
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

HIS ON THE REBOUND

**First edition. May 23, 2016.**

Copyright (C) 2016 Fiona Murphy.

ISBN: 978-1533703026

Written by Fiona Murphy.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

# Table of Contents

Copyright Page

His on the Rebound

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

I hope you enjoyed this story and if you did will be kind enough to leave a review.

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His on the Rebound

Sarah

Hell... I'm going to hell. I can hear the nuns now, condemning me, and I deserve it. How could I have let Maxwell Brandt kiss me? A man I found disgusting at the way he treated woman--as if they were disposable, to be used then thrown away. It didn't matter who he was, or how much money he had. He was a horrible person. Who the hell am I kidding? I'm just as bad because I let him kiss me. Then I did the unthinkable and kissed him back, with a hunger I've never felt before. All of this while my fiance was in the same house. It was a horrible mistake, one that can never happen again. I love Kevin. I want to make a life with him, not be used by a man who won't remember my name a month from now. What Kevin and I have built is real and I'm not throwing it all away. It didn't matter if no other man, including Kevin, had made me feel the way Max did, it was wrong. Despite the fact Max keeps coming back to entice me, I stand firm. I won't cheat on Kevin. I won't become that person, no matter how badly my body wants him. I don't want to want him.

Until the moment he drops a bomb that destroys everything. Kevin has been cheating. His words destroy the illusion I've been hiding behind, because I know he's telling the truth. Knew it in the way Kevin has gradually been pulling away, his late nights out with the guys, his disinterest in me, and the way he's twice pushed back the date of the wedding. I hadn't wanted to believe, had been willfully blind to preserve the promise of a future with a man I believed I loved. All I want is to hide and lick my wounds, but Max won't let me. With Kevin gone, he demands I fulfill the promise of that kiss. I don't understand how a man like him wants a plus size woman like me, when my own fiance refused to date me before I lost weight. Yet, he does, refuses to go away. In a rush of anger, pain, and hunger, I give in. The feeling of being wanted by a man like Max wiping away the humiliation of Kevin's betrayal. Maybe a fling, a rebound affair, is exactly what I need. No promises, no expectations, and no broken heart. At least, that's the way it started.

Max

Out of curiosity, to get a look at the fiancee who put up with a cheating weasel like Kevin Jarvis, I find myself looking into the bright green eyes of a woman who makes my body hard with longing. Then the weasel does the unimaginable and introduces green eyes as his fiancee. Even though she looks at my hand like it's a grenade about to go off, she takes it and we both feel the attraction. We're both in deep shit now, because I know she feels what I feel and I'm about to go after her, fiance or not.

I don't care if she stays with Kevin. I just want her body. Besides, it won't last long, desire never does and I don't want her clinging after it's over. Only, the bitch keeps pushing me away, denying us both the satisfaction our bodies crave. Her sanctimonious refusal as she uses Kevin and her engagement ring as a shield pisses me off. I didn't want to drop a bomb, but if it gets me what I want, her in my bed, then I'm not going to flinch from it. I need her to satisfy this craving that's eating me from the inside out. I'll make her pay for making us both wait. I'm not her asshole ex, and I'm sick of paying for his stupidity. Her body makes my cock ache and I want her exactly as she is. Only, inch by inch I'm consumed by my need. I warn myself to pull away, sure this won't last, can't last. But letting go isn't an option, no matter how hard I try.

# Chapter One

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"I can't believe you, Kevin. On my only day off, you want me to 'throw a little something together' to impress your co-workers and boss. Throwing a little something together for forty-plus people good enough to impress someone like Maxwell Brandt isn't a quick run to the grocery store." Even though I'm trying to contain it, my annoyance with Kevin is steadily growing. The way he keeps shrugging like a little kid caught out being naughty doesn't help. I want to refuse, except, I'll never hear the end of it if I do.

"Sarah, sweetie! This is important, to me and to us. If I get in good at this company with Brandt, we'll be set. He's a hell of a lot cooler than Feinman. I want to start off on the guy's good side. Please, if I'm able to pull in the kind of commissions Lindsey promised, we won't have to push back the date of the wedding after all." His blue eyes sparkle as he pulls me into his arms. He doesn't fight fair, he knows he can make me melt when I'm in his arms. Maybe it's because of the mention of the wedding Kevin's pushed back twice now, or maybe because he's holding me sweetly when he hasn't in months. Whichever one, I'm not sure, but one of them has me knowing I'll say yes, as I'm sure he knew I would. Flushing, I realize holding either of those things against him isn't fair, he's been under a lot of pressure over the last six months. Maybe he'd been a little distant and cranky. I could be the same way after a long shift. Slowly he pulls me away to look into my eyes, "Please, sweetie?"

Of course, I nod and hug him back. He pulls away with a quick kiss on my cheek. "I knew I could count on you. I'm going to get changed. I'm meeting the guys at the bar. We're going to watch the game. I'll grab dinner there. You don't have to worry about me."

"Again?" The word slips out angrily.

"What do you mean, again? I spent last night at home. I've told you, these guys are all tight. I have to work my way into their group. This is work."

"Work? You never used to work like this when you worked for Feinman. There wasn't any need to hang out at the bar with the guys in three years."

"Babe, I'm the new guy. I've only been here a few weeks--there's a difference. Don't start this again." He's walking down the hall as he yells at me. As far as he's concerned, the conversation is over.

Sagging against the counter I shake my head. Our arguments feel like they've been stuck on repeat over the last few weeks, ever since he quit working for Feinman. First, the arguments about him appearing to not look for a job at all. Now, since he went to work for Brandt, he's gone all the time. I push back the remembered anger threatening to come up again at his quitting Feinman without any discussion. The only warning was an evening of complaint about Niles Feinman. Then a week later, Kevin comes home, petulant about having walked out, and ranting how Feinman would miss his best salesman. When I couldn't help expressing the slightest fear of Kevin without a job, he went ballistic. Yelling at me in an angry tirade about how he would find a job again, no problem. Pushing the wedding back again would be necessary, of course, but it wouldn't be long. As one of the top salesmen in commercial sales in Dallas over the last three years, a new job would fall into his lap. Only, a job hadn't fallen into his lap, or rather, he hadn't gone on a single interview in almost a month. Then almost out of nowhere, he got a job working for Brandt.

While I'm trying to be supportive, it's really hard. In the last six weeks since Kevin started working from Max Brandt, he's become more and more someone I didn't recognize. He held up Max Brandt in such awe, constantly talking about the man with envy. I've heard dozens of times how Max could have any woman he wanted, and often did. His multi-millionaire status and fixture on the Dallas society pages didn't matter to me and it made me uneasy how much it mattered to Kevin. The more I heard about the man, the less he appealed to me. Since Kevin started working under him, I know more about him than I want to. He sounds like an asshole. I have no desire to have him in my home, let alone throw a party to please him.

Kevin slamming the front door pulls me out of my worried thoughts. Even though I'm annoyed Kevin left without a word, I'm also relieved. Sighing, I go into our master bathroom to turn on the garden tub I viewed as a necessity. After twelve hours on shift, as a nurse in the oncology unit at Children's Med Center, I'm exhausted physically and mentally. Scrubs off, I slip into the steaming hot water. My eye catches the diamond on my left finger. At a single carat in size, I'm happy to see it there. I should be, I basically picked it out and paid for it. While Kevin set out the credit card when it came time to pay, he used the shared card for household expenses. However, getting money from him for the monthly payment on it almost never happened, and when it did, he brought it up constantly. Tracing the ring on my finger, I remember the first time I slipped it on. It's been there two years now. Lately, I have begun to wonder how long until a wedding ring is beside it. I'll be thirty-two on my next birthday. I've been having dreams about my biological clock slowly fading then disappearing completely. I didn't dare mention those dreams to Kevin. Away from him, I realize Kevin had thrown out the enticement of the wedding knowing exactly the reaction he would get.

Annoyed with myself for falling for Kevin's manipulation, I immediately begin my inner lecture. I'm lucky, beyond lucky, someone as handsome as Kevin would want to marry me. Looking down at the body beneath the water, I squeeze my eyes shut. Right now, I'm down to a size sixteen. Maybe if I were the petite blonde with a cute pixie haircut, like he's dated in the past, he would be happier. Except I'm not, I'm five eight, have long, light-brown hair, as well as an easy to tan complexion from my mother, a native of Columbia. Although my best friend and a few other coworkers have told me I'm pretty, I never felt as if I could believe them. I choose to believe in the lack of interest from men over the years. I've been hit on three times in the last five years, miserably, I keep count.

If Kevin can put aside I'm not what he imagined marrying, I should be able to put aside my small annoyances, by not harping on his nights out. In a new job, he should be allowed an adjustment period. Our arguing only puts our relationship in jeopardy and isn't worth it in the end.

I've known Kevin for over five years now, the first year we were just friends until gradually he saw past my weight, letting me know he wanted more. I'd had a crush on him since the moment I met him at the hospital. I remember my excitement at him asking me out--which lasted until he started talking about my weight. Words said gently, yet firmly, he explained my weight, to him, was unhealthy and unappealing in a woman. At first, pain spread throughout my entire my body until even my fingertips ached with the pounding of my heartbeat. Kevin pleaded with me to think, not get upset as he spoke of not only how pretty I would become, but how, as a health professional, I knew the pitfalls of carrying too much weight. He cared about me, he only said these things because he wanted a long, full life with me.

Fighting my tears, I really thought about his words. Kevin was offering me a chance. While it was a chance on his terms, it was one I never thought I would have with him and I the idea of saying no never crossed my mind. I said yes and working hard, with his caring support, in a year I went from a size twenty all the way down to a fourteen. He set a goal of a size eight, which sometimes seemed out of reach. He mumbled my size fourteen, which I couldn't seem to get under, was better than my previous size. Only, with all the stress of the last few months, coupled with Kevin's lack of interest, I've gone up to a sixteen and been too miserable to care. Even with Kevin's decree that we weren't getting married unless I could fit into a size eight. Once we set a date, I would care again, if we stuck to it longer than a month. Resentful of the two reschedules of the wedding, I had a hamburger every once in a while and didn't feel guilty about it. I haven't even glanced at the weight machine in weeks only doing some cardio a few times a week before going home to relax in front of the television.

I don't resent Kevin's focus on my appearance, not really, because I understand. He wanted to go far in sales and I know that in sales, appearance played an important part. There would be a time I would need to be by his side to entertain clients and I needed to be able to make him proud. Starting with the stupid party to impress Max Brandt.

# Chapter Two

--------

I pull up to the large ranch home in the suburb of Plano, where Kevin and the fiancee live. As I do, I note I'm probably the last person to arrive. That makes sense, since I'm almost two hours late. I'll also probably be one of the first people to leave. This is the last place I want to spend a Sunday afternoon. Kevin Jarvis is a weasel. I can't stand to look at him. He has to know I hired him as a favor. Still, the guy couldn't seem to understand the meaning of borrowed time. Two sales to his credit in six weeks isn't enough to stay on my team. Then again, if the guy spent more time out in the field than fucking my secretary, he'd have more sales. The favor had been to Lindsey, my secretary. I'm guessing she won't be too pissed when I fire him, after she finds out he's fucking another woman on the side. I have no idea how she doesn't know yet as he isn't the least bit careful about hiding it. From office gossip, the only woman he isn't fucking is his fiancee. Apparently, he thought the woman he's going to marry is too fat to be sexually appealing. He freely admitted he was marrying her for her money.

I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm really here is to satisfy my curiosity about the fiancee. How hard up was she to buy a husband, and a cheating one at that? The weasel opens the door. I offer the bottle of wine I brought, I'm sure it will be the only decent thing on offer to drink. Looking around, I see the money he spoke about, rich hard woods, even darker plush leather seating, only it's not as flash as I would have expected. Then I feel a frisson up my neck. My eyes find the source immediately, I find myself staring into startled, glowing green eyes, her small sweet mouth an 'o' of surprise. Desire to find out what her sweet mouth tastes like hits me agonizingly sharp. Knocked out of the haze of desire by the slap on my back from Kevin, I do my best to focus on the idiot. I know she's not looking at me, because I don't feel her eyes on me. Fuck, she is standing right in front of me of me, a stiff smile on those lush lips.

"Max, meet my fiancee Sarah Willock. She's a direct decedent of Miles Willock, once the wealthiest man in Oregon." Kevin announces with pride.

I offer my hand to Green-eyes, wanting to curse long and loud. The first woman in ages to make my cock hard at first glance is engaged to a cheating dickhead. Green-eyes looks at my hand like it's a grenade about to go off any minute. Fuck, she's dressed in a white eyelet dress, looking prim, sweet, and untouchable. My eyes go to her tits, I'm a tit man, and hers make me hard all over again. Her hand moves into mine and my body goes fucking hay-wire. I can tell she feels the same attraction, green eyes glow up at me in horror. She's soft to the touch, then strong as I reflexively tighten my hand around hers when she tries to pull away. The strength surprises me, the horror doesn't. I'm sure prim little Miss Green-eyes is shocked by the pull of desire we both feel. I understand it completely, because I'm annoyed as hell by just how much I want her.

Damn it, she gets her hand out of my mine, turning her back on me. My eyes cling to her, unable to look away. She doesn't walk with the swing of her hips a woman who knows the enticement her body brings. Instead, she walks with purpose, her head down as if she doesn't expect a soul to have their eyes on her. Then the dickhead speaks, reminding me maybe she has no idea of the effect she has on men. Maybe dickhead had drummed into her that she didn't turn him on. If the whole office knew he thought her unfuckable, what had he let slip to her? I don't like it, it pisses me off thinking about it. The idea of anyone calling her fat, of telling her she didn't look hot enough to make his cock hard and his head swim from loss of blood. No, she wasn't the model-thin body type the media force feed as the ideal--which was fine with me. The last model I fucked had no tits and constantly bitched about the amount of calories in everything she ate. Sarah's body has amazing curves screaming to be taken notice of. If I saw her on the street I wouldn't think fat, I would think curvy, I would think sexy. We're both in deep shit, because now that I know she feels what I feel, I'm about to go after her, fiance or not.

I'm standing by a table leading down the hall. There are five pub-height tables around the living room and dining room. All the tables are set up with cheese boards and charcuterie boards, different things on each of them. The board isn't the appeal, Sarah has been avoiding me since I got here. One thing about me, I'm not used to being ignored and I don't like it.

Kevin gave me a glass of wine then followed me around like a fucking twat for the first twenty minutes. Now it's time to make my move on Sarah. I'm really hoping we can do this without her breaking things off with Kevin. Yes, I'm an asshole. I just want to fuck her. I don't want anything more than sex. I don't want her getting any ideas or whining about how she picked me over Kevin. Because, a fuck is all I do. Okay, maybe fuck her, sleep then a definite round two. Just not the whole night through, not me.

The longest I've fucked the same woman in almost ten years is about two months. She never slept over, even when she pleaded with fake tears in her eyes. Tears don't work on me, they annoy the fuck out of me. I always made sure to be gone by the time the sun came up if we fucked at her place. Some people want that shit, not me. If she cuts off Kevin to fuck me, then she'll get all clingy. Even worse, maybe see me as the one to step into his fiance role, hell no.

I spot her eying the hallway for the third time then feel her eyes on me. I turn my attention to one of my sales guys. Pretending like I give a fuck about what he's saying. It works, she makes her move. When she's down the hallway, I follow. She clears the doorway of her bedroom as I hit the middle of the hallway, my eyes on her. Walking into the bedroom, the room is a little less stark and heavy than the living room. She's about to close the door to the en suite bathroom.

Faster than I've moved in years, I reach her before the door is closed, pushing it back open. She's so surprised I'm able to get the door opened. Closing it behind me, I lock eyes with her. Bright green eyes are wide in shock as she backs away

"Sarah... why do I have the feeling you've been avoiding me?" I stalk her as she backs into the glass shower door. I stop just close enough she can't look anywhere but me, yet give her enough room that her fear doesn't make her try to escape me until I'm ready.

A blush highlights round high cheekbones. Without thought, my thumb is up tracing the route. Soft, she's so damned soft. My cock is hard all over again. Her mouth makes that little "o" thing again. I wonder how soon until I can slide my cock into that "o." My thumb comes down to her wide, thick, bottom lip. Silky soft, the touch is a shock to a system long used to the touch of a woman. Her eyes glaze over, need blinds her to everything but me.

Pulling her lip down, my tongue flicks out to taste her inner lip. My mouth covers her gasp. Completely and utterly sweet. Maybe it's the wine I've just drunk, maybe it's because I feel drunk off the taste of her. All I can think as my tongue latches onto hers while I deepen the kiss is she tastes like young sweet rosette wine. A rosette bursting with the taste of passion fruit and strawberries, like sex at dawn--fresh, new, and exquisitely sweet. Her moan fills the room. She startles, damn it. I feel the change in her as she's pulling away. Fuck, my body doesn't like it, especially my cock. Despite appearances, this wasn't my intention when I followed her. Savoring a last teasing lick of her lips, I end the kiss. Her surprise is clear.

I like the way her eyes are still glowing. Although my cock aches I'm glad I ended the kiss, not her. Until she opens up her mouth. "Look asshole, don't ever touch me again. I'm engaged! That might not mean anything to you, but it does to me. Keep your hands off me!"

The laughter comes out of me unchecked, pissed at her snotty outrage after she just went off like a fucking firecracker under my mouth. "Bullshit. You were with me every step of the way, until your fucking moan at having a real man's mouth on yours made you fucking wet, and it shocked the shit out of you. What's the matter, sweetheart? Does getting wet from a kiss shock you enough you don't know how to react, so you fire first and think later? Yeah, sweetheart, I know exactly what a wet pussy smells like, now I know yours. I can't wait to find out what you taste like. Unlike your fiance, I'll make you feel like a princess. My face will be the throne you sit on."

She pushes me away, I've hit a nerve. Fuck, has he never made her come by going down on her? The thought disappears as her face flushes in embarrassment and she turns away. She's fighting for composure, I don't like it. I don't give her a minute. My hand is on her arm, turning her back to face me. In anger, she tries to shake me off. I don't let go. "Jesus Christ! What the hell is the matter with you? Is it really so unbelievable to you that I don't want you? Just because my body is reacting doesn't mean my mind wants you. I don't want to want a person like you, someone who fucks people who are engaged, someone who fucks a woman then is gone before sun up. Yes, Kevin has told me about you. I think you're disgusting. I don't want the person you are, and I'm not one of those women who can separate the two. Please leave me alone."

"Sarah, you might not want to want me, but you do. If Kevin told you all of that, didn't he tell you I don't give up? I go after what I want and don't stop until I succeed. Stay with Kevin, or don't, I don't care. It doesn't matter to my cock--which you will be sitting on very soon. I'll make your entire body shake while you come and when you do, you will be screaming my name, to me that's the only thing that matters." She stiffens at first, then gives up, refusing to look at me. Head down, her long hair is a curtain around her, she can't see me move closer.

My lips brush the ridge of her ear. "My cock aches for you, sweetheart, that's all I know. All I care about. I know I took one look at your body and wanted to be inside you. I know I can't wait until I taste your pussy. Will you taste as sweet as your kiss? I can't wait to find out. What other sounds will come from your pretty mouth, more breathy moans, sweet little gasps? Those are the things I'll be thinking about until I know, until you are under me. And if I have to think about them then you do, too."

Pressing a light kiss to her ear, I leave the bathroom, barely upright because my hard cock makes walking difficult. The door slams as I clear the bedroom door. I'm smiling as I leave the party I didn't want to attend.

# Chapter Three

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"My cock aches for you, sweetheart, that's all I know, and all I care about. I know I took one look at your body and wanted to be inside you. I know I can't wait to taste your pussy. Will you taste as sweet as your kiss? I can't wait to find out. What other sounds will come from your pretty mouth, more breathy moans, sweet little gasps? Those are the things I'll be thinking about until I know, until you are under me. And if I have to think about them then you do, too."

Oh, my fucking god. I mouth the words, not daring to speak them aloud, thankful my throat is so dry they can't get out. The hot air of his breath against my ear--a turn on I had no idea of. Then he's gone, sending me collapsing against the wall. I'm embarrassed to realize he'd been the only thing holding me up. Fear that he might come back fills me. I slam the bathroom door shut, locking it too damned late.

Who the hell am I kidding? It was too late the moment he stepped into my home. I've never understood the Carly Simon line "You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht." It clicked the moment he walked into the living room. His step sure, his eyes full of disdain, ego bold enough to demand, yet not care that all eyes were on him.

I wanted to hate him, yet something crazy had happened. Desire, an aching need to touch him hit me. Longing to feel his skin beneath my fingertips, to feel his big body against mine. In person, he isn't anything I've ever found attractive. Tall, too tall, at least six foot four, he's as massive as the former college football player Kevin mentioned he'd been, except he looked like he still played. His body broad and thick, at first glance one might think him overweight, but a second glance showed he's pure muscle. Hair the color of burnished oak matched his light olive complexion and my hands itched, wondering what he feels like.

Watching my hand disappear into his large, meaty hand, I'd felt small, almost weak, overwhelmed by him. It didn't matter my hand in his made the world tilt, made me feel as if I picked up the wrong end of a cattle prod. My mind screamed no even as my body begged please. Everything Kevin said about Max came rushing back to me. He was dangerous, not a man to want or have more than even a casual knowledge of.

What scared the hell out of me was the way his eyes roamed over me. He wanted me. I told myself a wire had short-circuited in my brain, I had to be wrong. Kevin mentioned his past, the models and even a few actresses he'd bedded. How could he go from those to wanting me? While I can't deny the ego boost as I walked away from him, I never believed it would go beyond that moment. Then he'd been there, opening the door. Shock hit me hard, holy fuck. I hadn't even heard him coming after me on the wood floors. The click of the closing door sounded loud in the room.

I could only stare at him in shock, I couldn't believe it was really happening, it was all incredibly unreal. Then he moved, and everything became very real. His kiss, holy hell. Needy and hungry, it spread a delicious sensation of melting honey throughout my veins. He kissed with an expertise and skill no one could ever be taught. Mimicking what he wanted from me, he demanded a response, and my body could deny him nothing. I grew wet at the apex of my thighs in a way I've never known from a man's touch, let alone kiss. My breasts, thick and heavy, burned to press against him, and caused a moan of need to slip from me--loud enough that it echoed off the walls of the room.

Hearing it, I was shaken. No, no, not this man. I'm not wet, feeling empty, aching for him. Raising his head, Max pulled away, leaving me desperate for more. I wanted him to kiss me again, to never stop. Oh, god, hell. I'm going to hell because I'm engaged, yet I also want Max Brandt with a hunger I've never known before. Until I look at him, really look and see his smug expression-the asshole has me down as a push-over. The thought of being one more in a string of women giving in to him, sends anger coursing through me. "Look asshole, don't ever touch me again. I'm engaged! That might not mean anything to you, but it does to me! Keep your hands off me!"

The bastard laughed! My forehead fell against the cool wooden door at the shame I felt as he threw back all the ways my body wanted him. Then, the dirty words, achingly true, thrown like darts hitting everywhere he aimed. How the hell could he know Kevin didn't make me wet, ever, let alone from a kiss? The ego of the man made me crazy, the way his dirty words turned me on made me want to hit back at him. "Jesus Christ! What the hell is the matter with you? Do you find it unbelievable I don't want you? Just because my body is reacting doesn't mean my mind wants you. I don't want to want a person like you, someone who fucks people who are engaged, someone who fucks a woman then is gone by sun up. Yes, Kevin has told me about you. I think you're disgusting. I don't want the person you are, and I'm not one of those women who can separate the two. Please leave me alone."

He could never know the plea came from my soul. Could never know, because he didn't care enough not to use it against me. Because he had, those parting words were him using my body against me, promising sinful, naughty, dirty things I had never dreamed of admitting I wanted. It felt cruel, the way he made my body burn for the fulfillment of his promise. It didn't matter, as I look at the engagement ring on my finger, it could never happen. Thankfully, I'm stopped from thinking about Max Brandt by the knocking on the bathroom door.

"Sarah, hey, what are you doing in there? We're running out of wine. Can you come open a few bottles and pour more wine? Max left, now other people are starting to leave, too."

Relieved by the news Max has left, I'm annoyed I'm needed to open wine. Is Kevin really so helpless he can't do something as minor as open a bottle of wine on his own? I'm not the damned help. Working hard to keep the annoyance out of my voice, I turn on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face. "Yes, Kevin, I'll be right out."

The next hour passes in a blur. Finally, everyone is gone. I'm glad to see all the food is gone as well, only a small amount remains on boards on the island meant to refill the ones on the tables. I look up to see Kevin on his phone, not helping to clean up.

"Okay, I'm gonna go change. I'm gonna meet the guys."

No fucking way, is all I can think. I'm still out of sorts because of Max, and the stress of making sure everything appeared perfect. The idea of him leaving without even helping clean up pops my cork. "No, you fucking aren't! You aren't gonna go meet the fucking guys. You are cleaning this place up. I have spent days prepping and shopping, you haven't lifted a finger to help. This is my one day off this week. I have already spent it working my ass off. I'm done!"

I've clearly shocked him. "Jesus, Sarah, what the hell? This wasn't just for me it was for us as a couple, I told you. Fine, you want some help, I'll help. Just ask, you don't have to lose your shit."

His lack of remorse kills my last hope the day will end peacefully. "No, this was all about you. The only time you talked about me was to throw up my great-grandfather and his money. You aren't helping. You are cleaning all this up. If you leave without doing it don't come home tonight."

I turn, practically running to our bedroom and slamming the door. Throwing myself on the bed, I feel like crying, only no tears come. Instead of being torn, scared at the idea of upsetting Kevin, I feel hollow inside. I'm not even sure why I said what I did. I've never said anything like that, never dared even think it. I love Kevin. Children, the house, the weekends spent playing with the kids and puttering around the house, those were all the things I wanted with Kevin. When I dream of my future, Kevin is the man I see there. Not just because Kevin is my first and only boyfriend. Knowing him before we dated, I know he's a good, kind person. His little sister had been one of my patient's and we'd talked often when he visited her. Then, when his sister went home after a few months, the coffee invitations to talk about his sister's care became more of a way to catch up with each other. After a year, I needed a roommate when mine moved out to marry her boyfriend. Kevin asked if he could move in, his own roommate had become unbearable. Slowly, things changed over time.

Yet, as I lay on our king sized bed, alone as I have far more nights than Kevin has spent in it lately, as he used the excuse of late nights with the guys to sleep in the guest bedroom to avoid bothering me, I'm wondering have things changed? Kevin had held out the promise of the home and family I longed for. Except five years later none of the things he promised has come true. Maybe that's why I had been angry at Kevin. If he had kept his promise, I wouldn't have to fend off Max. Surely Max wouldn't go after a married woman? Or, was it because, after Max's attention, I realized there were men out there who would want me?

I've never threatened Kevin before, never really stood up to, or against, what he wanted or said. I'm pretty sure my lack of backbone where Kevin is concerned is left over from my time at boarding school, it was a Catholic all-girl boarding school. Meekness and subservience were practically the basic tenants drummed into me for years, that and the man ruled the household, coming only after God. During my teenage years, as I saw the double standards and hypocrisy within the church, I lost belief and respect for what I had been taught. After years of only depending on myself, the lessons had lost most of their hold, or at least I'd thought so until I met Kevin. While at work, I was the confident in my role and knowledge as a nurse, at home I most often yielded to Kevin's preferences in and outside of the bedroom.

My lone sexual experience prior to Kevin had been a half-drunken tumble in Madrid that had me skulking out the next morning, trying not to wake him up. The pain had taken me by surprise, sobering me up pretty damned quickly. My drunken bed partner wasn't sober enough to be aware or care. After a few minutes, he finished, collapsing on me. This is what I got for having sex outside of a loving and committed relationship, I told myself, as I trembled in the shower back in my hotel room. I simply got what I deserved, what the nuns had promised would happen, because of having sex outside of marriage.

I expected things to be better with Kevin. After eight months of dating and him declaring his love for me. Since it was making love, not sex and we loved each other, it would be different. I didn't expect magical but I believed love would make it better, only I was wrong. At least, no real pain played a part, but the friction of him for what seemed like far too long was uncomfortable and bordering on pain. He had to stop to introduce me to KY, which helped, however, I hadn't been able to get close to an orgasm. I knew I shouldn't, I had told countless women not to do it. Yet, when it was my turn, I faked an orgasm to finally end the experience. I've been faking them ever since.

After a few months, I finally decided to make sure I could even have one. It had taken a lot longer than I expected. I gave up on the porn and moved to some of the free popular erotic romances on my ereader. Finally, I achieved an orgasm strong enough to shock me completely. Now I take the time two maybe three times a month to bring myself to orgasm in the privacy of the bathroom after a long hot bath. Thankful for the release I could never find with Kevin. Although it was frustrating that I couldn't have one with Kevin, I couldn't bring myself to tell him. Instead, I waited until he finished and fell asleep. Then I quietly touched myself, swallowing my moans. An orgasm hadn't been an issue before I met Kevin, why should things change?

I'm sure the fault lies in me. Considering from the age of nine to nineteen, pretty much everyone in my environment told me pleasure from sex was sinful, only necessary to procreate, my inhibitions were my own. After high school, while at college, all I saw were women treating sex casually, as if it were no more than a kiss on the cheek. I found it as much of a turn off as being told I should be ashamed. I'd learned long ago to focus on the cerebral, reading, working, studying all of those things kept me occupied until the horrible experience in Madrid solidified my initial reticence of the whole experience. To blame Kevin has never even crossed my mind.

Now I wonder if maybe we should talk more about our sex life. Yet, instantly I recoil from the thought. I'm afraid of offending Kevin, of making him mad and mainly admitting he had never brought me close to orgasm. I glance at the door worried he can hear my thoughts and will confront me but I hear him in the spare bedroom playing games on his game console. He hides there when I annoy him and I know he won't be coming to bed. Letting out a sigh, I turn on the television and turn off the lights, as I relax. I'm not sure if the sigh is from relief or something else.

# Chapter Four

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Lindsey gives me the revised numbers for the week. I snap at her, they are three hours late. I should have had them when I walked in this morning. Fuck, now I've hurt her damned feelings. Right this minute, I don't give a damn. Two fucking weeks, it's been two fucking weeks since I encountered Sarah, and every fucking night I've gone to bed cock hard, thinking of her. She has my number, I know she does because I told Kevin to give it to her. My excuse was wondering where she got the wood floors in their place. Kevin promised she would call that day. She hasn't called, almost a week ago I broke down and called. She hadn't answered and I left a voicemail letting her know it was me and to call me. As much as it pissed me off to leave the first message with my cock in agony I had called her again, nearly vibrating in anger with each call and message. No woman has ever ignored me before. After I've worked out my frustration on her gorgeous body I'm going to make her pay for what she's put me through.

Fuck, I give in. Doing what I've been putting off the last few days. I invite my sales team to our regular restaurant for a celebration. I send out the email fast, not allowing myself to think about it. The email goes out for the spouses and significant others to be invited as well, as it would be a late night, and I wouldn't want anyone to get into trouble. The excuse behind the celebration is thin, Lindsey knows that, which is why she gives me the eye when she comes in to tell me a client is asking to speak with me. I ignore it. If I go another damned day without a woman, I might lose my damned mind, and right now the only pussy my cock wants is Sarah's.

The day slides by endlessly. I try to be cool about asking Kevin if Sarah is coming and I don't think I pulled it off. He pauses, nodding of course. I have no idea she had refused. That as soon he gets into his car he's begging her to come. I wouldn't care if I did know, all I care about is she's waiting outside. Mingling among the wives and a few husbands, when I get to the restaurant. All I care about is she's finally close enough to touch, wearing a shift dress in light green. Once again, she looks prim, proper, and too good not to touch. The hostess at the front is waiting, Lindsey called ahead to warn them. The hostess is grinning a mile wide. I'm not surprised, I always manage to drop ten large here. I didn't give a fuck, I considered these things a write off.

