After Tahlia hung up with Kaitlynn, she placed her smartphone on the desk in her office and stared at it. She wanted to call Maximus, but it was spur-of-the-moment and she would be disappointed if he turned her down. In the end, she decided to take her sister’s advice.
“What are you doing?” Tahlia asked when Maximus answered the phone several moments later.
“Working. Why?”
“Oh.” She was crestfallen, especially by the short tone in his voice. It was near the end of the workweek, and she was hoping he’d tell her it was quitting time. Although they didn’t have plans until tomorrow, she wanted to see him again and had just the excuse.
“Tahlia,” he chided, “what is it? Did you have something in mind?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” she replied in a rush. “A client of mine was so happy with the pieces he purchased at the gallery that he offered me four tickets to the Bruno Mars concert tonight. My sister is coming with a date, and I know it’s short notice and all, but I was wondering if you didn’t have any plans for tonight if you might want to come?”
“So you’re asking me out on a date?” This time there was a smile in his voice.
“And if I were?”
“The answer would be yes,” Maximus responded. “What time shall I pick you up?”
“Since I’m the one taking you out,” Tahlia said, “I’ll be picking you up. And be ready at six.” Since he didn’t have time to go home and change, Tahlia arranged to pick him up at his office. Luckily for her, however, she had just enough time to close the gallery and run home for a quick shower.
“You don’t mind closing up?” Tahlia asked Faith when she was heading for the door.
“Of course not. At least you have plans for Friday night other than sitting home with a movie and a bowl of microwave popcorn like me.”
“That does sound divine.”
“Not nearly as much as moving and grooving to Bruno Mars with Maximus Knight. Now go on.” Faith shooed her out the office. “You’d better get a move on it. You don’t have a whole lot of time.”
An hour later, Faith was rushing out of her apartment and down the stairs to her VW Bug to pick up Max. She’d had just enough time to shower and slide on her favorite jeans, cropped tank top, denim jacket and boots. She’d decided to leave her hair down since Maximus seemed to enjoy running his hands through it the other night when he’d kissed her. After a touchup on her makeup and a quick spritz of perfume in all her secret spots, she was driving to Maximus’s office.
She was sure it came as a surprise to him that she had offered to pick him up, but she didn’t mind being the one in control for the evening. Maximus Knight was used to being in charge and having everyone fall in line. Tonight, he was on her turf and he would play by her rules.
* * *
Maximus exited his office bathroom after a quick change into khaki pants, a button-down shirt and a sports coat. He usually kept several changes of clothing at the office. He had to admit he was looking forward to the concert. It would be a change of scenery for him to do something other than work late on a Friday night. He actually had plans. A date. With Tahlia.
He smiled when he thought of her. The woman was sure full of surprises. Telling him that she would pick him up. If she wanted to be in charge tonight that was just fine with him. He would just take a back seat and let her do all the driving—literally.
He locked up his office and took the elevator to the lobby, arriving at 6:00 p.m. just as she’d instructed. He smiled when he exited the building and saw Tahlia leaning up against her old beat-up VW Bug. She looked like one of those pinup girls in the snug-fitting jeans she wore, crop top that revealed a hint of her belly button and a denim jacket.
It gave him all sorts of wicked ideas on what he’d like to do to her on top of it. But instead he said with a wry smile as he walked toward her, “Are you sure it’s okay to get in that death mobile? You sure you don’t want to ride in the luxury that is my Bugatti? It’s just in the garage.” He pointed toward the building.
“Ha, ha, ha,” Tahlia feigned laughter. “No, we are taking my baby here.” She leaned over to caress the hood of the car, and when she did, it gave Maximus a view of her generous backside, and without thinking about it, he smacked her on it.
“Max!” She popped upright. “What are you doing?”
He laughed. “I don’t know. You just looked so good standing there... I—I couldn’t resist.” Maximus couldn’t remember ever losing control and slapping a woman on her behind. It was completely out of character for him, but so was going to a pop concert.
“Well, in that case,” Tahlia said, tossing her hair over her shoulder, “look all you want.”
He watched her sashay to the driver’s side of the car and give him a wink before hopping in. Tonight was going to be a fun evening.
Chapter 7
The tickets Tahlia procured came with a special parking pass, so when they arrived at the venue, they had a prime parking spot. “This is really nice,” Maximus said, feeling somewhat awkward that he couldn’t make it around to the driver’s side to open her car door for her. But Tahlia didn’t seem to mind. She’d already sidled up to him as they walked to the arena.
Maximus slid his hand in hers and they walked side by side to the box office, where her sister and beau were already waiting for them.
“Tahlia!” A beautiful albeit shorter version of Tahlia approached them with a tall gentleman sporting baggy jeans, sweater and a baseball cap. Her sister looked directly at him. “And you must be Maximus.”
“Call me Max.” But before he could finish the sentence she’d already hugged him and was turning to her companion. “Jonathan, I’d like you to meet...”
“Maximus Knight,” Jonathan answered. “I’ve read a lot about you. You’re considered the next big thing for black-owned businesses.”
