Max’s eyes narrowed. “I know I’ve said this a million times, but I just don’t get why you won’t move in with me. You’re here all the time anyway. You’re paying a mortgage and we spend a week’s pay every month in gas driving back and forth.”
“I . . .”
“No, Kar,” he said, putting his head in his hands. He looked tired. “We’ve started to have this conversation a million times and you always deflect.” He looked up to me again and I could feel my wall lock into place. “Why don’t you want to live with me?”
He rested his elbows on his knees. His hair was a mess and I knew he’d been running his fingers through it, pulling on it in frustration. His eyes had circles under them, the lines on the corners more identifiable than normal.
“I don’t want to push you, baby. But right now, I just want to pick you up out of the bath, wrap you up in a towel and carry you to our bed and forget the world and all the bullshit going on. As frustrating as you are,” he smiled, “you’re what I look forward to at the end of the day.”
A knot formed in my throat hard and fast. I tried to swallow by it in hopes it would take the sting in my eyes with it, but it was futile. I looked to the door, to the ceiling, to anything but at him.
“Someday, I want you to tell me. Even if it’s just that you don’t want me like I want you . . .”
“It’s not that, Max. Please don’t think that.”
He shook his head, letting his shoulders dip before standing up. “Finish your bath. Just let me know before ya head out, okay?” He started to walk out of the room.
“Max! Wait!” I called after him, sitting up. “Don’t go. Let’s just . . . let’s order pizza and have it delivered and eat in bed. Okay?”
His face broke out into a huge grin. “You sure?”
I couldn’t help but smile back.
KARI
I grabbed my purse and jacket out of my locker, said a quick goodbye to Chandra, a nurse that I had grown really close to, and started down the hallway.
My shift started off pretty crazy, but it calmed down towards the end. I was excited to get home to Max. The sticky note he left in my car promised a fun night and I was looking forward to seeing what my man had in store for us.
“Ms. Stanley? Do you have a second?”
I turned to find Dr. Connor Manning, the new doctor just picked up by the hospital, coming towards me. He was staggeringly good-looking. It’d been fun to watch women’s reactions to him when he pulled back the ER curtain. He was a GQ-looking doc with blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and a smile to die for. A heady mix of Alpha male, yet consummate professional, he had to know the nurses and patients alike were whispering behind his back.
“Sure. How can I help you, Dr. Manning?”
“Are you finished with your shift?” He stopped a few feet in front of me and I had to look up. He wasn’t as tall as Max, but tall enough that I had to adjust my line of sight. I got the eerie feeling that I knew him—something about him seemed so familiar.
“I am. I think Misty took over for me.” I adjusted my purse on my shoulder, hoping that he didn’t need me to stay over.
His lips quipped up. “I’m off, too. I wanted to talk to you about something, but I don’t want to do it here. There’s a little coffee shop across the street. Would you mind meeting me there for a quick cup?”
I took a deep breath, not really wanting to, but it probably wasn’t a good career move to say no. “Sure. That’s fine. I’m heading out now, so I’ll just meet you there?”
“I’m going to grab my things and I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
I found my phone in my purse and made my way through the hospital. I knew the coffee shop that Connor was referring to; I had been there a number of times. I sent Max a quick text and let him know I would be a few minutes later than I thought.
Me: Hey! I had something come up at work, so I’ll be a few minutes late. Maybe fifteen or so? Shouldn’t be long.
Max: No worries. I was getting ready to text you. I got pulled in to a late lunch over this bid I’m working on. I’m actually close to the hospital.
The thought of him being close made me smile. I stopped before opening the exit to finish our conversation.
Me: So I’ll be home first then?
Max: Probably. I’ll be a good half hour or so.
Me: Since I don’t know your plans, should I prepare in some way for later? ;)
Max: Wear red.
Me: Done. xo
I laughed as I shoved the phone in my pocket and started to open the doors.
“Let me get that for you.” Connor pushed his hand in front of me and held the door open.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Thank you for taking a few minutes to talk to me.”
I walked into the bright sunlight and shivered a little. “It’s finally starting to cool off,” I remarked, putting on my jacket and sticking my hands in my pockets.
“It is. Reminds me more of Salt Lake City than usual.”
“Is that where you’re from?” I asked as Connor pushed the button to change the pedestrian signal.
He smiled. “It is. I’ve lived here for a year or so now. I like the sunshine, what can I say?”
“I like the sunshine, too. This is definitely the place to live for that.” The light changed and we made our way across the street and up the sidewalk. “What brought you to Mary Sherman?”
We walked leisurely in front of a couple of restaurants before Connor opened the door to the coffee shop. “I took a spot in a doctor’s office that is associated with it. So now I do rounds here. I’ve worked out of Phoenix until the last couple of weeks.”
We walked to the counter and ordered our drinks. The barista, a pretty brunette, made small talk and bedroom eyes at him while he ordered. Eventually, I just walked to a booth in the front by the windows and grabbed a seat.
It was such a pretty day and would be a great day for a hike. I considered seeing if Max would want to go for a walk later on.
Unless he wears me out first.
