by Snow, Jenika
But when I was around Max, I didn’t want to be professional. I wanted to be wild and reckless. I wanted to give in to my desires.
He made this low, gruff sound from deep within his chest and then took another step closer. I could feel his body heat slamming into me, and little beads of sweat started dotting along my temple. My nipples hardened, no doubt pressing against the material of my dress.
His focus was back on my mouth, and I felt the air leave me violently. All I wanted to do was rise up on my toes and kiss him.
“I should ask if it’s okay to kiss you,” he groaned. “But I know I won’t be able to stop myself regardless.”
I felt his warm, spearmint-scented breath move along my lips.
“All I can taste is you, Zara, covering my tongue, making me hungry for more.”
I closed my eyes and moaned, not realizing I’d done just that. And before I could open them and beg him to kiss me, I felt his lips on mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth. His flavor exploded on my taste buds and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my chest to his as if by instinct. I couldn’t stop myself even if I’d wanted to, even if it was drilled into me that this was inappropriate right now.
“So. Fucking. Good.” Those words were grunted against my lips right before he kissed me harder.
He had both hands on the wall beside my head now, his body pressed to mine, and his very prominent, thick, hard cock pressed to my belly. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think. All I could do was stand there and let him give me everything he had.
And I was more than okay with that.
When he pulled away, I actually made a sound of disappointment, which had Max smiling slowly, as if he were pleased with himself.
“There’s nothing I want more than to keep kissing you, but I know you’re working.” He stared at my lips once more. “But I’ve been wanting to kiss you, to taste those pretty lips again this entire night.”
I rested my head back against the wall and just breathed in and out slowly. My body was on fire, and I knew it wouldn’t dim anytime soon.
“But I want to see you tonight, Zara. I have to.”
I swallowed, his flavor coating every single inch of my mouth. “Yes,” I said softly just as I heard the sound of someone approaching.
He smirked once more, took a step back, and just when I was about to say screw it and press my body against his again, two of the wait staff rounded the corner with linens in their hands.
I pushed away from the wall and smoothed my hands down my dress, trying to be every bit as professional as I was supposed to be, even though I felt anything but. I felt as if I had weak legs, as if a single kiss from Max could make everything disappear. And didn’t that sound pretty damn incredible?
“I should get back to work,” I said as I watched the wait staff walk by us, oblivious to our presence.
“Tonight, Zara. Tonight, I have to see you.”
I looked into his eyes and nodded. “I want to see you too.” Before I let myself get sucked into everything that was Max, I gave him a small smile and turned. But before I could take two steps, Max had his arm wrapped around my waist, my body against his, and had his lips back on mine.
The kiss was slow and passionate, and all too soon he pulled back. I was sagging against him, panting for breath.
“See? I just can’t get enough, Zara.”
Glad we were both on the same page.
And I didn’t know how I did it, but I found myself walking away, even though everything inside me told me to run right back into his arms.
I stepped back into the banquet hall, my knees weak, my legs feeling like Jell-O. My heart was racing and my mouth tingled. All I could feel was Max pressed against me, his lips on mine, his kiss like he’d been fucking me.
God, I wanted that with him, wanted him to be my first, to show me what it was like to be with a man.
Breathing out slowly, I forced myself to focus on work. That’s why I was here, even if the idea of finding a quiet spot alone with Max sounded a hell of a lot better.
And as I glanced around the room, I let the fact that everything had turned out so well wash through me. I smoothed my hands down my dress and made my way around the room, being a little social butterfly even though I was anything but. And in the back of my mind, I kept picturing being back in that hallway in Max’s arms.
Chapter Nine
Zara
I walked the last guest out, and when the door was shut, I exhaled slowly. I headed back into the banquet hall, going to do some last-minute paperwork, tally up some numbers, and then contact Max to see what he wanted to do tonight.
Which I hoped was me.
That thought had my face getting hot. But thankfully no one else was around, aside from the caterers cleaning up, and they weren’t paying us any attention. I looked at the clock on the wall, knowing someone from Max’s business would be coming in to clean up. I hoped he was there, so I’d be able to see him again.
The time I’d spent with Max had been some of the best of my life. I felt complete, enamored, that I was the center of someone’s world. I’d never felt that way, that to another person I was it for them. But Max sure as hell had those emotions filling me.
He said sweet endearments to me, whispered how much I meant to him, how I was his, and that had everything else fading.
I came back to reality and headed into the ballroom. I thought I was the only one left aside from the staff, but I noticed Richard speaking with a few of the caterers. Since the incident several weeks back, I’d seen a change in him, one for the better where I was concerned.
I felt he respected me now, maybe because I’d stood up for myself and he wasn’t used to that. Either way, it was nice.
I went over to the table that had all the guests’ information on it and started going through it, making a mental note on what I’d have to do come Monday.
I sensed someone approaching and felt my grin start to spread, assuming it was Max. But when I turned around, that smile faded.
“Hi,” Richard said and gave me a friendly smile.
