"About bloody time too, I say." My eyes rest on Max before I turn my head to the left to see both Mal and Daisy beaming at us with delight. Talk about embarrassing and I suddenly feel about twelve.
"Make sure you treat her properly Maxwell, otherwise it will be me that you'll be dealing with you hear?"
"Maxwell?" I ask with a shy grin creeping across my face. Maybe I should call him Maxwell from now on. Judging from the discomfort written across his face I think I could have endless amounts of fun with it. Max's arms embrace me as I'm pulled in close. All I want right now is for the world to open up and swallow me whole, anything to stop my flustered face being watched by speculating eyes.
"Well I think it's lovely dear and it's good that you have made up. Just remember to let him know who's boss and you should be fine."
Daisy's comment causes a laugh to break free. "Oh, you can most definitely count on it."
I smile as I take in the wonderful people around me and wonder just how long this feeling of euphoria will last.
"Are you ready to go?" I'm seated on the lounge chair discussing business with Mal when Max interrupts me mid conversation.
"Go where?" I ask, slightly confused while his eyebrows shoot up as if to say tell me you're not being serious?
"Come on. It's time for me to take you home." My hand is taken within his as I am pulled out of the chair and settled into his warm embrace. His manly smell that is so unique to him is intoxicating. I don't truly think I will ever get my fill of him. I manage to say goodbye to Mal and Daisy just before Max begins ushering me down the driveway. He's bloody one dominating man, but I guess that's just Max and he is who he is and in all honesty I wouldn’t change him for the world.
We walk in silence for a while, neither of us sober enough to drive. It's not an awkward silence, more of a we're comfortable just stealing shy glances at each other kind of silence and it's nice. My hand is entwined within Max's and that contact alone has my skin breaking out in a heated glow.
"Where are we going?" I ask after sometime. Everywhere is still completely new to me, but at least Max is by my side leading the way.
"Always questions angel." My heart flutters as his face shines brightly against the moonlight. He is absolute perfection. "Try and trust me just once?" His eyes plead for me to trust him and my heart smiles at that reflect beautiful face of his. I'd love nothing more than to trust him fully, but he and I both know that I've been burnt too many times for that to happen. After a few more minutes we stop at a path leading out to the ocean.
"Where are we?" I ask, me and my curious mind never stops.
"This is one of my favourite places. I usually come here when I need to think or take a time out."
"So you spend a lot of time here then?" His shoulders are set, his facial expression hard and serious. I remain silent as his mouth opens and closes as few times as if he wants to say something but each time he decides against it.
"It's so beautiful here." I'm envious that Max gets to experience this every day. I think if I was to live here permanently, there would be no way I'd be able to get everything done that I needed to with these gorgeous distractions.
"What happens next?"
"Hmm?" I'm barely listening as I imprint these breath taking images into my mind for an eternity.
"You and me angel. Where do we go from here? I can't and won't lose you again no matter what. Fuck, I'm trying here Jess but I told you I'm no fucking good at this shit."
My loveable rogue walks away from me with his hands running through his hair in frustration. I begin to walk towards him when he suddenly spins on his heels and turns back to me.
"Stay." It comes out more of a painful plea than a question. Stay? What does he mean? I'm already at Melissa's and I'm happy there for now.
"I'm okay at Melissa's. Plus she loves having another female around apparently. We’ve already been through how much your sister loves me." I laugh, a little bit tipsy from the alcohol that I’ve consumed.
Max stalks forward towards me looking like a man on a mission. He gently places both hands on my face tenderly before placing a chaste kiss on my lips and then onto my forehead.
"I mean... Fuck. Stay with me. Stay here permanently goddamit."
"Max..." I begin but have no idea how I am going to end that sentence. What the hell does he expect me to say to that?
"I don't care what it takes Jess. I need you. Fucking hell, even my home doesn't feel like home when you're not there. That's now much you affect me, how much you have changed me. I don't care how; all I know is that I need you with me."
Whoa. Where is all this coming from? As much as I would love to, I just can't give up my life back home for him at the click of his fingers, not matter how beautiful and imperfect he is. "I can't just drop everything that I have ever known Max, not just like that."
"Why not?" His face remains impassive while searching mine and his serious deep blue’s burn right into me, pleading for me to give him the one answer that I can't.
"You're being deadly serious aren't you?" Oh, fucking hell he is as well. I haven’t got a clue where this is all coming from. He’s going back and forth like a bloody yo-yo and I can’t keep up with him.
"I've never been more serious about anything in my whole entire life Jess. Fuck, I'll move back to London if that's what it takes."
"Don't be so stupid Max. There is no way that you're coming back to London, ever. Mal's finally settled here and I thought that's what you wanted."
"It was, it is. Shit, I just don't know any more Jess. All I know is that I need to be with you, wherever you are. I just can't bear the thought of you walking out of my life never to return again."
His hands are still cupping my face and I'm rendered speechless. For all of his beauty, he clearly has no fucking brains. I highly doubt he even knows what he's saying right now.
"You haven't known me long enough to drop everything Max. One day you will wake up and realise that it was the biggest mistake that you have ever made."
