“Thank you.”
A smear of chocolate sat on his lower lips. Unable and unwilling to stop herself, she stepped closer, reached out, and ran her finger over his mouth, transferring the chocolate from him to her.
She glanced at the gooey substance, hesitated a fraction of a second, and slid her finger into her mouth, licking off the remainder of the treat. Maybe it was her imagination, but she could swear she tasted Lucas on her tongue. She knew damn well she felt him low down in her sex. To hell with embarrassment, thanks to Lucas all she could do was feel.
His heavy-lidded gaze locked with hers. “Maxie,” he said on a groan.
Her breasts tingled at the low rumble in his voice. Like the other night, she was playing with fire. But unlike the other night, she was feeling stronger and more in control. Just the fact that she had a job interview emboldened her and gave her strength, more like the Maxie Sullivan she’d been before Keith manipulated and warped her mind.
“Lucas.” She whispered his name.
“Walk away,” he said, his body taut and vibrating with what she knew was the same desire shooting through her veins.
“I can’t.”
His gaze darkened. “Then run before we do something you’ll regret.”
He hadn’t said we’ll regret it. He was worried about her.
“Or?” She wasn’t sure where this bold Maxie was coming from, but she liked her. Had missed her.
“Or I’m going to pull you against me and kiss you. I’m going to taste that sexy mouth of yours, and while I’m doing it, you’re going to feel exactly how much I want you. Will you run again then?”
“Oh God.” He was laying it out for her, and she wanted everything he described. Craved it so much she thought she’d die if she deprived herself of the feel of his mouth devouring hers. The press of his hard, muscular body fitting to her curves. The thought alone had her heart racing.
She absently touched her tongue to her bottom lip, and when he traced the movement with his dark, dark eyes, she did the one thing she hadn’t done in too long. Took something for herself just because she wanted it.
“Do it,” she whispered, her tone daring and husky with desire.
He stepped closer, his gaze intent on hers, as if waiting for her to change her mind. That wouldn’t happen. She needed this like she needed air to breathe.
He twisted his hand in her long hair, slowly pulling her toward him, giving her a chance to say no. The tug on her scalp provided an erotic pull that went straight to her sex, arousal twisting desperately inside her. He leaned in, his face hovering near hers, his warm breath that hinted of chocolate a tease of what was to come.
Her lifelong desire was about to come true, and her heart pounded harder in her chest. She memorized the moment. The way his dark lashes fluttered down, fanning over to the tops of his cheeks. The sharp inhale of his breath seconds before his lips settled on hers.
She tasted him and stopped thinking at all, no longer able to catalogue memories. Only able to feel. He slid his mouth over hers with a satisfied groan, letting her know that he, too, was taking what he’d wanted for so long. He kissed her hard, holding her in place with his hand twisting in her hair. Biting at her bottom lip before gliding his tongue over the sting in a soft caress. Her sex swelled, desire mounting.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, let her hands come to rest in his hair, tangling her fingers in the short strands. Finding something to anchor herself to as best she could. Because he wasn’t gentle with her. He took her mouth with the pent-up passion of a starving man, and she gave back just as hungrily.
Her tongue tangled with his, and his body shuddered with need. She needed to be closer and pressed herself against him, her unbound breasts smashed against his chest, only two sheaths of cotton separating her from feeling him skin to skin.
He tipped her head farther back, kissing her more deeply, and her pussy began to pulse with desire. Beyond thought or reason, she hooked one leg around him, and her sex came into contact with his rock-hard thigh. And she moaned as a pleasurable wave of arousal swept over her.
His fingertips bit into the skin on her arm while the other hand pulled harder on her hair. Need shot through her as her hips rotated against the rough denim of his jeans.
“God yes,” she moaned again, knowing she could come from this motion alone. It had been so long since she’d worried about pleasing herself, and Lucas pleased her so much. Just being in his arms, floating away on a cloud of desire, so close to—
“No.” He abruptly released her, setting her away from him, his breathing coming in a rough, labored hitch.