I was pulling my phone out to send Max a text, demanding a hint as to what was to come, when Connor arrived with our drinks.
“One cappuccino for you and a black coffee, two sugars for me.” He grinned as he sat down.
“Thank you.” I wrapped my hands around the warm foam. “So what do I owe the pleasure of this coffee meeting?”
He watched me over the brim of his cup while he took a sip then cleared his throat. “I want to offer you a job.”
I laughed. “I have a job.”
“You do. And you’re very good at it.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Thank you.”
“Stop thanking me for everything. I gave you a compliment that you deserve. You’re smart, level-headed. You’re thorough. And you know how to deal with all sorts of personalities—which is why you should come to work for me in my office.”
“Really?”
He nodded, his blue eyes gleaming. “I think we make a good team and I know you’d be an asset to our team at Rhodes Medical. The way you handled everyone today, from the angry old man to the screaming baby . . . you’re a natural.”
“Wow. This isn’t what I expected.” I looked up and he had a smirk across his face. “Not that I expected anything exactly, but a job offer was way down the list.”
He laughed loudly. “Well, if we didn’t work together, I’d be asking you to dinner. But I respect you too much professionally to do that, unless you’d like to quit your job and work somewhere unrelated to me.” He smiled a smile that probably got him everything he wanted.
It was almost as breathtaking as Max’s. Almost.
“Not happening,” I grinned.
“So you’ll think about my offer? It would be a nine-to-five job. You’d have benefits and it’d be a whole lot less hectic than the hospital.”
“I’ll consider it, I really will. But I do like the unexpectedness of the ER, so I’m just not sure.”
He re
moved his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen. “I have to get back over there now. I’m on call.”
“Go. And thank you for the coffee.”
KARI
“Fuck me,” Max groaned behind me.
I was standing with my back to the kitchen doorway, dressed in a red bra, panties, heels and an apron. I had jumped in the shower as soon as I got home and curled my hair into large, sexy curls that were hanging down my back. With a touch of scented lotion in all the right places, I was already keyed up when I heard him come in.
But I didn’t turn around. Instead, I tossed my head to the side, letting my hair all flow to my right and kept cutting fruit into small cubes.
I heard him cross the kitchen floor, his boots heavy on the tile. Before I expected it, his hands were on my waist, his fingers burning into my skin. His mouth was on my neck, nipping the skin below my ear. I moaned as moisture pooled between my thighs and I dropped the knife as I sucked in a quick breath.
“My God woman,” he growled into my ear.
“You said to wear red,” I said sweetly, turning my face to look at him. “I complied.”
“That you did. For once.” He whirled me around and picked me up, cradling me across his strong arms. He brought his mouth to mine, kissing me passionately, licking and nibbling at my bottom lip. He made his way dangerously fast into his bedroom, lying me down on the sheets with an almost-thud. I giggled as I hit the mattress.
Max stood at the end of the bed, his eyes dark.
I lifted one leg into the air, twisting my foot back and forth. “Like my new heels?”
“I’d like them better on the floor.”
I pursed my lips together in amusement and kicked them off. “Any other suggestions, Sir?”
His gaze was heavy, pressing me farther down into the mattress. I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking, assessing. “Yeah. Toss me your apron.”
“What if I don’t wanna?” I asked coyly.
“Oh, you wanna,” he said with a growl.
I almost didn’t want to comply, just to see what he’d do. Lucky for him, I was already so worked up that I sat upright, forgoing any thoughts of being cheeky. I licked my lips and his hand instantly went to the bulge in his pants.
I tossed all of my hair to one shoulder and reached back slowly behind my neck, my eyes never leaving his, and untied the ribbon at the neck. The strings came loose and the front dropped forward slowly, leaving my bra on full display. I cupped my breasts in my hands and pressed them together. “They just needed a little . . . readjusting,” I said, winking.
I pressed my chest out and undid the ribbon behind my back and then tossed the apron to the gorgeous man watching me. I leaned back against the pillows, my arms extended over my head casually. “Anything else?”
A slow, seductive smile spread across his features. He laid the apron on the bed and tore off his shirt before removing his boots and jeans. He grabbed the apron and walked to the edge of the bed beside me, a man on a mission; I feigned boredom.
“What ‘cha got, Quinn? I’m getting a little bored over here.”
“Ah, sweetheart. Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours about that,” he chuckled deviously. He climbed on the bed, wearing only a pair of dark green boxer briefs, and straddled me. The scent of him was heady, all musky and male. I moved my hands to run them down his abs when he caught them.
Before I knew what was happening, my hands were tied to the bedpost with my apron. Tightly. When Max settled on top of me again, I noticed the glimmer in his eye.
“You and I are going to have a little discussion, darlin,’” he said, pushing my bra up until it was sitting on top of my breasts. He leaned down and licked a nipple tenderly, softly, before biting down. I squirmed beneath him and moaned as he rolled off to the side.
He drew a finger slowly, teasing me, down my midsection, past my navel, until he landed at the edge of my panties.
“What do you want to discuss? I’m not thinking clearly,” I whimpered, trying to move my body so his hand would land right where I wanted it.
