“This has nothing to do with your honeymoon, does it?” Vicki teased. “I’ve been dying to see it, so I’m game.”
“And I just go wherever you and Sassypants tell me I have to go!” Tom winked at Vicki. “Even if I have to sit through that Sunset Boulevard a third time…”
Elbow to his ribs, Vicki admonished, “Thomas Kirk, that’s not nice…”
“I’m teasing, Doc,” Tom said. “That guy who stars in it is actually pretty good. Maxie used to have a crush on him when she was younger…”
“Oh, Tom…” Drew groaned and clutched his stomach.
The ladies took over the table duty while the gentlemen continued their banter all the way up the stairs. With the dishwasher loaded, Maxine trudged along with Vicki, escorting her to the guest room where Tom had snuggled up for a nap, and then shuffled down the hall to the master suite.
Without a single word, Maxine locked their bedroom door. As if to taunt her, Drew wore nothing but his boxer briefs as he huddled up in bed with the kittens. She could see the daring glances he shot her way, all the while pretending to be engrossed in his Naughty Sassy Maxine app.
This game of pre-wedding chastity, however, did not sit well with Maxine.
With each step, she removed an item of clothing, starting with her hot pink t-shirt, followed by the lacey white La Perla bra. She stopped for a moment to unzip her jeans and to kick them from her legs, then took another step before she tossed the silky matching panties on the floor.
I see you, Mack. You're watching me from the corner of your eye...
Slithering into bed, Maxine curled up right next to Drew, leaning her head against his bare chest.
“Whatcha doing, Kind Sir?”
Refusing to look at her, he said with almost a haughty air of nonchalance, “Business.”
“Business...” Maxine repeated, daring to slip her hand into the waistband of his boxers. Hard. Yes! I've so broken your Vow of Chastity, Mack! “Hmmm...think I've got some to take care of, too.”
Over his shorts, he caught her, stilling Maxine as she gripped him in her tiny little hand.
“First of all,” he began, nodding toward the cats, “not in front of the babies...”
“They'll never...” she squeezed him not so delicately “...ever...know...”
When Drew took his hand away, Maxine almost thought she'd won and continued on with her play, pulling at the smooth length of him as he returned his attention to his phone.
“So, you wanna do some—ahem...business—together right now?” Maxine continued to tease, shimmying against him and rubbing her taut nipples against his chest.
“No, Maxine, I have more important things to attend right now,” he said. “Like updating your Misdemeanor Log, for example.”
“I know I can only play with your cock for so long before you...blow your stack...”
In one fluid move, he'd managed to turn her on her back and pin her wrists above her head with one hand, while still holding his phone with the other.
His eyes were playful and his lips were smiling as he looked down at her from above. “I shall punish you for this while we're on our honeymoon—for tempting me and for leaving your clothes all over the floor,” he promised. “However, we shall not engage in any sort of play—vanilla or otherwise—before our wedding night. Second…your father is in the next room!”
In a stage whisper, she mocked him. “I can be really quiet, Kind Sir…”
“No sex until I’ve carried you over the threshold on our wedding night,” he spat, showering her with his words. “Are we clear, Naughty Sassy Maxine?”
Her entire body wiggled against him as laughter rolled gently from her throat. “You love Naughty Sassy Maxine...” she taunted, nudging her hips upward toward his. “And you'll never make it to Sunday morning...”
“Count the seconds, little one...” he said. “And just watch me. I wouldn't wager any bets if I were you...”
“I'll bet you a blowjob in a seedy back alley in Paris...”
Drew’s eyes narrowed as his grin broadened. With the ante upped, Drew always had to play.
“I'll take that bet,” Drew said, “and when you lose, I'll get my blowjob.”
“Ouch!” Maxine exclaimed, defeated and thrilled all at the same time. “You play so dirty.”
“And that's how you like it, Maxine,” he reminded her. “So very filthy.”
Releasing her, he eased himself back over to his side of the bed, and purposely returned his attention to his phone.
With a somewhat mischievous smile, Maxine pulled the covers over herself and settled back on her own stack of pillows, wanting—as always—so much more.