A dull roar echoed in her ears, and all she could focus on was how needy she felt, how empty. That and the fact that he’d pushed her away.
She shook her head in a vain attempt to clear the fuzzy haze of desire still filling her. “Lucas?”
“I can’t take advantage of you,” he said, stepping back but looking as shaken up as she felt.
She’d be lying if she didn’t admit to taking some small consolation from the fact that she’d had an overwhelming effect on him too.
“You wouldn’t have been.” She felt compelled to point out that she’d been a willing participant.
But she understood his point. They had to live together, at least for now. And she couldn’t afford to get wrapped up in a man. Even if every inch of her body desired and wanted to be filled by him, she had to get her life in order.
Which reminded her… “I have a job interview tomorrow!” she said, grateful to have something else to focus on besides that kiss.
His gorgeous brown eyes lit up as he clearly welcomed the change of subject too. “That’s fantastic. Where?”
“A firm called Power and Associates. The woman who called said she was impressed by my resume.” She beamed like an idiot but she didn’t care. It was her first step toward independence, and she intended to cherish every second.
“Congratulations. I think that deserves a celebration.”
“It does?” She thought about it and grinned. “It does.”
“Guess what I have?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets.
“What are those?”
“Tickets to the sold-out Museum of Ice Cream. It’s in the Meatpacking District,” he said, mentioning a trendy part of Manhattan. “And these babies are impossible to get.”
Her eyes opened wide. “I saw a news clip on it. That sounds like so much fun.”
“Then what do you say we head over there and celebrate your interview?” he suggested, sounding proud of her.
“It’s not the same thing as an actual job but—”
He reached out and placed his finger over her lips. “Hush.”
She parted her lips and he yanked his hand away. Apparently he was going to play it cautious, and if she was smart and was looking out for her future, she’d do the same.
Chapter Three
The Museum of Ice Cream wasn’t a real museum. It was a selfie-oriented place to have fun, and it was jam-packed with people. Although Lucas would normally have taken Maxie to a fancy dinner to celebrate her job interview, he knew how hard these tickets were to come by, and he’d had a hunch she’d enjoy the limited-time exhibit. Plus, he’d nearly had to wrestle Kade for the two tickets left by one of their advertisers. He couldn’t let them go to waste.
The tour began with a scoop of ice cream, which they both devoured quickly, and he ended up with brain freeze.
“I want to do the Sprinkle Pool,” Maxie said as soon as they arrived and looked at the list of stops they could make inside the six-room building.
He laughed at her enthusiasm, glad to see her willing to let go. It’d been a long time since he allowed himself to do the same, and her enjoyment was infectious. He wasn’t sure how he felt about stepping into ice cream sprinkles and feeling them between his toes, but if that’s what she wanted, he was willing to give it a go.
“You sure?” He pointed to the crush of younger kids stomp
ing around, although he had to admit there were a good share of adults, their age and older, joining them.
“We’re here, aren’t we? I want to experience everything.”
So, Lucas thought, did he. With her.
Unfortunately, his better judgment had taken hold earlier, and he’d pushed her away before things could go any further. The kiss was the hottest thing he’d experienced in his lifetime. And though he’d been building it up in his mind over the years, he had to admit finally having her in his arms had exceeded all expectations. He could only imagine what the next step would be like, viewing her body in all its naked glory, touching her bare skin, and tasting her tempting flesh.
He was beginning to get worked up all over again, and since he’d spent the last hour trying to cool himself off, he knew he had to think about other things.
“Take off your shoes!” Maxie said, already leaning down and unbuckling her sandals.
As it was a too-hot late September week in Manhattan, they were both in lightweight clothes and no socks, making the process of slipping off their shoes easier.
“Did you read that there are eleven thousand pounds of confetti-colored sprinkles in there?”