I'm biting at the bit. Pissed as hell to see Sarah managed sit at another table from mine. I know people are wondering why I'm not my usual self. I don't care, because it's all worth it when Sarah goes off to the bathroom with Lindsey. A dark chuckle escapes me, her using Lindsey as a way of protection. They have barely cleared the door out of the back room before I'm up, going after them. I catch them as they are about to walk in, they're talking, I'm not listening. "Lindsey, go back to the table."

Lindsey's surprised by the order, her eyes go wide looking from Sarah to me. Sarah attempts to stop her. Lindsey knows not to bother. I back Sarah up into the corner, pushing open the door to the bathroom. There are two stalls, the room is small, not tiny. She goes, careful not to let me touch her. "What the fuck is it with you and bathrooms? Is this some kink you have?"

She's blustering, trying to get her shots in first. I laugh. "There's no way in hell you are like this with Kevin. I refuse to believe it."

Whether it's my laughter or words, I catch her off guard. Pausing, she considers my words. "Maybe because I like him."

"You don't have to like me, I just need you to sit on my cock." Sarah makes a fatal mistake, turning around to see where she could hide. I pin her against the low vanity, pressing my hard cock into her soft ass. Heaven, fucking hell, heaven is her body melting into me. My arms go around her, resting palms down on the vanity my lone concession to not going faster than I think she's really ready for. "Do you feel how hard you've had me since I met you? I haven't had to jack off since fifteen, do you know that? Now, every damned night I'm hard and my cock only wants your pussy. No one else's will do. Come to me, tonight. I see the longing in your eyes. You've been thinking of me too. Put us both out of this misery."

She closes her eyes against me from the mirror where our eyes have been locked. "No, I'm not going to change my mind. It's wrong. I'm not made the way you are. I can't give my body to someone when I've promised it to someone else. Kevin cares about me, he loves me. I'm not throwing all that away for sex, not when I have love."

Now, I'm squeezing my eyes closed, damn it! This isn't the way I wanted her, but now I don't care anymore. My cock is howling in agony for her. Any way I can get her, I'll take. Pushing away from her startles her into turning around. "Fine, you want to throw Kevin up like some shield? Interesting, you use him as an excuse not to cheat when he's been cheating on you with Lindsey going on six months, now. Don't look shocked, because I don't believe it! I refuse to believe on some level you didn't know! Lindsey helped get him fired from Feinman because they were fucking all the time, and his sales dropped. Her way to make it up to him is how he got this job. I owe Lindsey more than one, however I'm done, because tomorrow I'm firing the both of them. They spend all day fucking or texting about fucking, he still isn't selling and she isn't getting her work done. There's also a married neighbor he keeps company when her husband goes out of town. Don't, don't look at me and tell me you didn't at least wonder once or twice, don't you dare!"

Why am I angry at her? She fucking looks like I've kicked her in the gut. I don't hurt women, that's not what makes my cock hard. Closing her eyes, tears fall. I'm pissed I can't wrap my arms around her and tell it's all right, because right now, it won't be. Shuddering, she nods. "I wondered, okay, once or twice I wondered. But I love him, and I thought he loved me. Because of that, I refused to do more than think, refused to do more than wonder. And right now I refuse to take your word."

No fucking way, her hand is on the door. "God damn it! Don't you dare fucking go to him! You know he'll lie! I don't fucking care what you say, this isn't about you and him, it's about you and me." Two weeks have been too long. My mouth comes down on hers. Her mouth is closed to mine, at first. The pent up anger dies as I work at getting her to invite me in. I tease my lips against hers, nibble on her lush bottom lip. Stealing in on her gasp as I press my cock right against her mons, I'm in her mouth. Fucking hell, she's rubbing against me and the gentle kiss goes up in flames. She's moaning my name, whimpering. I fight everything in me not to pull up her dress and take her here and now. Breaking the kiss is fucking painful. "Come home with me. Let me kiss you right, where you belong, in my bed. I want to taste your pussy dripping on my tongue, I need to feel your pussy sucking my cock deeper inside you, your legs wrapped around my waist. I want to kiss your mouth as I pump into your body, and feel you shudder against me when you come."

The longer she's, quiet the more I feel her pulling away from me. She shakes her head. "I have to talk to Kevin first."

I'm drained, I don't fight her as she walks out.

# Chapter Five

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I walk out of the bathroom, blindly--my body screaming in agony, skin too hot and tight, my legs are made of jello beneath me. Kevin is waiting outside the bathroom, ignoring him, I keep walking. Making use of the fire exit, I leave the building to see I'm parked not far away.

"What's going on?"

"I'm going home. If you don't follow me, don't bother coming at all." I spit out the words. He's shocked, yet he doesn't argue, the drive home is long. I don't have to ask him. I know the truth. Max didn't lie, he didn't need to but it didn't change my mind about him. Even though I know I'm going to end things with Kevin. Max is another story completely. I couldn't accept terms based on sex alone. Not with a manwhore who probably wouldn't be able to remember my name a year from now. Even if my body begged me to say yes, just this once, certain Max would fulfill his every promise. I'm too afraid of what would come after that promised, what-a simple fuck, a night, would I even last a week? If I'm feeling this soul craving need without even being in his bed, what would I be like after? I'm not brave enough to take the chance to find out.

I pull into the garage. I'm closing the door as Kevin enters from outside. "What's going on?"

"You're fucking Lindsey and some other woman, and you're going to get your shit and leave tonight."

"What the fuck are you talking about? Of course, I'm not fucking Lindsey! Why the hell would you think something like that? Did Max tell you I cheated? I swear on our future kid's life, it's not true. Max would do anything to break us up, if he wanted you, lying is the smallest thing. I love you, Sarah! How could you think I'd fuck someone else when I have you?" No, fucking hell. He looks completely sincere. How the hell could he look sincere? Because I've wondered.

"What about all the time you've been spending 'with the guys' when they made it pretty clear they weren't buddy-buddy when they came to our home? You've been distant, you haven't been sleeping in our bed. We haven't had sex in almost five months!"

"Jesus, I love you and respect you. Sex isn't important when I'm worried about losing my job, then when I do, I don't feel like a real man. The guys aren't into showing off. I'm working to become a part of the group. Sarah, my life is you--one hundred percent. Look, if it makes you this upset, we'll move the date up for the wedding. You and my mom can start planning. We'll just do something smaller, less expensive."

I don't know anymore. Now, looking into his eyes without him blinking, looking as stunned as I felt when Max told me, the doubts well up. "Max says you and Lindsey are fired as of tomorrow because you still aren't selling--because you're too focused on your affair and not getting work done."

His eyes go wide. He shakes his head. "That's awful. I've had sales, no not as many as I should if I wanted to show what I'm made of. Lindsey has been helping me, she's been giving me first dibs under the table. I'll find another job though, and Lindsey is a big girl, she can take care of herself. Hey, come here. I love you, you're the only woman I care about. Let's have an early night."

He seems so sincere, not a hint of guilt. I'm lost in confusion, with doubts whirling around me. I let him lead me down the hall. I let him kiss me while undressing me. I let him touch me. As always, I ask him to wear a condom because I've never trusted him, not completely. Unfazed, he nods, coating the condom in KY. He settles over me pushing inside and I close my eyes. Since it's been months, and I'm tense, his entry isn't easy, he fumbles. My body doesn't seem to want him inside, resisting his every movement. Unbidden Max pushing his cock into the very heart of me flashes and I gasp. I don't open my eyes though, I keep them squeezed shut as I imagine Max above me.

I've touched myself while thinking of him, since the first day. Every time I did it, I promised it would be the last, but he's all I can think of. Now Max is whispering how much he needs and wants me. I kept his voicemails and play them more than I would ever admit, needing the connection to him, unwilling to delete them. I know I'll play them again soon, the craving deep within to hear Max demanding for me to come to him nearly overwhelming. When I can't take it anymore, I fake an orgasm. Kevin comes quickly shaking over me and Max is gone. Kevin rolls off me and for the first time ever, holds me close as he falls asleep.

I feel sick, my stomach churning, I escape from Kevin's arms, fleeing into the bathroom. Hands shaking, I turn on the shower as high as I can take it, but it doesn't work. The water doesn't wash away the memory of Kevin's touch. Out of the bathroom I grab my phone and hide in the spare bedroom. Max's voicemails play loud on speakerphone as I huddle under the sheets in tears I can't stop. What the hell is happening to me? Why do I feel like I just cheated on Max with my fiance?

# Chapter Six

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I don't get any sleep, a part of me held out hope she wouldn't give in. Lying there in bed alone, I was sure any moment the phone would ring. But it never did. Sarah isn't stupid-she knew, I saw it in her eyes. Why she chose to believe him, I don't know. Lindsey throws it in my face the next day, as she walked out of the office flipping me the bird. My teeth grinding, I pick up my phone and make a call. The call only lasts about five minutes and pays off only two days later. The time in between drags by. So what, if this is the only way I can get her. She will pay for putting us both through this hell.

When the call comes through, my entire body tightens in anticipation. The guy is thorough enough he knows Sarah isn't home, and won't be for another two hours. I don't care, I can't take another minute waiting in my office. I let him know I'll drop by and pick up my package in about twenty minutes.

Once I'm done there, I drive out to Sarah's in Plano. The drive feels like it takes forever, the clock tells me a half-hour. I park outside her place, closing my eyes as my mind ticks down the clock. I pat my pocket, finding my condoms, all six from the sleeve are there.

Plano being Plano, I'm roused from daydreams about Sarah's body only twenty minutes after I've parked. The cop is nice, once he recognizes me from a benefit he worked a few months back. He waves as he leaves. I go back to watching for Sarah. Her garage door opens a few seconds before I spot her SUV. Giving her a few minutes, I grab the envelope as I get out of the car. Every passing second, my tension is going up, I pound on her door. I can feel her eyes on me. "Damn it, Sarah, open the fucking door!"

The door opens, she's there, looking angry and scared. Pushing open the door, she falls back--moving away from me. "Max, please go."

Her refusal to look at me pisses me off. I tear open the envelope. "I told you, you knew the truth the second I said the words. Still you took him back. This wasn't the way I wanted things to go, just remember that. Here he is fucking Lindsey on his lunch break the very next day. Less than twenty-four hours after he swore he loved you and only you, he's fucking someone else. Then last night, here's the married woman. Are the pictures not enough, do you want to watch the video? From what the investigator told me they only last a few minutes and aren't impressive. Will it convince you, or will it turn you on?"

She sways, I catch her, my hands at her hips hold her in place against me. Tears are in her eyes. Fuck, I'm hard, from seeing her green eyes swimming like jewels. "I don't understand why."

"Why, what?" Catching her chin, I bring her eyes up to meet mine when she tries to look away.

"Why do you want me?" Her breath catches, she sounds genuinely confused.

"Are you serious? Haven't I been telling you from the beginning how fucking sexy you are? I'm not dickhead Kevin, I'm not going to answer for his stupidity. How many times do I have to tell you? This isn't about tomorrow or marriage and forever, this is about sex, gut-churning, body shaking enough your teeth rattle, sex. You are beautiful and sexy, any man would want you for more than a half-dozen reasons. There's only one reason I want you, to fuck. That will have to be enough for you, is it or not?"

# Chapter Seven

Damn him! I want to scream no, because it isn't, not by a long shot, I want forever--but not with him. Except my body isn't listening. Feeling his warm hard body up against mine just makes the wanting worse. The feel of his cock pressing against me is making me crazy. I want him inside me, making me cry out like he promised. He can't know any of it, he knows too much already. Since I can't say speak, I don't say anything. Instead, in anger, in desperation, I grasp his shirt yanking him down to me. Thankfully, Max understands. Groaning my name as oh, my fucking, god, he's arms go around me then under me. Bending down, he lifts me up, pressing his cock into the heart of me. My legs go around his waist instinctively, as he carries me down the hall into my room.

The world spins, then I feel the bed against my back and his hard body is pressing into me. Body screaming, my hips rock against him--begging without words for more. Max's body, I once thought would be overwhelming is perfection against mine. At last, I'm touching him, really touching him. His skin is silky smooth at his neck. Then my fingers tangle in soft, thick hair. Hot, dear lord, the heat of him is like a furnace against me. More, I need more, yet Max's mouth is demanding, unending, until my head swims, lost in the taste of him. Every muscle is melting, my arms become too heavy to hold up. As his mouth leaves mine I moan, I'm not sure if it's from loss or relief.

Eyelids heavy, they flutter open to see Max tossing his shirt on the floor, not caring where it lands. Holy, freaking crap his body is gorgeous! I'm barely breathing as I wait to see all of him. Another shock shoots through as I realize, no freaking way, my pussy is actually tingling. Then his hands go to his zipper, I struggle to sit up.

"Lie back, baby, I need you to not do a damned thing I don't tell you to do, until I'm inside you. You've driven me out of my fucking mind. I barely trust myself not to fuck you beyond rough. I don't want to make you afraid to let me back inside your pussy, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to need repeated fucking to get rid of this ache."

I can feel the flush run over not only my face, but my entire body. I'm not sure if he meant it to be a compliment, yet I take it as one. A stupid grin on my face, I fall back onto the bed. Not daring to look at what I'm dying to see as his hands rest on the tight silk boxers in black he's wearing. He grips my ankle hard, I startle as he pulls off my shoe then my socks. My toes curl in preparation, I'm squirming, worried about the time when I'm naked in front of him. Does he know? He does, hovering above me, the look on his face is exasperation. Shaking his head, he leans down until his face is barely an inch from mine.

"Don't, don't even think it. I'm so fucking hard, I'm in pain because of you. This body is making me hard, your sweet green eyes and your damned luscious ass are all I've been thinking about over the past few weeks. If you need any proof-here it is."

I tremble at the feel of him pressing into my stomach. Oh, my god, oh, my god he feels impressive. Holy shit, will he fit? All thoughts about my body are gone in an instant as I think of him inside me.

Max chuckles as he presses a light kiss against my lips. "I'll fit, baby." When he stands up, he takes both my scrub pants and my panties with him. "Damn, you are one bundle of surprises. Bare? I never would have imagined it. Sexy as fuck."

Red washes over me again. There is no way I'm going to admit a doctor's suggestion is why I did it, to prevent painful ingrown hairs. It takes a minute to realize he hasn't moved. Still a little worried, my head goes up to find him. He's simply looking at me while he slowly caresses himself. Holy fuck, there is no way all of his penis is going to fit. I don't care if I've studied the human body and know, on one level, it should. As a woman who has never once enjoyed even having a barely average penis inside me, I'm pretty sure there is no way I'm not going to scream like a banshee when he tries to enter me. Am I really getting wetter at the sight of him touching himself? I am. "Max?"

I've startled him. "Fuck, I'm sorry. You are beyond fucking sexy. I want you so badly I'm in pain. I don't trust myself to be close to you and still go slow. Finish undressing for me. Please."

Maybe it's the way he says the words, so softly I barely hear him, or the way he closes his eyes tight as he squeezes the base of his penis repeatedly to keep control. I'm oddly humbled by his request. Sitting up, I pull off the soft, worn, scrub top, tossing it away. I'm thankful I'm wearing a pretty, silky bra in pink. His intake of breath is clear as I slide it down my arms. I swallow against the painful lump appearing from nowhere in my throat. How did he do it? How did he turn me from an overweight, inhibited girl to feeling like I'm a sexy woman?

This gorgeous, sexy man wants me, my body, to enjoy the sheer pleasure of me. I'm overwhelmed from the thrill and sheer shock. My next move is something I never would have even imagined doing before, this man made me feel desired. In the moment, it feels as natural as breathing. Sliding my hands beneath my breasts, large at a D cup, lifting them in offering. A thumb toying, stroking each tight nipple. "Don't you want to touch me? My pussy is aching and wet for you."

Letting loose a growl low in his chest, he moves, in an instant I'm on my back again. Hungry, desperate, his mouth is on mine. The feel of his massive, hard body pressing into me makes me whimper from excitement. Ripping his mouth from mine, "Hiding all this time right beneath the surface, I knew it."

I swallow his words, pulling him back down. Capturing my wrists, he pries them from the back of his head. "No, you don't. I told you, baby, you need to lie back. Maybe the third or fourth round, you can touch, not this time."

A groan leaves me as he begins kissing my ear. Light, fluttering kisses are intermingled with gasp-inducing licks and nibbles before sucking lightly until I'm panting out his name. His only answer is to press his hard, dripping penis against my stomach causing my hips to rock forward in nature's inborn instinct. Now he's moaning into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Cursing, he disappears. Desperately, I'm moving to find him, only to feel his large hands slide over each hip.

"I wanted to try and go slow, but I just can't this time." A big hand slides between my knees parting them, while I squeeze my eyes shut. Warm air hits me there-all those dirty, naughty things Max has said come rushing back. He's reverently pressing a kiss against my mons. That causes all the shame pounded into me as a teenager to go up in flames. This isn't love, this isn't to make a child but it's no less a profoundly important moment-to either of us. Right or wrong didn't matter, had no place between the silk of our bodies meeting to slake a soul aching hunger. I open my legs wide while forcing air into starved lungs. A chuckle reaches me. "That's my girl."

Tongue wide, he slides it over my slit, taunting me as a few times he presses deeper into me. Max moans, the vibration sending me into shaking need. Answering my pleas, two fingers open me wide then he's there. His tongue is delving deeper with each lick, again, and again.

"Fuck, baby, you taste better than I dreamed. Don't you dare move, this pussy is going to be sitting on my face for hours at a time in the near future. I love your little moans, moan for me, baby. Louder, my cock can't hear you. Exactly what I want to hear. Keep it up, baby."

His words, dirty, naughty, surround me, sink into my skin, and pull me under into a torrent of need. Until the moment two large fingers begin pushing into me. A gasp escapes as I realize my body isn't fighting their entry, although they seem bigger than Kevin, there is no discomfort at all. My body is welcoming him inside, then he finds my clitoris and I forget the fingers, to squeal his name. Oh, god, this man is going to kill me, is my only thought, as he begins fucking me with those fingers as his mouth keeps up his assault on me. Faster now, he's moving in and out of me. I'm rushing headlong, blindly to my orgasm.

"It's okay, Sarah, let go. I'm right here to catch you."

At his urging, I let go and jump right off the edge of the world. Body shaking, my hips still working to meet his hands as they keep moving. I'm still trembling as Max moves up and over me. Hazily, I watch as he rolls a condom over his straining penis.

"Tell me, Sarah. What do you want?"

"You."

"Not good enough, my cock needs to hear you say it."

Closing my eyes tight. "I need you to," I stumble, I've never even thought the words let alone said them out loud. "I need you to fuck me."

"Such a sweet demand. I don't do sweet. My cock, feels left out. You're going to have to get dirtier, Sarah. What do you want?"

There is a part of me wanting to revolt, it's a small part though. I call her an idiot. "I want you to fuck me with your big, hard cock!"

"There she is, that's what I want to hear." His grin is satisfied. "Now, about these beautiful breasts of yours, I'm going to need you to go topless as often as possible to allow me to enjoy them often." The order comes as he covers a painfully hard nipple with his mouth, making me sigh his name. Lightly, he suckles to the edge of pain. Releasing me to give the same treatment to my other breast, I'm riding a wave of ecstasy when his cock nudges against my nether lips, relentlessly pressing into me.

My body welcomes him inside, shockingly, there is no pain, simply yielding, conforming to fit him as he pushes into me. Gone is fear, replaced by a quivering bone-deep, aching need to feel him completely inside me. Then he's slamming into me, amazing. He feels amazing, so deep nothing is between us. After the pain and discomfort of my past, how did he feel as if he belonged, as if he were a missing puzzle piece to me? Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I don't want him to move. Ever. Every ridge, every vein sears into my skin as if I'm being branded by him, for only him. Then he moves out of me and I cling in agony. He whispers an assurance he isn't going anywhere. Max proves it by pumping back into me, this time with a bone shattering force that has me gasping his name.

"That's it, Sarah, tell me who's fucking you. What man's cock is making your body burn, baby?"

"Max! Oh, god, Max!" I don't even consider denying him those words, too afraid he would stop.

"Fuck, yeah. Such a sweet, tight pussy you have. I'm going to change that. I'm going to be in this pussy until it fits me like a fucking glove. You like that, baby? I was going to apologize for fucking you this hard, except I'm not sorry, now I've seen how much you like it. Brace yourself, baby, it's about get harder."

"Yes, please, harder." I groan.

Max delivers on his promise, harder and harder he slams into my body. I can feel his control slipping in each thrust, more, I want more. He gives it to me. This time I don't need any urging, I let go. My orgasm hits me hard, with an almost painful body wracking force. In the back of my mind, I wait for him to finish as I lay shivering, yet he doesn't. He keeps moving until, with a groan of my name, he lets go. I get to watch him as his face hardens, turning into stone. I can feel him thicken then fill the condom. Everything is still until he rolls off me and off the bed. His hand goes up to grab the condom as he goes into the bathroom. Only a few seconds later he's back.

My bones are still mush, there is no resistance as he pulls me into his arms. I wouldn't have complained anyway, being held against his silky, hot, muscled body is heaven. "I fucking knew it. Underneath the prim, sweet cover is a sex goddess waiting to escape the confines of the bullshit you've been listening to for years. Best fuck I've had in ages, I'm warning you now, this will take a while to get out of my system."

I'm stunned by his honesty, humor, and by his desire to hold me in his arms. This isn't the way I thought things would go. In my previous fears, he's gone before I finish trembling. Body still pleasantly vibrating, I settle into his arms as he holds me close in spoon fashion, my back to him. Fearful of saying something that will ruin this or prevent round two or three from happening, I press my lips together until they go numb.

"No thinking, you are not allowed to think. Hell, right now I'm not either, because when I do, I think about the way you've made us both suffer over the last few weeks and I want to spank your ass until it's red."

Ughh, he makes me crazy, I try to roll away from him. I'm stopped by him squeezing me close. "I told you this isn't anything I know how to do. The one single time I tried to do a one-night stand turned into a nightmare. I vowed never to do it again."

# Chapter Eight

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She goes all tense and prickly in my arms, and even though I try to hold it back, a chuckle escapes me as I pull her tighter. I love this fire inside her, because I know she's worked hard to keep from showing it to anyone, she's becoming everything she was really meant to be. Damn, she feels good as she goes slack. My cock tingles lustily against her ass. "Another pleasant surprise. I'm going to say I'm glad you had the spunk to go after a man. One night because he couldn't do right by you, or one night because the dumbass didn't call you?"

"Oh, no, I had no business having sex in my stupidity. It was about being drunk and the last night before I left Madrid and came back to the states. There hadn't been a single really interesting thing to happen to me the whole trip. I stumbled into the bar--cut to an hour later--a bunch of drunken fumbling, pain, and embarrassment. In the end, his snoring three seconds after he collapsed on me relieved the hell out of me. That way he couldn't see me scramble out of there."

"Note to self, all-girl Catholic boarding schools are hell on earth. I just don't understand how you bought the shit they were selling, when I've seen the fire and intelligence in your eyes, which had to have told you they were shoveling bullshit."

"Your guy dug into me, too?"

I refuse to apologize. "Hell, yes. Any way to help me figure you out, I'm going to take. It explains a lot, not everything, but a lot. Why didn't you kick Kevin out?" I need to fucking understand why. Feeling her stiffen again, she sighs then shakes her head. "Why the fuck did you take him back?"

"You don't understand. Kevin gave an Oscar winning performance. Shock over the accusation, hurt that I believed you. Confusion overtook me completely, because I did believe you. You allowed me to listen to all the doubts I've had in the past few months. What could I say? I didn't believe him, instead, I believed a man I'd just met, over him a man I've built a life alongside for almost five years. And-I was scared, okay.

"I'll admit it. If I broke up with him-then came the end. The end of my one shot of having the life I've always wanted, the dreams that had kept me going in that hell-hole of a school and it terrified me. Unlike you, the thought of marriage, family, the boring minutiae of it all it appeals to me. Kevin seemed like my one and only shot at that life. He knew how I felt, what I wanted. He used all of my wants and fears against me to keep me in line. Until I realized it wasn't me he wanted, he wanted my money.

"That night I didn't get any sleep. I got to thinking about when he changed. Last year he found out the money paid out monthly from the trust stops when a woman marries. The lawyer called it protection to keep fortune hunters away and apparently it worked. Kevin actually accused me of hiding it from him as if I were hiding a communicable disease or something. He went quiet, and became withdrawn, I know now that's when he started cheating. Stupidly, I really didn't make the connection. We had just started doing wedding stuff, I thought it was cold feet. Then his best friend died, after the funeral he was the same old Kevin, at least he tried to be.

"When I realized everything, I knew it didn't matter because I would rather be alone than with someone I couldn't trust. After knowing how easily he lied, I would be miserable, wondering every day when his next affair would start. How long could something last when all he cared about was money?

"Then this weird calm came over me, I knew I needed to end it." A bitter laugh ends in a sigh. "I thought of a private investigator, of trying to catch him in the act. Then all of that went right out the window. I knew, that's the only thing that mattered. Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to be tested for STDs in the hospital you work in? The shame and embarrassment of knowing the nurse who promised to put a rush on it because she knew you? A pitiful pat on the back as she tried to assure you everything would be good. Her relief, just as great as mine, when everything came back negative. I've never felt anger like I did then, for him putting me through that.

"I changed the locks yesterday. Tomorrow I'm taking the easy way out by sending him a text. He'll talk circles around me until I won't know what way is up, turning me into a wreck. I'm not going through any of that. Supposedly, he's in Houston at his parent's family and due back tomorrow, however, as your private investigator proved--he lied again. Last night I boxed up his stuff. I didn't feel any sadness, only relief."

There isn't any sadness in her voice, no tears over her decision. Only a trace of wistfulness appeared as she talked about family. My relief is because she made the decision not based on seeing me as a better alternative. "I wondered where the ring went. I'm glad you finally get there's more out there than Kevin. It's still hard to figure out where this whole thought process of Kevin being the be all and end all came from. Do you not look in the fucking mirror?"

She tries to get away again--I'm not letting go--pulling back as much as she can in my arms to look up at me. Her bright green eyes are piercing as if she's trying to read my mind. The little furrow between her eyes disappears. "You are only the third person besides Kevin to hit on me in my entire life. When I met Kevin, the word overweight doesn't come close to describing me. I've only lost weight in the last three years and the only person to hit on me since then is you."

Now she's sad. "Bullshit." She's back to looking me in the eye. "Sarah, you are a fucking babe in the woods when it comes to sex and the appeal you have. I'm guessing there are a boatload of people out there who have hit on you, yet you thought they were talking about the fucking weather. You have the face of a fucking Madonna, your eyes are beautiful, they sparkle or dim depending on your mood. Baby, you don't even need makeup, with cheekbones round and high and I never would have said a nose is graceful but yours is. Long and thin, it fits perfectly above a wide sexy as fuck mouth that begs a man for long hours of kissing.

Then there's your body. Fucking gorgeous, look at me, look at how hard your body makes my cock. I love your tits, high, perfectly round and that's with your clothes on. This curve of your waist fits my hand perfectly, soft, silky, right to the cute hollow of your belly button. Don't even get me started on this perfectly round ass of yours. I'm a tit man but this ass of yours makes my cock hard every time I think of it."

Keeping a rein on my body is hard, yet I need to. A part of me worries her earlier response was just a fluke, especially after she talked about Kevin. Another reason I usually skip post-coital chit-chat. Only I need, want, her to know how beautiful she is. Under all those layers of propriety and Catholic school guilt is a sexual goddess waiting to be unleased and I want her off her leash. When I end it, it will be easier for her to think of the men that will be there waiting after me. Slowly, keeping my touch light, I've been tracing every part of her as I spoke. At first, there was a wave of light pink on her cheeks, yet she's remained still, her eyes locked with mine. Held rapt by my words--I love she isn't hiding, no more blushes, my sweet little sex goddess.

My fingers slide over her hairless mound, her eyes close as she trembles beneath me. Rubbing little circles draws out a small moan. "I love hearing you moan, your voice usually all light and tinkling goes deep, almost as if it's coming from the center of you, baby. We haven't even made it to your legs." I chuckle as her hips jerk. "You don't want to hear how much I love how long your legs are? How your ankles start sweet then your legs get sexier inch by inch until I want to see you, at least once, naked in high heels. I want to enjoy the view before they are wrapped around my waist while I fuck you."

"Max," Her voice dripping in sex, the same way the slit of her pussy is dripping, makes my cock jerk to attention. "I would normally love to hear this. Right now all I can think is there are better things you could be doing with your mouth."

Laughter spills out in surprise, this woman is a treasure. Right now, she's all mine. "Very true, princess, I promised my mouth would be the throne you sat on, and I keep my promises."

I love it, I've shocked her by picking her up until she's over my mouth. There's a moment where she struggles. "No, princess, hang on to my hair and enjoy the ride." Parting her lower lips, my tongue slips inside her to taste the already steady stream of juice. Christ, I'd wondered if the taste of her the first time was an initial desire to fulfill the long dreamed of moment, but no she tastes as exquisite as ever. A ripe mango, sweet, yet a hint of tartness, I could become addicted to her. She gasps my name as she follows my instructions, her inhibitions disappearing instantly. I watch as a hand goes up to a breast, twisting and tweaking the hardened nipple. Her whole body is writhing above me, lost in the throes of passion, she's sexier than any woman I've ever had. Us, this thing, won't end today, tomorrow or maybe a few weeks from now. This witch has crawled under my skin until I don't where I end and she begins. Right now, I don't doubt it will take weeks to get her out my system, maybe even months. I'm not worried, like all women, soon her appeal will wane, it just hasn't yet.

I'm drowning in her sweet juices as she begins to rock on my face now, both her hands are in my hair. My name is a whisper on her lips that she keeps repeating. I know what she wants, yet I don't give it to her, I want her begging. Longer I draw her out until she's crying my name. Hands on her hips I pull up her up and off. "Beg me, Sarah. Tell me what you want."

Looking down she sees my face covered in her juices. There's no blush as she bends down and holy hell my cock is jumping as she kisses me long, slow, and deep, her velvet tongue wrapping around mine. "Please, Max, let me come."

"Since you asked nicely." Settling her back over me, I enjoy one last taste of her before I wrap my tongue around her clit, sending her whole body into deep shuddering convulsions. I catch her as she falls, laying her body on mine.

Her arms go up around my neck as she snuggles into me. I refuse to consider how in the past I rarely do the cuddling thing. This time is different. I've never been made to wait two days, let alone two weeks.

She's quiet. I like how she doesn't feel the need to fill the quiet, chattering all the time. My hands can't stop roaming over her body, the need to touch her almost compulsive. Her ass draws me, I keep coming back again, shaping, soothing then trailing my fingers over those round soft cheeks. "Max?"

"Hmm?"

"I've definitely never done that and umm, I'm not sure I want to?"

"Are you sure?" I tease.

Her furrow is back between her eyes. When she sees the smile on my face, she frowns. "I don't know."

"I'll tell you what, baby, if I'm interested in something I'll check first. Right now, I'm just enjoying having you in my arms."

"Oh," She hides her face in my chest.

I tug her long hair back until she can meet my eyes. "Hey, Sarah, I get it. This is different, you've never done this. How about we just take each day as it comes? I'm going to want you to put all those inhibitions in the fireplace then take a match to them. The fire inside you, you try to fight, I like it, feel free to let it out. How about a few ground rules then the rest we make up as we go along? While we're fucking, there's no one else, for either of us. As a fair warning, I like sex. I'm going to need you often."

"How often is often?" Her question is curious not wary.

"With you, pretty damned often, probably at least five or six time a week. Another thing, I think I've covered this enough, you thinking you aren't sexy enough is over. Also, I never spend the night, or allow it at my place. I think it keeps things cleaner that way and I like my space. Another thing, from what I remember, Kevin mentioned you work a lot of overtime. I'm selfish and I won't apologize for it. While I'm selfish, I also don't want to have to worry about you getting enough rest while still having time to spend in my bed."