“Yes...I...do, Kind Sir,” Maxine agreed.
“Maxine?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Get out of bed and come over to my side.”
“Losing!”
“Excuse me?”
“Losing my heart over you…Sir…” she said as she stepped up beside Drew’s nightstand.
“Turn around.”
Spinning joyously, she did just as Drew told her…then felt the sudden crack of the back of his hand right over her bare ass. Reaching between her legs, she grabbed herself as if she had to pee. This game wasn’t going to last much longer.
“No fair—teasing me, Sir!”
“I don’t always play fair, little one.”
As she looked over her shoulder, her lips curled into a full pout. “Can I have another, please, Sir?”
Pointing toward the bathroom, Drew ordered, “Go get your shower! We have theater tickets tonight,” he reminded her not so gently. “And no playing with yourself in there! I’ll be checking on you…”
And just like the good girl that she tried to be sometimes, Maxine’s feet dashed across the floor in obedience, as she licked her lips all the while, fantasizing over this bet!
Chapter Nine
“Somebody's not lookin' too swift this morning,” Adam called out from his post on the front steps of Maison McKenzie late the following Wednesday morning. Like a child, he'd been waiting outside, so anxious for his brother's arrival. “Little too much booze?”
Maxine tugged at Drew's shirt as he moved to climb out of the Mustang.
“In sickness...and in health...and in Adam McKenzie...”
The agony that left Drew's throat rumbled as he made his way to the other vehicle parked behind them. With all of their gowns and clothes and suitcases for the honeymoon, they’d rented a super-sized SUV for Lou to drive Tom, Vicki and the cats to the Hamptons. Packing alone had been a daunting task. Suddenly Maxine began to fret that they'd forgotten something.
Slowly, Adam made his way over to offer some help. Drew was indeed a bit hung-over from the previous day. He’d arranged a meeting with his agent, Tom and the producer about of that treehouse television show.
Tom couldn’t be anyone but himself, and he’d charmed the hell out of that young man who hoped to bring his television dreams to life. He wasn’t much older than Maxine, but after touring the world on his trust fund, he had returned to the States with a new appreciation for abodes amidst the arbor. He’d spent time in some luxury treehouses in Bali, Costa Rica, and other exotic locales, and he wanted to bring that fantasy back home to television viewers across America.
After much posturing, Tom walked away with quite a lucrative deal thanks to the negotiation skills of Rob Chesterfield. Rob played hardball, just as he always did for Drew, and Tom would begin filming the pilot season over the summer.
Naturally, that celebration found its way to Vicki and Maxine, who met them at Drew’s favorite Irish pub in the Village. Too many drinks were had, and now Drew bore the brunt of their fest in the form of a third-degree hangover. He never wanted to see a shot of Bushmills again.
Of course, Adam couldn’t resist the urge to pull the Sunset Boulevard baseball cap down over his big brother's bloodshot eyes. “You haven’t been this sick since Paddy’s Day, Mack.”
“Tell you what, lit
tle brother,” Drew began. “Know that new Jaguar F that you’ve been salivating over but have been too cheap to buy for yourself?”
“Oh, yes…” Adam said, with almost a sexual need rising in his voice.
“If you can behave your ass—and I mean to the specifications of myself, my bride and our parents—that car shall be yours, Cheese Puff,” Drew offered. “But I mean it, Adam. No fucking around this week. I’m trying to get married here.”
“Yeah, well, thanks to me, Dr. Drew, your asses are flying to France on Sunday,” Adam reminded him.
“Hey, Mack…he’s got a point!” Lou wasn’t about to lose his own vacation in Italy because of some stupid squabble between these two overgrown frat boys.
“Lou, I’ll take care of you,” Adam assured him. “But Brother Dearest here might be scrambling for two last-minute coach seats on Sunday. And it’s April. Everyone wants to see Paris in the spring.”
Stepping between the two of them, Maxine never felt so small in her life. “Easy, you two. Adam, take the wager. And Drew…my father is here…”
“That he is—with the lovely Victoria!” Adam continued on to greet their guests. “How are my two favorite Pittsburghers doing this fine day?”