“I don’t know about all that.” Maximus laughed. “But I hold my own.”
“Are you guys ready to go in?” Tahlia asked from his side, holding up the concert tickets. “Because I’m ready for some ‘Uptown Funk’!”
They all laughed in unison, but Maximus completely missed the joke. What was “Uptown Funk”?
He soon learned after the foursome stopped at concessions for hot dogs, popcorn and beer and made their way through the throng of people to the front row on the floor. Maximus couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a hot dog, much less a beer. Tahlia was getting him out of his comfort zone, and he liked it—he liked it a lot.
“So ‘Uptown Funk’ is a song,” Tahlia told him once they were seated and munching on their dogs and swigging beer. “C’mon, don’t tell me you’ve never heard of it.”
Maximus shrugged.
“We really do need to get you of the house more,” she said with a chuckle.
“I told you. I don’t get out much,” Maximus replied loudly over the roar of the prelude music. “Usually work, work, home and the occasional social function.”
“That’s no kind of life, Max,” Tahlia yelled back. “I’m going to make it my mission in life to loosen you up.”
“I’m open to ideas,” Max said, eyeing her intently. He could think of a horizontal way that would loosen him up quite nicely, but it was still too soon to be thinking along those lines. If he came on too strong, Tahlia might think it was all about sex when it wasn’t.
He was truly enjoying her company and everything she had to offer. When he’d first come up with the idea to seduce Tahlia, it had occurred to him that maybe their connection would merely be physical. But Maximus was learning that every minute he spent with Tahlia was one of his own self-discovery.
When the lights blinked, indicating the concert was about to start, Tahlia scooted closer to him, and Maximus used the guise of darkness to press a kiss on her soft lips.
Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked at him but didn’t pull away. Instead, she allowed his mouth to cover hers hungrily as he explored hers more thoroughly.
When they finally parted, he heard someone yell, “Get a room!”
Tahlia laughed, blushing, and bumped her shoulder with his. Maximus couldn’t recall a time when he’d felt this alive.
The night only continued to get better, and not just from the opening act and main attraction of Bruno Mars, but just by being with Tahlia. He fed off her intense energy. He wasn’t much of a dancer other than the formal training he’d received to dance the waltz at social functions. But he loved the way Tahlia moved to the music, especially when a particularly good song came on. He liked it when she stood in front of him and he was able to wrap his arms around her. When her behind brushed his crotch as she swayed to the groove, Maximus felt his erection grow in his jeans.
He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Tahlia turned behind her and gave him a wicked grin. Oh, she knew what she was doing to him. The little minx!
He would get her back real soon.
After the concert, the foursome filtered out of the arena. “That was a lot of fun,” her sister, Kaitlynn, said. “But I’m not ready for the night to be over. Do you guys want to come out and hang?”
“Sure, what did you...” Tahlia began, but was interrupted by Maximus.
“No,” Maximus stated, circling his arm around Tahlia. “We’re going to call it a night.”
“Okay, well, we’re going to head out,” Kaitlynn said. “I’ll see you on Sunday at Mom’s?”
“Absolutely.” The sisters hugged while Maximus and Jonathan shook hands.
“It was great to meet you, Kaitlynn.”
“You, too, Max. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winked at them as they walked away holding hands.
“So, did you enjoy yourself?” Tahlia asked, swinging their arms as if they were two small children to the lot where her car was parked in a reserved space.
“Yes, I did. I had a lot of fun, but I especially enjoyed watching you.”
Tahlia paused midstep. “Me? Why?”
“I loved your inhibition and freedom as you danced and grooved, uncaring of what anyone else might think.”
She shrugged. “Dancing is just a form of self-expression. You should try it sometime, Max, and not be so reserved. You have to be able to let yourself go.”
“How about we start with this?” Maximus swung her in his arms, backing her up against the car so his entire body could cover hers and she could feel the erection she’d been teasing half the night. He ground the steel of his shaft against her, and she gasped. That was when his mouth moved over hers, smothering her lips, devouring their softness. She was shocked at Maximus’s boldness, giving him the window he needed to break through the barrier of her lips and to invade her mouth with his tongue.
Tahlia groaned when he changed the pace from hungry, raw kisses to slow, gentle ones that were no less demanding as he cupped her breasts. Desire, hot and demanding, coursed through Maximus when she began rubbing against him, and he felt her breasts swell.
“Jesus, Tahlia!” He lifted his head as he nearly came undone. “You’re killing me.”
“You started it,” she whispered, placing a featherlight kiss on his chin. “I think you wanted to show me you’re not so reserved, right?”
He chuckled. “Mmm...I guess I did start it, but we can’t finish it tonight, at least not here in this parking lot.” Concertgoers and passersby were still walking to their cars, and they’d already given them quite a show.
“All right, I’ll take you back to the office.” Tahlia reluctantly disengaged from him. The car ride back to the Knight Shipping office crackled with sexual tension as memories of their sexual encounter in the parking lot stirred them. She was happy when the car came to a merciful stop in front of his building.