She shrugs. "Don't worry, Max, I got the message loud and clear long before I met you. You've only reinforced it. Just sex until you find someone more interesting. I never thought I would say it, but I think this is what I need right now, just a rebound fling. It's nice to be wanted and it's enough for now. I'm relieved you only want one person at time and certainly not a problem for me. As far as the overtime goes, I never needed it. It was a way to get out of house. There will be times when a fellow nurse will need someone to fill in. I won't volunteer the way I used to. Actually, last week I was offered a schedule change, four days at ten hours and three days off. I told them I needed to think about it. Mainly because it starts at seven and I would need to be up by five to get there on time. I'm not a huge morning person, but I'll take it."

Sarah's easy acceptance of our situation releases a tension in me I hadn't even realized had formed. She's tracing the orange longhorn tattoo in the middle of my chest. "You went to UT?"

I don't know if I've ever laughed as often as I do with her. She doesn't know my history and I like that. My chuckle leaves a stain of red over her cheeks. "Yes, I was a defensive tackle. All through high school, I had a coach ride my ass to join the team. When he hit up my mom behind my back, she told me to join the team because she had no way of sending my ass to college. Sophomore year, I hit the field and the gym. I wasn't your typical Texas kid who had football running through my veins, so I took no joy from playing. My dad used to take me to games. Instead of the father son bonding time I thought we were sharing, he only wanted to show off his illegitimate kid to the press, and rub his wife's face in it. She had only given him four girls, not the son he wanted. When I figured it out, I stopped wanting to go. After he died, I never wanted to go to another game. Apparently, joy didn't factor because it got me into UT on a full ride. I managed to land a razor campaign after graduation. The money from that helped me get my company started. So I never had to depend on football again."

Instead of the pity I expect, she scrunches her face. I go still in shock as I realize I've talked about my father with a woman, something I haven't done in almost twenty years. "You need a driver's license for a car, yet any idiot can make a baby. Before proceeding to inflict all their faults and foibles onto a poor kid who has no idea the world isn't full of selfish, manipulative, assholes, parents should at least have to take classes. I used to blame all my insecurities and faults on the boarding school, and although I know it didn't help, I'm sure it kept me away from drugs and out of the gutter.

"Neither one of my parents seemed to remember they even had kids, no hugs and kisses ever, no getting tucked into bed. It felt like it was just my brother and me. My father was a drug addict who overdosed when I was nine. My mom wasn't any better. She was always at work, never home. When my dad died, she handed my brother and me to my grandmother, my grandmother handed her a check. Which I guess worked out, since my mom drank herself to death at the age of thirty-four, when I was only fourteen. As bad as the boarding school was, in the end, I'm pretty sure it's the only reason I'm still here. Did your dad taking you to the games help when you got to play?"

Her easy telling of a nightmare childhood floors me. "Yeah, I guess. I knew what I needed to do. What separated an okay defensive tackle from a good one. You have a brother?"

Now she's tense. I hug her close, her arms slide around my neck. "A twin, actually, but... he doesn't want to talk to me. I knew he was gay since forever, but apparently, things came out in a real bad way. He was kicked out of school then cut off by my grandmother. I never knew anything about what happened until I turned eighteen and was able to talk to the lawyer in charge of the trust. We wrote each incessantly, then one day the letters stopped coming, my grandmother refused to talk about him. I begged the lawyer to tell me where he was, but attorney-client privilege kept him from saying anything. I left a letter with the lawyer, who promised my brother would get it. Any day I thought, then days became weeks, nothing ever came. The only reason I joined Facebook, getting on every few months, was to do a search on him. From time to time, I considered hiring a private investigator, yet since he didn't answer my letter, deep down I knew he would hate me doing it.

"Finally, about six years ago, I found him by searching under my mother's maiden name. I wrote this long rambling, pleading note to him. Weeks went by until I get this response asking me not to contact him again. The past was too painful to remember and I was a part of his past. He wished me well. I'm sorry, I don't mean to cry on you."

"Don't apologize, that sounds tough. Do you not have any family at all?"

"I had an uncle who lived in Australia. Never met him, he committed suicide when I was six. My grandmother didn't enjoy motherhood the first time around, which is why she sent my brother and me to boarding school. She died when I was eighteen, still in school. My mother never talked about her family, maybe her dad once or twice."

I don't say a word, just hug her tighter. Like tumblers from a lock, everything clicks into place. Drug addicted father, drunk mother, a once-close twin brother--as dysfunctional as her younger years were, it was a semblance of a family. Then to lose it all before being tossed into a sterile, cold, school. I understand her now, all she wanted was the family she once lost. I hope she gets it. It just won't be with me.

# Chapter Nine

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Max doesn't say anything, and I'm scared I've ruined the moment. I just want to shrivel up into a ball of misery. Even though I'm new to this whole just sex thing, sharing family history seems like a no go area. Except that, he did it first and had been so nonchalant though he clearly hurt. Yet, he's not tense or moving away, his hands are still slowly tracing over my skin and gradually his touch takes the fear away.

Today's a day of surprises that just keep coming, better than I had dared hoped. He hadn't needed to tell me twice, inhibitions burned to a crisp in the fire in his eyes as he looked at me. I wanted to do everything and anything he wanted me to because he made me feel like the sexiest woman he'd ever touched. I'm thankful he didn't stop coming after me.

He made me want to sing from the highest mountaintop, to smile nonstop, to do anything, try everything I was too inhibited to before. I once believed love was the only thing that could make a person feel this way. Maybe it wasn't the love of another person, rather the ability to love yourself and believe in yourself. Bizarre because at work, when it came to the right thing to do in an emergency I never doubted myself, ever. Yet in my personal life, I became all tied up in self-doubt over the smallest thing. Not anymore, all because of Max. He gave that to me, it feels only right to give him back all I could.

I remember my shock at the way he laid me on top of him, that I fit and how natural it felt. He's large, yet so very, very, firm. I'm pretty sure there isn't an inch of him that is soft. Running a hand over his chest, I find a Texas longhorn tattoo in the middle of his chest. I wonder if he has any other tattoos. No more tattoos, six pack, check. I find an appendectomy scar, thin and faded. Hmm, no tan lines. I'm almost to his hip when a large hand comes around my wrist.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Oh my, his cock knows where I'm going. "Just checking if you had any other tattoos?" I rock my hip against his hardening cock.

I'm rolled underneath him in a flash, making my head swim. He captures my lower lip between his teeth and sucks until I forget all about tattoos and my name. Every time I think he couldn't kiss better--he does. By the time he lifts his head, I'm mush again. "I do believe I told you that I am off limits, maybe the third maybe even fourth time. You have put me through all kinds of hell. It's only fair to return the favor."

It shouldn't, it really shouldn't, yet the thought of Max going through hell longing over me puts a goofy grin on my face. He sees it. He isn't amused. Instantly, I'm contrite. "I'm sorry, Max. Why don't I make it up to you?"

"You will, I'll make sure of that." His voice is deep and gravely, traveling down to the heart of me, making me squirm in anticipation.

"How do I get to make it up to you?" I'm aware my sexual knowledge is sorely lacking. Max makes me want to make up for lost time. I have every confidence his education will be expert level. Crazy how only days ago, you would have needed to put thumbscrews to me simply to get me to admit I found him attractive. No, he isn't one of the slim, blonds I've mooned over in the past. I wonder if it's part of his fascination. His large build, strength, commanding personality, his dark to the light I had previously found attractive, made me want to inspect every inch of him to find out in what other ways he's different. I had already been more than impressed by how large his...god, how can I blush just thinking of the word he demanded from me? I've seen it, and heard it before, but actually begging for his cock, massively thick and large, is completely worth it.

There are dark, thick hairs around his flat interesting looking nipple that is slowly hardening beneath my curious finger. I'm pretty sure how straightforward Max is about sex being a basic necessity, without all the hang-ups, is the reason. I genuinely am not thinking of Max in terms of anything other than right now and sex. After years of faking it and counting down the minutes until Kevin was done, I don't want anything more than to enjoy the pleasures Max promised.

There's a teeny, tiny part of me the nuns still held sway over by calling me a slut, sinner, whore. Only, the muscles flinching beneath silky skin as large hands cup my ass, squeezing, and have me moaning--make the words disappear like a mirage in the desert. As I moan and rub my tingling breasts against his lightly hair-roughened chest, the only thing I can think of is this moment.

"Now that you've finally embraced how much you want me. Are you ready to pay for making us both wait for so long?"

In a huff, I sigh, pushing up onto my elbows to look down at him. Christ, his muscles are hurting my elbows. "I'm not going to apologize for taking all of a day to adjust to this situation. Now that I've adjusted, you don't have to be smug and bossy about it."

"Bullshit, you get wet as fuck when I'm bossy." He rolls me under him. His cock is pressing into me, demanding entrance. I don't even hesitate, I open my legs wider to let him in. "God damn it! Not going to happen, don't make this more painful on me. You are too damned tight to take me again. If I hadn't known about Kevin, I would have thought you were a damned virgin. No way am I going to take you again this soon. I could end up hurting you, not happening now. You'll adjust to having my hard cock in you all night, but not now."

It's cruel the way he can make me soaking wet at his words as he looks like he's discussing the weather. Then he takes my mouth in a hard, fierce kiss, telling me he's in as much need as I am. His hands grab my wrists, pushing them above my head. Moving achingly slow, his cock moves between the valley of my breasts. "Don't move, be a good girl." He whispers, before letting go of my wrists. Desperate to follow directions I have no doubt will lead to pleasure, I'm entirely focused on not moving.

Oh, oh, this man is beyond gifted. Max presses my large breasts together and begins fucking the valley he's made. His hard, impressive cock forces my body to accept him anywhere he wants. Why does the sight of him make my mouth as wet as my pussy, as I long to taste his cock? I've seen naked men before, never have I longed to study, and dear lord, taste every inch like I want his. From the perfectly shaped mushroom flared head to the pussy aching thick length rippling with veins I find it fascinating. Leaking precome profusely, he moves easily, even as he pushes my breasts closer together, flicking my engorged nipples lightly then roughly until I cry out. His tempo grows faster until finally he slides closer to my mouth where I catch his perfectly shaped head, licking the tip as I suck the few inches I'm able to get my mouth around.

"Fuck!" Hisses out of him yet he doesn't move. Taking his unspoken hint, I luxuriate in tasting the head of him, long slow licks. Hmm... unlike anything I've ever tasted. I want more. Kevin had asked once. His small pink shriveled penis made me gag before I even got near him. He had never asked again. Every lick and fierce suck has my own pussy leaking from need. "Fuck!" Max falls over me, catching his weight on arms trembling from the weight of him. Now he's completely over me. Instinct has me moving my hands down to my breasts to keep them around his cock as he continues to move between them.

"Perfect, you are absolutely perfect for me. Tighter, baby, just like that." His strokes are faster now, every slide up I catch the head of his cock, sucking hard as he moves out of my mouth. "I'm coming, fuck! I'm coming." He pants as he tries to move off me. I catch his cock with my hands. Stroking as he had while he watched me, my grip fierce as he tries to pull away. A growl comes from his chest above me, surrounding me as his cock begins spurting his come. Thick and white, three then four times his come covers me. Every hot creamy spray has my own pussy squeezing tight in agony that his cock isn't inside me.

Holy shit, even limp his cock makes me ache with need. I can't stop running my hands over him, learning every ridge and vein. Then suddenly he's gone as he rolls off me onto his back. "Hey!"

I love his throaty chuckles. "I told you, baby, you'll be paying me back. I love how well you've taken to licking and sucking my cock that bodes well for the both of us. Still, even I need a moment to recoup." He's off the bed again. Although I wonder I where he's going, I'm more interested in the creamy come he's left on me.

Curious, I coat a finger in his come before licking it clean. Huh, it's certainly not the best thing I've ever tasted, yet not nearly as bad as I feared, after listening to other woman complain.

"Fucking hell." I look up to see Max watching me then clench his eyes closed. "You surprise the shit out of me every time I turn around. That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen in my life."

It's intoxicating, the way this gorgeous man is genuinely turned on by me. He inspires me to push him even further. His eyes open as I take another swipe of come from my body, sucking my finger clean. Oh my, another growl emerges from his thick chest as he clears the distance between us in seconds. I'm forced onto my back by the large hand around my neck squeezing lightly in warning. The hand around my neck doesn't concern me in the slightest, it's the cold cloth cleaning his come from my body that makes squirm. "Behave, even my cock needs a rest, you sex-starved greedy little minx."

The heat of his breath against the shell of my ear pulls a moan from my throat, or maybe it's how slowly he runs the cloth first over my stomach then over my breasts. "Max." I don't even know what I'm asking for, yet I trust he'll know how to make me feel better.

Tossing the cloth on the bedside table, he's squeezing my neck lightly. "How can I deny such a sweet little plea?" I moan at the loss of his weight on my body as he moves off, barely covering me now, only a hairy, heavy leg weighing me down. "You liked my cock, baby?" The hand around my throat slides slowly up to cup my chin, forcing me to face him.

His eyes are intent, capturing me in his gaze. "Yes, I loved your cock."

"Tell me, Sarah, baby, tell me exactly what you loved." His hand slides down my neck, his thumb caressing the throbbing pulse.

"I love how you taste. I didn't think I would. I can't wait to taste you again. You're so hard and hot, yet softer than any silk I've ever felt." Cupping a heavy breast, Max presses a light kiss against my throbbing nipple causing my breath to hitch. His teeth catch me before sucking fiercely. I can't breathe, it takes a moment to realize Max has stopped.

"Tell me." He whispers against my breast.

"I love how your cock feels in my hands. I can't wait until you fuck my mouth. I want your cock deep in my throat, your come filling my mouth." Another nip of teeth grazes my throbbing nipple as a large hand cups my pussy. "Max, please, I need your cock in my pussy again. I promise I don't care if hurts." I really don't, I need him inside me. I'm in agony. Fighting the urge to rock my hips against him is painful.

Thick fingers rub over the mound of my pussy then slip inside, easily finding just how wet I am. He takes his fingers away to coat my nipples again, and again, sucking me clean each time. Then he adds a third finger, fucking into my tight channel--three hard thrusts--just enough to drive me crazy. I almost scream when he stops to suck on a coated nipple. As he lets my nipple fall from his mouth, I can't keep back a high keening cry.

Max's mouth covers mine, his kiss gentle as he tries to soothe my fevered need. His fingers don't stop this time, deeper they pump into me. It isn't his cock, like I want badly, yet they give me more pleasure than any other man's cock but his has. I'm unable to stop my hips from rocking up to meet his fingers. My orgasm is fast approaching, making me frantic, yet Max's kiss is still soothing, still gentle. When I explode, shattering apart, Max's mouth is the only port in the tornado of emotions swirling inside me. Slowly, the riot in me calms beneath his velvet tongue.

I don't remember falling asleep. My alarm goes off and as I roll over to turn off the alarm my body protests in ways it never has before. The aching deep inside feels amazingly right. Looking around I see I'm alone. There is no surprise, in fact, I'm relieved. There isn't a hint of remorse or guilt about last night. I'm actually already looking forward to next time. But I'm not at all sure how the morning after is supposed to go and have no desire to fumble through it.

Rolling out of bed, I stretch, reveling in all the memories coming back from every ache and protest. It isn't until I open the door to the bathroom I realize the shower is going. The sight of Max, filling what I once believed a fairly large shower stall, is the kind of sexy that has me wet all over again. He turns, washing the shampoo from his hair and opens his eyes to look right at me. His grin is pure invitation to sin. I cross the floor quickly as the shower door opens. Okay, maybe the morning after isn't so bad.

"You have no idea how badly I wanted to wake you up this morning. Your skin all glowing, your body soft, and welcoming." Pulling me into his arms, his hold is loose but his kiss is voracious. If it weren't for his arms around me, I would be in a pile on the floor when his mouth leaves mine. "How long do you have until work?"

Work, right, I couldn't care less. "As long as I leave in about an hour I should be good. I've never been late before, but I'm feeling very open to trying new things."

# Chapter Ten

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Damn, her smile is as bright as sunshine on a Texas July day. Sleep tousled, uninhibitedly naked, she's sexy as fuck. I'm instantly hard. It doesn't matter I'd woken up in a cold sweat only a half hour ago. I'd broken my most basic rule, no sleeping over. How had I slept the whole night without waking up? I've never slept as deeply as I did with her, and I felt completely recharged. Shock held me still a solid minute. I went stiff in fear I had fucked up majorly. Then Sarah snuggled closer into me, letting out a soft little moan. Normally, it would have sent me flying off the bed, yet the feel of her against me not only calmed my fear, she made my cock as hard as a rock, the need to be inside her again fierce. I told myself I stayed to fuck her again this morning. After wanting her for so long, I deserved to begin my morning off with a very good fuck.

Fuck, she learned fast. Her kisses had been cutely untutored, now her tongue knew exactly how to entice the response she wanted. Pulling her away, I turn her to face the wall of the back of shower. She moans my name, yet knows enough not to go against my will. I like how quickly she learned, everything. Her ass has been something I've wanted an undisturbed view of for some time. Going down on my knees my fingers play with her pussy until she's leaking down her inner thighs. My entire body clenches when she begs. "Please, Max, fuck me with your cock. My pussy feels so empty."

I stand, grabbing one of the two condoms I had brought in with me and stowed within easy reach. She turns her head to watch me, eyes big with excitement she pushes her ass toward me in invitation. Fuck, this woman is every man's wet dream. My cock covered, I run the tip along her wet slit making sure she can take my cock easily.

Damn, her ass is gorgeous, round and full, fitting my hands perfectly. I allow myself a handful and a quick squeeze, then grip her hips. Pushing inside, it hadn't been my intention, but my cock slams deep until I hear the slap of her ass against me. Fuck, fuck, her pussy is clenching around my cock. Considering Sarah is already tighter than anyone I've ever fucked, if she keeps this up I'll come too damned fast for either of us to enjoy the moment.

I grip her hips tighter, slamming into her hard, fucking her mercilessly, trying to gain control. It works, thank god, she's almost limp as she whimpers. Now that she's too weak to cling to me from the inside, my thrusts are slower, gentler. Tight, damn she's tight. Christ, the way she moans my name makes my balls pull tight, ready, I need to come. Pulling her hips up a little higher, I find the spot. My next thrust has her screaming my name. Grip tight again, I let loose on my next stroke. Sarah's shaking now, beginning to sob my name. I fuck deeper making sure to hit that spot, and finally she hits her climax. Her entire body clenches then shakes uncontrollably. Now I allow myself to fill the condom. Fuck, her body is still clenching around my cock as I come.

Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her as we both continue to tremble in the aftershock of our orgasms. I need to get rid of the condom, only she still seems shaky. Although previously, she'd been grasping the wall of the shower, now I'm the only thing holding her up. "You okay, baby? I need to get rid of the condom."

She seems to shake herself out of her daze. Her hands go up against the wall and she nods. Dripping, the shower still running, I step out, pulling off the condom, then tossing it in the trash. Turning around, I find her where I left her. I grab a clean towel from the linen closet and quickly dry off. I reach around her to turn off the water. She's still in a daze, disconnected as I wrap the towel around her before carrying her back to bed. Gently, I set her down on the edge of the bed. It's cooler in here and it wakes her. Then the pounding starts.

Even from down the hall I can hear Kevin yelling. Barely a whisper from her. "Shit."

Grabbing my clothes, I start to get dressed. Unable to find my tie, I give up on it. "Where's his stuff? Does he have enough he'll need a truck or several trips?"

"In the garage, enough for a truck or a few trips."

"Fine. Don't move." The order surprises her, yet she doesn't argue.

Most of the buttons on my shirt are buttoned, I leave a few open on purpose. I want him to know I've had her. Unlocking the door, I'm pissed to see there isn't another dead bolt that can't be accessed from outside. That'll change today. When I open the door, Kevin goes from angry and belligerent to shocked--backing up a few steps. "Sarah changed the locks because this isn't your home anymore. Your stuff is packed up in the garage. You'll come back today at two o'clock when there will be someone here who can watch you pack up."

"What the fuck?!"

"No, you don't get to ask questions. You know what you did. She knows what you did and it's over." I start to close the door.

"I always knew that fat fucking bitch would open her legs to anyone who looked her way!"

Yanking open the door, my fist slams into the little fucker's nose. The punk goes down and I move to follow. Until I feel Sarah's soft body against my back, her arms around my waist. Damn, no matter what, the fucker isn't getting close to her ever again. He sees the anger in my eyes, and without another word, he takes off running to his car. She lets me go and I push her into the house. Slamming the door, I lock it, still pissed. "I fucking told you not to move."

"Max, I don't care what he says now, or ever, about me. Nothing he says can hurt me anymore. Because of that, I couldn't let you hurt him badly enough that it would come back on you. He's not worth it. I don't want him pressing charges."

Her pleading doesn't come close to calming me down. Knowing she lived with him, and endured the way he talked about, and to her and the years of her hearing what the punk thought about her. It's disgustingly clear why she carried all of the fears and doubts about her body and found it so hard to trust me when I told her I wanted her. Fuck, it's damned near a miracle she finally believed me. A small hand on my chest stops my pacing.

"I'm sorry, that I disobeyed you, but not about stopping you from giving him ammunition against you. Please don't be mad, Max. Please." She had thrown on a silky kimono-like robe she began to undo as she spoke. Shit, I'm proud of her, the way she stands there naked. Aware of her appeal to me, aware of her own sexual power. Then she goes down on her knees. My cock rises even as she reaches out to undo my pants.

Internally, I'm still fighting for control. I want to fuck her roughly, to leave my mark on her. At this moment, I don't trust myself to have the patience to take her through sucking my cock without scaring her. She had said she wanted to take me down her throat. I watch, not giving her any encouragement. Pulling down my boxers along with my pants, my cock springs up demanding attention. Her eyes are bright in excitement as she wraps a hand around the base of my cock, bringing it toward her open mouth.

The first few inches of the head of my cock disappear with light suction, as her tongue teases my slit. Her other hand begins jacking my cock as she sucks harder, opening her mouth wider to take me deeper. "Tighter, grip me tighter."

Eagerly, she follows my instructions. My hand goes into her hair, moving her on my cock. She picks up my direction, immediately beginning to bob her sweet mouth as her hands jack me tightly. Her tongue plays lightly along the tip of my cock every time she pulls back. With every sucking motion, she is able to take me deeper into her mouth, impressively. Then she lets me fall from her mouth and, holy hell, she takes my balls into her mouth, gently her tongue roams as she sucks lightly then harder, until letting them go. Only to take them back into her mouth, sucking repeatedly. Shit, I'm going to come, and I warn her. My cock is back in her mouth and fuck, I don't hit the back of her throat. Sarah takes me deep into her throat. Motherfucker! Now both hands are in her hair using her mouth, she almost takes me to my knees when she begins to moan around my cock. She's so fucking good, in only seconds I'm coming. I try to pull away but she clings, swallowing every ounce of come.

Finally, I open my eyes to see her still on her knees looking up at me, her jewel bright eyes sincere. "I'm sorry, Max. Am I forgiven? Please."

Bending down, I grab her hair using it to guide her off her knees. Voice harsh, I want her to understand there won't be a second warning. "The next time you disobey there will be repercussions. Do you understand me?"

Eyes bright, she nods--there is no fear in her, however there is heat and desire. Damn, she pleases me. I don't get off on fear from women. I want her with me because she wants to be, not out of fear of me or of simply being alone. "I understand, I promise it won't happen again."

"Good, now go get dressed. I don't want you late for work. Also, bring me the extra set of keys you got yesterday."

"I heard you tell Kevin when he could come back. Are you going to be here?" She's wary.

"No, the private investigator I hired will be here. He's also going to add another dead bolt that can't be accessed from outside. I want him to check over the rest of the place to make sure you don't need any more security."

She opens her mouth to argue, before closing it again. Simply nodding as she went toward her bedroom. I get dressed again and make the call to my guy. Robert is more than willing to do as I ask, personally. He says he'll head over to Sarah's now to get the keys. He's not far and promises he won't be long.

Checking my watch, I see it's a little after seven, I'll be missing my work out this morning. I'm not bothered much. I wouldn't consider myself a gym rat. I work out five days a week for an hour, no more. In the first few years out of college, because of no more daily intense work outs, it wasn't long before my body grew soft. While the loss of seventy pounds of muscle didn't bother me, not being fit did. I'd made my way to a local gym where I met a trainer, and told him what I wanted. I didn't need or want to be the size of a defensive left tackle again. However, I still needed to stay fit enough to do the lunches and dinners that were more than I thought would be a part of the making and closing of deals while keeping my weight in check and also have a little muscle definition.

The trainer and I worked out a revolving schedule to keep me from being bored and from plateauing. Quickly, I dropped fat, gaining muscle. While my muscle definition wasn't far from the tackle I had been, I managed to lose a good fifty pounds from what I used to be when I played. Besides, women liked my body all muscle. Therefore, I work to maintain it.

On my cell, I'm able to move around a meeting and reassign a few clients. Less than ten minutes later, Sarah is back--dressed in bright pink scrubs covered in teddy bears. Her hair is back in a ponytail. Those beautiful eyes of hers are bright again. I bring her up to me, kissing her hard. Now her lips are puffy and her eyes are sweet and satisfied. "Come on, show me his shit. I'll make sure he only takes what is his."

Nodding, she opens the door to the garage. Flicking on the lights shows the two-car garage has room for only her SUV, the other side is filled with a lawn mower and over flow of storage. She also hits the garage door opener. It's easy to tell what belongs to Kevin, because everything is right up against the other garage door, a clear path around it. There's a good amount of stuff. I'm happy knowing Sarah had taken the time to do this before she even saw me as an option to take his place.

"What time are you off today?" I ask, as I close the door, watching her secure her seatbelt.

"I'm on until eight, eight to eight." Seeing my frown, "I'll talk to Linda about changing my schedule today. Sometimes they change as soon as the next day, other times it might take a week or two." She bends over into her glove compartment. "There's only one opener to the garage door, here it is."

"I'll be here when you get home to go over any updates on security Robert recommends, and to make sure you haven't forgotten any lessons you've learned." Her smile of relief is quickly hidden as she shrugs.

"Okay, sounds good. Whatever you--I mean whenever."

"I'm going to hold you to that." I press a kiss to her cheek.

Her blush is clear as she waves, backing out of the garage. I hit the button to close the garage door behind her. Rummaging through her kitchen, I make some coffee while I wait for Robert. It isn't bad. I won't be switching anytime soon, but it's good enough. Robert arrives on time, declining my offer of coffee.

"You were right about the idiot. Waited for her at work."

My neck goes up. "Who do you have on her?"

"Archie, he's already made an approach. He let the idiot know he wasn't going to make it within a hundred feet of her. Suggestions were made he disappear, he slunk away without a word. Don't worry. Archie, isn't going anywhere. One thing is clear, Kevin is not smart."

"Archie, the SAS guy?" Robert isn't simply a private investigator he's more in the realm of private security firm employing former special forces and the kind of hackers who could get the social security number, phone number, and blood type of anyone they wanted to. Dallas has become a very unsafe place to do business. I consider it merely practical to make sure I'm working with only the cleanest of people. Of Robert's men, I like that Archie is the one looking after Sarah, the man is a few inches taller than I am, and we could press about the same.

We walk the house, Robert making suggestions for the security system I want put in today. Once we're done, I give him the okay and tell him to send me the bill. When I leave, I'm confident Robert will handle keeping Sarah safe.

--------

* * *

--------

Ruth hands me a few messages. Hesitantly, she reminds me one of our most important clients is in with Diego now. I nod but say nothing. Diego wouldn't be my right hand if I didn't trust he could handle the client on his own. Besides, I'm still waiting on Robert's call and leaving to handle the call would have been more of an offence. The clock tells me it's only been five minutes since I checked last. When my phone rings, I immediately check the display, Robert.

"Talk to me."

"It went pretty much as expected. I had some friends who are sheriff's deputies waiting in uniform, and explained we were there handling a contentious break up protection. Good call, because he got bent clear the fuck out of it when he found out he wasn't on the deed. My guys had already seen the deed. The deputies were quick to explain he had zero rights unless he could show something in writing. Of course, he couldn't. He went into whipped mode and cleared out his shit. I'm thinking he's on his way back to Houston. However, I don't think we've heard the last from him. The only good thing is he doesn't have any staying power. Maybe another week or two of bullshit calls while trying to get to Sarah. When he figures out he can't, he'll turn tail, staying in Houston."

"Now I've wrecked his name here in Dallas, there isn't much to keep him here. Maybe he just needs to be reminded I can make his life hell just as easily in Houston if he doesn't go quietly. I trust your opinion, just remember, however long it takes to make sure Sarah is protected is all I really care about."

"I understand."

# Chapter Eleven

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Pulling into the parking garage, I check the time. I'm a little later than my normal time. I usually like to get in early to prepare for the day while getting the scoop from overnight staff. My nose wrinkles at the smell of the leftover breakfast sandwich I'd gotten on the way in. I cringe at the grease coating the bag. A quick glance to make sure I have everything then I head to the trash can.

I take the steps up to my floor and I'm grinning like an idiot at all the little twinges reminding me of Max all over again. When I make it to my floor, I wipe the smile off my face, my coworkers can sniff out juicy gossip like hound dogs. I'll never hear the end of it. I'm only in the nurse's lounge two minutes before they start.

"Dios mio! Details, spill, Sarah, who in the world put that look on your face?" Margie yells from almost across the room. Which makes the four others in the room zero in on me.

Leo lets loose a dramatic gasp. "Sarah! You slut! Spill! The grave on your engagement isn't even cold and already you're doing a new man. Details, bitch."

Stowing my bag in my locker, I slam the door. "None of your business."

Andy, whose real name is something in Laotian too difficult to pronounce easily, which means she's been Andy since she came to America to avoid teasing in school, laughs. "After five years of Kevin, we deserve to listen to some good stuff."

"Hey!" I hadn't talked about Kevin very often, especially as pretty much everyone except Margie didn't seem to like him.

A quick hug is given, then Andy smacks my arm. "Talk now, you know we won't stop until we get everything."

Even the quiet Bridgett is nodding as they all begin surrounding me. Fuck, fine. I shrug, making a break for the only comfy chair in the room. "His name is, Max Brandt." Margie is the only person I've mentioned him to, when I complained about the party Kevin asked me to put together. I'm wondering if I'll have to explain to the others when everyone's eyes go wide.

"Maxwell fucking Brandt!" Leo is all high-pitched and squeaky. "Max the mountain?" He sees my confusion and shakes his head in mock sorrow. "Only you could land someone like Max Brandt, and not know a thing about him. He's a fucking legend of UT at Austin's football program. He got in on a scholarship, but Baylor, Oklahoma, and even Alabama offered him a scholarship, too. They called him the mountain because no one got around him, which is the job of a defensive lineman. He was one of the best the school had seen in years. I don't care what people say, Max is who took them to the Cotton Bowl one year, the Rose Bowl another. Shocked the shit out of everyone when he didn't go pro. He had the goods, several pro teams hinted they wanted him."

"My dad went nuts when he turned down the Cowboys. Dad went into a depression then got mad. He swore Max would turn into some model pussy boy. Texans and their football." Andy shivers at the memory.

"A model?" I'm not an idiot. Duh, he's gorgeous but to leave football to model? Then I remember him mention the razor campaign money he used to start his business.

Margie rolls her eyes. "The minute he graduated from UT he managed to get contracts for razors, a sports drink, and underwear. Boy genius, he's smart enough not to announce he isn't going pro until all the contracts were signed and checks cashed. Rumor is he knew exactly how much money he needed to start his company, and didn't announce until he had it all. Although he is a Corbin, he could have started a company based on his name alone."

"He's a Corbin? From the name of all those trucks carrying oil and the others carrying freight around the country?" How the hell did Kevin not mention any of this? The football doesn't surprise, Kevin finds football only a little more appealing than bird watching. I'm still not understanding why he didn't mentioned all the other stuff.

Nodding, Bridgette, a devout Nigerian Catholic, crosses herself. "His father brought shame on his family. Like all those families do, he married another society miss, but after four girls, they gave up. Then he started flaunting the boy his mistress had given him. He took the boy around everywhere, to football and baseball games. He ignored those girls. One time, in front of reporters, he couldn't even remember the name of one of the girls.