"No day with you could ever be a mistake angel, only the ones that I spend without you by my side."
Jess
I look over at the clock on my bedside table and it's just past midnight. No matter how hard I try I just can't settle. The anxiety that has been eating away at me since the afternoon has me on edge and I have no idea why. Admitting defeat I slowly put my feet down in the floor and pull myself out of bed. Coffee. Coffee solves everything so I make my way in that direction to the kitchen. Judging by the clothes that are scattered here and there, I think it's safe to say that Heath is currently occupying Melissa's bedroom. The kinky bitch.
As much as I wanted to stay with Max last night and as much as he pleaded for me to do so I surprised myself by staying strong and just about resisted his charm. After his sudden declaration and proposition all I wanted to do was clear my head and there would be no chance of that if I had taken him up on his very tempting offer. I also didn't want to jump back into us again with my eyes closed. Instead I quite proudly told him "if you want this to work, we need baby steps. One day at a time and we'll see what happens." Needless to say, in true Max style, he didn't take it well at all. It took half an hour of me pleading with him to see my reasons behind it until he finally stopped spitting his dummy out. If Max is going to be with me then he needs to get used to hearing the word no. I know it's not going to be easy but I guess nothing really is. The bloody stubborn man. In a way I've done nothing but punish myself really because had I not have been so stubborn myself I know that right now I would be either having hot wild sex or deep in a slumber from said hot wild sex. As soon as I finish my coffee, I go back to my room and await the sleep that I need to overtake me.
There's no sign of Melissa as I finally come waltzing into the living area just after midday. There is also no living proof that Heath was here either. I'll give it to them both, they know how to clean up after themselves. Before I leave, one thing is for certain. If Melissa and Heath are as into each othe
r as they make out then she's going to have to tell Max. It's not fair for them to keep this from him. Maybe if they're upfront with him he won't fly of the handle as much when they tell him. If Heath makes her happy then I really don't see the problem. We're all adults here. Men. I don't think we will ever really understand them but with that being said, do we really want to?
As soon as my coffee is freshly brewed I pull up at the island and pull out my phone hoping to see a message from Jen or George to relieve me from feeling so homesick. Swiping over the screen all I see are my apps. No missed calls, no emails, Nothing. She's probably a little occupied with Luke, still I decide to send her an email. Maybe she can read it when she's not attached to his man piece.
Hey bitch,
How are you? I'm missing you like crazy here and you can't even be bothered to call or send me a quick text. Paradise just kind of turned perfect. Me and Max are going to give it another go and see what happens. Baby steps, definitely baby steps this time. He explained what happened with that psycho wench, yes I know, I know, I actually allowed him to talk. I'm still shocked at my kindness too.
How are things with Luke? You've been a bit quiet lately so you're either constantly at it or something has happened that you're keeping from me. I swear to god it better not be the latter because you know I will hunt you down.
Well, call me when you can. Love you xx
"I love how you look when you have just woken up, but it should be my bed where I first see you." My head snaps up at that voice instantly. The voice that can cause feelings within me that no other can.
"You shouldn't be here. We've been through this already and I thought that you had agreed." I point at him, yet secretly pleased that he has turned up out of the blue. I just pray that he doesn't decide to have a strop again. I don't think I can cope with two in twenty-four hours.
"If I remember correctly, I agreed to whatever made you happy and right now I'd say your face looks pretty fucking happy."
"I'm happy..." I begin but I'm swiftly cut off as his mouth reaches mine, his stubble lightly grazing over my skin as he devours me whole and consumes me in every way. Mind, body and soul. He tastes of sun, coffee and Max which is a lethal combination and has me hungry for more, almost instantly. I pull back remembering my words from last night and I push half-heartedly against his chest, which in turn causes his hands to tighten within my hair a little bit harder.
"I've missed you angel."
"You need to stop doing this." I whisper as soon as I pull myself fully out of his grasp. A frown forms across his face as he tries to figure out my meaning. "Trying to overrule everything I say."
"But angel, that's what I do. You say one thing and you know that I'm going to do the complete opposite. It’s who I am."
Max
My eyes trail her every move as she steps around the kitchen. I'm not going anywhere without her no matter what she says so I have made myself comfortable on the barstool. I can Wait all day if I have too. She knows I'm not leaving until she is ready and she's taking her sweet arse time about it too. Who am I to complain with a view that fucking good? She really is something else and I fucking love the effect I have over her. Fuck if only she knew what kind of effect she had over me. I have to push myself down to ease the fucking throb that she's caused by prancing around in shorter than short pants and her nipples fully erect through her skin tight vest top. I feel like I'm about to combust just from fucking looking at her. It's no good, I'm left with no choice but to try and re-arrange myself as she teasingly walks past me. Reaching out I grab hold of her waist and draw her in so that I can feel her perfect warm flesh against me.
"Don't even try to persuade me Max." She laughs as I hold her tighter. I grab her hand and place it firmly on my crotch.
"You see how you fucking affect me woman? You drive me fucking crazy and if I wanted to persuade you angel, you'd never have a chance to get away."
