She might need more time to adjust to the idea of being under me. We’ll see how much time after I get her home with me.
I was already warming to the idea, even though I’d just pulled it out of my ass. Then again I’d made many a business decision in just that manner and I can’t see where it had led me wrong.
Yes, having her in my home would level the playing field I think, I don’t expect her to be this volatile outside of her element, and maybe then she would tell me just what the hell this big secret is that she was holding.
***
MAXIE
What the hell is going on around here anyway, has everyone lost their minds? And where does he get off telling everyone I should come to his home?
I was ready to read him up one side and down the other, but my idiot sister made the decision for me.
"Well if she gets to go then I think we should as well." So says governor tacky.
"That's just tacky Jenny, even for you, he said Maxie, not Maxie and the family pet; and I'm sure you don't want to follow me all the way to Texas, you might come up missing somewhere between here and the Alamo."
That started an avalanche of words flying over my head, but I noticed he wasn’t forwarding an invitation to anyone else.
That made the decision all the easier for me. I could tell from the looks on their faces that they were not in the least bit pleased and that just made the idea seem that much better.
“I guess I should go pack for my trip, I wonder what they wear in Texas.
Jackson darling do you think jeans and tanks will do it? Or do I need summer dresses? Maybe I’ll pack both. Oh this is just so exciting.”
I fluttered my lashes and gave my best impression of my nitwit sisters as I ignored my mother who looked like she was about to expire.
That kind of dampened the excitement a little; that look on her face. I knew that more than anything she wished it was one of her precious darlings that he’d invited.
It didn’t matter what my dad said after this, she had embarrassed me for the last time.
“I think you’ll be perfect in whatever you choose to wear love, an if you need more than you pack we can always go shopping.”
Okay, he was laying it on a little thick with the ‘love’ thing but at least it did the job, if the indrawn breaths were anything to go by.
JACKSON
Dinner was an experience to say the least. There was a sudden frost on one end of the table, while Firefox, her dad, her brother and I kept up a running commentary on any and everything.
I found out that Jonas was a racecar driver of some renown who travelled the world with his craft.
I also learned that he was very protective of my girl, and must admit to some jealousy there.
They shared a very easy relationship between them those two, one that seemed like there was no room for anyone else.
“Don’t worry about that son, those two have been thick as thieves since they were kids.
The kids use to bully him when he was younger because of his dad. He only has one arm you see, and the other kids thought it was fun to pick on him in the schoolyard.
Well one day, imp overheard them and when they surrounded him like they usually did, she ran into the melee and started throwing her fist.
Then she dragged him home to me to patch him up. She asked him why he never fought back and he told her that his dad had told him not to.
She called his dad some choice words and told him that was the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. They’ve been best buds ever since.”
That made it a little easier to take, but I wonder what made him think that I needed that reassurance?
Chapter 20
MAXIE
I guess I'll be going to Texas, if only to spite my mother and her whelps. Janet seems excited by the idea at least, and that's a good thing. After all, it's all about her and Michael's happiness right now. I wish the rest of my family would remember that.
After dinner, I rode back to the house with him, not like I had a choice. He pretty much took my arm and led me to his ride.
I would’ve decked him one, but he did the sweetest thing when Petra slithered her way in between us, as he was about to open the door for me.
“Sorry Ms. Pierson, but Maxie and I would prefer to be alone.” Hell hath no fury doesn’t begin to describe it. I thought the idiot was going to combust right there on the sidewalk, not to mention her face was red as a sunburnt baby’s ass.
I didn’t help matters any by laughing in her face, not very ladylike, but I have to get my kicks where I can.
Then when we left, instead of following the caravan back the way we’d come, he typed something into his GPS and we were off to who knows where.
“Where’re we going?”
“You’ll see.” He took my hand and lifted it to his lips for a brief kiss.
He didn’t say anything else as we headed for the shore, where he parked next to the boardwalk.
I started to get out of the car but his hand on my arm pulled me back in, and I found myself practically in his lap again, with his mouth devouring mine.
“Do you understand what’s going on here Firefox?” Why did he have to spoil it with talk? We were just about to get to the good part, where I felt my toes curl and my heart melt a little.
I sighed and fixed my top, which had ridden up from his hand around my middle. “What?”
“Have you ever had a man before?” My mouth dropped open almost to my chest.
“Hey, that’s none of your business.” My cheeks were on fire and thankfully the car was dark or I might’ve died of mortification otherwise.
Were my kisses that lacking? I tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let go. “If you find my kisses so inept why don’t you go fuck...”
“Uh-uh-uh. First of all that’s not what I was saying, and second of all no swearing at me. I’m not sure I like my woman sounding like a fishwife.”
“Your...who says I’m your anything?”
