“Aren’t you even going to look at the ring?” Max teased.
“If I look at it, this becomes real. It’s no longer a fantasy. I hoped, but never dreamed, it would come to this.”
“What were you expecting to happen?”
“I figured we’d have a great couple of months before my hours pissed you off and you’d spend more time here at Couture.”
“Honey, it’s no fun without you.”
“You’d be working,” she said.
“If you remember, your sister put me on leave. That’s one step out the door.”
“Yeah, but I have a bet with her that Istvahn and Nefertiti are in love.”
“What?” Max pulled back to look at her. “Are you crazy? They’re more like brother and sister.”
“Seriously, what planet are you from?”
“What’s the bet?”
“If I win, you get your job back.”
“What happens if you lose?”
“I have to host Christmas and Thanksgiving, and …” Mallory muttered the last part.
“Repeat that. After the holiday stuff.”
“I have to belly dance Friday nights at Shira’s.”
“How are you going to get off work?”
“I’m not planning on losing.”
“How can you possibly prove that they’re in love?” Max went for the champagne and refilled their glasses.
Mallory peeked into the box. It was an emerald-cut yellow diamond. She gasped and snapped it shut. “How did you … This must have cost …”
Max raised an eyebrow and handed her the flute glass. “I came into some money recently.” He took the ring out of the box. “Just try it on.”
“If I put it on,” she said, “I’m never taking it off.” She extended her finger.
He slipped it on. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a hell yes,” she said. “I hope you don’t regret it.”
“I hope you don’t.”
“How could I?” she said.
“There are always going to be women like Misty—providing you win this crazy bet and I come back here. Which is a big if. I think Istvahn is asexual.”
“A sexual what?”
“And there’s a chance that no one is going to want my fitness gear that I busted my ass putting together. You might resent the fact that I’m not what I was when you met me.”
“Kind? Sexy? Crazy about me?”
“Definitely the last part. None of that is going to change.”
“We can make this work,” she said, realizing she was convincing herself as well as him.
“That’s what I’ve been telling you.”
“We’re not going to be able to spend a lot of time together. With my schedule, I’ll barely be home.”
“So I’ll come and bring you dinner or a midnight snack.”
Mallory shook her head and held on to his hand. It was getting closer to midnight. “I just figured you’d take the opportunity to hang out home or here.”
“I want to be with you, Mallory. That’s why I’m marrying you. If all I wanted was sex and an apartment, I wouldn’t have bought you a diamond. You like it, don’t you?”
“It’s fantastic.” She flexed her fingers to see it sparkle. “It’s perfect. It’s so different from my last one—just like you. And I’m pretty sure you’re not going to sell it for drugs.”
“I am not David,” he said.
“I know. That’s why I’m wearing your ring and not his.”
“Everything is going to be okay,” he said.
“Is it? Or have I just dragged you into my messed-up world?”
“You didn’t drag me anywhere.” He dipped his head down and kissed her.
He tasted like champagne and hope. Mallory closed her eyes and felt herself let go. His mouth was soft and warm. Their lips slid over each other’s with a growing eagerness. Max’s hand smoothed down to her backside. He pressed her tight against him. She felt the hardness through his suit pants and her nipples tightened in response. Pulling up her dress, he smoothed his hand over her bare cheeks.
“You remembered.” He lifted his mouth from hers to smile at her.
“I didn’t want to be punished.”
“That’s a shame. I’d like to turn your ass as red as your dress.”
“Not tonight,” she said. “I’m feeling a little fragile.” But the thought of him manhandling her shot a bolt of desire through her.
“We can still go slow.”
“After all we’ve done?”
“If I had to keep topping the last sexual escapade, it would get weird and kinky really fast.”
Mallory shimmied out of the dress. “I want you to make me come at the stroke of midnight.” She indicated the clock, which now read 11:55 p.m. “But you have to keep the tuxedo on.”
“In that case,” he said, reaching inside the ice bucket for a cube, “I’m going to have to up my game a bit.”
He traced her shocked mouth with the ice cube before popping it inside. “Suck on that.”
“I’d rather suck on you,” she said, swishing the ice around her mouth.
“No, this is your deal. I’m going to do my best to give you what you want.” He took another ice cube and trailed it over her neck in small circles. Leaning in to suck the cold wetness on her throat, Max moved the ice cube to her nipple.
Cold pleasure faded to heat at Max’s insistent mouth. But the circle on her nipple made her ache for him to replace the freeze with the burn of his kiss. The ice cube melted by the time he reached her belly button. He released her neck to get another.
“Am I going to have a hickey?” she asked, her eyes half closed with passion.
When he was back within reach, she unbuttoned his trousers as he used both hands to circle her nipples with wet, chilly ice.
“I thought you wanted me fully dressed.”
“How can you fuck me when you have your pants on?”
“You said make you come, and I still have two minutes.”
“Better hurry,” she breathed, pulling him free from his pants.
“Never.”
His mouth clamped on her nipple as he reached down to press the ice cube inside her.