He ran his fingertip beneath the edge of the lace, only making me wetter. “I think you’re going to think very clearly. I think, as a matter of fact, we are going to get to the bottom of a thing or two.”
“And why do I need to be restrained by my apron?” I asked. I began to pant as his fingers worked their way towards my slit. There was no way I could be rational, not like this.
“To remember who is in charge.”
“Fuck you, Max. You know I’m—” I took in a sharp breath as he stuck a finger inside me abruptly. “Ah,” I breathed out.
“You were saying?” he chuckled.
“I don’t know. Do that again.”
He tsk’d me, removing his fingers from my body altogether.
“What are you doing?” I cried, struggling against the ties. “You aren’t playing fair!”
“What do you want, Kari?”
“I want your cock, that’s what I want.” I watched him cringe at the crudeness I knew he hated. “What? You don’t like when I talk like that? I know a way to shut me up.”
He shot me a look. He stood slowly, his eyebrows pressed together in frustration, and removed his boxers. I opened my mouth, but he rolled his eyes, telling me he knew what I was going to say.
“Yes, I have a condom,” he muttered. He reached over me to the bedside table, letting his body press against mine just hard enough to make me moan, before retracting. He opened a packet and rolled it onto his length, ignoring me the whole time.
“If you don’t do something soon, I’ll take care of myself.”
He laughed loudly. “How ya going to do that, sweetheart? I can leave you there all night and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Damn you,” I said, trying to work my hands out of the knot.
He slowly worked my panties down my legs and I knew the lack of speed was just to torment me. I kicked them off to the side.
He grinned cockily and positioned himself over me. Just when I started to protest the lack of contact, he slammed himself into me roughly three times.
I tried to shout, but my breath was stolen, my voice just a trembling exhale. I wasn’t sure what happened to the conversation, but I didn’t care. This was exactly what I wanted.
Just as we were finding a rhythm, he pulled out and held himself over me on his forearms. “Do I have your attention now?”
“You can have whatever you want now,” I said, wrapping my legs around his waist.
“So tell me,” he said, cocking his head to the side, his eyes peering into mine, “who were you having coffee with after work?”
“What?”
He slammed himself into me again. “Who was it, Kari?”
“A doctor from the hospital,” I moaned, trying to get some friction going again. I could feel the wetness dripping down my ass. “It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a big deal when I’m sitting at a restaurant and you walk by the window with another man.” He slammed into the back of me with more force than I had ever felt. “His only saving grace was that I could see you through the window and I was in a business meeting that I couldn’t walk out of. Otherwise, I’d have been in there quicker than shit.”
“Damn it, Max!” I yelled through clenched teeth, locking my heels behind his back and tilting my pelvis up. “He was just offering me a job! Calm down!”
His eyes blazed. “It takes every bit of effort I can find to keep calm about a lot of shit. I let you fight me tooth and nail but I won’t watch you with another man.” He pushed himself into me and swirled his hips, making it hard to think coherently again. “I draw the line there, sweetheart.” He stilled.
“I wasn’t with another man like that,” I moaned, wanting him to shut the hell up and move.
“I can’t tell you how lucky that makes him.”
I worked my hips in a circle, closing my eyes and feeling my body light up. When I opened the
m, two pools of green were staring back at me.
“Did Max Quinn just get jealous?” I pressed my lips together, teasing him.
He didn’t respond for a minute, just worked his cock in and out, inch by inch. “Maybe.”
“That kind of turns me on.”
“You make sure I’m the only one turning you on.”
I pressed my head into the pillows, feeling him increase his pace.
“You’re mine, sweetheart, whether you admit it or not.” He reached up and undid the apron strings, my arms falling to the pillows above my head. “This,” he said, reaching down and pressing on my clit, “is mine. Are we clear?”
“Yes,” I said, breathing out as my body began inching its way towards relief.
“These,” he said, touching my lips and then the spot over my heart, “are mine, too. Got it?”
I moaned as he swirled his hips deep inside me.
He chuckled. “I’m going to make sure you remember that.” He kissed me on the lips and then drove his point home.
KARI
“Whose idea was karaoke night?” Cane took a swig of his beer and looked pointedly at Isa, a hint of a grin on his lips. “This sounds like something you’d come up with.”
“Don’t start with me,” she warned him playfully. “I’ll have your ass up there singing before you know it.”
“Not happening,” he muttered, taking another drink.
We were all sitting in Casaar’s Bar, a local place that Jada and I had been to a few times. It was fun and laid back most nights. Isa had called me earlier in the day and wanted to get everyone together. She’d met Cane a few times before and wanted to meet Jada, so I suggested Casaar’s. It was smoke-free and pretty tame, perfect for all of us.
I laughed. “Cane singing karaoke? Now that sounds entertaining.”
Cane tipped his bottle towards Max. “How about your boy getting up there? I want a replay of Friends in Low Places, man. They probably have Garth Brooks.”
Pierce roared with laughter, elbowing Max in the ribs. Isa just giggled while Cane watched him for a reaction¸ a smirk lodged on his face.
The Perception Page 6