“I do, that’s why I asked you if you knew what was going on. I wasn’t going to, but I think it only fair to warn you, I mean to have you once I get you home. And I mean to have you for a long, long time.
For the first time in my life I was at a loss for words. I could do nothing but watch his face as it lowered to mine once more and then his mouth was covering mine.
“Relax baby; give me your tongue.” That’s easy for him to say. I was strung tighter than a bowstring and I was afraid I was going to embarrass myself by doing something gauche.
JACKSON
“You’re so soft Maxie.” I nibbled my way from her ear to her lips while holding her pressed to my chest. Her little heart was beating out of time, she was scared.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of baby, no matter what, I’ll take good care of you.”
“Who says I need you to?”
“I do, now stop fighting me and give me your mouth. You can go back to spitting fire once I’ve had my fill.”
I didn’t give her a chance to rip into me again, just pushed my tongue into her mouth until hers came out to play. Then I sucked it into my mouth to play the way I wanted to.
Once again I found myself calling a halt before things got out of hand, which they seemed to way too quickly with her.
“I better get you back, the others will be wondering where we are.”
I saw her shoulders slump at the mention of home and what awaited her there.
“Stop worrying, we’ll be gone before you know it, then you’ll have nothing but sunshine and laughter back on the old homestead.”
And then who knows, maybe your stay will turn into more.
MAXIE
Before long, I was in my room packing. I have to admit to a little excitement.
With my career, I travelled a lot, but never just for the sake of pleasure.
There was always a concert or a private performance at the end of my travels. This will be the first time I've gone somewhere just for the hell of it.
And now with this new development...here alone in my room, I could let my guard down, be honest with myself at least.
I was so tempted to give into him, to just let go and take something for myself. There was a time when...No, I’m not gonna think about that now. That was then, this is now.
That thinking brought me back to the whole reason why I’d been giving him such hell in the first place.
"You think you're so slick don't you young lady? Well I don't know what wicked wiles you've used to gain his attention, but I promise you, you won't be leaving this house."
Mom crept into my room behind me. I’d been too deep in thought to hear her and so she was right up on me by the time I noticed her.
I turned to look at the woman who was my mother, the one who had given birth to me, but for all intents and purposes, had given up her motherly rights long ago.
I’d never thought that she hated me outright, there was just some great divide between us since I was a child.
I’ve always made excuses for her behavior towards me. Those long lonely nights when I cried myself to sleep after yet another one of her dressing-downs.
Dad had picked up the slack; he’d seen the need and tried to fill the gap.
It had taken me a long time to stop wanting or needing her love, but I don’t think I’d ever really ever outgrown wanting her approval.
But now, with her latest actions, I’d finally kissed that dream goodbye. I was done; all the way done. That’s why my voice was so calm and detached when I finally answered her.
"I'm not sure why you hate me and I've pretty much outgrown caring about that, but I would suggest you get some help for your mental condition.
I'm a grown up, you can't stop me from doing anything at all. The only reason I'm here suffering you and your inferior daughters is because of dad and Janet.”
“Janet will be gone from here soon, so she doesn't need me to be a buffer anymore, and dad will just have to fend for himself.
But rules or no rules, I won't stay another minute under this roof with you; then again, maybe I wouldn't have to break dad's rules, maybe I will one day soon become a married woman." Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
“You’ve never been anything more than an embarrassment to me. Don’t think you can come running back here after he’s done with you, which we know is bound to happen.
Just let his dear mother spend one minute in your presence and she’d see that he sends you packing.”
It didn’t hurt, they were just words. They meant nothing, had no power over me.
I repeated those words over and over again in my head and my heart. There was such venom in the look she gave me that I was taken aback.
She really did hate me after all. I would’ve buckled under the pressure if not for the intrusion.
Chapter 21
JACKSON
I was about to rush into the room when I heard what was going on, but checked myself at the last minute. I made a quick call knowing exactly what would happen if I did.
It was probably not very nice what I was about to do, but neither was the way she kept treating her own daughter.
I’d been on my way to her to steal another kiss or two maybe, or just be near her, since it seems I couldn’t be away from her for too long without feeling her absence keenly.
The words I overheard left me feeling cold with rage. If not for Michael I would’ve let her have it, but the wedding was still pending and I didn’t want any friction for him, but as soon as it was over...
Then I heard her call her an embarrassment and that was the last fucking straw.
Is this lady for real? Unbelievable. No wonder the Firefox is the way she is. I opened the door and walked in as if I hadn't overheard the whole conversation.
"Maxie...oh, sorry Cynthia, I wasn't aware that you were here."
"Oh Mr. Collins, do you make it a habit of entering a lady's room without asking?" She gave me what I was becoming to think of as her sickening sweet smile.