“Oh!” she cried as it disintegrated immediately in her wet heat. But not before he touched her clit with the icy cube. “That’s cold.”
His fingers worked her bud and he switched to her other nipple. Mallory held his thick member in her hand as the clock counted down. He grazed his teeth when she started to pump him with jerky eager movements.
“Want something?” he asked, letting her caress him.
“You.”
He kissed down to her stomach. “How am I doing?”
“One minute,” she said.
He sank to his knees in front of her. “Don’t ever say I didn’t get down on one knee to propose.”
“I think I’ll leave this part out of the engagement story.”
Max eased between her legs and wasted no time licking her pulsing heat. At her groan, he pulled her thigh over his shoulder. She had to grab his head to keep from falling. She kept her hands there to guide him.
“Yes,” she sighed. Thirty seconds.
His tongue was darting at a mad pace. The flickering sound of his mouth in her most sensitive spot was loud over the jazz. At fifteen seconds, he pushed two fingers inside her and glided them in and out. Her thighs shook. Mallory went up on tiptoes.
“I don’t believe this,” she gasped.
“Count,” he growled, pressing a third finger inside her.
“T-ten.”
His mouth pressed tight inside her.
“Nine,” she shrieked.
Quivers shook her and her hands tangled in his hair as her hips arched to take the quick jabs of his fingers.
“Want you.”
His tongue was circling her clit, not giving her a chance to recover from the soft ministrations that belied the harsh pumping of his fingers.
“Seven. Shit. Six. Ah.
”
Her knees buckled as it hit her. Wetness coated his fingers and his tongue. He clamped her ass when she moved away. Max slid his fingers out and eased her to the floor.
“Now!” she cried, wrapping her legs around him as he maneuvered his cock inside her.
“Happy New Year!” the crowd cried and fireworks went off.
“Auld Lang Syne” played as Max pounded into her. She felt the cold floor under her shoulder blades as he pressed her legs over her head.
Deeper than she thought she could take him, Mallory moaned. Max grunted in response and drilled into her fast. The slapping of his body against hers made her breasts rub against her thighs.
“Yes,” he said, rolling his hips.
“Please,” she begged, wanting to reach that pinnacle again.
His harsh breathing and relentless pounding was bringing her so close. This. This is what a New Year’s fucking should be like. It hit her with the force of a freight train. She wasn’t sure if the fireworks were on the screen or in her head.
“Mallory,” he roared and came shuddering on top of her. Easing her legs down to his hips, he rocked her until she clenched around him. The lights of Times Square were emblazoned on the inside of her eyelids.
No, this is what a New Year’s Life was like.
Chapter Twenty-three
They stumbled out of the dojo together, dressed again in normal clothes, arms wrapped around each other. Mallory was disoriented. It was no longer midnight. It was barely three in the afternoon. While she and Max cuddled and drank champagne, someone was blowing up her phone. There were messages flashing on the screen. Something had happened. Before she could work up the nerve to listen to them, they ran into Nefertiti, who was coming in. She had relaxed her hair so it was no longer piled on top of her head like an Egyptian queen. It fell in soft curls down her bare shoulders. She wore a leather bustier and a long skirt. Her jacket was hooked over one finger.
“How was your date?” Max asked.
“It was great,” she said. “It was nice to have lunch with someone who hung on my every word.”
“So why are you back so early?” he said.
“No need to rush things.”
“She got what she wanted from the sergeant,” Istvahn said from behind them.
Damn secret doors.
Nefertiti pouted playfully. “Not everything.”
A muscle worked in Istvahn’s jaw.
“Did you find out anything about David’s case?” Mallory said.
She shook her head. “He told me David threw up in the back of the squad car and pissed himself.”
“Shut the front door!” Mallory exclaimed.
“He also said you probably don’t have to worry much about David after tonight.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it, but that’s still good news,” Mallory said.
“I’m going to check if the realtor sent the paperwork for your outreach center. I’d tell you to have a good night, but it looks like you already did.” She smiled at them, eye-fucked Istvahn, and walked toward her office.
Istvahn waited a few moments and then followed.
“See, see!” Mallory whispered.
“Stay out of it,” Max said and guided her in the opposite direction.
“She looked smoking hot!”
“I don’t ogle other women when I’m with you.”
“Good answer.” Mallory glanced at her phone. “I’ve got a few messages. Want to grab dinner somewhere?”
“I don’t feel like going out. Let’s eat up in my room while I pack.”
“I’ll meet you up there. But don’t start packing yet. I’m going to win this bet.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” He kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Mallory said, suddenly breathless again.
“See you.”
Mallory caught sight of Colleen in one of the boardrooms. She tapped on the door to get her attention. Colleen looked up from her computer.
“Oh, sorry,” Mallory said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Colleen looked at her watch. “That’s all right. I have an appointment in half an hour.”
“Why aren’t you working in your office?”
She closed her laptop with a frown. “I’m avoiding someone. What have you been up to?”
“Uh …”
“Never mind,” Colleen smirked. “Where is Wonder Boy?”
