook herself back to reality, she spun around to find him in the living room, sitting in the armchair nearest the bedroom door, the one with its back to the window, perpendicular to the TV.
Taking a fortifying breath, she went into the living room and tried to block out the other men, who were chatting, eating, and commenting on the game. She went over to stand right in front of Max, but instead of acknowledging her, he curled his fingers around the inside of her knee and looked past her at the TV to comment on the latest play.
“We have to—”
“Relax, Boss,” Max said and sank back in his chair. “I’m not having any conversation while the game’s on.”
Catching her off-guard, he pulled her down into his lap. “I can’t—”
“Sure you can,” he said, and bent to hook her legs with one forearm. Twisting her around, he draped her legs over the arm of his chair and then slid a hand between her thighs, just to rest it there while the other arm stayed around her back, holding his beer on the arm of the chair. “Relax.” He kissed the side of her neck and she tried to get up, but he snaked his arm all the way around her to hold the beer up to her mouth. “Drink.”
Their eyes locked. She had a decision to make, stay and play along until she got a chance to talk, or fight to get away and leave. But if she did that, she’d never have a chance to convince him to come to dinner, and she’d have to psyche herself up to come back here or be prepared to lose her job.
So, she took the beer and as his satisfaction almost curved his lips, Max whistled at one of the guys and held up a hand. His friend tossed him a beer and his arms tightened around her when he twisted off the cap, which he tossed to the table.
Tally hadn’t meant to take over the beer, but now she had her own she’d have to nurse it; she couldn’t get drunk, she just couldn’t.
Tally had been there for over an hour and she was learning a lot about his friends. Tomas was a bit slow on the uptake, and the others liked to jeer him for always being behind the curve. Robbie and Mark were brothers, but they didn’t seem to like each other much because they were always making snarky comments at the other’s expense.
Bobby was the joker, he had a great sense of humor; she’d never laughed so much in her life. Ryan was the flirt, too cool for school in a lot of ways. It was obvious he was the preener of the gang, though he had nothing on the vain men she was used to having around her.
Right now, Tally was sitting on the floor between Max’s open legs, carefully opening the newest packet of chips.
“You just never learned?” Robbie asked her while the others were still intent on the TV.
Robbie was at the end of the couch closest to the chair she’d been sharing with Max throughout the game. But Robbie was less interested in the game and more interested in leaning over to talk to her.
Tally wasn’t much of a sports buff, so she was ok with talking. “Nope,” she said, opening both ends of the chip packet.
“Why not? I thought everyone knew how to drive? Cars are Max’s whole life, he takes them apart, puts them back together. He grew up jacking them and chopping them with us to put food on his mom’s table.”
She shrugged. “My mom didn’t drive either,” she said. “We were living on food stamps in section eight housing. We couldn’t afford heat let alone driving lessons.”
Robbie opened another beer and handed it to her. She’d managed to nurse the last one for long enough, apparently it hadn’t gone unnoticed that she was sans drink. “But you said you went to college?”
She nodded. “My dad died when I was seventeen, he had a life insurance policy. My mom said it just made sense to use the money to get me an education.”
“Wow, that’s… cool.”
She smiled. “It is. She was a good mom.”
“You still close, do you see her a lot?”
She shook her head. “She lives in France now with an art professor who swept her off her feet. He’s twenty years older than her, but it works for them.”
“Cool,” Robbie said and turned to hit Ryan’s chest. “You hear this?”
“Hear what?” Ryan asked, sliding closer to his friend to focus on her. “She’s something to look at, huh?”
Tally wondered if he ever stopped flirting, but she wasn’t threatened by his words. The flirtation felt more polite than calculated.
“Yeah,” Robbie said, like he hadn’t really been listening to his friend. “Her mom lives in France.”
“Wow,” Ryan said, looking impressed. “France, huh? In Paris?”
“Burgundy,” she said.
“Cool, like the wine,” Robbie said.
She laughed. “Yes, like the wine.”
Max was behind her, talking to the other guys who were still focused on the TV. He leaned forward, sliding his hand over her shoulder, down her chest to inside her shirt, where he curved his hand around her breast and gave her a squeeze. It was such an absent move that she didn’t want to draw attention to it thinking that would make it a big deal. He was still talking to his friends and probably didn’t even notice that he’d done it. But it was making her heat in all the right… or rather, wrong… places.
Max reached for the chips with his empty hand, but she hadn’t finished opening out the packet because she’d been too busy talking.
Catching his hand before he accidently pushed all the chips out the bottom, Tally turned it over and scooped a few chips out onto his palm. There. No mess. Easy. His lips disappeared into her hair. He kissed her head then sat back to eat the chips she’d given him.
“You coming to The Lounge tonight?” Ryan asked her as she tore the edge of the pack from top to bottom in a makeshift plate for the chips.
She flattened the pack, leaving the chips on top. “The Lounge? No.”
“You should, it’ll be fun,” Robbie said. “Aaron’s band is starting to go places. They’re headlining after open mic night. Max probably told you, but it’s like their favorite venue. The Lounge gave them a chance when no one else would.”