"Not really no, but this is a matter of great importance. Maxie, my mother is on the phone, I made the mistake of calling to tell her I was bringing you home and as she's your biggest fan she's about to combust."
I passed her the phone, not missing the sour look on Cynthia's face. You have no idea lady, before I’m through you’ll eat every word you just said to her.
Since Cynthia was such a society maven, I'm sure she knew who Delilah Collins was, and the fact that most of American society would give their eyeteeth to have an audience with her.
It must really burn her to know that the highly esteemed Delilah Collins was all atwitter over her own seemingly under appreciated daughter.
I was even more sure now of my hasty offer to take her home with me. I had no doubt that in my home, she would find the acceptance and support that was so dismally lacking in her own.
Maxie seemed surprised at my intrusion and I could see from the sheen in her eyes that she was near breaking point.
I willed her with my eyes not to let one tear drop fall. I wasn’t sure I could restrain myself from strangling her mother if that happened.
I passed her the phone and ignored her mother. It looked like she’d been in the middle of packing so I started folding stuff while she talked with mom.
MAXIE
His mother sounded rather nice on the phone and it amazed me how much of a fan she was. I was starting to actually feel a little excited about this visit after all and not only because I was looking forward to more of his kisses.
I won’t look too closely at the fact that it was his company I was most looking forward to though.
I still had that one nagging question left to answer, but the more time I spent around him, the more I was growing to believe that there must’ve been some kind of misunderstanding.
"Aren't you a little old to be living at home with mommy and daddy?"
He grinned at me as I handed him back the phone; my mother had left in a huff after I'd started talking to Delilah on the phone.
Whatever, I really didn’t have anything more to say to her at this point anyway.
Jackson hadn’t said anything but I was hoping he hadn’t overheard our conversation, especially the part about me maybe getting married soon.
"It's a compound, we like living close together, kind of like what you do here, except without the battle stations."
"Very funny; so when exactly are we leaving?"
"In a hurry to be alone with me are you?"
I could feel myself blushing under his stare.
"Don't flatter yourself, I would just like to know how much time I have to get myself together." I could feel that stupid blush spreading across my face; drats.
"In that case, I think we'll be leaving sometime tomorrow, no sense in hanging around here any longer than that, since Janet and Michael are ready to go anyway."
"Fine, now will you excuse me? I wouldn't want anyone to think we were being inappropriate."
I could’ve backed away when he moved towards me, but I didn’t. Instead I held my breath as he took my face in his hands and brought his lips down to mine.
The kiss, like all the others before, made me weak in the knees and not a little light headed. My eyes remained closed for a good half a minute when he lifted his head away from me, and my pulse was still racing.
He ran his thumb across my bottom lip and said the strangest thing. “I think you just might be right after all.” He had the most perplexed look on his face.
“Right about what?”
Instead of an answer, he just brushed our lips together one last time before heading for the door. “I’ll tell you some other time.”
I went back to my packing lost in thought. If I had been wrong, what would that mean for us?
My heart beat like bird’s wings in my chest at the possibilities. Was he just toying with me? What if I started building sand castles in the sky and all he was after was a quick romp in the hay?
Then I’d just ha
ve to maim his ass or something, teach him to mess with the wrong one. With that settled in my head it was easy to go back to my daydreaming about what if.
Mommy dearest tried to corner me again later when I went downstairs, but I told her off and sent her packing. She was done.
I don't think she realized that the more she was against me going with Jackson, the more I wanted to go. Just knowing that it was sticking in her craw made the pending trip all the more exciting. Petty I know, but like I said, I get my kicks where I find them.
Miranda and Jenny were being their usual spiteful selves, but they knew to stay out of my way or so I thought, until I got back to my room after raiding the kitchen to find them laying in wait.
"OUT." They came towards me with their faces set; oh yeah, the last time they tried this trick I'd damn near scalped both their asses.
"We want to know...." Jenny started, but I pretty much didn't care what they wanted. I really wasn't in the mood for them right now; I'd had about all I was willing to take of their shit.
"You have two minutes to get the hell out of my room or else."
I squared my shoulders and cracked my knuckles.
It’s the only time I didn’t worry about my precious hands, when I was about to kick some ass.
The rest of the time, I had to be very careful, especially since the shits were insured for an obscene amount of money.
"We're not kids anymore Maxie, you can't take us both on. Now, you've taken everything else but you won't be taking Jackson Collins from me, no way. He doesn't even want you, if not for that stupid piano of yours...."
"Wanna bet?" I didn't even let the twit finish. I guess she was feeling left out since I'd already brained Jenny baby's dumb ass.
For someone with all that lip she sure was a sorry match; I'd barely got my hands around her throat before she started screaming bloody murder.
Kicking and Screaming Page 7