“I had a wonderful night,” Max said, running his hand down the length of her arm. “And I can’t wait for tomorrow night. Dress comfortably.” He lightly caressed her cheek, and seconds later he was out of the car, leaving Tahlia feeling restless and oh so horny.
* * *
Tahlia excitedly waited for the doorbell to ring the following evening. She’d been ready for the last half hour and nervously pacing her one-bedroom apartment. She didn’t know where they were going, only that Maximus had told her to dress comfortably.
She’d decided upon her favorite minidress that clung to her behind and teamed it with a black leather moto blazer and some ankle boots. Since it was a bit cool for a winter evening, she added a loose scarf to wrap around her neck.
Tahlia couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this excited for a date, certainly not since Paul. She’d been cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for him at the time, and he’d easily told her what she wanted to hear, but not Maximus. It surprised her just how different he was from what she’d expected. From afar, she would have thought him somewhat rigid, but so far he’d shown an amazing willingness to go with the flow. Tahlia had never been one to follow the crowd, and it was nice to know that Maximus could do the same.
When the doorbell rang, Tahlia didn’t wait for him to come up. Instead, she rushed down the stairs and met Maximus on the first landing and threw herself in his arms. She buried her face in his throat and inhaled his magnificently masculine scent that was his alone.
“Hello, beautiful.” When he brushed his lips across hers, it sent a shiver down Tahlia’s spine. “Are you ready for a night of surprises?”
“Yes, I can’t wait.” She flashed him a grin.
On the drive to their mystery destination, Tahlia shared with Maximus her ideas and goals for the gallery. She wanted it to be a place for free expression and thought. A place where you could find the traditional and the unconventional. Maximus was all ears and gave her some sound advice on how best to achieve them. She was enjoying the conversation so much she didn’t realize their destination until he stopped his Bugatti in the middle of a helipad.
“What are we doing here?” Tahlia exclaimed after Maximus had helped her out of his vehicle and she saw the helicopter with a pilot standing beside it.
“I’m taking you on a sunset tour of Hollywood. We’re riding in style, baby,” Maximus said, grabbing her hand and leading her toward the helicopter. “C’mon.”
In no time, Tahlia was strapped into one of two passenger seats and given headphones so she and Maximus could communicate, and then the pilot was taking off.
“Maximus, this is amazing,” Tahlia said over the roar of the engine and wind as the helicopter soared in the air. She’d never done anything this thrilling in her entire life, and he was the reason for it. They took in all the sights Los Angeles had to offer, from the famous Hollywood sign to downtown Los Angeles to the Venice Beach boardwalk, celebrity homes, mountains of Malibu and the beautiful California coastline. Although it was dark, the lights of the city and Los Angeles skyline shone brightly.
When the exhilarating adventure was finally over, Tahlia and Maximus thanked the pilot. He’d given them a bit of history about each landmark they passed, making Tahlia want to do it all over again. She told Maximus so in the car on their drive to dinner.
“You outdid yourself,” she gushed when they were on land. “I’ve never been in a helicopter before.”
“No?” he asked with a smirk.
“I’m sure you have,” she said, “no doubt to make important business meetings.”
“But of course.” He laughed. “That’s how we moguls roll.”
Tahlia playfully punched his arm. “You know, Maximus, I think I’m starting to like you.” The moment she said the words aloud, she covered her mouth. Why did she always say whatever came to her mind?
Maximus took his eyes off the road long enough to say, “I’m starting to like you a lot, too.”
They ended up at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant at the Hotel Bel-Air. The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the company was everything Tahlia could hope for. Maximus was a lot funnier than she gave him credit for and regaled her with stories from his days at Harvard while Tahlia told him about growing up without a father.
“It must have been very hard for your single mother raising two girls on her own,” Maximus said as they shared a dessert.
“It was. And at times we struggled,” Tahlia admitted as she dug her spoon into the creamy mousse. “And it was in those moments that I missed having a father. But my mother gave me and Kaitlynn all the love we could ever need. I never for a moment doubted I was loved.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Maximus responded, “because all I’ve ever done is doubt my father. Did he love me? Did he not? He certainly wasn’t one for showing it, so I guess I’ll never really know.”
Tahlia stared at him for several long beats. “I know he didn’t show it, Max, but Arthur did love you. It may not seem like that now, but he told me how proud he was of you and your accomplishments. Everything that you’ve achieved. Please believe that.”
Maximus’s gaze darkened, and Tahlia could see how deeply her words were affecting him. “Thank you, Tahlia, and I know you mean well, but we’re well past the point of my caring what my father thought of me.”
Tahlia shook her head. “That’s not true. I think you need to hear it to believe it so you can make peace with him and with your older brother one day.”
* * *
Maximus stared incredulously at Tahlia. He couldn’t believe this was happening. That they were sitting here discussing his father as if he hadn’t ripped his heart out of his chest when he’d given half the company to Lucius. It seemed so surreal.
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