“Hey,” I responded. He looked around, and I could tell he was a little bit nervous.
“I just wanted to say you did an incredible job with the event. Planning it, and the desserts...” He shook his head slowly, the corner of his mouth kicking up. “It was all incredible.”
“Thanks. It was a labor of love.”
We stood there for a few seconds, and this silence, this awkwardness started to bounce between us.
“Was there something else you needed?” I wasn’t trying to be rude, but it looked like he had something else to say.
Richard shoved his hands in his front pockets and cleared his throat. I felt one of my eyebrows lift up on its own as curiosity got the better of me.
“I was wondering if maybe, possibly, you’d be into grabbing a drink after this is all said and done.”
I felt my eyes widen a little bit in shock. I’d never imagined Richard would ask me out, especially not after our little incident back at the conference room.
I was just about to tell him thanks but no thanks, that I had someone in my life, but before I could say anything, I caught movement out the corner of my eye. I glanced to my left and saw Max storming over. He had this fierce look on his face, his gaze trained right on Richard.
Before I could say anything else, Max was standing right beside him, staring him down, his body bigger, an intimidating aura surrounding him.
Richard glanced to the side and stared when he clearly realized we weren’t alone. “Oh. Hey,” he said in a strained voice and took a step back, as if his body was telling him he needed to keep a wide berth right now.
Nobody said anything for long moments, and I didn’t know if I should introduce the two of them or just lead Max away while thanking Richard for the offer but was going to decline. That seemed like the less violent approach to take.
But before any of that could happen, Max had his arm wrapped around my
waist and pulled me into the hardness of his body. The breath left me from the impact, and instantly I melted against him. The independent part of me said that this caveman act was a no-go. But the woman who’d fallen for the man holding her said that this was perfection.
Richard didn’t say anything, just looked between us. I cleared my throat and figured I should probably say something, not just to make this less awkward, but to let Richard know without a doubt I was taken.
“Richard, this is my—”
“Boyfriend,” Max said immediately, his voice sounding even deeper, more authoritative.
I tried not to smirk at that. He was acting pretty possessive, but I wasn’t going to complain. I liked it. It made me feel feminine, wanted. It made me feel like I was irrevocably his.
Richard straightened, maybe to seem a little bit bigger than he was, and nodded. He was backing down gracefully. Thank God. I didn’t need them having a pissing contest.
“I just wanted to say everything was great again, Zara. Good job.”
I could see he was a little bit embarrassed, maybe not used to intimidation, but before I could say anything—if I could’ve thought of something to say—he was walking away.
This low, deep sound left Max and I turned to face him, lifting a brow. “What was that about?” I was only teasing, of course. I wasn’t mad, wasn’t going to scold him. I actually really liked he’d staked his claim on me like that, gone all barbaric simply because Richard had talked to me and innocently asked me out.
“What?” Max looked all serious as he stared down at me. “He was making a move on you. I wasn’t about to let that happen.” He pulled me in close to his body again and tipped my head back with his thumb and finger on my chin. “You’re mine, Zara. Never forget that.”
Oh, I sure as hell wouldn’t.
Before I knew what was happening, Max kissed me. But it was short, a taste, just a little sample.
“You have things to wrap up?” His voice was so deep and husky I felt chills along my body.
I nodded but didn’t want to move.
I noticed the last of the people were leaving, Richard included. There were just a few of the event staff hanging around, but it wasn’t too long before I was left alone, Max still beside me, as if he was afraid I’d run off or get taken.
The air seemed heavy and thick, a little bit heated. I wiped my hands on my dress, my palms suddenly sweaty. Why was I so nervous? It wasn’t like I hadn’t been alone with Max before. But as I looked at him, the expression he gave me was one of primitive, territorial need.
“I should get back to work,” I whispered, but that was the last thing I wanted to do. It took all my strength to walk away from him, and once I was in the kitchen, I exhaled slowly and closed my eyes.
The sound of the door behind me opening and closing had my heart jumping in my chest. I turned and faced him, not knowing what was about to happen, but in this moment, I was just running on instinct.
“I want you,” he whispered harshly.
Max stepped closer, and I felt the air leave my lungs. He grabbed my free hand, the tiny hairs on my arms standing on end from that small touch.
“You want me too, baby?”
God, why couldn’t I breathe?
He liked hearing me say it, even if he knew how much I wanted this... him.
I nodded, unable to find my voice.
I was ready for anything and everything Max had to give.
Chapter Ten
Zara
He moved an inch closer and I couldn’t breathe as he took a piece of my hair and started rubbing it between his fingers. He slowly lifted his gaze and stared into my eyes.
“Max?” I whispered his name, not knowing where this was going, although I knew where I’d like it to head.
He didn’t answer me right away, and I swore my heart stopped beating as I stared at his face, as I took in the sight of the dark scruff along his jaw. I didn’t know how long we stood there, neither of us speaking, but no words really needing to be said.
“Max,” I said once more.
And then he leaned closer to me. “Zara.”