"In the end, he had a heart attack at only fifty-six and no one wept for him. Poor boy, only fifteen, even in death the father didn't do right by the boy. The only thing left to Maxwell was the home he lived in. Even though his mother gave him the last name Corbin, on the boy's birth certificate he never used the name. Legally changed his name when he was in college. Now the sins of the father have bled through to the son--having woman after woman, not caring about their hearts."

Her words hit hard. I fight to hide it. "I'm actually relieved he's like his father. Considering I'm only using him for sex."

"You slut, thank god. Max is just the man you need. He'll finally get rid of all that nunnery nonsense that hung you up and made you settle for a wimp like Kevin." Leo sighs dreamily.

Her eyes intent, Margie nods. "If that's all you really want, then Max is the man. My niece still thinks of him fondly. She would come running in an instant if he called, even though it's been six years."

"Your niece?" My heart sinks, Margie's nieces are the kind of improbably beautiful that make other woman wilt.

"Rosa, right after she won Ms. Texas. Just be careful, the man is all about his rules, also when he's done, he is done. Don't cling."

"What rules?"

"No sleeping over, ever. No discussions about his past. Nothing left at his place, ever. No other men while you are with him. He's surprisingly demanding about fidelity. Maybe because of his father, Max's mother wasn't his only mistress just the only one who gave him a son."

"Sarah, you are beyond lucky. Going from a wimp like Kevin, who barely contributes to groceries, to a billionaire." Andy sighs. "I wonder if he'll buy you diamonds."

I'm glad I'm sitting, because I feel weak all over. He slept over just last night. I want to ask what that means. Yet, all I can think of is the word. "Billionaire?"

Shrugging, Andy nods. "Well, his company is private so there're no hard numbers but that's what rumor has him at. Hello? He's in commercial real estate, with offices in every major city in Texas. It wouldn't be surprising, considering his age. He was all work and no play for years, well into his early thirties. Even now, he's pretty much a workaholic. He's what, thirty-eight now? I'll put my money on billionaire."

"What the fuck is he doing with me?" The words tumbling around my head came flying out of my mouth.

The smack on the back of my head is hard enough to hurt. What the fuck? Leo is unrepentant. "Listen, bitch, because I am done telling you this. You are a beautiful woman, despite what asshole used to tell you. If you hadn't been completely tunnel vision on Kevin, and repressed from the nunnery, you would have noticed the men trying to hit on you. All those passes went right by you. Don't look so damned surprised. I'm fucking telling you there have been men who tried to hit on you in a freaking pediatric oncology unit. If men are trying to hit on you here, I'm positive there were more men, you just didn't understand what they were actually meant.

"As shocking as it may seem, men are attracted to women over a size ten. I'm gay and think your tits are hot, that alone gets many women far. Especially when they are intelligent, funny, and kind as you are. If Max Brandt, a connoisseur of women, thinks you are good enough, then you are good enough." Pulling me out of the chair, Leo wraps an arm around my neck, giving me a loud smacking kiss on my forehead. "Let's get to work, but we need to hear more about just how Max has put that grin on your face."

I can't hide my blush as I push away from Leo. Swallowing hard, my stomach is in knots as I think of everything I've learned about Max. I'm thankful I hadn't known any of it. Because I likely would have run in the other direction. My great-grandfather had built one of the first mills in Oregon, then he expanded into real estate. While he had once been one of the wealthiest men in Oregon, it hadn't lasted very long. When the man died, his son proceeded to spend all he could without working a day, and then ended up dead in a bar fight.

My great-grandmother was smart enough to put the remaining money into a trust, my family was wealthy, however there weren't many left and I never actually interacted with them enough to feel confident at even the idea of moving in Max's world. Then I exhale, as I remember my relationship with Max didn't have me moving anywhere else other than in his bed. Relief swells, nearly making me sag against the bed closest to me.

"Nurse Sarah, look what my mom brought me last night!" The happy high voice of Christina Jackson pulls me from my swirling thoughts. I look up to see Christina clutching a new puzzle book. She's a smart little girl who adores doing puzzles. Christina is one of those patients I'm not supposed to, but have allowed to wiggle into my heart. Settling onto the edge of the bed, I study the puzzles Christina managed to finish already.

"How are you, Christina? Did you get sleep?" Her color is better today and has been since her surgery to remove a tumor from her lungs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on Christina. Her cancer was caught late and the doctors have warned her mother it doesn't look good, but Dr. Bennett, her primary physician, refuses to give up. He is one of the few doctors I believe really knows what he is doing, even if he isn't the best with patients. I also like how Dr. Bennett never cares whether his patients have private insurance or are on CHIP, he concentrates on giving the best care to heal his patients.

"Oh, yeah, I slept real good. I didn't wake up until they brought in breakfast."

"Good, let's get your numbers." She allows me to take her blood pressure and temp then chatters on as I record them in her chart. I check her numbers from last night and am glad to see they were good. Knowing I shouldn't, I spend more time at her bedside, listening to her talk about her puzzles. Like many of the children in the ward, she's lonely. Her mother, Loretta, a single mother to three other children, couldn't take time off from the two jobs she needed to support her family, to visit her sick daughter. While a few of the children were lucky enough to have a mother or father often at their side, most of the children's parents were juggling other children and work, as well as their sick child.

Leo gives me the signal. With a quick squeeze goodbye, I move on to the next bed just as Mary rounds the corner. Mary is the second in charge under Linda, and constantly makes sure everyone knows it. Considering Linda is nearing retirement, she's content to let Mary run the show, turning a blind eye to Mary's ways. After finishing my rounds, I still haven't seen Linda. I give up, asking Mary about her.

"She had a doctor's appointment and will be in later." Mary answers defensively.

"I just wanted to talk to her about the schedule change she offered last week. I'm interested after all."

"Really? Losing the fiance, now dropping the hours already, huh? Yeah, when I got divorced I finally started working normal hours, too. I didn't need to find an excuse not to be at home anymore. What hours do you want? I'll fill it in." I'm surprised by Mary's kindness, as she usually acted as if I annoyed her. Her words hit home as I only now realize how right she is.

"Four tens, please."

"Okay, it starts at seven. Are you sure?" Mary knew I wasn't a fan of mornings, her question is a kind one.

Shit, I would need to be up by five to make it in on time. Then I remember Max's dark eyes as he asked about my hours. I know the early hours will be hard but worth it. Besides, it wouldn't last long. "Yes, please."

"Okay, it'll start next week."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"You're welcome. Christina Jackson's mother wanted to thank you for the time you spend with her." I wonder if I'm about to be cautioned. "I get it. Just remember, she's not the only kid here who's lonely."

I go while she's still being nice.

* * *

Today had been a rough day, I'm relieved it's over. A code blue had been called, causing an adrenaline rush then crash. While in the end the child, Bobby Taylor, came out of it, all indications were he didn't have much longer. In a way, it was more painful to save them, only to know their time left would be measured in days.

As I pull into the garage, I'm glad to be home finally, and relieved to see Kevin's things gone. Opening the door into the kitchen, I'm greeted by the sound of a beeping noise. Max appears, a phone to his ear, keying a code into the pad right by the door. He gives me a quick kiss on the mouth before going back to the paperwork spread out on the dining room table.

I eye the pad by the door and see there's another one by the front door and a third by the French doors leading out to the back yard. The idea of arguing flashes, before disappearing. I've been told often that a security system should be installed. After all, soon I'd be home alone as a single woman. Also, it will help lower my homeowner's insurance. I shrug as I make my way back to my room to change. I'm stuffing my scrubs into my scrubs hamper, separate from my regular clothes, as I hear Max make his way into my room.

His eyes darken at the sight of me in my matching red panties and bra. "Gorgeous." he whispers as he pulls me into his arms. I go, loving the feeling of being secure, his big body around mine. "I'm trying really hard here to remember you look like you're about to fall down but, damn it's hard. I wanted to take you out to eat, yet something tells me you aren't up to it."

I nod, holding him tighter. "Today could be called a rough day. I think I would fall asleep while waiting for the main course."

"Okay, dress comfy. We'll look over the menu you have up on the fridge."

"Sounds good to me." I say to his back as he walks away.

Comfy means no bra. I take mine off, smiling with anticipation. My usual lounging around the house clothes are pajama bottoms, stretchy camisoles, and plain men's white tank undershirts. I pull on a pair of silky black pajama bottoms, a black stretch camisole, and then layer a loose white tank over it. Padding into the dining room Max looks up from the menu from my favorite go-to delivery place.

"Come here." His voice is deep and gravely. I go into Max's lap, his arm comes around my waist. We discuss what's good at the restaurant. Max places the order. He squeezes me tight. "You don't seem the type to let a day get to you. Working as a nurse in a children's cancer ward isn't for everyone. Why do you want to work there?"

Melting into his chest, I sigh. "When I was little, my brother was in car accident. It was a bad accident, a broken leg, and a lacerated liver. He had to stay in the hospital a few weeks. The entire time he was there, my mom visited once. My dad never went at all. I wasn't allowed to go. He admitted how scary and alone he felt there. Once he came home, he told me the nurses were wonderful, kind, and made the whole time bearable. Hearing how much they made the experience better, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.

"Although I knew I wanted to work with kids, working in a cancer ward was simply luck. I put in applications all over the city and Children's was the first to call me back. They needed me in oncology. Once I got there, I knew I didn't want to leave them alone. I'm sure there are rough days in other wards, too. Today, we had to call a code blue on a little boy who, although he made it today, probably won't make it another week, two at most. These days are harder when you know that even though today he's okay, it won't be for long."

A hand runs along my spine soothingly. "I wouldn't be able to do what you do every day."

"Most days aren't as bad." Desperate to change the subject, I hug him tighter. "My schedule is changed. It will go into effect next week. I'll be on four days a week for ten hours and I'll have Sunday thru Tuesday off. Looks like you've had a busy day. How thorough is the security system?"

"Enough to set my mind at ease knowing you'll be home alone. While top of the line, the system is also easy to use."

"Are they rigged to the windows too?"

"Yes, like I said, it's thorough."

"Does every woman you fuck get a security system?"

"No, they're usually smart enough to already have one. They also don't have psycho ex-fiances. I knew you were intelligent, but even I was surprised by just how intelligent. Why didn't you add Kevin onto the house?"

Shrugging, I remember the moment I made the decision. "He wouldn't stop pushing me to buy a house when he found out the trust covered the cost of a home. The rules are pretty rigid, it will pay out the average of the homes in the zip code the house is purchased in. He got excited, too excited. I didn't feel comfortable seeing him that way. I figured when we were actually married I would add his name. I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that before I left."

"We both already knew it. We didn't know Kevin didn't know. When he saw he wasn't on the deed, he got pissed."

"Good."

He laughs as the doorbell sounds. I slide off his lap. He keys in the code opening the door. He signs for the food after handing it to me. Taking everything into the kitchen, I open up the sack and pull out containers.

"I have a question. Just how deeply did you dig into me, and when?" Even though I fear angering him, when he spoke about knowing about Kevin not being on the deed, it made me wonder again.

"You, the day after we met. I usually investigate women I'll have in my life."

I'm floored. "Seriously?"

Max takes the carton of rice from me. "Seriously."

"Why? I thought you didn't do long term? Why bother to investigate someone who won't be in your life very long?"

"Your definition of long term is different than mine. I've learned it's best to make sure the people coming into my life are exactly who they say they are, without ulterior motives."

A shiver slides down my spine, someone burned him badly. It didn't take a genius to figure out it was a woman. "I guess billionaires do have a different take on things than most people."

His nod is thoughtful, "I guess you could say that."

Fuck, he is a billionaire. I fumble as I add sweet and sour sauce to my chicken. Suddenly, I'm not as hungry as I thought. Taking my plate to the table, I move the food around.

"You didn't know." Not a question.

"No, just like I didn't know you're some kind of college football legend or that you've done commercials."

"You're cute as hell when you get in a snit. Only you would see all those things as a bad thing. Why exactly are you annoyed?"

"Because you know everything about me while I barely know anything about you."

"You could try asking. Maybe I'll tell you what you want to know."

"Really?" Things don't seem that easy with him.

"Really. Eat." Using his fork, he points to my plate. I automatically follow his instruction.

Dinner passes easily, Max first explaining the security system and the code. Then after barely prodding, he talks about his years playing football. For the first time ever I find myself fascinated by football. Yawning, I checking my watch to see it's a little after ten thirty. He picks up my plate then nods toward the room. "Bed, go get ready. I'll clean up here."

I go, no arguing from me if he wanted to clean up. Kevin always treated me like a maid, there to cook and clean up after him. In the bedroom, I toss my clothes into the hamper then step in to take a shower. I've been told I'm odd because I can't sleep without taking a shower. Then I take another quick one to get going in the morning. Walking out of the bathroom with only my robe on, I find Max is waiting in bed.

Letting the robe fall where I stand, the hunger in Max's eyes compels me across the room. All the fears and doubts of this morning disappear. As Max pulls back the sheet, I laugh to see he's already sheathed in a condom. "What can I say? I had high hopes."

"Hope is never necessary." I promise, as Max yanks me toward him. His kiss is thorough. I fight to keep up. He doesn't give me long, wrapping his hands around my waist. Once again, he pulls me over him, pulling me down to his mouth. The heat of his breath on me makes me tremble, knowing what he'll will soon be doing.

Tongue roving deep in rapid licks has me shaking, then he moves up to lick and suck my clit once before going back to licking deep inside me. Again, and again, he licks then sucks harder and longer, before going back to licking me until I'm shaking. I'm pleading, afraid I might pass out--until my orgasm hits, sending me falling over him. Max catches me then rolls me under him. Pushing into me, his thrusts keep me riding a wave of pleasure verging on painful. Max swells then fills the condom, his cock throbbing with every shudder has me coming all over again from the sensation.

I'm floating as I feel Max get out of bed. I fall asleep as Max wraps his arms around me again.

# Chapter Twelve

--------

I tell myself I'm back in bed next to Sarah just until she falls asleep. I tell myself this is about her. I'm lying. I simply want to hold her. This is the first time I understand the appeal of simply holding a woman. The feel of her against me fills me with a calm I've never known. It's the only time I feel calm anymore. Away from her, she's constantly on my mind. My fingers itch to touch her skin, to taste her skin, and hell, I can't get enough of the taste of her pussy. I've always enjoyed pussy, but Sarah's is fucking addictive, I can't get enough of her. I also love the way she completely loses herself under my mouth, all those little moans and whimpers make my cock ache to hear more.

In my younger years, I saw sex, and still do, as a simple need as mandatory as food or air. Then my needs were often, at least once, often twice a day. Finding a woman was never difficult to fulfill my wants. However, in the last few years I was content with a few times a week. The older I became, the more particular I am about the women in my bed. There have been weeks I went without a woman. The woman previous to Sarah had been over a month ago. That's got to be the reason I'm so hungry for this woman, that and the way she gave herself up completely, trusting and greedy for my body. No woman has ever been like her before. Fuck, she is exhilarating. Refusing to think about it anymore, I slip into sleep content.

* * *

The feeling of Sarah nuzzling closer wakes me. I've always been a light sleeper, it helped me be up and gone by morning. Checking the clock, I see it's a little after six. I mouth fuck but there's no emotion behind it. I can get up, slip out without waking her, or I can stay and be here when she woke. She makes up my mind when she moans my name in her sleep. My cock demands to be inside her, now.

I grab a condom, rolling it on one-handed as I nudge her legs apart. "Sarah, baby, I need you."

Her eyes flutter open, green eyes soft and sleepy. "Max?" My name comes out of her in a low moan.

Pulling her hand down to my cock Sarah strokes me the way she knows I like. My breath catches at the sight of her smile. Her smile is wide, open, and joyous as she strokes my cock. "Open wide for me, Sarah."

She does as I ask, her arms come around my neck bringing me down to her. Her kiss is as sweet as her smile. My first thrust has her moaning into my mouth. Wrapping her legs up high around my waist, she meets me stroke for hungry stroke. Thank god she comes quickly, her scream loud in my mouth. I don't let her mouth go. I can't, my need is too strong. With one last, hard thrust, I come deep inside, as her pussy convulses around me.

Shit, the idea of moving and pulling out of Sarah pisses me off. Except it's necessary. I get up, going into the bathroom to get rid of the condom. Even though I want to go back to bed, I can't miss a workout two days in a row. I need to get moving if I'm going to work it into my day. Stepping into the shower, I turn on the water. I'm almost done when I turn to find Sarah closing the door.

"I'm not a morning person normally but you can make them pretty damned appealing." Her hair is in a tight bun. I'm careful not to get her hair wet as I pull her close. I enjoy washing her. As I finish, she wraps her arms around my neck giving me a greedy kiss. "Did you hide a condom in here?"

Fuck, I shake my head. Reaching around me, she turns off the water while opening the door of the shower. I snag a towel, dry her off then dry myself. She's waiting in the middle of the bed holding out a condom.

Taking the condom, I open it then roll it on and pull her over me. Her eyes open wide as I grasp my cock, guiding it inside her. The wonder washes over her beautiful face as inch by inch her pussy takes my cock deeper. She shivers and trembles as my cock finds her lovely little g-spot. When she's fully seated she cries out, falling forward, her hands flat on my chest keep her upright. Eyes like bright jewels plead, she's overwhelmed by all her new feelings.

I take control as she pleads for me to. With my hands on her hips, I begin to move her slowly, and damn, she picks up the rhythm fast. Using her leverage on my chest, she's moving faster, more forcefully on every stroke down. Now she's found her spot she's greedy for more. Shaking, she cries out her orgasm, collapsing on my chest. I come immediately from the intensity of her pussy grasping my cock as she climaxes.

Holding her close, I luxuriate in the scent and feel of her on me. I have no desire to wash her off me again. But I do still need to rid of the condom. Rolling her off to her side, she moans as I pull out. Getting rid of the condom, I clean up quickly. Walking back into the bedroom I find her wrapped in the sheets her arms around a pillow.

"I have to get going. Damn, you're gorgeous lying there all sex tousled and satisfied." She only laughs as I kiss her cheek goodbye. "I'll call you later today." I promise.

* * *

Fuck! I slam the phone down onto the base hard enough to hear plastic cracking. From outside my open door I hear Ruth's gasp. If I don't get my shit together, I'm going to lose my new secretary. At first Diego had been annoyed when I took her to replace Lindsey. Then he realized his wife, Casey, became happier knowing Ruth worked as my secretary now. Now Diego is content to have a much older temp he's pretty sure he will take on permanently. All I care about is that Ruth is smart, competent, and works hard. While I knew the woman would also be considered attractive, she barely registered. I've never dipped my pen in the company ink. Too much room for it to end in a shit storm, not worth it to me.

"Ruth!"

"Yes, sir." She answers, as she enters carrying her pad and pen.

"Do you have plans tonight?"

"No, sir?" Her voice wavers.

"I need you to sit in on the dinner with Cabot Tucker tonight. I'm warning you now, dress conservatively. The man is a pig and a letch. You can leave after lunch to make up the time." She takes down the name of the restaurant. "I don't need to leave after lunch, really, because I really don't have any plans. Lindsey warned me about Tucker."

I shrug, I offered. Then I tell myself again to get my shit together. Replacing a secretary would be a pain in the ass. It wasn't her fault I'm pissed I would be missing out on a night of sex and Sarah. No way is Tucker getting anywhere near Sarah. I'd knock the fucker out and lose a major client. A part of me wants to blame Diego except I can't. Diego had really been stepping up the way I needed him to. I understood he wanted to be there cheering on his little girl as she played in her soccer tournament. I've never expected Diego to work as many hours as I do.

Taking a moment to breathe, I wonder if maybe this is a good thing--a night away from Sarah. Since dinner would run too late, I couldn't head over afterward. Fuck, I'd slept over two nights in a row. Now in the bright light of the day, without her by my side, looking into those green eyes of hers, the cautious part of my mind screamed to back the fuck up. Just sex, no sleep-overs.

Pulling out my phone I bring up Sarah's number, I type out the message fast, ripping off a band aid.

Hey, I have a work dinner tonight. It will run too late for me to come over and not keep you up all night. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?

The minutes tick by slowly as I wait for her response.

Okay. An early night sounds good.

Done, a night without Sarah. She sounded fine too. She knew and understood, just sex.

# Chapter Thirteen

"Ohhh, damn, it's him isn't it? Why the sads?" Leo bumps my hip with his.

"He's got a work dinner. He says it will run too late for him to come over tonight."

"You are adorable. You wanna come over tonight? We can eat nachos and binge watch the Winchesters get all hot and sweaty while saving the world."

Ughh, no way. Leo adored both men on the show and either one of them had him making sex sounds every time they took off their shirt. "No thanks. A night alone isn't bad. I'm a big girl."

When I'm home I roam around in a big shirt and panties because I can. No Kevin yelling at me to cover up. I finish off the leftover Chinese food from the cartons. Nothing holds my interest, I'm bored as hell. I go to bed way too early, I'm sure that's the only reason I'm tossing and turning. When Kevin would go out of town, probably sleeping at some ho's place, I slept like a baby. Somewhere around dawn, I fall asleep from sheer exhaustion.

# Chapter Fourteen

--------

"Max?" Ruth's eyes brows are up. I wonder how many times she's said my name to get my attention. I spent last night in hell. I'm not sure I slept more than two hours all night. I'm blaming the champagne and scotch, I wasn't missing Sarah in my bed, missing her soft sweet curves against me. A fluke, nothing more. Needing to be right, I pull out my phone.

Hey, something came up in the Austin office. I won't be done until late. I'll call you tomorrow. Okay?

Time inches by before she responds.

Sounds good. My coworkers have been after me to head out with them for a drink after work. I'll grab dinner and a quick drink and enjoy some gossip.

My jaw tightens at the idea of her out at some bar with a bunch of other women, men out on the prowl seeing her and wanting her. Well, fuck.

# Chapter Fifteen

--------

"Sads again?" Leo wraps an arm around my neck, pulling me close.

"Another work thing, he won't be coming over tonight, again."

"Let him have his work thing, which I'm sure is really just code for needing his space."

I wilt as I remember how happy I had been to find Max still in bed with me. Maybe he did need space, it was just supposed to be sex. "You're right. At least I can go tonight. Just one drink remember."

"Yes, Sister Sarah, one drink and no more."

I go back to the stack of charts I still need to finish before lunch in an hour. After Leo's words, I don't know what to think. There had been something different about Max the other morning, his desperation palpable with every stroke inside me. When he collapsed on me it felt as we if were melding together. I could feel his reluctance to leave me and I felt the same. As he was pulling out, the sensation was almost painful. While he was in the bathroom and I heard him turn on the shower, I was actually glad. My feelings were a riot, needing time to get myself together. He would have run out the door if he'd seen me, I'm sure now. Confusion is so high my head starts to ache. Before it goes to a full blown headache I try to focus on charts again.

* * *

My face on fire, I try to hide only, Andy won't let me. She's determined to find out just how large Max is and she isn't talking about his height. "No! I'm not telling you! No way. All I am saying is he is as good as the rumors, probably better, actually. Can we please move on? What about you and Lilly--are you ever going to tell your parents she's not just your roommate? You've put her through many years of bullshit. I'm still surprised she backed down from her ultimatum."

It works, all eyes are on Andy. Bridgette nods. "She is a sweet young woman who loves you dearly. Your treatment of her has not been fair to her."

Andy sighs, Bridgette came from the very rare Catholic school of live and let live. "Yeah, except, I only thought she backed down from her ultimatum. She's flying to Denver for what she says is her second interview. Apparently, the visit last week wasn't to her sister in Seattle to think. She says if she gets the job, she's moving. I can move too, or not. But if she doesn't get the job, she's going to keep applying for jobs in either Seattle or Denver. I love her, I do. But my parents. You guys, I'm positive I'll never see them again if I tell them I'm gay. I'm not sure I love her enough to lose them."

"Maybe that's your answer then." Leo murmurs.

We all go quiet. Leo was once the adored only son of two very religious parents--until he came out to them four years ago. They haven't spoken to him since. When his father died last year, his aunt didn't tell him until a month after. They didn't want him trying to go to the funeral. The mood around the table is broken by the interruption of a waiter setting a drink in front of me. It's a refill of the margarita on ice I first ordered.

"This is from the gentleman at the bar."

I'm stunned to look up and see a man tilt his own drink at me. Leo cackles in my ear. "I fucking told you!"

Huh, the man is attractive enough, his blond hair smoothed back. His blue eyes are bright, holding a question. I don't have to think, I shake my head. My hand goes out to catch the waiter, "No, thank you, please send it back to him. Thanks, but I'm involved."

His eyebrows up, the waiter takes the drink. The man's eyes darken in displeasure then he shrugs.

Max's words of my appeal come back to me. He'd been right, only I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be happy to find out how right. I won't be mentioning what happened.

* * *

The next day, Max texts me first thing in the morning. I know because I'm already awake. Another night of tossing and turning without any sleep.

I'll be over after work tonight.

Huh, why did the text read as ominous? No asking in the text. Max was making a declaration.

Okay, see you then.

Stamping down my worry, I go about my day, a smile on my face. Excited about Max coming over.

* * *

I'm happy to see Max waiting when I open the garage door. Until his tension is clear. Then I wonder why I'm scared of his anger when I'm still hurt I haven't seen him in two days.

"Have fun on your night out with the girls?" It's a demand for information causing my stomach to churn.

"I don't understand why you're mad. Our get together was no big deal, a gossip fest was all it was. Whereas, I haven't seen you for two days."

"Because of work." He grits out the words as he yanks me to him. His mouth is on mine making me melt. Then I smell something that makes my stomach clench in fear and push him away.

"You were with a woman!"

Max runs his hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Just Ruth, my secretary, I had a work lunch, she must have brushed up against me. I did the same when Lindsey worked for me. I don't give a fuck about Ruth. I care about you. You, out with a bunch of women, a fucking enticement to men out there."

I remember Kevin talking about Lindsey's dinners and lunches for work. My stomach unknots until he talks about other men. Guilt hits me hard.

He sees it. "I fucking knew it! When you went out with your friends, all of them urging you on. Another man made a move on you!"

"It was nothing! He sent a drink over and I refused the drink. He shrugged and moved on to the next woman." His back is still to me. I'm a little afraid, but swallow it. Reaching out, I touch him. He reacts as if I've shocked him. "Max, what do you think is going to happen? I'm with you. Until you say differently."

The breath he takes fills his chest. "I don't want you going out without me. I don't want you going to bars or clubs."

Thank god, he's not looking at me. If he were to see my smile I'm pretty sure it would piss him off. This man is jealous, doesn't realize it, and he doesn't how to deal. He's a tightly coiled mass of stress. He also looks exhausted. I'm guessing he hasn't slept well either. "Okay, if you don't want me going out to a club or bar I won't."

Turning slowly, he looks at me as if he's waiting for me to say more. "Really?"

"Really, have you not already figured out I'm not much of a party girl? Maybe once a month a group of us nurses will go out to bitch, gossip, and let off some steam. We never last long, as you can see by the time. We have dinner, sometimes a drink no one ever gets drunk or closes the place down. If you don't want me doing something I don't do very often anyway, then okay, I won't."

I'm pushed against the front door, his mouth hard. His hands go to my ass pulling me up. My legs go around his waist. "I've been going fucking nuts imagining men watching you, wanting you. Some other bastard hearing you moaning his name."

Head back against the door, I yank at the opening of his shirt and buttons go flying. Thank god I had changed into a dress before I left work. My panties are torn to the side as his fingers slip inside me. "Jesus, when you do that it makes me crazy. Why, when it's your cock I want?"

His laugh in my ear as I hear the foil packet being torn open is cruel. In retaliation, I bite his ear. "To check you're wet enough to take my cock, baby."

A hard thrust buries him deeply until we're skin to skin, making me moan. "I'm always wet for you." I assure him. The words are slurred because I'm completely intoxicated from simply having him this close, after two long days away from him. Hearing them, they set him off. His strokes are almost painful. I don't care, because now I'm coming with a scream of his name.

Burying his mouth against my neck, he curses as I feel him come inside me. We both take a while to get our breathing under control. He walks me to my room. All I care about is he's still inside me. Two days, it's been two very long days.

"We have a problem, Sarah."

"Hmm..." Words are hard to form.

"Sarah, the condom broke." We're in the bathroom and he's turning on the shower before I understand what he's saying. He looks pale. I understand why. So why does it hurt?

Shit, after everything we've done, now I'm shy. "It's okay, really. Unless there's something you forgot to mention, and um I did do another test the day after we first had sex and I'm still clean. I've been on the pill over two years, continuously, I haven't had a period in over a year. If you want to wear a condom it's up to you, but from me there's nothing to worry about. There won't be an oops."

His relief is clear, then his forehead furrows. "Is that safe for you?"

"Max, I'm a health professional. Yes, it's safe."

He's washing me on automatic pilot. I decide not to point out he's using shampoo instead of body soap. "I haven't had sex without a condom since I was sixteen. I don't know." The words are low almost as if he's talking to himself. "Why were there condoms on Kevin's side of the bed?"

I shrug. "The sex was bad, really bad. I knew he hated to use the condoms. It was one way of only having to have sex when he really wanted, which wasn't often. Also, I never really trusted him. I never told him about being on birth control."

Slowly, very thoroughly, Max dries me then himself before walking me to bed. He gets in, folding me into his arms, and seconds later the bedside lamp goes out.

Despite knowing the words could send him running again, I can't hold them back. "I missed you, Max. Sleep wouldn't come while you were gone."

His arms tighten around me as he presses a kiss to my temple. "Sleep now, I'm here."

I fall asleep to the thumping of his heart beneath my ear.

* * *

Over the next two weeks, the days blend sweetly into one another. Every night he's here when I get home, working from the kitchen table, I offer the spare room. He shrugs off the offer, saying he prefers being closer to me. I get the shock of my life when I come home to find Max has cooked a simple, yet delicious dinner which he repeats often, as he sees I'm rarely up to more than couch bait after work. As we eat, he talks about everything I ask, except his family. I learn my lesson and stop asking. He's the charming, teasing man I never would have imagined. I'm often giddy to have him all to myself. Max makes his business dinners into lunches whenever possible, except for tomorrow night. He'll also need to do an early breakfast meeting. As he kisses me goodbye, he tells me he won't be over in the evening because the drive is too long to make and still get everything ready before the meeting.

I nod, not a word escapes me. I'm playing at being understanding, yet inside I'm already missing him. Leo's warnings have been ignored completely, because Max has slept over every night. Even more importantly, a few times I've fallen asleep on the couch. Only waking to Max's kisses as he pulls me close to him in bed. No, I've never been in an affair, but I don't think this is how they are supposed to feel. Ever since those nights away, Max has twisted his schedule to spend every night with me and is in bed with me when I wake up every morning. But I don't dare question it, scared if I do it will come to an end and I'm not ready for that.

* * *

I'm even more sure when Max calls me as I'm in bed reading, pretending the bed doesn't feel massive. We talk a little while about our respective day. Even though the call is short, I go to sleep happy as I hug Max's pillow closer to me.

# Chapter Sixteen

--------

My laugh is forced. Ruth picks up the tone, she steers Floyd back to the business. I'm not in a good mood, one fucking night without Sarah and I'm off balance. My axis is fucking tilted all wrong. When I couldn't reschedule Floyd and still go over to Sarah's, I told myself, one night, I could go one night. After almost two weeks, one night should have been a relief. It wasn't, I didn't sleep again last night. Rubbing my eyes, I shrug my answer to Floyd's dumb question while fighting the urge to simply walk away. Maybe Floyd isn't as dumb as he's been acting, because he quickly gets back to business. The numbers flow fast, however, they aren't what I want and I'm too cranky to be charming about it. Floyd blinks then agrees to my numbers, thank fucking god. I'm up, offer a handshake, and let him know the paperwork will be sent over today to sign off on.

Christ, I'm losing my shit. I'm reading the texts I've sent Sarah over the last few weeks needing a connection, now. There haven't nearly been enough. I don't do much texting, preferring to hear her light sweet voice in my ear. I can always hear her smile, right now I'm aching to see it in person.

Ruth enters timidly, setting down the contract Floyd nailed down today. "I talked to Diego. He'll take the Marcus Jeremiah dinner tonight."