He was more focused on the signs around the pool. Dip at your own risk and Caution: May cause spontaneous happiness, something he was experiencing himself. Except he had a feeling it was more the company than the place.
Still, he secretly admitted feeling like a kid again. Even if the Sprinkle Pool was a large area of plastic beads and not real ice cream sprinkles. Lucas didn’t know if he was relieved or not that the experience was diluted and no more than a kids’ activity.
He followed Maxie into the cool plastic pellets that were slipperier than he’d anticipated. She took a step and laughed, the sound light and wrapping around his heart. She made her way forward, and her foot slipped out from under her. He grasped her waist, catching her before she fell on her ass.
“Thanks,” she said, turning around, her eyes alight with laughter. The bottom half of her body brushed against his, causing a jolt of pleasure to which his body reacted.
Knowing they were surrounded by people, he had to refocus himself. “Let’s move on to the next stop,” he said, just as a toddler squealed and wrapped his hands around Lucas’ khaki pants, leaving a chocolate handprint in his wake.
He disappeared and his mother ran off after him, shouting an apology back at Lucas but her mind on her speeding child. He grinned at the sight. Someday he wanted that for himself. A wife and children. A family that was stronger and more cohesive than his had been. One where one child wasn’t favored over the other. Where bullying and teasing weren’t tolerated.
He glanced at Maxie, whose gaze followed the little boy, and his focus shifted as he read her mind, assuming she was focused on her loss. But when she glanced back at him, she was still laughing, pointing at his hand-painted pants.
“What’s next?” he asked, following her out of the pool and back toward their shoes, where they quickly put them on. If she wasn’t thinking about the past, he wouldn’t be the one to bring it up.
“I want to check out the Miracle Berry place,” she said, doing the last strap on her sandal.
He’d read the information earlier and shuddered. “A pill to change my taste buds?” he asked.
“Are you afraid to eat a lemon sticking out of ice cream? You don’t think you’ll really taste sweet not sour?”
He didn’t feel like finding out. He shrugged, embarrassed. “I’d rather try something else.”
She laughed. “Okay, chicken, there are helium balloons near the spun sugar. What about that?”
“Why not?”
She led him where she wanted to go. After they made silly helium noises with teenagers who thought it was all too funny to make sex sounds, he grabbed Maxie’s hand and directed her toward the Willy Wonka–themed Chocolate Chamber.
They entered through a curtain of brown satin, music playing in the background. He glanced around and caught sight of a huge beanbag chair, diving into it before anyone else could take the seat and pulling Maxie down with him. Cocoa bean fragments intentionally littered the floor around them, and the scent was pure heaven. A chocolate-themed movie played on a screen on one of the walls.
She leaned back, arms spread wide, and smiled. “This is magical. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Good job grabbing this bag.”
He grinned. “Video games honed my killer instincts.” She laughed and punched him lightly on the arm. “Silly.” Her smile faded as she met his gaze. “Mind if I ask you something?”
He shook his head. “Of course not.”
“I saw you look at me in a panic when that little boy grabbed your leg.”
He winced. He’d hoped he’d been subtle.
“Do you think I’m still fragile?” She bit down on her lower lip. The same lip he’d tasted earlier, and it was all he could do not to groan and kiss her again.
But this was a serious conversation. One that was long overdue since, after the night at the hospital, Keith had made certain they were never alone again. At least, that was Lucas’ take, since Maxie had avoided him like the plague… until his brother passed away. Despite her grief, she’d been less skittish around him after Keith was gone.
He grasped her hand gently. “No,” he said, forcing his mind back to her question, which he knew was important. “I don’t think you’re fragile. I didn’t think you were fragile then, either. You were just—”
“Broken,” she said softly. “And guilt-ridden.”