My name was a husky growl from his lips. My pussy clenched, my nipples hardened, and I became unbelievably wet.
All because he said my name.
My heart thundered harder as I watched him lower his head.
Oh, God. This is really happening.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. This was what I’d wanted since I first saw him standing behind that counter all those months ago. I’d fantasized about him, touched myself as I thought about it being his fingers.
His lips were now a hairsbreadth away from mine, and the smell of him swirled around me, intoxicating me.
“Whenever I see you, I can’t stop staring at your mouth,” he said, so close to my lips I swore I could feel his brushing against them. He lifted his hand and touched my bottom lip, stroking it, as if mesmerized. “And then I couldn’t help but imagine what it would feel like to kiss you, stroke you, to have my mouth on every part of your body.”
I sucked in a deep breath. I was so wet my clit throbbed in time with my heart beating. “What else did you think about when you stared at my mouth?” Oh, God. Did I actually ask that out loud?
He exhaled slowly, roughly. “I think about how I can’t stop where you’re concerned, how I can’t stay away even if you didn’t want me.” He looked into my eyes. “I know I’d chase you, make you see we belong together.”
I sucked in a breath at his words.
“I’m not going to stop when it comes to you, Zara. I’ve wanted you for too long, baby.”
I couldn’t stop the moan that left me.
“Do you want me to stop?” His voice was this low, husky purr.
I shook my head instantly.
Max dipped his gaze to my lips and I involuntarily licked them.
He slid his hand down my arm, over my belly, and between my legs before I could even comprehend what he was doing. The move was so sudden, so powerful, that I actually found myself pressing down on his palm, seeking more pressure.
“That’s it,” he groaned, leaning a little closer to my mouth until I felt his lips rub along mine. He cupped my pussy, pushing the material of my dress up. “Take the panties off. Then I can really feel you.”
He removed his hand only long enough for me to do just that. When the panties were off, he grabbed them, brought them to his nose to inhale deeply, and then shoved them in his pants pocket.
I swallowed, my throat feeling so dry and tight. He had his hand pressed right to my pussy once more, and the lack of underwear had the sensitivity increasing tenfold.
And then Max slid his hand under my dress and touched my bare pussy. My toes curled and a gasp left me. His fingers were thick, big, and long, and his skin so hot.
“What if someone sees us?” I whispered, very aware that even though everyone had left the event, there might be a straggler here or there. He lowered his mouth to my neck and started kissing and licking my skin. I closed my eyes and moaned.
“Let them see. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
And before I knew what was happening, he was no longer touching my pussy, but instead had both hands around my waist and lifted me onto the stainless-steel table in the center of the room. There was only a single light on, that low glow illuminating right above us, casting shadows and light.
Max moved his body between my legs and I let him in, spreading them wide so he could take up residence.
“I want you so fucking bad.” He took possession of my mouth again in a searing kiss. His tongue was like silk against mine, demanding, probing, dominating.
“Touch me again,” I begged against his lips.
He didn’t make me ask twice. He slipped his fingers between my thighs, and his touch was like fire, scorching me, inflaming me, making me feel like I was burning alive. He used his thumb to rub circles against my throbbing clit while he continued to kiss me. His lips on mine became urgent, deman
ding, as if he were losing control.
He moved his other hand over my dress-covered breast and cupped the mound. My nipples were hard, tingling, pressing against the material, wanting his touch and mouth. And I knew he could feel it through the thin, silky material of my dress.
“More,” I cried out.
He pinched the turgid peak between his thumb and forefinger, and I gasped against his mouth.
“Tell me how good it feels,” he murmured against my lips as he continued to pull at the hard bud.
“It’s so good. So good, Max.”
“Tell me what else you want me to do to you.” He had his mouth on my throat now, his breathing hard pants against my flesh.
“I want you to touch me, kiss me. I want to feel you pushing into me, taking my virginity.”
He stopped kissing my neck and pulled back, the shock on his face clear. God, had I just ruined this? Why did I have to tell him that? He didn’t move for long seconds, but then finally he leaned his forehead against mine and exhaled roughly.
“A virgin,” he whispered.
“Is that a deal breaker?” My voice shook as I asked.
He pulled back and shook his head. With his hand still on my pussy, I felt him once again stroke his fingers through my folds, drawing out a cry of pleasure from me. And all the while, he kept staring right in my face.
Max pulled his fingers out from between my legs, held the digits up between us so I could see how glossy they were, and then surprised me by bringing them to his mouth. He sucked all that cream off, my mouth parting as I watched. He shook his head once more and removed his fingers, groaning softly.
“Knowing you’re untouched, that I’ll be the only man who will ever know how you taste, feel, fucking cry out my name as I’m deep inside you, makes me even more possessive of you, baby.”
I sucked in a breath. “So you want me still?”
He closed his eyes and grunted. “Zara, baby girl, it means you are irrevocably mine. For good.” He slammed his mouth down on mine and I took all of it, wanted more.