I hadn't asked Diego, knowing I'd need to ask nicely, not demanding, and also knowing I wouldn't be able to be nice. Even as I longed to see Sarah tonight, right now I'm wound too tight. She started early mornings two days ago and already she hated them. Knowing that, I had made a promise I wouldn't go over to her place unless it was early enough she could get the sleep she would need. "You earned yourself a day off next week, just put it on the schedule today."

Smiling, Ruth nearly skips out of my office. At least I won't be hiring a new secretary anytime soon. Checking, I see Sarah will be getting off in another two hours, my cock is up in anticipation already.

* * *

I work hard to finish work early. A little after six, I'm finished with everything needed. Sarah's number is up before I begin to put my desk back together.

"Hey, baby, I'm just finishing up at work. I can grab some take out on the way over. What do you feel like?"

My chest clenches at hearing what is clearly a sniffle, she's been crying. "Actually, I'm not feeling very well. Maybe an early night will help, if you don't mind? I don't want to get you sick. Tomorrow night okay? Hopefully, I can sleep this off."

Forcing my breathing to even out, I make the right sounds then hang up. What the fuck was going on? Could Sarah be having second thoughts, one night away now another without a hint of displeasure from her? Had she gone out last night after all and found some guy? A guy promising rings, babies, and she thought he was a better bet than me? Fuck, Brandt, only one way to find out. I'm out the door, not even looking back at the messy desk I always leave completely organized.

The drive over is complete fucking hell. Thoughts of Sarah trying to get up the nerve to end us, of her with some other fucker, have my foot to the floor. I make it there in record time. I'm pounding on her door demanding she open it.

She does, she looks shocked. Fuck, she's been crying, and not just a little crying. She's been sobbing her fucking heart out. "Max?" Her voice trembles.

"Sarah, it bodes well for me that you are the worst fucking liar I've ever encountered. Now tell me what's really going on."

Blinking back the tears, she shakes her head. "I'm stupid for getting like this. I'm sorry."

I close the door, then guide her to the sofa. Whatever has her this way isn't me or us. While I'm relieved, I'm also pissed she worried me. "Tell me."

"Christina died today, after she's been doing well all this week. Her numbers were good, she was responding to the chemo. The cancer hadn't spread, but her little body just gave out."

Shit. I pull her into my arms. She rests her head against my chest with a little sigh. "Tell me about Christina." It's obvious she needs to talk.

"Oh, Max, she was smart. She was going to be the first African American female president. The next day she was going to win a noble prize for curing her cancer, and the day after that she was going to be a string theory physicist because her favorite character on television was one. Hours were spent reading about it and the other time spent looking through a dictionary trying to figure out what a word meant." Her laugh is soft in memory. "Christina could have done it, too. I have never met another kid, let alone an adult, more fearless than she was. She drove the staff nuts asking questions. Questions not just about her care, she longed to know everything about medicine in general. She was an amazing little girl, smiling and happy one day, gone the next."

Burying her face in my shirt, she lets go completely, sobbing until her body shakes. All I can do is hold her close, time passes slowly. Gradually, the tears trickle away yet her grip remains tight around my neck. I don't move, don't even think of it.

"I'm sorry." Sarah sniffles.

"Sarah, don't ever apologize for what you're feeling. You are a brave woman. There are going to be times when brave crumbles under real life, and that's okay. Just don't lie to me. I need you to always be honest."

I feel her blush yet she doesn't move. "I didn't think you wanted to come home finding me crying my eyes out. You made things clear in the beginning we are just sex. Since right now sex is the farthest thing from my mind, I thought you'd prefer to be as far as possible from me being an emotional wreck."

Nodding, I can understand her fear. It doesn't make me less pissed. "I did make it clear this is just sex, I also made it clear I don't sleep over, however, I think it's become obvious things are different than how I believed they would be. I'm pretty sure you remember I said we'll make up some ground rules and the rest as we went along. After a whole night without you in my arms, sex or not, did you really think I would be willing to go another night without you?"

Finally lifting her head, fuck, my stomach knots and my chest is tight at the way her beautiful face is swollen and tear stained.

"I missed you last night, Max. I really missed you." The words are timid as if she's making a confession.

Shit, something swells then bursts inside me at her words. Pulling her close I kiss her forehead, not trusting myself near her mouth. I give her all I can offer. "The night felt too long without you in my arms."

Her sigh is one of happiness. "Max, take me to bed please."

Picking her up, I walk her down the hall. Setting her down, I kick off my shoes. I climb in beside her then pull her back into my arms. Fingertips begin roaming lightly over my chest. Shit, my cock is responding to her touch.

"Max? I know what I said earlier, but I need you." Her whisper is against the skin of my chest.

"Sarah, are you sure?"

She presses a kiss into my chest as her hand travels down to my cock. "I need you inside me."

Hell, she only needs to ask once. I pull up her tank top, freeing breasts already heavy and swollen in need, her nipples tight. Latching onto a pouting nub, Sarah pleads for me to suck harder. Damn, her breasts are perfect to me. It feels like a week instead of one night without them in my mouth. I'm moving slowly, wanting to take my time as I work her body. My rewards are her soft little gasps and moans filling the room. Allowing her breast to fall from my mouth, I turn my attention to the other breast, already a hard point of need. Laving the nub, giving it the same attention, I allow my teeth to taunt the peak before soothing, suckling her lightly then harder until she's crying out.

Her hands go into my hair, holding my mouth to her even as her hips seek my cock. My shirt disappears, and I'm pulling out my belt and pulling down my pants needing to feel her against me. A hand wraps around me. I see the condoms on the table. Then I feel Sarah run my cock along the slit of her wet pussy, a sigh escapes her at the feeling. Fuck, she feels amazing. I take over and begin sliding slowly into her pussy. Fucking hell! Her pussy is hot, wet, silk molding to fit my cock. I fight the urge to lose control. Sliding deep, I'm buried to the hilt of her pussy. Moving slowly out of her, my whole body clenches as she wraps her legs up around my waist fucking up onto my cock. She has learned damned fast. Slamming into her, she tilts her pelvis like I've done to her in the past, she groans as my cock finds the spot she loves. Her nails find my back, shit she wants it hard. It hadn't been my intention, but I give her what she wants.

Harder and harder, with each thrust deeper into her pussy. Her pleas grow louder, she's close. Faster, sweat forms on both of us now, only the sounds of our bodies coming together fill the room. Her orgasm squeezes me so tightly I can barely breathe as I slam home. For the first time in memory, I allow myself to come inside a woman. Not just any woman, this is Sarah and she wants it all. Every jerk of my cock has her moaning at how good I feel coming inside her, pleading for more, her pussy milking me.

Fuck, I shouldn't just collapse on her, except my arms give out without warning. I'm too damned heavy, even if she feels right. Calling myself an asshole I begin to move off her. Sarah stops me, her legs wrapping tighter around me to hold me in place. "Sarah, I'm too heavy."

"I don't care. You feel amazing inside me, all over me."

There's no way I can disagree. Even now, her pussy is lightly throbbing around my cock. I'm still too heavy. I go up to my elbows trying to take some of my weight off her. Her sigh tells me she's content as I kiss her at the base of her neck, where her heart is still thumping visibly. "You need to tell me what you need, Sarah. Whatever you need, just tell me." Her confusion is clear. "Sexually or any other way. If you need me to be rough then tell me. I thought you needed soft and slow tonight. If you need to be fucked rough, I would have started from the beginning."

She blushes, "I didn't know what I needed at the time. I only knew I needed you. You always seem to know what makes me feel, not just good, but gives me the kind of orgasms I thought were made up. Is it bad I trust you to take care of me every time?"

Sarah can't possibly know what her words do me. The trust she speaks of I've guessed, still, the way she says the words freely, as if it were a given--they are a gift of not just her body, but her heart. In the back of my mind, I scream run. I don't, I simply kiss her, telling her the only way I know how, that I accept it.

We lie together awhile, she's content in my arms. I hear her stomach growling and tease her. I send her into the bathroom for a shower then head into the kitchen. Dinner is easy, she claims she isn't much of a cook. Still her kitchen always has all the right ingredients. I'm fixing her plate by the time she makes an appearance in her robe. "Coming in here naked is practically an invitation, baby."

Her smile is wide. "I'm not naked, I have a robe on."

Shaking my head, I can't resist her full, still swollen lips. I promise to be quick while I take a shower of my own. When I make my appearance in a bath towel knotted around my waist, I consider it fair. Her eyes go wide as she takes me in. She moves closer. I shake my head. "Eat, now, do everything you're promising with your eyes later."

She follows my orders, letting loose a sigh.

After dinner she does. Fuck, she takes my cock down that sweet throat of hers like she's been doing it for years.

* * *

When the alarm goes off, we both moan at the sound. I look at the clock, fuck, five in the morning. I'm beginning to hate mornings as much as she does. Sarah's moan is one of pain as she rolls away from the clock. I remember what she had said about not being a morning person, this early has be torture for her. The thought flickers, I want to ask her why she isn't at the med center in Plano only I know now is not the time to ask. Instead I'm thankful for what she's willing to go through to be with me the way I asked her to and focus on showing her that.

I pull her close against me, her back to me, and she snuggles in. My mouth traces her neck then her ear, as a hand goes down to already pouting nipples and plays lightly. Soon she's panting my name. Hearing her need, my hand slides down her hip to pull her ass back to meet my cock. Her breath comes out of her in a whimper. I fuck her slowly, lazily, until she moans the word faster. I give her what she wants. Minutes later she's coming. I allow myself to follow her. Once again, my entire body clenches hard at the feel of her pussy milking my come with every heartbeat. I can only marvel I've gone this long without feeling something so damned amazing. An annoying inner voice, telling me it has nothing to do without a condom and everything to do with Sarah is ignored.

"Now off to work you go." I whisper against her temple. A moan is my answer. Minutes later, she stumbles out of bed and into the shower. Drifting in and out of sleep, I still hear every move Sarah makes as she moves around, even as I can tell she's trying to be quiet.

My body pleads for more sleep, only, my mind won't fall back to sleep. There's still a long drive home, a workout, and the need to get ready for work. I'll be at my desk earlier than normal-not a big deal.

Three days later, when she walks out of the bedroom I bite my tongue, telling her she looks beautiful in the black dress is wrong when we're on our way to a funeral.

"You really don't have to come." Her words are steady, however, her hands are already trembling as she's twisting around the handkerchief she's holding.

Ignoring the words, I wrap an arm around her waist drawing her to me pressing a kiss to her forehead. She melts into me. "Ready?"

She nods.

The drive to the church is long. Aside from the Beethoven she chose when we got in, there's no noise. When we get there I meet a coworker named Margie who gives me a very thorough once over. Swallowing hard, I keep my hand at Sarah's waist. My mind starts going over a prospective deal, I loathe funerals. Once Sarah begins crying again, I'm alert. I find her hugging the woman I assume is Christina's mother. Keeping a hand at her lower back, my murmured condolences are accepted. Their exchange doesn't last long.

I haven't been in a church in more than twelve years, not since my own mother died. As I had then, I find a spot behind the speaker's head to focus on as my mind wanders far away. The church service is finally over. I watch three other small children, obviously Christina's brothers and sister, following their mother stoically out of the church.

Per Sarah's request, we follow on to the cemetery. The drive doesn't last long as we file after the other mourners. The preacher speaks a few last words, followed by Christina's mother. When she's done, one by one people drop dirt over the small white casket. Many of the other mourners have left, as Sarah once again gives the mother a hug.

"I just feel like an even worse mother because I don't know when I'll be able to afford her stone. My momma, she cashed in her insurance to pay for the funeral. What kind of mother have I been? I wasn't there when she was dying. Now I can't give her the ending she deserves."

"Life doesn't stop turning because one of your children gets sick. Christina knew, she understood. She never complained you couldn't be there because you had to work."

Finally, I feel like I can add something and hope it's not slapped back down. I take a card from my inner pocket. "Ms. Jackson, I can't say how sorry I am for your loss. To lose a child young is more than most can bear. Here is my card. Please pick out a headstone and give them my card. I'll take care of payment."

Her eyes are wide as she takes the card. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate your kindness." Giving Sarah a last hug she turns, rounds her children up, and makes her way to a waiting limo.

Turning, I find Sarah looking at me in astonishment. "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did. For me, the money is nothing. For her, it represents the last monument to her daughter."

# Chapter Seventeen

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My phone buzzes, making me smile. I know it's Max even as I sigh, knowing what it means. He has a business dinner tonight--the only question is whether or not I get to go. In the last two weeks he has had business dinners three nights, he promised he was trying to be fair between him and Diego splitting nights out. I've gotten to go most nights. Even though Max had sworn they were boring, I loved them. To me, what Max does is fascinating. After watching him in action, it's easy to see how he became a billionaire. I enjoyed watching Max put on the charm, his quick wit, and the way he often easily manipulated those around him. While I enjoyed the nights, he usually needed to cut them short in order to make it home early enough to get a solid number of hours of sleep.

Hey, dinner tonight. I want you there, but it could run late. Why don't you bring your scrubs and other things so you can spend the night and go to work from here tomorrow?

My heart skips two beats. Holy shit, sleep over at Max's? I've never even been to his place before. The minute I can breathe again, I respond. Okay and where for dinner.

His response is a time and place. I exhale a shaky breath.

"Hey, sweets, what are you up to?" Leo is curious as he takes off his scrubs. His shift is over.

"Nothing much." After his last warning, I don't want to share anything about me and Max with anyone, anymore. Thankfully, everyone has left the subject alone, most of the time. The few questions asked were easily deflected by a sarcastic or smart remark. Even though I'm inept on how to handle an affair, I'm done asking my coworkers, because this just doesn't feel like an affair. He always sleeps over in the evenings, we talk about our days, squabble over the remote--but not often. Usually we head to the bedroom not long after we clean up after dinner together. Then after a usual rigorous, very satisfying bout of sex, we lie together talking or more often I talk as Max asks me questions about my past. I also got to ask more questions about his school life and business. No matter that it seems crazy given his words when we started, I'm hopeful, but leaving everything up to Max and fate.

When I go home, I pick out a dress I remember Max has shown approval of before, when I had looked through my closet worried nothing would really be good enough for one of his dinners. Since then, I've gone shopping to meet the dinner needs and my closet has become filled with dresses. They were conservative enough for Max, yet sexy enough I enjoyed the way I felt in them. While Max grew tense at my idea of sexy, he only allowed his jaw to tighten and kept me close. Crazy as it may be, it's another thing Max did which left me feeling secure in our relationship. Max always kept a hand on me and me away from the men we went out to dinner with. I'm aware it's pathetic, but I'll take whatever show of caring I can get from him.

Packing, I'm very careful. I only pack my necessary toiletries for the night, one change of scrubs, and one pair of bra and panties. There is no way I want to spook Max by overstepping and taking more than necessary. Following Max's instructions, I drive to his condo and park in the garage so we can take just one car, his, to dinner. Finding Max's Mercedes Maybach is easy among the dozen of Audis and Beamers. I park between a Range Rover and Ferrari, and wince as I open my door, careful not scratch anything. Pressing the button, my back hatch opens and I grab my bag.

The door opens before my hand reaches it. A smiling Asian woman greets me. "Hello, Ms. Willock, good evening." The open foyer is enormous, nicer than grand hotels I've been in. I'm walked to a double elevator as she presses a button. "Mr. Brandt is waiting." Stepping into the elevator, she swipes a card before hitting a button at the top. "The elevator will open to a foyer to Mr. Brandt's penthouse. You will need to knock for him to open the door. I'll call him now to announce you're on your way up."

Then she's gone. I grip the bag tighter. I've only brought a small purse, my wallet is small--containing just my id, a credit card, and a spare twenty. I have lipstick I haven't put on yet, and refresher powder. The elevator opens to the kind of large foyer one would expect to see in a million dollar home, then again, it's probably what his condo is worth. I barely have time to step out when Max opens the door. His eyes gleam hot as he looks over my dress. "You look beautiful, come here."

I'm in his arms and his kiss still causes a spark right through me; one I believed would have faded by now. Yet nothing between us has faded, not the electricity from the touch of his hands on me, or how even the thought of him makes me wet. We've been together a month, the longest Max admitted to his last longest relationship. I push down the thought. The past doesn't matter because I'm enjoying the right now. I've lasted longer than even Max thought I would. My bag is pulled from my hand, "This is it?"

"You said a change of scrubs. I brought them and what I'll need in the morning." I shrug, ignoring his frown; I look around the large condo. A light tan bamboo covers the floors. The door opens into a kitchen that would make a seasoned cook salivate. Dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a six-burner stove. The glass backsplash is in a light green and white, and the counter tops are a gorgeous white marble. There is a large island also of white marble, with four stools. An open concept room, the kitchen leads into the dining room which contains a long, reclaimed-wood tabletop, redone in an almost black wood. Windows are floor to ceiling from the dining room to where the huge living room ends. The living room is softer than I would have thought a long, white, tufted sofa, ending in rolled arms on one side, and two big soft canvas chairs in a bright yellow are at the edge of the brown faux fur carpet. A long, brown leather, tufted ottoman sits in the middle. There are white sheer curtains that could close off the room, as well as black rolling blinds hung from the top.

The walls aren't the stark white I would have assumed. They are covered in a light grey and blue silk in varying shades--they appear painted on instead of silk. There are two massive paintings; both are large landscapes, the main focus is enormous glowing moons at the end. I wonder what they mean, but find my attention drawn back to Max, who is leaning against the island watching me. He holds out his hand to me. "We need to go, baby. I'll show you the rest of the place after dinner."

I take his hand as he wraps an arm around me.

* * *

Dinner is surprisingly quick. The man sweet and wife kind, both are easy to talk to and I'm happy to give the woman a hug goodbye. All is fine until the man kisses my cheek. Max pulls me back, putting his body between us, gone is the once smiling man. The man's wife is quick to laugh it off, telling me I'm a lucky lady. I agree, forcing a laugh, as does the man.

Max is stiff as we leave. I don't dare question him until I'm sure we are safe and sound in his condo. Waiting for him to round the car per his usual wish, I can see him practically vibrating in anger. When he opens the car door, his hand comes down in a hard clamp around my arm. His grip is short of painful as we enter the building, growing tighter as each second goes by. With the slamming of the door, he lets me go. "I told you. You stay away from men. You told me you would."

Shock has me rigid. "Are you serious? Max, you cannot be serious. The man was in his seventies, only being polite. I've never seen someone so smitten with his wife."

"You promised!" Max roars at me.

Holy shit. I breathe deeply. "I promised you. I apologize, whatever you want, Max. You told me there would be repercussions. I'm ready for them." Hands trembling, I undo the zipper of the dress, letting it fall to the floor. Max goes stills but only stares. My arm goes around to the catch at my back and I undo my bra, letting it fall to the floor. Still nothing, I push my panties down. Now I'm standing in only the heels I wore out, waiting. Max would never hurt me, Max would never hurt me, repeats in a cadence in my brain.

Running his hands through his hair, he turns away from me. "Hands flat on the island, your back to me."

I move without hesitation. Fuck me, I'm wet in anticipation... of what, I don't know. All I know is we are about to take a step in a new direction--of not just sex but our relationship. Seconds feels like hours, there is no sound, nothing. Then it happens. Max's large hand smacks one of the cheeks of my ass--hard, sending the crack of it echoing in the huge room. Biting my cheek, I refuse to cry out, simply wait for the next. Another comes immediately to my other cheek. Exhaling a shaky breath, I bite my cheek again. I wonder if I'm a freak because, oh, my god, I'm wet. Another smack to my first cheek causes my nipples to tighten painfully in reaction. Closing my eyes tight, I fight my sob. While there is pain and my skin feels like it's on fire, that isn't why I'm in tears, it's because I'm sopping wet. I can feel the wetness seeping down my inner thighs. He continues until each cheek has received ten smacks each.

His large body wraps around me, his hands also on the counter. The scent of him, his body barely brushing mine is making me tremble. He's still dressed, not even his tie is out of place. Hot breath against my ear, "Never again. Do you understand?"

Nodding, I swallow back my moan. "Never again."

"Are you really as wet as you smell right now?"

"Yes, Max. Please, I need rough. I need you to fuck me roughly from behind." I'm picked up and set down on the island. My hot ass touching the cool of the marble only makes me moan in reaction. Max opens my legs, rough fingers fuck deep into me before his mouth comes down on my clit, I asked for rough and he gives it to me. Teeth nip and he's sucking hard, completely unrelenting. His teeth torture my clit until I come with a scream. I'm still trembling and shaking when he picks me up, turns me around, and pushes me down on the island. His hand is in the middle of my back, pressing me down until my breasts are mashed against the surface, yet still my nipples are pebbling against the cold. Once again, the seconds feel like hours, then his cock slams deep, sending me sliding across the surface, stopped only by his hand on my hips.

His body, still covered in his silk suit, slamming against my tingling ass adds to my already heightened bliss. Now I'm sobbing, begging him. Faster he moves with each thrust, sending me hurtling toward an orgasm painfully intense. I scream and my body quakes to the edge of pain. I hadn't thought it possible, but Max moves faster now, again, and again, then what feels like only a few strokes later he roars my name as he comes, filling me deeply with the essence of him. The feel of the hot come filling me is electrifying every time. My body milks him until he has nothing left, while continuing to shake in aftershocks.

Every bone in my body is liquid. Max's picks me up and takes me to his bedroom. Laying me on the bed, now he begins to undress, only his cock had been released. I don't understand why I find it even sexier. Maybe because there is the veneer of him being slick, elegant, and refined. Max fucking me almost savagely with all of his raw sexuality hidden beneath his suit makes me wet just knowing what really lies beneath. Naked now, Max gets into bed. Pulling me into his arms, my back to him, we're both quiet, yet neither of us are asleep. I hadn't gotten much of an impression of the room other than the bed is massive, before Max turned off the lights. The rolling black shades are down, the room is an inky blank.

"Max?" I run a finger thoughtlessly over his forearm.

"Yes?"

"Is it weird I liked the spanking?"

Max squeezes me close. "Did you like it because you thought I did? Or did it make you wet because you liked it and wanted more?"

"I liked it because I wanted more. Every time you spanked me it went right to my pussy, making it tingle and wet."

"As long as it's because you feel good and it's about your pleasure, then it isn't weird. It doesn't make you a freak or any of those bullshit labels. What makes you feel good is the only thing that matters, as long as no one is getting hurt without their consent then forget labels just enjoy."

"Okay, then do you think in the future we can do it again?"

"I told you, Sarah, ask me for what you want and I'll give it to you."

"I'm also glad we aren't using condoms, the feeling is more intense than I thought it would be."

"If it makes you glad then we won't anymore. How long should it take you to get to work from here? What time do you want me to set the alarm?"

"Six will be good. It will only take about fifteen minutes and my morning showers are in and out, just to get going." He rolls away and I hear him setting the alarm.

His lack of response is unnerving. "Are you still mad?"

He's quiet a few minutes. "Not at you. My anger was directed at myself. I've never touched a woman in anger in my life. Doing it didn't make me hard, only your reaction and enjoyment is what mattered. I shouldn't have let myself get angry for something that wasn't truly warranted. You were right, the man had no designs on you, but seeing another man kissing you, even on the cheek made me see red."

The loss of tension has me melting into him. I consider his words. "I promised you no other man would touch me. At the time I made the promise, I knew how upset the idea of it happening again made you. I should have kept that promise, because I knew you would keep your own promise of repercussions. Please don't be angry at yourself when I made you fulfill your promise. The spanking, while yes it hurt, it no way hurt as badly as you could have made it. If you had smacked me around, roughed me up or been truly violent, I wouldn't be here right now. I'm happy you spanked me, very happy."

Max mouth is at my ear. "You can be very persuasive, baby."

"Is that your go to word?" The words pop out without thought.

"What?"

"You know, the name you pick when you can't remember, or you don't have to remember, the woman's name. I remember over-hearing guys talking about it in the student lounge, to pick a name like sweetie, honey, baby."

"Hell the fuck no. I guess in the past, if I didn't use a woman's name then I would call her honey. You, I call you baby because you are a babe in the woods when it comes to sex and relationships, often it seems the world, and even more often it seems to your true self. I call you baby to remind myself you're new to many things and I have to adjust to that."

"Oh." It's annoying the way knows me, when I feel like I don't know him as well. I turn in his arms. "I'm not always a baby."

"No?"

Inching down his body, I find his cock already thickening again. I grasp the base and lick from the base to the tip, tasting our mingled juices. The taste of us turns me on, making me hungry for more. Cleaning his cock, I move down to his thick, heavy balls, licking and sucking, loving the way he throbs in my mouth. The hand in my hair tightens in warning. I move back to the head of his cock, suck teasingly then bob deeper, sucking harder every time I bob down on him. When I let him slide down my throat, I hum deep and smile to hear him curse. Pulling him almost out, I leave only a few inches in my mouth, my tongue swirling and teasing his mushroom tip, tonguing the bottom of his cock. Deeper I take him until he shoots his come down my throat. Pressing a final kiss to his tip, I sink down on his chest.

He holds me tight, "If you've never sucked a cock, how can you take me down your throat like a pro?"

Giggling, I snuggle into him. "College, a roommate I had for a semester. Mindy was absolutely nuts. She managed to get me drunk a few times. She showed me how to go down on a pickle, then deep throat."

His laughter has us both shaking. "Your roommate should have a statue erected in her honor."

"What about me?"

"You're getting me, you're already coming out ahead of her."

"You and your ego." I roll my eyes.

"Whatever happened to the roommate? Why did she only last a semester?"

"Mindy lost her scholarship and had to go back to Abilene. Once she hit campus, she partied too hard. I loved Mindy. She was an amazing person who called things like she saw them and encouraged me to do the same. She really pushed me out of the thought bubbles the nuns drummed into the students. I was more than open to her influence. In my last year at the boarding school I did see the corruption and moral ambiguity of what the school taught and what actually went on there."

"Corruption?"

"Yeah, a fund for girls from lower income homes was pilfered by not one, but two mother superiors. There were six nuns sent away during my four years there, the rumors were they were pregnant, others were caught with the schoolgirls. My dad, in the few years of his life, only ever made fun or talked badly about organized religion in general. More and more in the last few years there, I remembered and began to believe what he had said. Many times, I was sure my grandmother sent my brother and me to the schools to get back at my dad.

"While I already started pulling away from the Catholic rhetoric, what was I supposed to replace it with?"

"Did you want to replace it with something?"

A shrug, "At the time, no. Then when I started nursing... I needed-something. Something to make sense of it all, the pain of not just what the kids were going through but their families. When you hold a three year old in your arms as her body is wracked with pain and have nothing to believe in; it's too damned hard not to have something that gives me a measure of peace with all of it. So now I'm in with the spiritual but not religious camp most people are these days, I guess."

His arms tighten until I find it hard to breathe, voice deep. "I'm glad you have something, baby. Did your time in school help you find peace?"

"The time at boarding school gave me a place to start, the time at college made it worse and is what made me take the spiritual without religion route. Baylor is a supposedly religious school too, at least on the surface. The only difference, really, was the drinking and random sex--sometimes right in the middle of the room. Between semesters, right after we found out she lost her scholarship, I begged Mindy to go overseas to see a little more of the world, because I knew I didn't have the guts to go alone. We went, saw France, Spain, and Italy but it went by too fast. Mainly, we spent hours talking about life, her life. What real life is like outside of a boarding school. She was the one who pushed me to go towards the guy in the bar in Madrid.

"When I got back to Baylor, I tried to come out a little more. Except my new roommate, ugh, she was awful. A Christian conservative who wore a virginity ring, even though she'd been dating her boyfriend four years. Then only six weeks in, I wake up two or three nights a week to find some random guy and her fucking. I tried to keep in touch with Mindy, but after a while the calls stopped coming."

"I'm sorry you lost her as a friend, but I'm glad you met someone like her at least once."

Nodding, happy, I fall asleep in his arms.

# Chapter Eighteen

--------

The alarm goes off way too soon. I roll over turn to it off. Sarah moans my name then snuggles back into my arms. As I have every morning since she started her early shift, I wake her slowly, softly grazing touches and kisses along her body. Once she's awake, moaning my name, her body moving in invitation, I slide into her pussy. Fuck, she's grasping me tight with every stroke. While I know her preference for me to fuck her, especially in the morning, is from behind, this morning I want to watch her beautiful face as her orgasm builds. Green eyes flutter bright, glazed with pleasure, her moans are swallowed by my kiss her as I pump into her. Sarah comes in a high-pitched moan in my mouth. Now that she's come, I grab her ass fucking deeper and harder into her. Her body tightens around me with each thrust until, damn, she comes again. Her pussy clenching in her orgasm has me following her into oblivion.

Arms around my neck, she presses a kiss against my lips. "Best alarm clock ever."

It's the last thing I expect, and I laugh. No other person, let alone woman has made me laugh like she does. She rolls out of bed and I watch her walk with the swing to her hips that had been missing the first day I met her. I'm proud I'm the one to have put it there. The shower goes on. I check the time. If she slept here, she wouldn't have to wake up at five in the morning to get to work. It would make my life easier in many ways, as soon as she left I would be up and my day would start, like it would before I met her. Eying the bag on the bench at the bottom of the bed, I wonder why I'm annoyed by how little there is. Because, I'm pretty sure if it were packed full I'd be angry at her overstepping my rules.

My thoughts are still running rampant when she comes out, drying herself off, not even attempting to cover up. Her eyes are on me, a seductive smile making my cock rise all over again. Her bright eyes have me caressing my cock. It's even sexier watching her dress. Watching me, preening beneath my gaze, she turns to sit down and put her shoes on. "Come here."

Checking her watch, she stands and begins to crawl up to me. "I'm going to be late."

"I'll make it worth it." I promise.

Her smile is as old as Eve's--knowing, eager--as she pushes down her pants and panties. I lift her up and over me. She wraps her hand around my cock, guiding me into her. Sinking down in one slick slide, her pussy is wet enough she moves easily on me. Now that she's no longer overwhelmed she has whispered she loved this position, her hands go down on my chest and she moves as I've taught her. Little whimpers escape her as she uses my cock to bring herself to an orgasm, leaving her collapsing on me seconds later. Once again, I hold her tight as I fuck up roughly, thrusting into her and causing her to moan with every stroke, until my cock feels her pussy throbbing around me as she comes all over again.

"Definitely worth it." She whispers.

Content with her in my arms, my body worn out, I fall back to sleep. I don't even wake when she crawls off me. The alarm on my phone goes off. Rolling off the bed I blast the shower on hot and am out again after a quick wash. Even though I'm running behind, I make the decision to run down for a workout. If nothing else, I need the heavy bag. It's burning inside me, Sarah's bag is gone. There wasn't a thing out of place to indicate she'd been here, not even a wet towel.

Slipping on the gloves, I'm glad to find the gym almost empty. The gym was one of the appeals when I bought the condo. There's a full size pool outside on the main floor, a lap pool, a whirlpool hot tub for relief of aching muscles, as well as a sauna, in addition to enough machines for the entire building to use at once. One punch becomes more than I can count and I don't stop until I can barely hold up my arms.

By the time I'm done, I've calmed down. Now I'm clear-headed again. Sarah was the baby I called her when it came to us. I know she's afraid ask for more than what I'm willing to give her in our relationship. And as much as I hate to admit it, we are in a relationship. This wasn't the straight fucking I first wanted. Simply fucking her hadn't been enough since the first night we were together. I needed to be near her every day, often spending most of my day at her place when she had her days off. I'm aware it surprised her, yet she gladly accepted my presence as she went about her daily chores. But when she finished, she drew me away from my work. Normally, I resented anytime away from work, yet, I closed down within seconds of Sarah's teasing request. She never demanded attention as if she couldn't amuse herself. As far as she was concerned, I worked too hard.

If I wanted Sarah to spend more than one night, then I would have to make it clear. Ice skated down my spine at the thought of asking or even telling her what I wanted.