"Jeez. Put the poor girl alone Max. I'm all for a bit of PDA but I don't need bodily fluids all over my kitchen guys." I instantly feel Jess try to pull away at Melissa's words but I keep a firm hold on her.
"Calm down Liss anyone would think you were a prude." The snort that comes from Jess at my words is so fucking cute. What the hell is this woman doing to me? I'm well and truly fucked.
"Okay, okay, let me go so I can get dressed. You happy now?" She asks as she turns to glare at me.
"Very." More than you will ever know Miss Townsend I think to myself. “Be sure to pack your bikini.” I shout after her.
"What's with the secrecy?"
"Hey?" I ask knowing full well what she means.
"Don't play dumb with me Wild, where are you taking me?" Her perfect button nose wrinkles from the brightness of the sun and she looks so god damn good. I need to convince her and myself that this is what we need and we can do this, as long as we are in this together.
"Patience angel. You'll soon see." I lean in and kiss her edible lips, lips that I could never tire of kissing and savouring. I can tell she's distressed, her posture is stiff and a scowl passes over her face. I've worked out that she hates the unknown, but with me that's something she's going to have to get used to and pretty fast. I don’t do things by the books. Never have and never will.
We walk for another fifteen minutes or so down the beach until we finally reach our destination. I cannot wait to see her face when she finds out what we'll be doing. You can't possibly come to the gold coast without experiencing this.
"Here we are Miss." I say as we pull up to an information desk.
"I'm completely lost here Max. What's going on?"
"Have you ever been scuba diving Jess?"
"Oh god no. Max I can't do this, please, please don't make me do this." She pleads. A look of pure terror on her face as a wicked one graces mine.
Jess
"I mean it Max. There is no bloody way I'm going in there." He thinks I'm joking but this really isn't going to happen. Ever. I can't think of anything worse than swimming deep under water with only a tank to keep you breathing. I panic at the best of times but this? "What if I forget to breathe? What if my tank doesn't work? Shit are you trying to kill me off?" He bursts out laughing at my panic and I can feel myself getting more and more worked up as time passes.
"Angel, don't be silly. Do you really think I would let anything happen to you? I thought it would be romantic." He says as he gently runs his fingers through my hair, trying his best to calm me down.
Instantly my heart sinks as I realise he has put quite a lot of thought into this little adventure for us. Even calling it romantic is quite a big step for Max. Maybe I should at least try. "Would you mind if I snorkelled? I'll happily give that a go."
"You can do whatever you like. This trip is for both of us to try and relax and enjoy each other's company without any added pressure." He leans in as he runs his thumb along my jaw while looking directly into my eyes
"Oh I like the sound of that, that sounds like fun. So what do we need to do now?"
"Well you won't be needing any beginners training for snorkelling so we can head straight to the yacht if you like, unless you want to do something else?" His face is so passive. What the hell, it's not like every day I get the choice to board a yacht. To be honest, I don't think I've even been on a boat since I was five and that was a family trip to Ireland. I can't keep the smile from my face as he leads the way.
"You look happy. I love it when you look happy."
"Yeah, I am. It must be all this vitamin d that I've soaked up into my body. That’s about as exciting as this trip is." I'm rewarded with a swat to the arse for my cheek before he takes my hand and leads the way.
As soon as we reach the yacht I can't help but let out a massive "WOW." I've only ever seen a boat like this on MTV cribs. This stuff just doesn't exist in my normal day to day life. "Jeez Max, it’s a beast. Is everyone else on board already or do we need to wait?"
"The only people that will be on this yacht will be us two. No way will
I be sharing you with anyone. Not today, not any day."
A shiver of excitement runs through my body at his words. I hope that I never ever get my fill of this man. "I can't imagine what it must feel like to own a yacht. How do people possibly find the time to use it?"
"You want it angel then it's yours. Anything that is mine is always yours to do as you please." My hands find themselves in his hair as I stand up on my tiptoes to thank him with a kiss. Oh how I want so much more, but for now a kiss will have to do.
It's surreal to know that Max has his very own yacht. What doesn't this man own? I guess I could say me but I don't think that counts as a prized possession. The weather is perfect for our little trip. Nice and sunny with a subtle breeze and I'm glad I decided on cut off shorts and a vest top.
"Here you go." I look up to see Max standing over me with two pairs of snorkels in his hands. "I hope these are sufficient enough for you Miss Townsend?"
"Yes sir." I laugh and take in his body. He stands before me in just a pair of loose fitting swim shorts that fall just below the knees and expose his happy trail and that v shape that I struggle to resist so much.
"You ready to go in?" He asks, but I think I could sit here and admire his beauty all day and never get bored.
"What, now? I don't have any other clothes to change into."
“Did you not hear me call after you to pack a bikini?”
“Erm, no sorry.” I was beaming with excitement to even contemplate anything else going on around me at his unexpected arrival this morning.
"Who said you need clothes to jump in anyway? It's just you and me out here angel."
"Ha, nice try Mr. I'm not going further than my underwear or I'm staying here."
"Deal. But I can't promise that you'll come back out wearing anything." The wicked glint in his eyes gears me up for that challenge and before I can change my mind I quickly get up and jump overboard.
Fallen Down Under (Down Under #2) Page 8