“His band, Horizon, are big in the city now,” Ryan said. “They’re booked every week.”
“Lucky them,” she said, sipping her beer.
“Yeah, they worked hard,” Robbie said. “Do you play an instrument?”
“Some piano,” she said, “but I’m awful. A friend taught me a couple of years ago.”
“Mark plays piano,” Robbie said, pointing past Ryan. “Hey, Mark, you can play with Max’s girl.”
Mark stopped drinking to look at them. “Excuse me?” she asked and laughed at how naughty that sounded. “Play with me?”
Max sat up straight behind her. “What the fuck?” he asked, with enough anger in his voice that she felt the need to rest her head against his thigh for reassurance. He put a possessive hand on her hair. “Listen, you fuckers, she’s hands off. You get within three feet of her without my supervision and I’ll break your fucking face, get me?”
All the guys held up their hands or nodded as they conveyed their agreement. Great, why was Max putting his mark on her? They weren’t together, could never be together. Tally seemed to have forgotten why she was here.
As if the universe had prepared a perfectly timed reminder, her cell phone burst to life. The shrill ring was set on maximum; she had to be able to hear it at all times, no matter where she was or what she was doing. Crawling around Max’s leg, she unzipped her purse and pulled out the phone.
Clearing her throat before she answered, she used the support of Max’s leg to help her scramble to her feet. “Tally!” Teddy snapped before she’d said a word.
“Yes, sir,” she said, trying to use her body as a shield for the noise of the TV.
Max tapped h
er leg and she glanced down. He pointed over the back of the chair to the door in the corner. “Use the bedroom,” he whispered.
Climbing over his leg, she was surprised when he smacked her ass, but couldn’t say anything because her boss was talking in her ear. “Where are you? Have you got confirmation yet?”
“No,” she said, going into the bedroom. The bed was a mess and there were clothes strewn on the only chair in the room while a towel was on the floor, trailing out of the open bathroom door. “I’m working on it now.”
There was a complete weight rack in the corner next to a bench, it seemed that Max worked out right here in his bedroom. His whole life was in this apartment. Moving to the Stretton Estate was going to be a huge adjustment for him. There was a full gym and swimming pool at the estate, everything Max could ever want or need.
“This is a disappointment,” Teddy said. The coolness of his voice made her feel shame. “I don’t understand what is so difficult about this task. If you are incapable—”
“Incapable? No, sir, I… I’m working on it. I promise.”
“You’ve been saying that for days,” he said. She went over to sit on the other side of the bed. “I wasn’t sure you were up to this task. Perhaps I should move you to Kimmy’s detail permanently.”
“No,” she said because she couldn’t think of anything worse than trotting around after the perfect princess who spent her day lunching and melting plastic.
Tally could only spend so many hours watching Kimmy in the spa with her friends before she began to consider self-harm.
“Maybe I should send Ken,” he muttered.
“No!” she exclaimed, though he probably hadn’t expected her input. Silently cursing herself for raising her voice, she closed her eyes. “Mr. Flynn won’t respond to intimidation. He just won’t.”
“Apparently, he doesn’t respond to you either. This is your last chance, Miss Taylor. If my son does not attend dinner at the house tomorrow, I will reconsider your employment.”
“I understand,” she said because what else could she say.
He softened a little. “I like you, Miss Taylor, it would pain me to reprimand you. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes, sir.”
The line went dead, and she hung up her end. “Damn,” she bit out and squeezed the phone.
Max’s voice came from behind her, “Sounds like a real charmer.”
FOUR
Whirling around, Tally was surprised to see Max standing in front of the closed bedroom door. “How… how much of that did you hear?” she asked.
“I won’t respond to intimidation?” Her eyes closed, and she bit her lip again. Why was her day going from bad to worse? She just couldn’t catch a break. “Lie down.”
Why did his voice sound so soft? “What?” she asked, watching him walk to the end of the bed.
“Lie down, on the bed.”
“Why?” she asked, looking at the coiled comforter.
At his behest, she’d taken off her shoes in the living room and her thigh-highs too. It was nice, and unusual, to be able to wiggle her toes while there was daylight outside.
“Do you want me to go to this dinner or not?” he asked.
Yes, she did, and she was up for anything that might persuade him it was a good idea. Pushing her fists into the mattress, she slid back and lay down in the middle of the bed, her head sinking into his pillow.
“What now?” she asked.
To her horror, he began to loosen his jeans. “Close your eyes.”
“Mr. Flynn—”
He laughed. “I think it turns you on to call me that, Boss,” he said and when his jeans were open he bent to rest his hands on her ankles. “Go on, baby, close those eyes.”
If she did, she was consenting to anything he wanted to do. His hands slid up the front of her legs as he crawled onto the mattress between them. When his palms skimmed over her knees, she let her eyelids sink shut.
His hands were rough and entitled when they continued up her thighs, pushing her skirt out of the way so he could grip the lace of her panties. She lifted her hips expecting him to pull them down, instead he used two hands to rip the lace and her eyes opened in shock, no man had ever done that to her underwear before.