# Chapter Nineteen

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I'm floating on air as I go through my day, no jokes or taunts can remove my smile. I slept over at Max's house per his request. Dear lord, does he knows how to start the day better than a cup of coffee. Heaven is waking in his arms, his hands roaming over me, then the way he makes lazy sweet love to me. I don't care what Max says, whether he's ready to admit it or not, deep down in my bones we've moved beyond just sex into making love. The way Max touches me, holds me, clings to me, and the way he kisses me it's as if he's trying to touch my very soul to tell me what he can't.

The sad thing is I know he can't, wants to, but can't yet. I'm not sure if it's just the fear of opening up period, or opening up to a woman and giving her a piece of his heart. I'm sure the answer mainly has to do with his parents damaging his heart and thoughts about love, as he refuses point blank to talk about either of them in anything other than dropped almost thoughtless, comments. Something tells me a woman in his past broke the already damaged remnants of his heart enough to make him refuse to allow himself to get hurt again.

Although I long to let him know I not only understand I'm willing to wait until he's ready, there is the fear he'll run at those words alone. I have to let him go at his own pace, at his own instigation. Our month together has been an amazing month, longer than he first thought we would last. Not only that, he's been spending every night at my house. All this from a man who made it clear from the beginning there would be no sleeping over--ever.

I'm not about to remind him of what he said in the beginning. I'm just going to go with what he's saying and doing now. Throughout the day, as I brush against various things and sit from time to time, I remember the spanking, thrilling me every time. Thrilling me because, damn, the nuns would think me loving the spanking as kinky wrong, when it was so arousing but also because of the remorse Max felt. His remorse, more than anything, lets me know he cared about me. Whether he could say the words yet or not. Right now, I'm content as we are. I'm not going to push him, especially as he's given more than I ever expected.

* * *

My phone rings the minute I step into the nurse's lounge. Checking the display I see it's Max. "Hey."

"Hey, baby, I'm still in the middle of a contract and I really can't stop right now. Why don't you go over to my place instead of home? That way, when I'm done we can go out to dinner tonight."

I don't remember a business dinner planned tonight. "Do you have another work dinner we need to go to?"

"No, I thought we'd go out just us, to have a nice night out. I have an account at a boutique downtown, if you need to go get something to wear. I hate the idea of you driving home then back into the city."

Leaning against the cool lockers, I feel like I'm missing something but what, I'm not sure. "I keep a change of clothes in my locker and extra scrubs just in case. I have something nice enough, I don't need to buy anything. Okay, dinner just you and me sounds good to me. How will I get into your condo?"

"The front desk will let you in. Give me another hour and I'll be there."

"I'll be ready."

"Bye, baby."

"Bye." Cutting the call, I stare at the phone as I wonder what it is exactly, Max is thinking. I remember the promise I just made to myself and let go of my twirling thoughts, and change into a silky green dress. Max will be pleased with the high collar, long sleeves, and long skirt. I keep my hair up. I'll fix it at Max's. I stuff my dirty scrubs into the bag that still contains my toiletries.

The drive to Max's condo is quick and I remember how quickly I had made it to work this morning. It would be heaven to live close to work again. I had only bought the house in Plano two years ago. Prior to that, I lived in a large apartment in Deep Ellum. When I purchased the house, it wasn't just because of Kevin, paying rent seemed wasteful. However, since changing my hours I've resented my long drive to work.

Again, before I reach for the door, it opens to the same smiling Asian woman from yesterday. This time when the elevator goes up, she remains with me. As the door opens, she steps out and unlocks the front door. Setting my bag on the island I decide to look around, since we never got around to Max's promised tour. The first door right off the living room is an immaculate large office, a massive walnut desk holds two monitors. Here the colors are done in light brown tones with touches of red, and behind the desk there is a large painting of a landscape, but here the main focal point is a sun in bright, burning oranges and red.

Carefully, I close the door. The next room, a large five-piece bathroom in travertine and silver, is something out of a magazine, the sunken tub is jetted. The next room is a spare bedroom that looks like something out of a hotel, and just as impersonal. While it's clean, I open one of the large standing drawers and run a finger over the empty bottom, it comes away covered in dust. I know the room next to it is Max's. I turn to the lone door on the left side of the hallway. Opening it, I see there's a massive closet on one side. I realize a door goes to the other side where the front door opens into the kitchen. The other side is a laundry room which includes a standing stainless steel washer and dryer, and an area separating them where clothes could be hung.

Going out on the side of the kitchen, my eyes find the spot on the marble island where Max took me last night. My body tells me that I won't be able to take a spanking for at least another week. Already my bottom tingles in anticipation of next time. I lift myself up to the same spot on the island. I'm wearing a thong and the silk dress is thin enough the coolness of the marble reaches my heated skin. Knowing it's naughty, yet not caring, I pull the dress up behind me to pool, allowing my skin to meet the cool surface and bringing back a moment-by-moment memory of last night. My legs swinging freely as I look around the room. Definitely, a billionaire's sexy play condo I muse.

I'm still sitting there when Max opens the door--sooner than I thought he would. An eyebrow goes up as he sees me. His grin causes my nipples to harden instantly, and my pussy to grow wet. I lean back on my hands displaying my body to him, opening my legs wider. In seconds, he's in front of me, laying his hands on each side of me leaning into me. His lips barely graze mine as he opens my legs wider and I slide my lower body towards him. "I often think you were made just for me. Are you as wet as you smell?"

I nod, "Very wet." I whisper against his lips.

Fingertips find the edge of the dress barely an inch above my knees sliding it up until he's uncovered my panties. His eyes fixate on the damp spot I'm aware is very visible against the white silk thong. A large finger slides down the seam of the silk's wet spot. I'm in agony as he leisurely unbuckles his belt then undoes his pants. Riveted, I watch him pull his cock out of his silk boxers, barely pushing his pants down. "As sexy as I find you in your silky thongs and lovely array of panties, the idea of finding you without any of them, just once, makes my cock ache."

Shaking my head sadly, I slide to the edge of the island to allow him to see more of me. "Never going to happen. I can't."

"Can't?" A dark eyebrow goes up.

"Too embarrassing for me. You always make me wet. I wouldn't be able to wander around without the protection between everyone knowing how much I want you."

"Always?" A hand captures my chin holding my gaze.

"All I have to do is think of you and I'm wet and want you inside me."

"Perfect for me, absolutely perfect." The finger that had been pressing into me catches the edge. Yanking it aside, he slips his cock inside. I moan, my hips working to take him deeper. His mouth comes down on the hollow of my throat--sucking, then nipping, as he thrusts hard and deep inside me. My head goes back on my neck, too weak to stay up. Large hands wrap around my hips and he's fucking furiously, relentlessly. An orgasm overtakes me violently. Picking me up I'm buried on Max's cock as he continues to fuck furiously into me, he's the only thing holding me up, my legs over his elbows. I lose myself, coming again with a scream of his name. Then comes the moment that I'm sure will never stop feeling exhilarating... Max filling me with hot essence of him.

I'm carried into the bedroom. Side by side, our legs entwined, his arm under me, I run a finger thoughtlessly over his tattoo as I've done often. Max pulls my hair from the ponytail it was in then runs his hand through my hair. "I wanted to wrap your hair around my hand and fuck you from behind the instant I met you."

"Hmm... it wasn't the first time, more like the fifth or sixth wasn't it?"

"Something like that." He smiles as he kisses my forehead then clears his throat. It's one of his few tells, he's trying to buy time. "I've been thinking. You spending the night here is easier on the both of us. You're closer to work, getting the hour back you lost in your change of schedule. My day is easier this way too, no driving back and forth. There's also the fact it cuts your drive time in the evening and saves you rushing around to make it back into the city for my business dinners when they happen. All the way around it makes more sense, for the both of us."

Frozen, I don't think I blink as he speaks. I can barely believe what he's saying. Taking a deep breath, I work on taking another deep breath, not wanting to hyperventilate in front of him. His eyes are darkening, he begins to pull away. My hand goes into his hair to hold him close pressing a kiss to his cheek. "What about on my days off? Remember, they last three days. Are you willing to put up with me then, too?"

There's relief in his eyes, his tongue slides across my lips sleepily. "I don't think it makes much sense for you to go back to your place in Plano. But if you really would rather go back then that will be up to you."

I seem to consider his words as I try to figure out how to ask him. "How many clothes should I bring? Like, enough for a week at a time?"

The shake of his head is fast. "At least three or four weeks, enough you won't need anything."

"It was nice getting up later this morning but I have two conditions."

His eyebrows come down distrustfully. "If I'm getting on your nerves and you need your space again just let me know by asking if I would like to go out for tea? Or something like that. The second, you still wake me with sex every morning."

Shaking his head, he rolls me underneath him. "I agree, baby. Let's go get dinner then get you packed up."

Dinner flew by, I fight hard to keep the smile off my face. I think I manage, mainly because I'm still stunned.

While I'm packing, I'm fighting very hard not to yell at him. I have three suitcases that came in a set, and every single one of them is filled to the brim. Yet Max is still asking if I need one thing or another. Even when I say, no, he asks a second or third time. Finally, I'm done, as my bedroom and most of my living room is practically empty. The dresses I didn't want to pack, some of them in bags, have been carried to Max's car in the backseat. The two remaining suitcases on the bed, are zipped quickly before Max is back from the car.

I take the smallest one as Max acted as if they all contained bricks, jumping between me and each thing I've tried to carry out to the car. I'm rolling the suitcase into the living room where once again Max sighs as he takes the suitcase from me. "There's one last suitcase on the bed. If you won't let me carry anything I'll go wait in the car."

Only minutes later Max is back in the car. Any annoyance I had been feeling dissipates as his happiness fills the car. We pull into his condo and the door is opened by a young Hispanic man. "Billy, I have a few things I'll need you to bring in from the car."

Max is carrying my smallest suitcase and rolling another behind him. I'm careful to stay to Max's side, away from the man. "I will be happy to assist you, sir. Is your car unlocked?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Of course, sir, not a problem. Aaron," He calls to another man waiting behind a broad desk. "I'll be right back. I'm assisting Mr. Brandt." The man behind the desk nods and Billy goes out the door towards Max's car.

Max slides a card then presses the button for his floor. Then he hands me the card. "This is your card--you use at the door if no one is waiting to open it. Then you swipe before pressing the number for our floor. If you push the button without swiping the elevator won't move."

I take the card and slide it next to the empty slot by my driver's license. When he opens the front door to the apartment, he hands me the key. It looks brand new, I don't say a word though, as I add it to my ring of other keys. Only moments later, Billy is knocking at the door. Max takes the dresses and suitcase, I take the smallest suitcase and roll it toward Max's bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Max demands.

"I'm not sleeping with you? Did you want me to sleep in the guest room?" I'm confused and hurt.

"Of course not! I'll carry your things."

"Max, I'm not a baby. I regularly pick up teenagers as big as me to move them around."

Shaking his head, "Fine, but that's all you carry."

I follow him to the bedroom. I'm pretty sure it's bigger than my studio apartment when I first moved to Dallas. The door opens and on the right side is empty space just a massive window from floor to ceiling. The bed is the center of the room and is the biggest thing I've ever seen. It's a four-poster, dark wood that sits up off the floor coming all the way to my waist. The wall behind the bed is silk-covered red, while the other walls are in silk-covered light gold. I'm surprised the wood floors run even into the bedroom. Max sees me looking down.

"Don't worry, the floors in the whole place are radiant heated, they are set at a constant seventy. That room is your closet to do with what you will."

On the left side of the room, there is a room against the wall farthest from the door that had been closed but Max opens now. The door to the bathroom is in the middle of the room, and still has me sighing in pleasure at the thought of it. Five pieces, all done in marble except for white travertine in the wet room with two rainfall showerheads and three body jets on each side, with a bench in the middle. Following Max into my closet, my eyes almost pop out of my head. Holy shit, it's huge. Two walls are lined with rails, one rail at the top is for dresses, the wall at the back has two rails--one for pants and the other for blouses. One wall is layered in shelves for shoes. The last wall is covered in cubby holes to hold sweaters or tee shirts meant to be folded. There is an island in the middle I know is supposed to hold accessories, everything from scarves to ties to jewelry.

I'm still standing where Max left me when he comes back carrying the dresses, which he hangs on the one long rail. He hugs me and kisses me on the forehead. "Take your time putting things away and getting comfortable. I'm going to be in my office, but when you're done, come find me."

# Chapter Twenty

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Closing the door to my office, I'm triumphant. Sarah is here now, and she'll be here tomorrow when I wake up, and more importantly when I get home. She's willing to call my home hers. I sink into my chair, filled with a sense of relief so immense it leaves me weak. The moment I mentioned her moving in is burned into my memory. While I waited for her answer, I swear it felt like an eternity. She hadn't jumped and squealed yes. Instead, I could see the wheels of questions turning in her mind. Sarah thinking is a terrifying thing, why the fuck couldn't she go with feelings and depend on her instinct? When she thinks, I break out into a cold sweat.

Over the last month, I know she's fought thoughts about our relationship being right for her. I'd seen it in her eyes at times, every time it happened it felt like I took a punch to the gut that had me practically begging her to talk to me. When I worried about what she might say, I started sharing my past, not because I thought it might impress her, but because I understand she felt closer to me by knowing more about me. My opening up to her gave her the reassurance she needed, I was willing to give her more than sex. Because sex wasn't simply enough from her, I gave her what she needed, in turn getting from her what I needed--all of her, not just her body.

I open the contract I needed to refine, yet hadn't been able to finish due to my nervous agitation over asking Sarah to move in. She's here, but I can't see her, so I get up and open the door to my office, allowing me to hear her moving around muttering to herself as she unpacks. Now I can focus on work, completing the contract in record time. Opening my calendar, I make note of appointments Ruth has filled in. Satisfied, I check my emails and see another invoice from Robert.

Opening the thorough invoice, I get up and close the door. Robert answers on my first ring. "Is he fucking serious?"

"I told you he's stupid. For several weeks things were quiet, he really looked like he was settling in. While he wasn't looking for a new job, he was getting comfortable, going out and fucking new women. In fact, surveillance was due to be cut on him the next day, then he's back in Dallas. At first Sylvester thought no big deal, he's just visiting Lindsey and he did. Except when he's done with Lindsey, he goes and sits on Sarah's place. The guy got there about a half hour before Sarah was due home. Lucky it was a night she went right from work to one of your dinners. He sat there two hours waiting, he only left maybe fifteen minutes before you guys got home.

"Finding that out, I got a bug on his cell phone. Listening to his conversations, he still seems to blame and have it out for her. He really thinks he can get her to sign over half the house, or she owes him money or something, I don't know what."

"Fucking hell, man. That's it. I'll make his name mud in Houston, too."

"Do you think it's a good idea, not giving him something to have at all?"

"It's been a fucking month, Robert. If he was going to let his resentment of Sarah go he would have already. By making his name dirt, he'll get a job at a fast food restaurant before he'll work in commercial sales again. It is not only what he deserves at this point, it's what he likely thinks already happened. I'm sure it's part of the reason he hasn't applied for another job."

"As Archie probably figured out, Sarah has moved in with me. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't make her any safer. Make sure Archie's eyes are glued to her."

"Of course."

Hanging up, I hear Sarah softly knock on the door. I barely have time to force my anger down. "Come in, baby."

Her expression is still timid. "I'm finished, but if you're busy I can find something to amuse myself."

I push away from the desk. "Oh, really? How are you going to amuse yourself?"

Eyes bright, "Well, that tub in the master bedroom has been on my mind all day long. As it looks like there's enough room for four people, if you behave, I'm willing to share."

"Really?"

"Yep, work went... ehh... and I didn't realize I had so much stuff to pack. A nice hot jetted tub with an even hotter gorgeous man seems like a wonderful way to end the day."

Sonofabitch, I hadn't given her comfort a single thought. "Fuck, Sarah, I'm sorry. I'm a selfish fuck, all I cared about was getting you here and settled." Holding her close, her arms slip around my waist.

"Max, don't be sorry, because I'm not. My work can be draining, and today it was. Knowing I get to come here to you tonight and tomorrow night and the night after makes me happy. The packing was hardly strenuous enough to make me want to keel over. I'm fine, but you want to castigate yourself that's up to you. Or you can come make it up to me." She begins to undo the buttons of her dress. "At the very least, you can show me how to use the tub." She tosses the words over her shoulder when I don't move.

Well, hell. I can't turn down her offer.

By the time I make it to the bathroom, she is naked and leaning over the electronic bar of instructions. Fuck, there are light bruises on her ass, then I remember how wet it made her. Hands on her hips, I move her to the side and set the tub to please her. Water begins to fill as she sits at the edge. Her eyes are eating me up as I start to undress. Naked, I stand in front of her, loving the way she bites her lip. She startles when, now that the tub is full enough the jets kick on as it continues to fill.

Stepping into the tub, I reach out a hand to her. She takes my hand to step into the tub. "Oh, that is nice and hot."

I sit, settling her between my open legs and she leans against me, releasing a happy little sigh. Sarah takes my arms and wraps them around her waist. Damn, this feels good. We lay still like this until the tub fills then stops automatically. The jets continue swirling the water around us. "Hmm, I think I'll be using this from now on."

"Are you serious? You haven't been using this?" Her astonishment is clear.

I shrug. "There's a hot tub in the work out room I've used a couple of times when my muscles get painful. Normally, I just shower then I'm out."

"There's a gym in the building?"

"Yes, it's down on the first floor past the elevators. It's well equipped, everything including a sauna and lap pool. There's also a pool for the building which you aren't going down to without me."

Her giggle shakes her gorgeous tits, causing my cock to harden. She feels it, rubbing her ass against me teasingly. Turning, she's on her knees in front of me. "I love the way you act as if I'm some sort of femme fatale or sex siren who can turn a man into a ravenous sex fiend."

My hands come down on her hips lifting her onto me. Sarah knows enough to part her legs until she is straddling me. Although hard and straining against her pussy, my cock only slides up and down her slit. Fuck, she's becoming wetter along her slit, allowing my cock to teasingly slip in the tip before slipping out, up then down. "You are a stunning femme fatal who drives me out of my mind wanting to take your pussy any way I can get you. As you become more in touch with your own sexual needs and desires, unrestrained by the bullshit you've been fed, you are becoming a sex siren--having me doing things I've never thought I would." Sarah blinks in surprise. "I told you I've never spanked a woman before and I never would again, but if it makes you happy then I will."

She sits back on my thighs stunned. "What would you have done instead of spanking me?"

"My usual punishment, I would have taken you to the peak of an orgasm over and over for hours, until you were half out of your mind. Then left you, not allowing you to have an orgasm, or even to touch yourself to reach an orgasm on your own."

"So, why did you spank me?"

"Because you wanted me to." I wipe her hair away from her forehead, wanting to move her back to my aching cock, but settling for a simple touch.

"How in the world did you know I wanted you to spank me, when I didn't know it?"

She seems as if she's moving farther away. I put my hands on her hips to keep her where she is. "I saw your need in your eyes. Remember, I had your file. I've read it from page to page, often enough it's practically coming apart. In the school pamphlet, corporal punishment is touted as an important part of their structure. You'd been spanked at school. From your file, at least once a year for the four years you were there, and twice the last year. Because you knew you had done wrong, you expected a spanking. Maybe that's why you seemed to want it. If you had reacted badly at the first smack I would've only given you one more then ended it. I wanted to take you to bed, but I felt like I had to get the spanking out of the way."

Her head tilts as she considers what I've said. I'm slowly dying with the need to grab her and fuck her. Her pert little nipples peak and hold my attention. "Huh, I did expect a spanking, actually wanted you to spank me. I think it turned me on because of the years of being told sex was wrong, and bad unless it involved love and commitment in the form of marriage. But every smack made my pussy tingle because I just wanted you, and you've only promised sex that I've been told is wrong. But I don't care, since you make me, and sex, feel amazing. Are you sure that's not weird?"

I laugh at her demanding question. "Baby, at least you figured out why it turns you on. Many people like stuff considered kinky without ever bothering to even try and figure out why. It's not weird, not when it makes you feel good."

"But you said spanking me is something you don't really want to do, yet are doing it to make me happy."

"Spanking a woman doesn't turn me on. What turns me on is watching your response. I didn't like seeing the light bruises on your ass, but if it makes you happy then I'll do it. A few smacks on your ass, no belts or anything rougher, is hardly a problem. I'm willing to do whatever makes you as soaking wet as you were last night."

Her smile is pure sunshine as she moves over me. "Then pretty please fuck me and fill me with your come."

Fuck, this woman is perfect. I guide my cock into her then latch on to a pretty, tight nipple. Her g spot is stroked again with every thrust, and she's riding me frantically, whimpering and moaning. Fucking hell, I come because of her orgasm clenching my cock and milking my come into her body.

Once my bones solidify again, I pick her up then dry her off. She's limp and her smile never leaves her beautiful face as I carry her back to bed. Leaving her alone in bed, she's asleep before I reach the bathroom to clean up after us. There's a service contracted through the condo complex that comes in five times a week, deep-cleaning three times out of those five. Since I ate out often, I didn't have a cook come in, usually grabbing take out on the way home or ordering in when I came home. The workers at the front desk were now aware Sarah lived here, and would notify the cleaners when they came in. I'll have to let Sarah know.

Leaving on a small glowing nightlight made brighter because of all the mirrors in the bathroom, I make sure the door is open slightly in case Sarah wakes up in the night. I find her exactly where I left--her sleeping soundly. Since I keep my home slightly cooler than she kept her house, I have a sheet and light silky comforter on top. I cover us both as I pull her into my arms, falling asleep content to have her in my home at last.

* * *

There is no alarm to wake me, only the hot, tight, wet pussy pushing back against my cock. I'm already holding her in spoon fashion, which she has taken advantage of. My hand slides down to her hips as I take over thrusting deeper, making her tremble. Perfect for me, is my thought as I thrust into her leisurely, until I allow her to tip over into her orgasm then follow her as she begs me to fill her pussy with come. Christ, when she says that, it makes me shake every time.

Exhausted, my eyes blearily make out it's about ten minutes until six. I simply hold her as she pleads for me to, whispering she loves the feeling of my cock, even flaccid though still thick, causing her to feel complete with me inside her. Those words almost make my cock hard again. I think we've both managed to fall asleep as we both startle at the beeping alarm.

This time, when she gets out of bed I follow, remembering I need to tell her about the cleaners. "Just so you know, there are cleaners who come in five days a week. They do light cleaning most days, but deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen three days out of the week."

Out of the shower, she barely dries herself. I grab a towel and dry off as well. "We don't need cleaners. I cleaned my own house and cleaned up after us there."

"Not happening." I answer. She leaves the bathroom in a huff. Fuck. Knotting the towel around my waist, I follow her into her closet where she's yanking on her panties and a pair of scrubs.

"I hate when you get all bossy. It's no big deal to clean up after the both of us. I did it when you stayed at my place." She's agitated, messing up the clasp of her bra twice, but when I move to help her she backs away from me.

I slam a hand in anger on the wood surface of the island. "And I hated every fucking minute. You already spend forty fucking hours a week on your feet doing both a physically and emotionally demanding job. If I have the fucking money and already have it in place, you don't have to do a damned thing. It's not as if you are a pampered princess."

Her scrub top falls over her. Leaning against the island, she's looking at me, a fire still in her eyes. "Can you never once let me win an argument?"

Now I'm leaning against the island in relief. I open my arms unable to move. She comes to me, her arms hold me close. "I'm not a wimp, however, if someone else cleans the bathroom I'll be happy."

I press a kiss against her temple, not trusting myself to kiss her mouth and keep it short. "What makes me happy is to take care of you."

"And here I thought it was fucking me." She taunts me.

"So many things." I slap her ass lightly as I push her out the door. "You have to get going or I'll take you back to bed and make you very late."

She smiles. "Promises. Dinner with the Goldwyns tonight, right?"

"Eight, at that Italian place you love."

"Okay, bye"

Sagging against the island in the closet, I watch her go, that wonderful knowing swing of her hips. Beautiful, sexy, intelligent enough to take me on, even smarter to know when to let me have my way, and she's mine. My chest knots as I wonder how long I get to keep her, because I know from experience, nothing this wonderful lasts.

# Chapter Twenty One

--------

I'm smug as I make my way to work, even though I know I'm taunting fate, I can't keep the grin off my face. I have no idea when and how, but I am drop dead in love with Max. Also, there is no doubt in my mind he loves me. While there isn't a part of me that doesn't truly understand this is a bad idea. Duh, a billionaire manwhore who demanded I accept sex or nothing from him in the beginning. I was born at night, not last night. The last month has been nearly perfect, only the slightest of issues for either of us. Right now, it's all yummy, decadent, fantastic sex. When the time comes for Max to really make a commitment, I'm aware things could get ugly, maybe even painful. Because I want it all, I want the kids, a real home not a high-rise penthouse condo where a window won't open. I want those things with Max. The very idea of watching Max play with his son or daughter brings tears to my eyes. He would make such a good father. Stern yet fair, able to discipline even as he would give love freely, patient and understanding.

Yet even as I know I want children, his children, where once I had been hearing my biological clock banging in my ear, now I know I'll want to wait a few years to enjoy our time alone together. Parking in the garage, I allow my forehead to meet my steering wheel, slow your roll, I tell myself. Thirty days doesn't equal thirty years, I have to follow Max's lead and not push him. We've gone farther and faster than I ever imagined we would. Lecture over, I get it out of my car and nearly run right into Margie.

"Chica, hey! Look at you all happy."

Unable to keep a secret, I nearly shout out the words. "I moved in with Max last night!"

Margie's eyes go wide. "Congratulations! I'm happy for you. I never thought I'd see the day. I'm glad it's you. I think only someone as sweet and spicy could make him change his ways."

"Spicy?" I'm confused.

"Yeah, you are normally sweet, kind, prim and proper which is why it's a surprise when you get spicy--a backbone, stubborn, cranky and when you really want, a bitch."

What? "I can be a bitch?"

Laughter is her answer as she punches the elevator button. "Don't tell me you've already forgotten ripping the skin off Dr. Hakimoto for wanting to up the chemo on Kyle Kenny while the kid already couldn't take the chemo he was prescribed. Dr. Hakimoto freaked out and didn't know what to do. He handed the chart over and went back to regular pediatrics. Then Dr. Bennett took over, changed his chemo, and the kid's been solid ever since." Oh yeah, I blush as I remember the scene I had made. "Or when you flipped your shit on Andrea Simpson's mom for feeding her crap food that the kid couldn't take on top of the chemo, and was making her sicker."

I want to slide down the wall in embarrassment. Whatever, I wouldn't say bitch, not really. Just firm in my beliefs.

Before the day is over every one has heard the news. I'm teased, congratulated, and hit up for money a dozen times over the day. I flip off many, and roll my eyes at the others. The day is almost over when Leo grabs me in a bear hug.

"Girl, we have got to go out and celebrate."

"Can't, I'm being a good girlfriend and going to a work dinner tonight. Let's give us longer than two weeks. Then we can celebrate, mister don't hold your breath." I remind him.

"I haven't been happy to be wrong in ages." He's unrepentant. "Two weeks, I'm holding you to it."

Leo totally will. I'm out the door on the clock and the drive to Max's is relatively smooth. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot another SUV, black to my silver, and enormous to my small one, cut someone off to get in my lane. It niggles at me, the change seemed wrong. Slowing to a crawl when I get off the major road, I spot what I am sure is the same SUV, a Mercedes in between us. My shoulders tighten as I key in the code for the garage, and deflate when the guy drives past. No big deal, my imagination is getting out of hand.

Letting myself in I find I'm the first one home. Not surprising, Max's hours seemed to be until seven, making his business dinners at eight. I'm in the ridiculous closet where my clothes barely make a dent, going over my dresses and wondering which one, when I'm pulled against Max tightly.

His mouth roams my throat making me squirm. "Home before six, I think you deserve a treat."

I catch him off guard when I turn quickly, sinking to my knees. Eyes closed, he moans my name. "Sarah, I don't need..." He stops talking when I grasp his cock, stroking tightly the way he likes. Whatever he meant to say is forgotten when I lick the head of his cock lovingly before sucking him deep. His hands in my hair thrills me, because I know he's lost in what I'm doing to him. Even though I'm the one on my knees, I feel powerful in the way he moans my name, in the pleasure I can give him. Hearing them, I can understand now how he found my own moans and whimpers sexy. They are thrilling, making me wet knowing this large strong man, usually in control, is begging me, wanting me, no one else.

My name is a groan as he comes in my mouth. He's almost more than I can take, yet still I revel in him, licking him clean. Done, I tuck him back into his boxers and close his pants. He draws me up by my hair, keeping my body grazing his until I'm standing. His eyes are serious, causing my stomach to churn in fear. "You think I work too late?"

I had no idea what he was going to say, the relief almost makes my head swim. Meeting his dark eyes. "I get you have to work hard, it's important to you, but yes. You've spent most of your life already working twelve and fourteen hour days. Will there ever be a time when you can simply enjoy what you've worked hard for? As crazy as it may seem, I like spending time with you, and the hour or two before bed doesn't always feel like enough." Still, he doesn't move an inch, making me nervous all over again. "I'm not going to complain or moan about your hours, though, I promise. Whatever makes you happy, I'll be here when you get home."

I can barely breathe, his arms wrap tightly enough around me it causes my lungs to battle for air. Then his mouth comes down on mine in a kiss like none he has ever given me before. Seeking, nearly desperate, as if he's begging me to give more of myself, I don't dare deny him, giving everything I have inside me. When he finally lifts his head, we're both panting, dragging in air. Now his eyes are so dark they're black--void of the smallest light. "I told you, Sarah, tell me what you need and I'll give it to you. All you ever have to do is ask."

"Maybe sometimes I'm still afraid to ask for more because I'm worried it's more than you're willing to give."

"I'll tell you if that time comes, but I'll never be upset if you simply ask." A thumb teases over my swollen lips. "Why do you smell like cologne?"

Fucking Leo. The words come out in a rush. "He's gay, he's practically my best friend. His name is Leo, he was happy to find out you asked me to stay with you."

Head tilted, he seems to consider my words. "I know about Leo, but I didn't ask you to stay. I asked you to move in, this is your home now. Give me twenty minutes, I've been out roaming properties today. I need a shower."

I fight my smile because he sure as shit didn't ask me to move in, he had offered up the suggestion as being a matter of convenience. "Okay, should I join you in the shower?"

"If you do we won't get out of here on time. Besides, you still smell good, you don't need a shower."

"When you get buried in charts as punishment you don't break a sweat."

"Why were you being punished?"

"Eh, Mary, the matriarch has it in for me. She found out I'm dating you, and I think she resents me again. No biggie, she gets that way from time to time. It's the Goldwyns right? The prude guy?"

"Yeah, I would pick the grey dress, and since he also hates the way you are taller than he is, flats are a safe bet." He goes and I take his suggestions.

# Chapter Twenty Two

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In a daze, I turn on the shower, turning the body jets on hot blast. Sarah disliked my working hours, yet she had hidden it. Scrubbing thoughtlessly, I flip through my mind to figure out how to make her happy. Diego is a good right hand man, however, he didn't live to work. I respect him and don't expect more. Yet right now, I don't have another back-up I trust. My main problem is my Austin office, Mack Springer, who I had heading it, simply isn't good enough. Houston ran smoothly, once I wondered if it ran too smoothly, yet my regular audits done by Robert's hackers showed everything ran right.

Out of the shower, I don't bother to dry off. Instead, I grab my phone. The lone meeting I have scheduled tomorrow is a staff one and Diego can head it. I make the call and Ruth answers, she's still at work. "Get me the files of everyone in the Austin office even slightly good. Also, pull resumes from our other offices to replace Mack, tell no one."

"Yes, sir."

I make a note to myself, she's due a very nice bonus and tick up in pay. Only I know getting home early won't be enough for Sarah, as I remember her excitement at a night out, just us on a dinner date. While she did seem to find simple pleasure in being curled up on the sofa wrapped in my arms as she giggled over the comedies she preferred. I'm not satisfied it's nearly enough to make her happy. The question of what to replace those nights with weighs on my mind all night and into the next day.