“He went upstairs. I wanted to check my messages.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” The first call was from their mother.
“Oh jeez, listen to this,” Mallory said and put it on speaker.
“Mallory, you haven’t called me in weeks. What is going on? Your father and I are worried about you. We think you should go into hiding. Like the Witness Protection Program. You could come back to Nevada and get lost in the crowds of people. I’m sure the casinos are hiring.”
“I always thought you’d make a good blackjack dealer,” Colleen deadpanned.
“I can’t count that fast,” Mallory said and put the phone to her ear to listen to her next message. It was work, begging her to come back early tomorrow. Delete. The next message was from David. She listened to it and her throat caught. Glancing at Colleen, she started the message over and put it on speakerphone.
“Hey, Mallory. This is goodbye. I feel numb. I feel ashamed. And I am in so much pain all I want to do is snort a line and fade away on the bliss. But I’m going into rehab instead, in another state. I won’t be back. Ever. I know you’ve moved on. I’m not happy for you. You were a part of my life that I don’t even remember anymore. I don’t think I was ever happy with you.”
“Asshole,” Colleen bit off.
“So, have a nice life. Maybe in a few years we can get together for a few beers. We could meet up in Vegas or something.”
“What’s with Vegas tonight?” Colleen said.
“I am sorry I hit you. That’s not me. I hope you can forgive me. ’Bye.”
“It’s always about him,” Colleen said, standing up and moving over to her. “Are you okay?”
Mallory nodded. “I am. I really am.” There was the sound of a door closing in her head.
“That’s a nice rock on your finger.” Colleen twisted Mallory’s hand to get a better look at it. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yeah. It’s going to be a long engagement, though.”
“Let’s celebrate,” Colleen said, hugging her sister. “A nice big dinner.”
“No more champagne. I need to eat something first.”
“Lobsters and steak sound good?”
“Throw in a twice-baked potato and asparagus and I’m all yours.”
“You’re not my type, but I think I can scrounge that up. Let me make reservations. How does eight o’clock sound?” Colleen typed instructions into her phone.
“Let’s invite Istvahn and Nefertiti, too.”
“She’s out today.”
“She just got back. She’s in the office.”
“That was quick,” Colleen said. “I told her to take the day off. Maybe she’s going out to dinner with the sergeant.”
“I don’t think so. Let’s go ask her in person,” Mallory said, batting Colleen’s phone.
“Fine. I should dock my laptop to recharge it anyway.” Colleen gathered up her things and they walked back to her office. “So when’s the wedding?”
“He just proposed a half hour ago.”
“If you have it here, I’ll give you a good deal if you let me use pictures to promote the wedding package I’m thinking of putting together.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m even thinking of getting ordained so I can perform the ceremonies myself.”
“I’m trying to picture it and I’m getting a naughty nun outfit caught in my head. I need brain bleach.”
“Don’t blame me for your perverted thoughts.” Colleen pushed open the door of her office. Nefertiti and Istvahn were leaning up agains
t Nefertiti’s desk, kissing as if breathing weren’t an option. Her arms were wrapped around his broad chest under his jacket. Istvahn’s hands were tangled in her hair. He opened one eye when they walked in.
“Son of a bitch,” Colleen said.
Epilogue
“She looks great up there,” Mallory said, holding Max’s hand. They were hidden in the crowd, watching the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Spencer Dubois Women’s Center. It was named after Max’s mom and David and Chrissie’s.
“Her feet must be killing her in those stilettos. You could puncture someone’s lung with one of those heels,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s what they meant by killer shoes.”
Max grinned. “I don’t know—the daggers she’s glaring at Chase Fairwood would be lethal if he noticed.”
The football player was also up on the dais, waving to the crowd and occasionally squatting down to sign a ball or an autograph.
“It’s not like she could have refused his donation,” Mallory said. “It was almost enough to staff us for a year.”
“At least she doesn’t have to worry that he’s after her money.”
“I wonder what he is after.”
“What do you think?” Max hugged her into his side.
“I think he’d better not break her heart or I’m going to bust his nose this time.”
“Hey now, don’t be messing with my would-be sponsor.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to ask him to model your fitness gear. Does he look like a model to you?”
Max shrugged. “All those women—including your sister—can’t be wrong. Besides, no one is remotely interested in taking a chance on a no-name designer. And I really thought I had a chance in the tourist spots.”
“Don’t let it get you down. You’ll get your shot. Just don’t put all your hopes in him. I know from experience how dangerous that is.”
“He’s not going to break my heart. And I’ve got to try.”
“Speaking of broken hearts …” Mallory nodded toward Nefertiti, who stood on the dais next to Colleen in a crisp white suit and her own pair of killer heels. Istvahn was on the ground in front of the stage with two of his men and his back firmly to the women. Wide sunglasses covered both their faces, but Mallory got the impression that Nefertiti was glaring a hole in the back of Istvahn’s head. “I know he’s doing his job, but he’s been keeping her at arm’s length.”
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