“Here we go,” Drew muttered with a hiss of breath flapping his lips. “Let the Adam McKenzie Wedding War finally commence….”
“I was raised with manners,” Adam explained to Tom and Vicki as he leered toward Drew. “Our parents weren't so meticulous with that butthead over there...”
Pointing toward the open hatch of the SUV, Drew ignored his brother's comment. “Kittens to Maxine's room. With the litter box. Set that up in her bathroom. And make sure you wait there until they recognize where you've placed their potty, please. And don't forget to plug in the automatic feeder and water fountain...”
“You're lucky I like Penelope here,” Adam sputtered as he reached in for the crate. “Or I'd put that litterbox right on her bed!”
“Adam!” Maxine admonished. “Enough...”
“How I love thee, let me count the ways,” Drew said, throwing his arm around her and leading their entire party toward the house. “Come, everyone. Time to socialize with the better part of my family...”
“You know,” Tom whispered to Vicki, “I sometimes worry that my grandchildren will inherit Adam’s genes...”
Vicki just snickered. “Oh, you’re all just a bunch of bad boys here…”
However, the show was only beginning—and Maxine felt as if the overture hadn’t even yet played.
“Oh, Mags, stop it already!” Declan's voice boomed as Drew opened the front door. “You promised you wouldn't cry until Saturday...”
Hurrying toward Drew and Maxine with her arms open wide, Maggie didn’t bother to try to hide her tears. “My little boy...and my sweet daughter-in-law...”
“Hats off in the house, son,” Declan said, swiping the cap from Drew's head.
“Mom…” Drew whispered and pulled her tight as he closed his eyes. That single word was more precious than ever. “Mom…”
“Guess you were all celebrating last night,” Declan elbowed Tom. “Congratulations, Tom! Are you excited?”
“I have no idea what to make of all this yet,” Tom admitted, “but Drew got it done for me. How are ya, Dec?”
“Next to Drew coming home and Adam’s birth—yeah, I just said that—I think this is one of the happiest weeks of my life,” Declan said with a true smile. “Vicki, we’re glad to see you here, too. Welcome to the Hamptons.”
“Thank you—and Maggie—for being such gracious hosts,” Vicki said. “I’m just happy to be here on Maxine’s big day.”
Suddenly, the front door popped open, and all eyes darted toward the entry. There stood Adam in his cargo shorts and white socks with sandals with two screaming kittens in their cage. Nana and Papa McKenzie would be on babysitting duty throughout the honeymoon.
“Penelope, which one is yours? The one with the blue collar?”
“Technically, Drew and I share full parental rights for both,” Maxine said. “Why?”
“He licked me!” Adam said, his face souring. “That tongue is like…sandpaper…”
“Don’t have kids, buddy, because you’re in for much worse,” Declan said.
“They look just like you, Penelope,” Adam said. “All cute, hiding a sinister side, and flashing those bright green eyes…”
“You know, Adam, your dad is right—one day, you’re going to be a father,” Tom warned him.
“And my kid is gonna be pure perfection…” Adam shouted as he hauled the kittens up the grand staircase. “And he’s not gonna have a tail and poop in a box—and lick people!”
“Don’t be so sure of that, Adam!” Drew retorted, then pulled Maxine into his arms. “Oh, I'm exhausted already...”
“Remember, my love,” Maxine giggled. “In sickness…health…”
And together they spoke, “And Adam McKenzie…”
Quite willingly, Maxine retreated with Maggie and Vicki to the kitchen where the chef made last-minute preparations for their meal. Chatter revolved around the festivities unfolding that week, and Maxine finally allowed herself to share in the excitement surrounding her.
Lunch was a blur in Maxine’s mind, and the rest of the afternoon seemed to whirl past them with equal velocity, obliterating her concept of time as Maggie walked through the flow of events with them. With all of Maggie's expertise, Maxine relied on her for advice throughout the laborious execution of the wedding.
This ceremony wouldn’t be happening without her soon to be mother-in-law’s gentle guidance, and Maggie was careful to incorporate everything the happy couple wanted. This wasn’t her party—this day would celebrate Drew and Maxine, and Maggie wanted their personal flair to shine through from every corner.