Her words surprised him. “Why in the world would you feel guilty? The doctor said there was nothing you could have done to change the outcome.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears. “Your brother didn’t believe that. He blamed me. He said I worked too hard, and if I hadn’t been putting together the crib, there wouldn’t have been physical stress on my body and—”
“Are you kidding me?” Lucas exploded, causing people around them to stop and stare, and Maxie jerked back at his harsh tone.
“He was wrong,” Lucas said in a more modulated voice. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a minute to calm the fuck down.
She nodded in agreement, which went a long way toward chilling him out.
“I know that now,” she said. “But right after, I was so lost and depressed, searching for answers, and that was a point Keith kept hammering home. That it was my fault. Added to the postpartum depression, I couldn’t help but fall deeper into depression and guilt.”
Lucas stared down at her hand, running a thumb over her silken skin. “My brother knew how to manipulate people’s emotions and not in a good way.”
She drew a deep breath. “He was angry. Angry that I lost the baby and that I turned to you that night.”
Never mind that he hadn’t been around, Lucas thought in disgust. But he’d figured that was part of the problem. He and his brother hadn’t spoken since he’d seen Lucas at the hospital until one night when he’d been drunk and run into Lucas in the lobby. Keith had warned Lucas to stay the hell away from his wife.
“Did he take his anger out on you too?” His entire body stiffened at the thought.
“Not physically. Keith preferred mental abuse.” She shuddered at the memory. “It built up gradually, his manipulation. At first things were good. Then he started coming home later, claiming he was at work. When I figured out the truth, I confronted him. He agreed to work on the marriage. Looking back, I think things spiraled after he fell into debt. His behavior became more erratic. And I was tied to him by then, first with work, then with the pregnancy.”
Lucas inhaled, drawing a deep breath of chocolate, which served to remind him of where they were. Though they were sitting in a room full of noisy people, the world had shrunk to the two of them.
Oblivious, Maxie continued. “After that night, when he didn’t show up until the morning, reeking of booze and other women… I told him I was done. Leaving him.”
<
br /> Lucas’ entire body froze. “What happened?”
Her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. “He said all it would take was a whisper or two in the right ears to let the SEC think there were violations going on at Blink. That he could derail the IPO and ruin you with one phone call.” Her fingers dug into his skin as she revealed yet another despicable layer to his brother.
“That bastard.” Every time Lucas didn’t think things could get worse, another bombshell dropped. “And you believed him.”
She lifted one shoulder. “I had no reason not to.”
So Maxie had stayed in a miserable, emotionally abusive marriage because she’d been protecting him.
And didn’t that make him feel good.
* * *
Lucas arrived at the office bleary-eyed and exhausted, something that was obvious when Tessa, his assistant, walked into the room and handed him a cup of steaming-hot black coffee.
“Drink it,” she said. “It might help get rid of those dark circles under your eyes.” Her whole tone and demeanor were too perky for this hour of the morning.
Smartly, she read his mood and disappeared, leaving him alone. But she had a point. It was after nine a.m., and he should be more alert and functioning.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Not after learning his brother had emotionally stripped Maxie bare and blamed her for the tragic loss of their baby. Not after he’d discovered Keith’s threat to ruin Lucas if Maxie left him.
Lucas stared at the wall across from his desk, to the large photo on the wall of Lucas, Derek, and Kade, ringing the bell on the New York Stock Exchange. A crowning achievement for three nerdy kids who’d never fit in until they found each other. It wasn’t bad enough that Lucas had been bullied and picked on by other kids, he hadn’t even had home as an escape. No, he had Keith waiting to do more damage. Was it any wonder he lost himself in computer games where he could vanquish the bad guys and come out on top?
He wished he could focus on the positive today and not things he couldn’t change. But he was preoccupied with the past. And it killed Lucas that his brother had manipulated and hurt Maxie. That he and Maxie had lost years of friendship, if not the chance for something more, due to Keith’s blatant lies. But it was more than lost time that bothered Lucas now. It was the way his older sibling had played them. And he was continuing to play Lucas from the grave.
Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) Page 4