Sarah presses a timid kiss against me. She's felt my distraction. "Hey, I'll be home before six tonight." I promise against her lips. Her bright eyes shimmer in concern. "Because I want to be. Because if it makes you happy, I'm more than willing to cut a long day short. I would much rather be with you than at work." Her smile goes straight to my cock, she kisses me hard then skips out the door. The word slips out in a whisper as a band tightens around my chest. "Fuck."

At work, Ruth is waiting, she has a stack of files. "These are the top three from all the options. If they don't impress you, I have the number of a discreet, yet excellent, headhunting agency." Ruth is good, she has attached the entire electric file on the men and women I'll be reviewing to replace Mack's position in Austin over the next week and a half.

"Not yet, I prefer to move my people up if they are good enough." I open my mouth but am not sure what to say. Trying to buy time, I clear my throat. "Can you come into my office? There's something I need to ask you about." Her eyes are wary as she nods following me then closing the door. "Have a seat." I want to laugh at her concern, only this isn't something I find humorous.

Barely glancing at them, I fiddle with my tie. "You're what, twenty-seven or twenty-eight?"

She blushes. "I'm thirty-four, but thanks for the compliment." I fidget with my pen, embarrassed to ask her.

Ruth saves me. "Is this about Sarah?"

The woman's raise goes into effect today, I promise myself. "Yes, in the past the women in my life have cared more about shopping and clubbing. I know Sarah well enough to know she would either smack me or break into tears at a night out like those. Sarah is nothing like them. I'm not sure what kind of an evening out she would enjoy the most."

Thank god, she doesn't laugh, instead pulls out her pad. "Okay, how old is Sarah?"

"She's thirty one."

"More information, boss, tell me about her. What does she do? When she's home is there anything she does often?"

"She's a nurse, usually on her feet all day long, sometimes she's tired after work, sometimes she seems like she has caught her second wind and can go all night. Most nights she likes to curl up on the sofa and watch television. While she likes comedies, she also like mysteries and thrillers. She also reads often, she has one of those tablet things. Most of her days off she cleans while she listens to music."

"What kind of music does she listen to?"

"Everything, from seventies rock to popular music and classical when she's stressed out."

"The symphony, then. You might suggest theatre or opera to be safe, but it really sounds like she would enjoy dinner and a night out at the symphony. Can I also let you in on a little secret you can't tell another man?"

I agree, the symphony sounds perfect. Now Ruth has me curious. "What?"

"While we see night after night at home as boring, and worry the boyfriend is taking our relationship and us for granted if we don't go out. At the same time, getting ready to go out is a huge pain in the ass and ninety percent of the time we would much rather be curled up on the sofa in comfy clothes, our hair a mess. Really, it's about having the option and knowing our man wants to take us out and give us more attention than the television."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah, makeup, doing our hair, the heels. All of it is a huge pain in the ass. Don't be surprised when on the nights she has a long day she pleads to crawl into sweats and veg out in front of the television."

"Thanks, Ruth. I appreciate it."

She hesitates, "One other thing, if you're going to be taking her out on the Dallas scene, I have a seamstress I would like to recommend. I think Sarah's gorgeous and has good taste. The only thing is, I think the best thing for her is to have her clothes made by a seamstress. Mine is amazing, there's a reason there's such a big difference between ready to wear and haute couture, which is made to fit the woman. Warning, she'll hate you for about five minutes until she wears them. The seamstress can make everyone from Chanel to Versace at a quarter of the price. If she asks tell her--it will be a big deal--the whole cost thing. The Dallas scene will eat her up in the prim off the rack middle of the road designers she wears. She deserves better."

Ruth has no idea I'll keep her as my secretary until she retires. "Do it. Call the seamstress, the best of all materials, I want an entire wardrobe from country club to charity events, heavier on the dresses. I want at least thirty-five pieces."

"Yes, sir."

The moment she's out the door, I'm on the internet for the Dallas Symphony and Orchestra. I had made a couple of donations to them, but the sums weren't high because I saw them as not truly needing it. Usually, I prefer to funnel my money into a charity for children and their families, to cover the cost of medical procedures they couldn't afford, everything from hair-lip, to cancer, to other childhood diseases. Like many people, I became interested in helping when someone close to me went through an experience and needed assistance. Diego's first born child died when he couldn't afford the experimental treatments he needed. It was one of the reasons we were close. Finding Diego drunk as a skunk in his office, I got him to explain why. The man had been trying to hold it together in order not to lose his job. Calling him an idiot, I paid for the treatment. Only for the little boy, the treatment came too late. However, if I needed to open my pockets to fund Sarah's happiness I'm happy to.

I buy season tickets, relieved to note it's not an every weekend kind of thing. Then I begin to wonder about the business dinners. What if Sarah only went out to please me, when she would rather be at home? Fuck, I'm going to have to find out.

* * *

Hanging up with Diego, a replacement agreed upon for Springer's position in Austin, and a raise going into effect immediately on Ruth's next check, I thank him for taking Michael Gibson out to dinner tonight. The guy thinks he's a Don Juan. I really don't want around Sarah. A quick glance of the clock tells me I'm good. After working my ass off I'll be able to keep my promise by making it home a little after five thirty.

I pull into the garage right on time. Renee opens the door to the building with her usual smile in place. "Ms. Willock arrived home only a few minutes ago."

"Thank you."

When I go up, I find her in her closet undressing. Leaning against the open door, I watch her. Her eyes go to me, she always feels my eyes on her. Brilliant green eyes tell me what I need to know. However hard her day had been, she's happily content to be home now. "Dinner out tonight or would you like a night in?"

She comes to me, eyes bright, going up on tip toes, wrapping her arms around me. "You, me, the noodle delivery place, and the remote please."

"The usual?" She nods, kissing me with a loud smacking noise.

"I'll call it in." I smack her ass as I walk out of the room. Her high pitched squeal is followed by laughter.

As I walk into my own closet, I pull out my phone and put in our order. I always over order from the place. They knew it and made sure to put in extra take out cartons so Sarah could take left overs in to work. I'm relieved she didn't want to go into the place because the old host flirted with Sarah constantly. It's one of my favorite places, however, I didn't get the royal treatment until I started taking Sarah in. She has a certain effect on people. I've caught almost every client during one of our dinners staring at her as if he couldn't believe she was authentic. While the stares made me bristle, they made the other person's partner sometimes spitefully jealous or give a look of agreement.

Ending the call I change into sweats and a tight white undershirt Sarah loves me in, her hands often roaming underneath the shirt when we cuddled on the couch. I'm not above using her weakness against her.

Out in the living room there's a knock at the door. Sarah's reaching for the remote and goes still, her eyes find me instantly. She knows it can't be the noodle place so soon. I hate the fear shadowing her eyes. I hug her close. "It's okay, baby, it's a delivery I'm expecting that's why there was no call from downstairs."

Her relief has her melting into me. I had explained the phone by the door as connecting only to the front desk downstairs. A call would come to warn of visitors or she could call down to let them know she had visitors or a delivery coming.

Opening the door, the man is dressed impeccably, his manner effusive. I sign off and thank him. She's curious, her chin in her hands as she leans on the island. "Work?" The word a sad sigh.

"No, they're yours. Here, open it." I offer her the heavy, vellum, large, thick envelope.

As she opens the envelope, her eyes grow wide in surprise. They are season tickets that an excited gentleman who assured me, after making a very, very sizable donation, they were the best seats to appreciate every note. "The symphony?" The smile takes over her whole face.

"A good surprise?"

"I've only been a few times, and loved every time. Yes, it's a good surprise!" Then she rocks on her heels, her face wary. "Do you like the symphony? You won't find it a snorefest?"

"I can survive a night at the symphony. I've been and managed to stay awake the whole night. There's just one condition before you can accept them." I use her words against her.

She doesn't like it her frown tells me. "What?"

"If you aren't up to going out for a work dinner you tell me."

In a huff, she tosses them on the island, folding her arms across her breasts. "Then, no, I don't want them."

Sonofabitch. "If your ass wasn't still sore I'd bend you over right now."

"For a man who's supposed to be an excellent negotiator, sometimes it's like you're trying to piss me off!" I round the island to get to her. "No! Stay right there. You don't get to use my weakness for you when we are arguing. We are talking this out, not you making a declaration and me bowing down. I need you to listen to me, actually listen. Do you like going to work out every morning?"

Gritting my teeth, I take a deep breath. She knew I didn't, had managed to get it out of me as she ran her hands over my six pack with awe. "You know I don't."

"Why bother?" Her sarcasm makes me clench my teeth.

It's hard to keep a grip on my anger. "Because I need to. With the dinners out, the time I spend at the desk, and to keep you happy with my body." I taunt her.

Ignoring my taunt, she smiles sexily. "You do it because it's necessary for more than one important reason. That's why I go out to your dinners. Even on the nights when I'm tired and don't really want to. I'm aware they are important to you. Many times, I even end up enjoying them. I'm not sure why you don't believe me, but I do find your business fascinating, and watching you work is engrossing.

"Also-surprise-I actually like to go out and simply enjoy your company. Some of the women have been bitches, and we catfight while you and her man do business. However, many of the women have been wonderful and I'm glad to meet. They made the time fly by, and a few I've kept in touch with, texting or chatting over one thing or another. Those nights have become my nights out, too.

"I know you moved most of your meetings to lunches and have traded off evenly with Diego." At my glare, she doesn't back down only glares back. "Your phone went off and I stopped it. It was your calendar showing everything. I didn't look at anything else. I promise. Max, the nights you need to have a dinner I want to be the one at your side, not Ruth."

I'm not worried about her looking through my phone, there's nothing for her to find, and at this point in our relationship, I'd be insulted if she hadn't. I check her phone often and she knows it. Watching me with a smile every time I do. "Is this about Ruth? Because I've told you she holds not a single appeal." Once Ruth had dropped paperwork off. I spent the next hour reassuring her through five orgasms I only wanted her.

"No!" She yells then stomps her foot. "Yes, but not like you think. When you're out and need someone by your side, I want to be the one, not Ruth. I expected it with Kevin, it's why I lost the weight, so I could look better when I'm needed to tag along for a dinner."

My blood boils. "Kevin told you to lose weight for his work and you believed him and did it?"

Seeing my anger, she backs up. The phone rings and I fight for control as I answer and agree to allow the delivery man up. I work hard to focus on containing the anger. Sarah's words, and fears, wash over me. All the ways she seemed astounded by my lust for only her tumble through my mind. Then I add them on top of what I learned from her file and I finally get it, all of it.

I open the door and sign for the food. Taking it back to the island, I give in. "Okay. I told you, ask me for what you need and I'll give it to you."

Inching toward me, her arms slide around my waist and hold me close. I turn and squeeze her tightly. She whispers. "Thank you for the tickets."

"Anything for you, baby." We've had our first real argument. It's over and she's still in my arms, it's the only thing that matters to me.

# Chapter Twenty Three

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The phone goes off, it's Renee announcing a delivery. I assume it's for Max and okay the delivery man to come in. I'm waiting by the door expecting a box or envelope. No, three men are carrying clothes, most of them in dress bags.

"Ms. Willock, where to?" Embarrassed, he has to ask because I'm stunned, stuck where I stand.

Stiffly, I make my way to my closet. They follow and begin filling the closet, unzipping the bags, folding them neatly and storing them in the center island where I didn't even know they went. The men are gone in minutes. The sound of the closing of the front door startles me into movement. Inching closer to the long hanging dresses, I reach out and touch a beautiful designer dress. I could have afforded them, only I'd been raised that to spend so much on clothes would have been prideful and unnecessary. They are stunning. There are several green dresses, some in grey, a color he swears he sees sometimes in my eyes, some are in black, others in white. I'm a little girl wanting to touch everything and run my face over them.

Then there's a vindictive bitch in the back of my mind telling me the things I wore weren't good enough to wear at Max's side. He bought these clothes because I embarrassed him. An argument begins in my mind because I know Max. He wouldn't have given a shit if I wore jeans and tee shirt. Deep down I know he bought these clothes to make me happy. Turning away from the clothes, I see the slip on the island I missed earlier. It's an invoice, the name of a seamstress at the top. The invoice included a list of the clothes made, included are the names of huge designers, only they weren't bought at a store, holy shit, my measurements are in the heading. The balance paid on the clothes at the bottom shocks me. All these gorgeous clothes only cost pennies on the dollar of what they would have cost in a store. Oddly, it makes me laugh until I cry.

Instantly, I know where they came from, padding into the living room I find my phone and call Ruth. "Yes, Ms. Willock."

"Thank you, Ruth, they are gorgeous. I know they were your idea."

"I'm simply glad you love them, while seeing them for only the good intention they were meant as. Also, I enjoyed shopping on my boss's dime."

"Can you do me a favor? Don't mention my call to Max? Watching him sweat is always interesting."

"Not from my end, however, Max's instructions are to make you happy, therefore, my lips are zipped."

Inching my way back into the closet, I check to make sure they're still there. Hands trembling, I pull down a green dress Max will love me in. In the mirror, there's this woman looking back at me, she's the woman I've longed to become. She is beautiful, elegant, and nearly vibrating in happiness. The dress fits like a glove, the cut perfect, from my shoulders to my legs. I can't wait until he sees me in it. This is one of those times when love is more important than my pride. Because I know he did it out of love, even if he doesn't, I'll keep the clothes without a word of argument.

* * *

When Max comes home, he swears when he doesn't see me. I'm in our room, dressed in a black silk see-through baby doll. Below the baby doll is a black silk stocking set, and I'm wearing high black heels I'm afraid to walk in, I remember him wishing to see me in them at least once. Seeing me, he stops. "Thank you for the clothes, Max. I could just say the words, only they don't seem like enough."

A few steps is all he manages before he's on his knees in front of me. His hands roam up my legs. "Perfection." He whispers the word against the mound of my pussy.

Over the next month, our lives meld together easily, even easier than I could have dreamed. Considering he's not used to being in a relationship, Max excels at every point. We rarely argue and he's considerate and thoughtful. In the evenings when we go to the symphony, he did a good job hiding if he didn't like it. I pleaded to stay home often instead, because staying home with Max appealed far more. He's shocked I know how to play poker, though I found out I was out of my league compared to him. Strip poker went by so fast we ended up upping the stakes to all kinds of oral sex, then to extremely hot sex. Trying to gain higher ground, I challenged him to chess where he crushed me even faster. While we played together, we talked about our mutual pasts yet still his parents were off limits.

One thing not off limits was making any changes I want around the condo, but the place is perfect and I can't think of anything. I add a few throws and soft pillows to use when we cuddle on the couch. Max keeps the penthouse cool, and considering the man is always felt as hot as a furnace I understand and don't nudge the thermostat. I buy a new bed set. Max wants to break it in immediately. Every change I make, he loves. Yet the place really is perfect and there isn't much I can think of to make it better.

During the day, as I struggled to keep from being bored, I take a cooking class which both Max and I enjoy the results of. I'm also attempting to take up knitting, but my main addiction of reading really fills my day. I've even fitfully made my way to the gym on my days off, the results are barely visible because when Max found out, his look of displeasure was clear even as he told me to do whatever made me happy. At the time I simply sighed with relief, the next day I recalled his words and wept like a child. Max wants me the way I am without a single change, he'll never know what that means to me. Without my weight a source of concern my happiness has skyrocketed and oddly enough my eating habits have improved.

After a night out at the symphony, we get home later than we expected. Tomorrow won't be easy getting up. Our lovemaking is sweet and sleep comes easily. When the phone rings beside the bed, I burrow into Max asking him to make it stop. He makes it stop and I hug him close to go back to sleep.

"Andy Ngo?" Max nudges me.

"What?" Andy here? Ah, fuck. "Let her up." I mumble as I crawl out of bed.

"Her?"

"Yes, her." Refusing to mention the lesbian part, and flicking on the light in the closet, my eyes burn. I'm going to kill her. I open a drawer grabbing the first panties that come to hand and put them on, snatching up the pajama bottoms I had been in last night.

"How the hell are those old cotton panties covered in flowers hotter than the thong you wore earlier?"

Rolling my eyes, I put an old sports bra on under a loose shirt I've stolen from Max. "Go back to bed. Andy can be a pain in the ass, especially when she's been drinking." Shaking his head, he stays against the open door. "Fine, then put on clothes, no way does she get to see you naked. A shirt, too." I order as I go out to the living room where I can hear Andy banging on the door.

I open the door and she nearly falls onto me. She's crying and smells like the floor of a bar. "Oh, Sarah! I've messed up bad, horribly bad."

She's sagging against me. I turn to see Max rolling his eyes at Andy's dramatic statement. "Tea, please." He nods.

Half-dragging, half-carrying her, I get Andy onto the couch. "Nothing short of murder is as bad as whatever it is you did." I start out soothingly, even though I want to smack her when I catch the clock telling me it's a little after three in the morning.

"Lilly and I fought again. I needed some space so I went out and got really drunk, Sarah. It was only because I was plastered, but I cheated on Lilly, with a guy." She lowers her voice in a gasp.

"Oh, please, the only surprising thing is it's taken you this long and you did a guy."

Andy gasps. I swear I want to smack her when she straightens, her expression shocked. "How could you say that?"

"Andy, I'm not in the mood at three in the morning. You were always going to cheat on Lilly because you're too much of a wimp to actually be the one to break things off. The minute Lilly sees you, she'll know what you did and break up with you. Lilly being the one break up means you won't be the 'bad' one even if you did something shitty by cheating."

Max sets down a cup of tea in front of Andy and one for me. Then he sits behind me, pulling me into his arms.

"I guess. I think I used her like you used Kevin then Max. I remember thinking how could someone as beautiful as her want me? Then I just didn't know how to get out. So I used another man to escape."

I stiffen, so does Max. "What a load of bullshit! Kevin had cheated on me a half dozen times. I had his shit packed ready to go. Max wasn't an option, he damned near didn't take no for an answer. Don't use me to make yourself feel better about being a shitty person."

Shocked, she opens her mouth then bursts into tears. "You're right. I'm sorry. I don't even think I'm really gay. I mean, I enjoyed most of it but she always instigated things. She wanted me and I wanted someone to love me for me. Not the money dispenser my parents demand, or the soon to be doctor my brothers and sister look at me as. Lilly just accepted me, even when I didn't know what I wanted to be."

"Andy, you're life isn't over. You did something bad, you need to cop to it to Lilly, then you need to start figuring out exactly what you want from life, and do what you need to get there."

"I always wanted to be a web designer using the drawings I used to do years ago. Lilly knew and kept pushing me, only my parents made me too scared. I'd already disappointed them enough. Every visit home my parents call me forever-nurse since I'm content to be a nurse."

"Web designer, huh? One second." I go into my closet, search through an old address book, and find the card. Coming back out I hand her the card. "Here, I haven't talked to him in over a year, but he's one of those laser focused guys who won't stop until he succeeds. I'm sure he'd be willing to take you on at least on spec, or offer names of companies."

"Who is he?"

"One of Kevin's old friends who tried to get Kevin to work for him. At the time, he was a start-up and Kevin wasn't willing to take a chance on him. The guy is really nice, he'll at least point you to another company."

"Thanks, Sarah. I'm sorry I woke you up in the middle of the night."

"You'll pay me back, believe me. I promise you that."

Max calls a cab to take Andy home, and then lets the front desk downstairs know.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Brandt."

He shrugs, "As long as Sarah's fine with it."

"I'll go downstairs and wait for the cab." Andy waves as I walk her to the door.

"Please tell me that isn't your best friend."

"God, no. Basically, it's between Leo and Margie."

"Good, back to bed, baby."

* * *

The next morning our sex is fast and furious. I come three times before he lets me go to work. Not long ago, Margie teased me about my morning happiness instead of crankiness. Margie cackled, telling me I owed the man my raise as it had to the reason my last review was excellent. When she sees me this morning, her teasing is constant, yet, I don't care, as every tease makes me recall our hot morning. My bouncy happy mood lasts into my lunch break when I gaze outside and sigh over the pretty, bright, May day. To heck with it, no lunch in the boring white lunch cafeteria today. I make my way outside, enjoying the short walk. There's a small sandwich shop around the block. They make fresh bread I know is wrong for me, but is so good I didn't feel like being right.

While the shop isn't large, it takes a moment to realize Kevin is there waiting, staring at me. He looks like hell, is all I can think. He's gaunt, completely disheveled as if he hasn't slept in a while. His hair once a bright blond is now almost black and is visibly dirty. I think we're both too stunned to speak.

Kevin recovers quicker than I do. "You fat whore! You owe me! That house is mine, the only reason you bought it was because of me. Now you're never there because you're shacked up, like just another whore in a long line of Max Brandt's whores. I can't believe I wasted five years on you. You're disgusting!"

My brain clicks in the few seconds of silence. Everything else happens in a flash. Pulling back my arm, I ball up my fist, remembering the direction in my head from Mindy's one time self-defense training before we went overseas. I aim for his nose putting my weight behind the blow. Whether it's from the blow or shock, Kevin drops to the floor immediately. I'm not done, though, all those belittling words, ugly glares and put downs make me kick out at him again, and again. I can't stop until hands come around me pulling me back. The red haired man I've seen often over the last few months is there. "Sarah, enough. I'm here, I've got him.

Handling me as if I'm a bomb ready to go off, he guides me to a chair, setting me down. I'm in a fog as I watch the man reach for a pair of zip ties on his belt, and tie Kevin where he struggles to sit up. As I watch the blood poor from Kevin's nose, I retreat into myself, letting the world around me blur. Nothing is real until I'm in Max's arms.

He's solid, safe, I'm home now. Slowly, I begin to unfreeze from the inside out. His hold is tight enough a moan of pain escapes me. He gentles his grip but only slightly. I look up to see two policeman watching us curiously. Max keeps his body between them, and me, as he carries me out of the shop into the back of a car.

Gradually, the sounds and smells of a hospital begin to sink in. Soft hands are running over mine lightly, moving my fingers slowly. I know the doctor is checking for a break, and from the lack of pain, I know there isn't one. I'm surprised by the cut and bruising on the back of my hand. I'm not surprised the doctor is a woman. She cleans my hand and applies a band aid.

"I told you I want her hand x-rayed."

"Sir, I can assure there are no breaks in the hand. It would be a waste of time."

"Home, Max, please I just want to go home." I beg, clinging to him.

"Okay, baby, okay."

The drive home is quiet, I still feel like I'm in a haze, simply watching the city go by. I try to walk when we pull into the garage, Max is quick to correct me. He carries me all the way up to bed, where I cling to him again. Without letting me go, he kicks off his shoes, tossing his jacket and loosening his tie. My arms are around his waist, gripping him tight. We're both quiet for a long time.

His fingers graze my hair away from my temple. "I'm sorry, Sarah. That bastard was never supposed to get near you, ever again."

Beneath my hand, his beating heart tells me what I need to know. I look up into his eyes. "I'm not. I'm not sorry in the slightest. He tried to hurt me but he set me free. All those ugly words, the years I tried working hard to be better for him, to make him happy with me. I realized nothing I did was ever going to be enough and it didn't have a damned thing to do with me. I'd kept myself wrapped up in this prim little doll ATM he wanted me to be. Yes, he's a bastard, but I have to take some responsibility for giving him the power over me and the years I believed him. I let him take control because I needed him to. I had no idea how or what to do to achieve my family dream I had in my tunnel vision. All my focus was on Kevin, never looking around to see what was really going on around me. Giving up pieces of myself to keep him happy--so he would keep the promise. I know you want to protect me, but today, as bad as it seems, I needed it more than I needed to be protected. How long has the ginger been following me anyway?"

Unapologetic. "Since the first day, when Kevin came to get his stuff. It was the right thing to do because he was waiting for you at work. Archie, the ginger, warned him off."

"But why has he been watching me this long? It's been two months now."

"Because Kevin hadn't moved on, no new job, no girlfriend just lays, he's driven back to Dallas twice. I don't how he lost his tail in Houston, or how he got to you here."

"The sandwich shop is my favorite on nice days. That, and an Italian place but on a day like this the sandwich shop was really a given. What did the police say?" I shiver as I wonder about my fate.

"Not a damned thing. He verbally assaulted you first. Archie had the first police report from Kevin being an asshole the day he came to get his stuff. The cops thought he got what he deserved, they'll hold him over night then let him go tomorrow. He's promised he'll never go near you again. I believe him. Kevin is the typical bully, once the target actually stands up to him, he'll back off. I'm sure he's going to have a hard time explaining the broken nose he got from a woman." Max runs his lips over my bruised knuckles. His concern written on his face, I blink to clear my eyes of tears.

Seeing Max treating me tenderly leaves me short of breath. I wonder if now is the time to ask. Yet, since he's held me off this long I barely feel a twinge of guilt. "Max?"

# Chapter Twenty Four

--------

I hear the niggling question in her voice. I know what's coming. Even though I don't want to, I'll answer her. My whole body clenches as I remember the call from Archie, "Sarah's security has been breached." The address he gave ran through my mind over, and over, until I could get to my car to punch it into the navigation system.

My whole world shrank to the need to get to Sarah. Later, I would have a very thorough conversation with Archie and Robert but not now, not today probably. Seeing her there, frozen, tears running down her cheeks, I went down on my knees taking her into my arms. While physically she looked fine, I knew she hurt inside. I would give anything to help her heal. Despite Kevin getting close to her, knowing how she felt, and that she was actually glad to get the closure and punch into Kevin, now she needed my arms around her and my world was right. For this feeling of right, I'll give her my whole fucking world, for some reason it doesn't scare me as it once did.

"Yeah, baby."

"Why don't you ever talk about your father? Do you hate him?" Her words are soft, barely a whisper. Expecting me to evade or change the subject, as usual.

Ah, hell, whatever she needed I would give her. She needed to know. "I don't hate him exactly. I hated the way he treated my mother and me, as if we were all there for his amusement."

"What do you mean?"

"My mother wasn't his only mistress, just the only one who gave him a boy. There were seven other women over about twenty years. He paid for two abortions when he found out they were girls. One other woman had a baby girl, but she passed at only six months. He would come see my mom once, maybe twice a month. Sometimes just overnight, other times, a week or two. Then as he left he'd peel off six or seven hundred dollar bills, like he's some kind of fat cat. Except, the money didn't keep the bills paid and us fed. Hell, I grew to hate tuna and pasta because it was all my mom could afford, then there were times I longed for it on the nights when there was nothing to eat."

"Your father was a millionaire, yet you went hungry?" Her shock is clear.

"Oh yeah, more than a few times. Once or twice, my mom let the water or electricity go out in order to buy groceries. When she did that, he went nuts because it embarrassed him that the neighbors knew.

"Then, to piss my mom off, and his wife, he would take me out to games to show me off. At first, I didn't realize he only wanted to flaunt me in peoples' faces. I didn't know why he did it, I simply reveled in being his son."

"Why don't you go by Corbin?"

"Because he didn't want me to have the name. My mom said he went ballistic when he found out she put his name on the birth certificate. Considering my old-fashioned mother was only twenty when I was born, she did it not because of greed. She thought that's how it's supposed to be, married or not. Mom met him fresh faced, young, and stupid her first week working as a secretary in a Cadillac dealership. For her it was love at first sight, even though he was twenty-two years older than she was.

Slowly though over the years, her love became bitterness. When I was thirteen she told me love doesn't last, always go for the money. I remember her words vividly because we were in a pawnshop, pawning a bracelet to buy groceries. He got pissed when I didn't use his last name during high school, but he still let everyone know I was his son."

"At least he was there to cheer you on."

"Hardly, he would come at the beginning or the end, but never a whole game. We weren't close, he didn't know a thing about me because he didn't care to. He never asked me a single question, not my favorite subject in school, my favorite team, my favorite sport, anything. He didn't care really, just about how good I made him look."

"Why did your mom put up with him all those years?"

"Sadly, I think she really did love him, as much as she could. The idea of leaving him was never seriously an option. I think she also had no idea how to survive without him taking care of her. She never held a job because he always wanted her available. Her getting a job to support us didn't even seem to cross her mind. At first, she thought about fighting for my share in court but I told her no. The girls and their mother came to the house threatening everything under the sun if she tried to claim anything, calling her a slut and me a bastard.

"Then the real truth came out, the man wasn't just broke, he was drowning in debt. Many people guessed it caused his heart attack, because the banks and creditors were demanding payment, anything, immediately. Rumor has it he inherited a company already in trouble, and thought he'd just ride out the money to the end.

"My mom and I became the social pariahs of the block, now that my father wasn't around to offend. People would whisper around her constantly, calling her a slut. I wanted to move then, but the stipulations on our house in my name were it couldn't be sold until I turned eighteen. My mom also didn't want me switching schools, she knew I needed to get a scholarship, and the best way was football. Scouts had been at my games since I was a junior. Because he hadn't left me anything but the house, financing college for all four years wouldn't happen based on the sale alone."

"He only left you the house, even as he went around showing you off as his son?"

"Since it was the only thing paid for outright when he died, it meant something. I'll give him the credit due to him there. The home his wife and girls lived in was mortgaged to the hilt. They were foreclosed on only two months after he died. I didn't want his money, wouldn't have taken it, if there had been any money. I was determined to succeed using my mother's name, and to make her proud."

"How are there still freight trucks and oil trucks around showing the Corbin name on them?"

"They are owned by companies that haven't been around as long as Corbin. They not only bought the company, they bought the name too."

"Your mother sounds like a hell of a strong woman, to raise a son like you."

"She tried but she had her moments. My father was only dead about three weeks when she took another boyfriend to pay the bills, and then another, and another. I took the scholarship at UT Austin because I would be close enough to keep an eye on her, close, but not too close."

"Huh, she sounds a lot like my mom, always looking for someone else to take care of her, never realizing she could do it herself."

"I've wondered about your mom. She was on a genius level mathematically, like her father, there were high expectations for her. Then she married your father, started a cleaning company that barely made money, then drank herself to death after practically selling you and your brother off to your grandmother."

"No, she didn't practically do it, she did it. My grandmother gave her twenty thousand for the both of us. She could also remain in the house as long as my mother lived, but my mom couldn't sell it, and if she remarried, she had to move out. I don't really understand my mother, either, mainly because I barely knew her. She spent a lot of time working and even more time away from the house, like my dad. I never knew until I found some of her stuff when I left school, that my dad mainly lived with a man he called his real husband. The problem is she married him for money, knowing he was gay. He wanted to make his mother happy. Her father was a mathematician from Columbia. Even though schools everywhere wanted his talent, it never turned into him being financially successful. She wasn't going to make the same mistake. She went after the money rather than work hard and die with nothing, like her father. That was one of the few things she said about my grandfather."

"She never wrote you while you were in school?" I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

"Never, just my brother and once or twice my grandmother. What happened to your mother?"

"Right after I won the scholarship, a full ride, I told her to sell the place. Use the money to take care of herself, starting with a vacation, that she deserved it. She took a cruise to Jamaica, caught a fever and died a week later."

Her intake of breath ends in a curse. "That's damned unfair."

"Life's unfair, baby. How did you live through all those cold, unloving years and become the sweet, kind, amazing woman you are now?" I allow my thumb to stroke her mouth.

"The same goes for you. You are a good, extremely kind man. I'm lucky you have a massive enough ego to keep coming after me."

"Rest, baby." I shake my head.

She bolts up. "Oh, my god, what about work?"

I pull her down to me. "I called them. Now rest."

"Yes, sir." She mumbles as she drifts into sleep. I hold her for a while, simply enjoying her in my arms. The anxiety that had once threatened to swallow me whole even thinking about talking about my parents hadn't appeared while I held her and talked about them. Weirdly, I'm content, at peace with the resentment I still held onto in regards to both my parents.

When I feel her fall into a deep sleep, I slip from bed. I close the door to the bedroom then go into my office and close the door there as well. Pulling out my phone, I see the missed messages. I call Ruth to let her know I wouldn't be back in because of Sarah. If Diego would be willing to take over the dinner tonight I would appreciate it, if not then cancel it. I end the call.

Then I find Robert's number. "What the hell happened today?"

"He lost Sylvester, Sylvester called Archie. Kevin was waiting for her. Archie stayed close to her. Only two minutes was all it took for Archie to get to her and pull her off him. I'm sorry Max, there won't be any more invoices, it's the least I can do."