That afternoon, though, Drew couldn't hide his playful side. His sarcasm rang throughout their conversations, as the ladies toiled over every last detail—down to the placement of the chairs and the decor for the gazebo under which they would wed.
At last, they'd bored Drew stiff and decided to call it a day, satisfied with the plans before the crews began to filter in for the transformation. There would be one last night of quietude as their guests would begin arriving the following day.
After an early dinner, Maxine took advantage of the calm and tugged on her dad’s sleeve. “Wanna go for an evening stroll with me?”
“As long as you bundle up, Princess. Gets chilly out there at night.”
As they stepped out to the front portico, Maxine wrapped her arm around her father’s waist, holding him close. Nearly every night after Judy’s passing, Maxine took a walk with him around the neighborhood just as her mother did. Sometimes, they sauntered along in silence, both lost in their collective grief. But they still had each other, and no loss could separate them.
“I bet this is really sweet in the summertime,” Tom said as his boots crunched along the gravel drive at the front of the house. “With the beach behind the house and everything.”
“Once Drew’s contract with the show is up, we’ll be spending more time out here,” Maxine said. “You and Vicki will have to visit.”
“That would be fun, Princess…”
Spring sprung early in that neck of the woods. Flower beds were filled, and the bushes were starting to bloom. The road was lined with age-old trees and perfectly trimmed hedges that actually kept the massive properties and hundred-year-old mansions hidden in warm weather.
However, in spite of the beautiful landscape on that narrow road, Maxine could sense that her dad’s mind was a million miles away. Maybe her thoughts were, too.
“You know, Mom would have loved the McKenzies,” he said rather unexpectedly as they headed down that narrow road beneath the lamplights. “Every time I see you with Maggie, I can see your mom right alongside you with her jaws flapping away.”
A sob that Maxine attempted to play off as laughter rocked her body, and she stopped and looked away fr
om Tom. “Daddy, this whole thing—this wedding—has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do,” she finally admitted. “I hate that she’s not here.”
Right off the road on someone else’s property, as there were no sidewalks, Tom’s arms opened and just pulled her into their circle. “I know, baby girl. I realized that from the beginning. But she is here, Maxine,” he attempted to convince her. “She’s right in your thoughts and in your heart, and she’s given you the strength to carry on.”
“I’m supposed to be floating on a cloud of pure bliss, but I’m feeling like it’s just been raining for the last four months,” she cried against the strength of his chest. “I’ve second-guessed myself with every detail in this wedding, wondering what she’d think—if she’d approve.”
“No, you do that because you’re a damn Libra, and you could never make a solid decision to save your life,” Tom reasoned. “You and Uncle Benjy have no idea how difficult you two can sometimes be …”
“We used to drive Mom insane…”
“And she loved you both.”
The tears had been welling inside her overflowing heart, and she finally allowed them to pour. She’d been lying to everyone, insisting that things were just fantastic, but she couldn’t fool her Papa Kirk. Against her father’s chest, she sobbed for her mother, cursing the likes of cancer for taking her away far too soon.
“Hey, Maxie…it’s gonna be alright,” Tom soothed as he rested his chin on top of her head and stared out at the road. There wasn’t a car in sight. “And Mom…Mom would expect you to have a good cry—but she wouldn’t want you to carry your grief around all week. You have to know, sweetheart, she’d want you to enjoy this.”
“And I’m trying so hard, Daddy,” Maxine insisted. “Everyone has gone beyond their way to comfort me and make me feel special as a bride. But I just want to hear her say all of those wonderful things to me.”
“Does it make you feel any better that I think the same thing with Vicki?” Tom took a step back and looked his only child in the eyes. As he touched his forehead to hers, their tears mingled as they fell. “Every time I’m with her, I wonder if Judy would approve. And then I see her with you…with Drew…even with the McKenzies. Yes, your mother would have wanted me to find someone with a kind soul like Vicki has. And I would have said the same thing had I gone first, Maxie. I’d want you both to carry on and make your lives wonderful…”
KNOTTED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Three Page 14