“Ah, ah,” he said. “Eyes closed.”
He was so confident in his control. All Tally could do was comply. Her heart was hammering and her stomach was alive with frantic butterflies, but her fingers curled into his bedsheet in enthralled anticipation. What was he going to do next?
She inhaled a terrified and excited squeak when his tongue skimmed through her folds over her clit. Directing her legs over his shoulders, Max sucked on her, flicking her arousal with the tip of his tongue in a quick motion, sending a vibration through her.
“Oh…” she said as he kissed and tasted her. Lapping her juice, he warmed her with his breath and circled her with his commanding tongue. His next clit kiss made her buck up and the pincer of pleasure formed by his lips made her pant. “Oh, God, Max.”
He rose, his whole body sliding up hers as he ascended to kiss her mouth. “That’s better, baby,” he murmured. “Say it again.”
“Max,” she exhaled, and her eyes fluttered open to see his just above hers.
Dark and drowsy, he was intent on her though his hand was busy unbuttoning her shirt. “Again.”
“Max,” she said in that same breathy voice, which was the best she could muster right now.
“Good girl.”
He unclipped the front of her bra and ducked down to suck one nipple into his mouth, then he kissed the other, teasing the very peak with the tip of his tongue.
“Max,” she whispered. “You feel amazing.” He mumbled in appreciation, his mouth enjoying her breasts while his hand went down to play with her clit. “But we can’t.”
“Why not?” he asked, sucking her nipple into a proud peak that he admired while she struggled to take a breath.
Glancing to the window, she saw sunshine. “It’s the middle of the day.”
He smiled and kissed her mouth, sharing with her the alluring taste of herself. Running her fingers over his face, Tally lost them in his hair until he lifted to speak.
“You’ve never had a little afternoon delight before?”
No, but she’d never been considered adventurous and she didn’t want to confess how boring she was, so she moved on to her next excuse.
“There is a gang of men I don’t know, right on the other side of that door.”
But as she nodded toward the door, he ducked down and kissed her pulse point. “Jealous fucking guys who’d give their left nut to be where I am right now.”
“Don’t use me as a trophy,” she said, but was too boneless to be offended.
Of their own volition, her hands somehow found the hem of his tee-shirt and as they pushed up, they took the garment with them.
He smiled and rose to pull off his shirt. She stopped breathing for a minute. Every muscle was defined, and the hard lines made her knees bend to stroke up his sides. God, she wanted to touch him, everywhere, so she did. Running her hands over his toned torso, she fingered a couple of scars and outlined the black tattoo on his right pec and the one sweeping around his ribs to his back.
“Up to spec?” he asked.
But she was lost in her fascination with him. “Huh?”
He scooped up her chin and came down to kiss her. “Your tongue’s hanging out, babe.”
“Sorry,” she whispered, but he picked up her hands and skimmed them around his ribs to his back and down again.
“You’ve got a lot to learn about guys if you think you have to apologize,” he said and let his tongue slip into her mouth. “You drool away, Boss… What you’ve got here is all yours.”
All hers. Was he a one-woman man, was that what they were doing? Were they starting something? And if they were, what the hell did that mean for their futures?
She understood what a culture shock he was going to get when he was enveloped
by the Stretton machine. When he was a part of it, Tally would have to take orders from him. She’d have to see him on dates with women she couldn’t even begin to compete with.
The realization should’ve made her push him away and explain. But he moved over her and slid both hands down her thighs to hook them up around him. Tally complied with his direction and locked her ankles behind him as he guided himself into her. On her back, it should’ve been easier, but his initial push didn’t get him far.
“Damnit,” she said, pissed at herself.
She had to relax and stop thinking.
He smiled and stroked his fingertips down her face from her temple to her jaw. “Look at me, baby.”
Her eyes rose to his and he eased forward, pushing without thrusting and although she had to pant through some of the sting, he didn’t let up and kept on going until he was all the way inside her; deep, snug, happy.
“Your pussy’s my favorite,” he murmured. “Of any I’ve been in, it’s definitely the best.”
Tally didn’t want to be thinking about who else he’d been with. But, it was flattering to see him breathe through clenched teeth, trying to control himself. She sensed his tension; that the thread of his restraint was pulled to its absolute limit.
Whimpering, a moan slipped from her and she had to squeeze her lips together to hold it in. She couldn’t stop wriggling, trying to move around the thick column occupying her intimate space. Her stomach clenched, and she rocked faster.
Max was braced on both hands and didn’t resist when she turned her head to seek one out. He kept himself propped on one taut arm as she pulled the other one to her. From the way his muscles worked, he thought she was going to put his hand on her breast. Instead, she pressed it to her mouth and squashed hers on top.
He laughed and slid it away to kiss her. “You make as much noise as you want to, Boss. Fuck those guys out there. Right here, in this bed, you’re at home. This is your castle, baby.”
On his next kiss, he pulled out and thrust back into her hard, pulling his mouth away from hers in time to make her squeal.
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