"I pay what I owe, send it. Apparently, Sarah got what she needed out of it."

"Blood always helps even a score. Let me know if you need anything."

At my desk, work can barely hold my attention, there are things I'd left half done, others not even started when I'd left the office at a run today. I make an attempt and finish the pending things that couldn't wait. Calling in to Ruth I let her know what I've finished and to email everything over for a hard signature. Ruth had Sarah's calendar as well as mine and knew she's off tomorrow. "Boss you can take tomorrow off to be with Sarah. Diego is good and it's a light day anyway."

"Maybe." Then I freeze. I've never missed a day of work since I started my company. I'm human and have managed to fall sick a few times, never badly enough not to go in to the office. There's no time to figure out how I really feel, because Sarah knocks lightly before entering my office.

She's highly ambivalent about my office, seeing it as a necessary evil, yet resentful when it takes me away from her. I open my arms. She snuggles into my lap with a yawn. "You let me sleep too long."

"No, I let you sleep as long as your body needed to. Those adrenaline surges and crashes can be hell on a body." The drawer where the keyboard would have once sat is open and the white box is visible. "Another gift?" Only Sarah could make it sound like a bad thing. She had one set of emeralds, a necklace and earrings, I felt compelled to buy because of her eyes, and then had to practically beg her to accept. I hated that when we went out she didn't wear jewelry, when the other woman around her were bathed in them.

"For Diego, his ten year anniversary is tomorrow. Remember the dinner, the celebration out? He swears I promised a Rolex on his ten year if he met his potential. I don't remember, but he hasn't stopped talking about it. I figure, why not."

Sarah shakes her head, her expression mocking. "Sure, why not spend ten thousand on a watch."

I tug her hair back. "Diego deserves it. He surpassed his potential and then some."

"You two have the weirdest bromance, almost the mentor thing but not quite. Did you really just pick him off the side of the road then pay for him to go to college?"

"Something like that. He was getting his ass kicked, I wasn't sure he would make it. I saw the whole thing, he stepped in to stop some drug dealers selling to a little kid who wouldn't have known what to do with the crack even if he had bought it. I picked him up off the sidewalk and took him to the hospital. When I went to check on him to let him know not to worry about the bill, I'd taken care of it, Diego called me a lazy do-gooder just throwing money around, not trying to actually fix the problem."

Her laughter warms my whole body. "Exactly. I picked this kid up, saved his ass, paid his bills, and he's calling me an asshole. Fine, I asked him what he was doing to change things. At the time, he tried working two jobs and going to school online, except it wasn't working. Instead, he made up his mind to join the army for them to pay for his schooling. After seeing him fight, I knew that was probably a bad idea. I told him fine, show me I wouldn't be wasting money, it would worth putting my money into effecting changes.

"He would go to school full time, he couldn't make anything lower than a C, or I stopped paying. Once he had his degree, if he learned what he really needed to know, then he could come to work for me and make real money. Then he could be in charge of a scholarship fund for kids like him. Ten scholarships a year--we make sure we even cover books to any school. He has to pick the kids, and when they graduate, he has to show off what they accomplished."

"You are the sweetest thing." She moans against my mouth.

Pulling back, I open the drawer wider, "If you think that, then will you take what I picked out for you?"

That damned sexy lower lip is already showing itself in a pout when I pull out the box, it's a set of the necklace, bracelet, earrings and a ring. The largest box holds the necklace and earrings. When I open the box, she blinks twice in surprise, thank god she'll take them. "Max, they are gorgeous. How beautiful." All made of bright twenty-four carat gold. The bracelet is a link of circles that looks like a sun in gold, with a diamond in the middle, they look like art. The necklace is a larger sun circle with a diamond in the middle. Each earring was an individual single sun circle with a diamond also in the middle. Every diamond is a perfect round carat in every piece of jewelry, from the necklace, to the bracelet and earrings, and of course the ring.

Her forefinger goes out to trace the necklace. "I tried not to buy you anything, honest. You know those sales people. The woman showed me this and the moment I saw it, they reminded me of you. I had to have them. I bought the set of course." I take out the necklace and fasten it around her neck pressing a kiss against the side of her neck. She sighs. I take out the ring, the circle is wide, the rays of the sun fold around the one carat diamond. Fuck, my hand is shaking as I open it. Picking up her right hand she opens it to allow me to slide it on her right ring finger. Her left hand covers mine squeezing lightly, she's forgiving me for my cowardice. Fuck, I don't deserve her.

"I love them, thank you." Her arms go around my neck. "Now come on, let's go out and get something to eat, I'm starving."

Oh, hell no. I bite my tongue, I've learned how to handle her. "I'll tell you what, since you're starving, let me make you a little something before we go out. You know we'll both take a while to get dressed, then get seated and our dinners out to us. There's some leftover of the pasta fagiole from the other night, remember?"

Her beautiful face scrunches. "Okay, just a cup of soup."

She follows me into the kitchen where she watches me pour her soup and happily inspects her new jewelry. A finger constantly playing over the bracelet. "Come on, sit on the couch, get comfy." I set the bowl in front of her. "Eat, baby. I need to call Diego."

I'm only buying time in the office. Fuck, why the hell is my hand trembling again when I close the ring box. If it had been that ring, it would be a shitload bigger than a single carat. Sarah hadn't blinked, her manner reassuring me she was okay it wasn't bought to go on that finger. Her quiet patience made me angry sometimes. Maybe it had only been a little over two months, but she deserved forever with a man willing to give her everything her heart wanted. She should be demanding it, yet she wasn't. Then I wondered if she was content because it was me she didn't want for forever, her old words of not liking the man I was haunt me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I'm not good enough for her. Sweet, kind, beautiful, intelligent generous of heart, she deserved someone who matched her. Not a broken, bitter, man who didn't believe in good for the sake of good, but for the sake of money. Billionaire, or not. My mind is a mess. I'm starting to get a headache, checking my watch, I see it's been almost a half hour and flee from my thoughts. In the living room, as expected, Sarah has fallen asleep after finishing her soup.

Picking her up, I take her back to bed, she barely stirs as I tuck her in. I leave her alone and head out to make a sandwich then make plans to run an audit to see how my Austin office is doing with the new replacement.

* * *

I'm woken by Sarah's sweet mouth on my cock. Fuck, she's damned good at that. I check the clock; the red lights tell me it's a little after four in the morning, about six hours since I came to bed. She runs my cock between her breasts teasing the head, making me fight not to come. Fuck, I should have my cock cut off she's been through a lot today but the moans and whispers of how much she adores my cock quickly shut up my internal castigation. With a last thorough tongue lashing, she crawls up my body then slides down my hard cock.

The fight inside me not to take over is fierce, yet I know I need to let her have her way. Over the past few weeks she has grown into the sex siren I accused her of, she revels in her sexuality, delighting in the way she elicited my own moans and how fast she could send me out of my mind. Gone was the concern about why she liked being spanked, she asks for it often. Once, we were both shocked when she came from one spanking. She loved it, what surprised us both was how she reveled in being sexually submissive. The lifestyle as a whole didn't appeal to me, but there were some aspects we both enjoyed and she begged me often to fuck her roughly. This intoxicating mix of needs and desires she had were enough to make any man feel as if he'd won the lottery.

Above me, her hands are on my chest as she rocks in breathy little moans. Her position allows her to grind her clit against the base of my cock. Head back, she rides me slowly, taking her time. She's beautiful, her breasts high and tight, moving gently with every stroke. I can do nothing but watch. I've stood in front of works of art by masters of their generation, none of those could match the vision above me.

Caught up in watching her, I don't even realize she has come until her pussy clenches and catches my cock. She falls to my chest and I hug her close. "Max?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Spank me, please, then fuck me from behind rough and fast."

Perfect, is my last thought before I do exactly as she begs.

* * *

"Max, this is crazy. I'm fine. I feel better than I've felt in years and I do mean years. You do not have to take care of me like I'm some kind of baby." Her phone goes off, a text. "Jesus fucking Christ, Leo!" Slamming down the phone, not answering, turning back to me.

"What's up with Leo?" Instantly, Sarah goes quiet, her eyes shifting away. Fuck no. I pick her up, putting her on the island in my closet where I had been trying to get dressed. Our closets are matching except there's far more stuff in mine. "I'm only going to ask once more and you're going to tell me. What's up with Leo?" Her lips thin as she fights to keep them closed. I wrap her hair around my hand and yank back, the smell of her pussy flooding doesn't take my concentration off her. She opens her mouth then closes it again. My hand goes to the flimsy shirt, tearing until she's naked except a pair of panties. The panties are soaked and her nipples are tight. "Tell me or I leave you here to finger yourself, because you won't get my cock."

I've done it before, left her wanting. She knows it's a real threat. "Leo wants us to go out and celebrate, but you said no bars or clubs."

"Celebrate what?" She shrugs. I slap her swollen pussy, hard. She squeals, her hips rocking up for more.

"Celebrate us moving in together. Leo thought a celebration is due." I consider her words. As she is the first and only woman to live with me and it was a well-known fact, it would be a reason for most people to view it as something to celebrate. "Then have the party here. Renee from downstairs at the front desk is a party planner, she'll plan parties for up to fifty people." There's relief in her eyes. Good, now that that's been sorted.

My hand still in her hair, I pull her off the island. Then force her down to her knees. I can see her pussy leaking down her inner thighs. She's on my cock as if she hadn't sucked me in weeks and is starving for it. In only minutes, she has me ready to come. Still using my hand in her hair, I pull her off me and bend her over the island thrusting forcefully. She comes with a scream after only four thrusts. Her grasping pussy sends me over the edge as she squeezes me for my come.

I'm still shaking when I feel her mouth around me. More and more she loves to clean my cock, telling me nothing is sweeter to her than our come combined. All I know is watching her do it is sexy as fuck.

# Chapter Twenty Five

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I want to scream in joy. Max is shrugging off a celebration party about me moving in. Taking care of me as if he's afraid I'm breakable, although, damn, he had fucked me hard last night and a few minutes ago. Then the beautiful jewelry from yesterday. The way his hand shook as he put the ring on my finger gives me hope. Baby steps, I'm willing to wait.

"Why aren't you wearing your ring?" He catches my right wrist.

"The set seems like go-out jewelry not every day, but if you want me to wear it every day I will."

"Yes, every day." He grits out the words, his jaw hard as a rock.

My stomach flips at the meaning behind his demand, far be it from Max to make it a request. "Okay. If you're staying home today, it's grocery shopping day--no suits necessary. I'll call Leo and give him the good news."

When we leave, I make an appointment with Renee for the party for a week from now. She asks my preferences, guest list, and tells me she'll have a few plans ready by the time we came back. Max only offered a request of no red wine, besides if it was a celebration then champagne made more sense. Considering the guest list went to only twenty people, I couldn't believe the sum Max gave as a budget Renee could go up to.

I must be losing it because even grocery shopping when Max is at my side is fun. It takes far longer than it would have if I went by myself, yet I don't mind at all. Renee has three different themes and fitting menus when we come home. Max leaves me to pick as he takes the groceries upstairs. Calling Leo, I ask his advice, then I pick my favorite. He tells me he's spread the word. I send out invitations by email making sure to include Mary and Linda.

Max disappears into his office, but only for about an hour. I begin making lunch. Our day is lingeringly sweet and passes far too fast, before I'm reminded we need to get ready to go to Diego's party at the restaurant. The restaurant is where Max had cornered me in the bathroom. Surprisingly we haven't been back since. After the way the day has gone, Max being sweet and wonderful, I think he deserves a treat. I dress in the same green dress from that first night at the restaurant. I pick a slinky bra, the catch in the front. Shocking even myself, I leave off my panties. Telling myself I can make it through the night without embarrassing myself.

The evening is fun, a real party. Casey, Diego's wife, is there and shy. We spend the night talking about her two daughters. Ruth comes by often to check on us as does Max, but it's definitely a boys' night. I'm glad Max already asked me to drive us home. Both women appreciate my ring with knowing looks.

"I'm just glad you moved in. He became much calmer after you did, he was such a bear. From one week to the next, he's back to the old Max but nicer. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I respond with a blush.

Around midnight, the time is coming for the restaurant to close. Max feels my eyes on him and sees the light my eyes. I'm sure he thinks I'm signaling I'm ready to go home. The closer he comes, I get up and make my way towards the bathroom. I look back to make sure he's following me. Giving him a devilish grin. He speeds up and he's pressing his hard cock against my ass while I push open the door. We're both smiling now to see it's empty. Max locks the door as I bend over the counter. If I only had one position to pick for him fucking me forever, it would be from behind. His cock touches every inch of pussy and I swear he goes deeper than any other position.

Max is behind me in a repeat of that night. "Do you have any idea how badly I wanted you to bend me over and fuck me? Then I felt your cock hard against my ass and I've never been wetter in my entire life."

Fingers graze the bottom of my dress up. I bend over sticking my ass out farther. "I thought you couldn't go a night without panties?" He murmurs as a hand runs over the swell of my ass.

"Did you not notice how often I've gone to the bathroom? It wasn't to pee." A finger slides over my folds in, then out.

I hear his zipper, my pussy floods in preparation of his cock. He can feel me coat his finger from my flood of juice. "Perfect." It's the last thing he says as he slams his cock deep and fucks me like a mad man.

When it happens, my climax hits me painfully. My sob echoes around us and only seconds later he follows me. Just as it does every time, my pussy wants more of his hot sticky come, throbbing, clenching him within me.

Bodies still locked together, all we can do is pant as we come down from our climax. When my legs stop trembling, I go down on my knees to clean his cock. It's become almost an addiction to me now. I relish every lick of his cock. His hands go into my hair using them to pull me up to him. "I think you deserve a reward for being brave enough to go out without underwear."

"Mmm... what kind of reward?"

"It has been almost a week since my princess sat on her throne."

I push against him. "That's because every time you make me, I come so often you make me black out. Pretty please, just one or two orgasms from your wonderful tongue?"

His only response is a devilish grin. I'll be his princess tonight. I'm right. When we get home, I count five orgasms before I fall into oblivion.

* * *

The day of the party comes and I'm a nervous wreck. Renee has planned everything perfectly. Since only about twenty people will be coming, I had declined the waiter service Renee recommended, instead, the catering company lays out the food buffet style at the edges of the living and dining room. Champagne is Max's drink of choice. There are other non-alcoholic pitchers of sweet and unsweet tea and lemonade. The food is Asian style, dumplings with and without sauce, spring rolls, oysters on the shell, and there were also martini glasses holding cocktail sauce and de-veined tailless shrimp around the edges.

I'm in my closet, changing for the third time. "Why are you changing? You looked good in that dress." Max is leaning against the open door.

"Max, you look too yummy and sexy. You have to find something plainer or Leo and I are going to throw down over you." His silver suit fits him perfectly. The matching silver and black tie over his bright white shirt makes me want him all over again.

His laughter sends a shiver up my spine, I love when he laughs freely. "I'll try, if you put the last thing on you were wearing and come help me find something."

Following his advice, I put on the dress. It's a nice, wrap, sleeveless green dress with a light sheen. I thought it might be too flashy, but I trust Max's opinion, often more than my own. Since I have no idea how long tonight will last, I pick flats out then follow Max into his closet. Finding something to make Max look like he hasn't walked out of the pages of a magazine takes forever. We settle on simple, black pants, a white shirt and slim black tie. I shrug as I look at him. He's still gorgeous enough to make a person drool.

Despite my fears, the party goes well. Leo behaves, Margie's lecture to Max can be heard, and although I'm dying inside, Max seriously listens, taking it in stride. Bridgette isn't able to make it. I'm sad, worried it's because she didn't approve. Mary comes and lets me know it's because Bridgette wasn't feeling well, she had been out with a migraine today. I open the door, surprised to see Lilly. I hug her in welcome, she hadn't responded she would be able to attend. Andy follows, her hand in a guy's, it was the guy I had referred her to but, damn, I can't remember his name.

He sees my struggle. "Reagan Kline."

I shake his hand, looking for Max, turning my head--he's at my side. "Max, this is Lilly, Andy's ex-girlfriend, and this is Reagan Kline, the guy whose card I gave her that night. Come in, you guys, this story I have to know."

Lilly explains their breakup as amicable. Andy could remain in their apartment, allowing her to save money while she took the online courses Reagan felt she needed to help her. Reagan had taken an interest in Andy, and Lilly was happy for them both.

When the night ends, I feel like it can be called a success. Max agrees. I even leave the dishes for the cleaning women tomorrow.

* * *

We barely notice as June slides into July. He's happy I'm here, and the ring on my right finger has become a permanent fixture. I have a tan line there because if I forget when I'm getting ready in the morning, Max makes sure I'm wearing it every day. Not only that, but Max has shared more and more about both his parents. Even his half-sisters--who ignored him if they happened to meet in public. Now, no subject is off limits anymore, any question I ask gets answered without hesitation.

I know his birthday is coming soon. I ask him excitedly what his plans are as we settle onto the sofa to eat dinner. He shrugs, the question seems to surprise him. "Nothing, it's just another day, really. When I was younger, my mom didn't do anything, often, I think she forgot. When I was older, maybe eleven or so, she explained she didn't have the money and she was a shit baker. Life sucked, get used to it. My dad once threw me a huge party when his wife threatened divorce, but other than that, I've learned to just treat it like another day."

I'm fighting tears. I hide them behind teasing. "Seriously? Not even when you were younger, no models wandering around in their bikinis, and orgies all night long?"

He laughs so hard he puts down his glass of wine. "No, no orgies."

"Really?" The word heavy with doubt. I can't believe it, not as highly sexed as he is.

"I've had a few threesomes. The last one more than five years ago. I haven't wanted one since."

"It wasn't like I was asking if you wanted one on your birthday, or were going to get one. I just didn't buy that you hadn't had at least a threesome. But you haven't thrown yourself a party or anything, ever?"

"No, I didn't see the point."

"Huh, okay." I focus on my chicken cacciatore, except this isn't over because I'm having a hard time trying not to cry for him. At least in the last seven years, I've had Leo. He was shocked to find out I hadn't had a birthday party, he's made sure to throw me one every year. Even Kevin made sure to get me something, usually make-up kits or a gift certificate for a make-over one year.

Max might not have had someone who cared enough to celebrate the day he came into the world and into their lives, but that was then. This year is going to be different.

* *

I'm off the next day, from Max's schedule I know he's out checking properties then he has a lunch meeting. I give him an hour to make sure he's out of his office. Going into his office, I find Ruth on the phone. She quickly gets rid of the caller. "Hey, Sarah. What can I do for you?"

"Max's birthday is in three weeks. I need you to tell me what in the world do you get a billionaire who can already buy anything he wants?"

"I totally understand the question. Max has few interests outside of work and you." She's in deep thought for a while. When she says it, it's almost a throw away comment, barely serious. "You could give him a vacation."

In desperation, I latch onto her words. I know the single day off Max has taken since I met him is the day after I punched out Kevin--who had moved to Florida only a week after the incident--and I know he hadn't taken a vacation since he made his first million. He had wanted to see the world. Taking a week off he saw England, Ireland, and Paris then he was back to work, never going overseas for pleasure again. He'd visited Germany for a week for a client, and Greece for two days, again for a client. "Can you fix his schedule for at least a week off?"

Seeing how serious I am, she grows excited. "I can fix anything. Diego will love to step up if it means giving Max time off. Max has always makes sure Diego gets at least a two week vacation a year and time off when he wants or needs it for his kids or Casey."

"Is his passport in order?"

"Yes, he needed to update it when he went to Greece two years ago. You're taking him overseas? Let me know where. I'll make sure you get the best of everything."

"Thanks, Ruth, I appreciate the offer, but I really want to be the one to take care of him this time."

"Oh, my god, you are just the cutest. I'm glad he found you. Please, he can be an ass sometimes. Give him time. He'll come around because he is head over heels in love with you. The man he was before he met you never left the building before seven. He had clothes here and slept on the sofa some nights. Now, if there's a threat to him not making it home by six, the whole office has a problem."

Bursting with happiness, I'm glad I'm not the only one who knows. Back at home, I log into my various accounts. My checking account is healthy, my savings three times that. I'll need to liquidate from my investment account to accomplish what I really want to do, because based on my lawyer's advice it's where the proceeds from the sale of my grandmother's house were. I had been her only heir, the amount had stunned me. The financial advisor promised safe bonds and preferred stock. I put the call through to liquidate and the advisor promises to put the order through immediately, but it will be three days until the money can be transferred.

Ruth calls to tell me she can give me five days starting the day of his birthday, because the day before there is a major meeting Max wouldn't leave to anyone else. My dates set, I make a phone call to a travel agency who catered to the billionaire set. The week rental of a villa is less expensive than the hotel she first suggested, at least I tell myself, even as I wince at the cost of the jet I've scheduled to take us back and forth. I'm promised the villa will be stocked with food the day before, and a car would be waiting for our use around town when we wanted to leave the villa. I'm guessing we won't be leaving often though.

I'm able to extract at least a dinner out for the night of his birthday, but other than that, Max doesn't want to talk about it. The few times I ask him what he wants for his birthday, he lists me in a pink teddy, or me in pure black lace. I laugh, but take note and go shopping.

The day before his birthday, I begin to set the plan into motion. I had worked that day in order to get my vacation in. He doesn't know I have the day off tomorrow. It's getting late. "Damn, I forgot we're having a potluck tomorrow, and I don't feel like cooking. I'm going to run to the store real quick. Do we need anything?"

Max is preoccupied with a contract. "Not that I can think of."

"Okay, I'll be right back." I go downstairs and talk to Manny to make sure he and the rest of the staff know we'll be out of town starting tomorrow. But not to say anything to Max, because it was a surprise. Manny nods and says he'll make sure the others are told, and will take care of everything while we are away. Back upstairs, I let myself in. "Max, can I borrow your car please? Some ass in a BMW parked way too close and I'm afraid I'll nick his car."

"Sure, baby."

I come back with chips and salsa. That night I'm excited but do my best to hide it, allowing it to show itself only in my enthusiasm during sex.

# Chapter Twenty Six

--------

Waking up to a whispered happy birthday as Sarah's mouth sucks deep on my cock. As usual, I warn her I'm going to come. She begs me to fuck her fast and hard. Fighting hard not to come yet, I roll her under me, fucking her to a body shaking orgasm for the both of us. We shower together, not a bad birthday as far as I'm concerned. A smacking kiss on the cheek is given as she leaves. I eat my normal breakfast of a boiled egg and a piece of buttered toast and coffee to get my carbs and protein in. Workout over, I head back upstairs to get dressed. Suit on, doing up my tie, my eyes are drawn to my tee shirts, were there less there than yesterday?

I make a note to ask Sarah about them tonight then head down. Renee is waiting for me. "Sir, your driver is waiting."

"Driver?" I don't like to be driven.

"Didn't Ms. Willock tell you? After she drove your car last night she called it in for service an hour ago." Concerns she thought it unsafe and she was driving it, has me frowning. I'll call her on her lunch break and ask her about it.

Annoyed, I get into the back of the Mercedes, the driver carefully closing it behind me. I use the time to focus on work, pulling out a contract I need to go over. Around the time we should be pulling up to the office, I look up and see we are nowhere near my building.

"What the fuck is going on? Where are we going?" Kidnap is my first thought. Fuck, Robert had warned me dozens of times.

"This is at Ms. Willock's insistence, sir. Please, don't be alarmed. We'll be at the airfield in another twenty minutes."

Airfield? No fucking way. I pull out my phone and call Sarah, her phone goes straight to voicemail. I call Ruth. "Ruth, what the hell is going on?"

"Happy birthday, sir. Well, there's this thing called a vacation and you are going on one. Diego and I have worked out your schedule. Enjoy your week off." Then she hangs up on me. I stare at my phone stunned she hung up on me.

Pissed, I call Diego. "Happy birthday, boss. No way in hell am I going against your woman's pleas. Go, have fun. We'll see you in a week. Shockingly, your company will still be standing. I promise." Then Diego hangs up on me, too. Fucking shit.

I try to call Sarah, but again it goes to voicemail. The car begins to slow, I see we're at a small airfield specializing in private planes. Still stunned, I get out when the car stops on the tarmac in front of a Gulfstream jet large enough to carry probably fifteen to twenty people.

Stairs down, there's a flight attendant waiting at the top. Fucking Sarah. She knows I can't refuse her anything. A week vacation for a birthday present. I go up the stairs. She's waiting, leaning against a seat that looks like a recliner. She's wearing a trench coat that ends at mid-thigh. The smile on her face is full of promise. "Happy birthday. We have to be belted in for take-off but there's a queen bed in the back where you can make me pay during the flight."

The flight attendant pulls up the stairs and closes the door. Smiling, she asks us if we would like anything before take-off. We both decline, I'm still reveling in hearing my femme fatale uncaring she's promising me sex in front of another woman. From speakers above, the pilot announces we are ready for take-off and arrival in Forte Di Marmi with a travel time of about eleven hours. Hearing the destination, I shake my head, I've heard of it before, a destination for luxury vacations. Giving in, I sit next to Sarah, clicking my seat belt into place.

I look up to see the flight attendant, who had disappeared at take-off, coming back with a small, simple, black frosted cake with a single white candle in the middle. She pulls down the back of the tray of the seat in front of me. The large tray holds the cake easily. I've only received a birthday cake once in my life. A day late, something my mother got from the grocery store. Sarah's small hand slips into mine, gently squeezing. Her whisper is a brush of air against my ear. "Make a wish."

The cake blurs in front of me. Battling the lump in my throat, I take a deep breath and blow out the candle. "Lisa, can you go ahead and put the cake away? I think we'll have it later."

She undoes my seat belt then draws me up after her. In a daze, I follow toward the back of the plane. The click of the door startles me. It isn't a large bedroom, but large enough to hold a queen sized bed, small chair, and bathroom. Sarah draws me down to the edge of the bed then wraps her arms around my neck resting my head on the soft pillow of her breasts.

"In all the years at home, then boarding school, my parent's never celebrated our birthday. Between the two of us, my brother and I gave each other hand made cards sometimes we could afford to give each other small treats. After I stopped hearing from my brother I refused to think of my birthday again. Two years in row, a girl I formed a friendship with smuggled in a chocolate bar and gave it to me as a gift on my birthday, but then she graduated. I never celebrated my birthday again until the first year I went to work at the hospital, they have a roster of birthdays posted. Leo asked me what I was going to do. I told him nothing. He saw it as his mission to throw me the best party ever. Actually, I hated it. It was too loud, there was too much glitter and glow sticks. But I appreciated the effort so much, that I sat in the bathroom and bawled like a baby until he pulled me out. Every year he throws me a party, they've grown quieter, less glittery. I stopped crying in the bathroom after the second year."

"We are quite the pair aren't we? I'm guessing your parent's skipped Christmas, too?" The words sound rusty and stilted even to me.

"Of course. In school, before I was sent to boarding school, I told the teachers my parents were Jewish, to get out of holiday gift exchanges."

I laugh, this woman, so pure and devoid of deception, telling people she was Jewish rather than admit her parents didn't care enough.

"Now, of course, I'm one of the weirdos who adores Christmas. I start to decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving or my next day off. The tree is huge, real, and the furniture gets covered in Christmas throws and every geeky accoutrement ever sold for Christmas. I go to all those trees for children whose parents can't afford to give what they want, and spend all day shopping from the lists. All my kids in the ward have at least two presents to open. Just a warning, if I'm still taking up space in the condo." I'm smiling until her last words. Oddly, I had begun looking forward to her turning the condo into a winter wonderland, the mere idea of her not being there as if it wasn't a given, pisses me off.

Sitting up, she takes the trench coat off. She's completely naked. "Sex siren, just for me."

"Only for you." She whispers as she strokes my cheek.

* * *

The pilot comes through the speakers letting us know we'll be landing soon. "Nice call on the private jet."

"My grandmother is rolling in her grave right now. Her granddaughter--spending money on an illicit getaway." Her smile is wide. "I wish she were alive. I would love to tell her. She was the cheapest richest person I've ever met. Her poor maid was made to reuse paper towels. She didn't buy anything new until duct tape had been used until it wouldn't work anymore."

Holding her close, I kiss her one last time. I let her go and begin getting dressed. Sarah reaches under the bed, pulling out a small suitcase. "Pick your panties." She says with a smile. I point at a black set over a white one. She dresses and shakes out a rumple free shift dress. We make our way back to the seats and the plane touches down with the lightest bump. Sarah is careful with the cake, still untouched. Setting it carefully on her lap as we get into the car waiting for us at the airport. "I rented us a villa just a little outside the town. It has a private beach and a secluded inlet."

The house is impressive, there are three large bedrooms, a formal living room, a casual dining and living room, a heated pool, a Jacuzzi, and the secluded beach only about a hundred feet away. She's looking through the refrigerator and shelves. "What do you think? It's even better than the pictures."

"It's a beautiful house. It will be nice to lay out back and get rid of sun tan lines." She smiles shyly at my words. "I bet a swim would be refreshing after being stuck in a plane for hours."

"Okay. I brought a few different swim suits."

"No, baby, I said no tan lines. I want you naked in the pool, now." I can see her swallow from across the room. Our eyes lock, she slips off the dress then kicks out of her shoes. Pushing down her panties where she stands, her arm goes around her back and her bra falls off her arms. Then she takes off at a run, squealing as she jumps into the pool.

The week floats by in the kind of perfection that could never be planned. Our days were sex, sun, and fun filled. Although there was a day when we both got carried away. Sarah apologized for being too sore to even touch. Then I apologized for acting like an animal. We laughed and went to the see the picturesque town. We finally got around to eating the cake. She fed me from her hands then I licked the icing from her body. As I hold her in my arms on the hammock under the shade of a tree, I love how she's completely naked, a light tan covers her body without a single line. Tomorrow we go home. I'll never forget this week, the moment she fed me cake the love glowing from her eyes is etched deep inside me. I'd seen it from time to time but told myself it was the moment or the light hitting her. Now she's hiding nothing from me. Although my fear didn't disappear at the sight of her love, I no longer braced myself for the end. Slowly, tension I didn't know I carried disappeared. I'm beginning to wonder if not all good things come to an end.

* * *

The glow from our trip lasts about a week. Of course, it's my fault it ends. I'm in my office when there's a bang on the door. Sarah comes in breathing fire, a piece of paper in her hand.

"Why?! Why the fuck did you do it?! I have my own money, Max. I have enough to support myself without working at all. I work because I want to do something meaningful with my life. Those things were a gift! Do you not understand the meaning of a gift? You say thank you and that's the end! You don't go around paying for it! Then it's not a gift anymore!" Well, fuck, I had wanted her to let go when she got angry or upset, now I understand be careful what you wish for. I get up and she shakes her head. "You stay away from me. If you got close enough, I'm so pissed I would try and punch you."

Sighing as I dig in for the argument, I lean against my desk, outside of her reach. "The vacation was everything you wanted it to be. I will never forget that week. I appreciate the thought behind it. I'm thankful for you doing it because it's not something I would have done.

"But, and yes it's a 'but' you won't like. I'm not having my woman pay for me. I don't care if you can afford it or not. I've worked damned hard to get to a place where I depend on no one to get what I want. I take care of you, not the other way around."

She blinks, opens her mouth then closes it. I can see her fighting to control her anger. "What? I can't buy you a gift, ever? If I buy you a watch are you going to give it back or put the money in my account. Is a new tie out of the question?"

This woman. "Eighty-seven thousand for a private jet there and back is a huge fucking difference from a watch or a silk tie! As is the six thousand on the villa." Her eyes go wide, shit she didn't know I'm going to pay for that, too. I hadn't yet, the woman hadn't called me back, but I was going to.

Then she does something I would never have expected, Sarah bursts into tears. If she had punched me in the nose, I would have been able to take it, but not this. I wrap my arms around her. I had meant to take her into our bedroom, but fuck, my legs won't move. I'm on my knees, my arms tight around her, her face is buried in my neck.

"All I wanted to do was do something for you as good as what you've done for me." She's barely coherent. "You took me, this wimpy, scared to speak my mind, hiding from the world around me because I thought I was this fat, ugly woman who didn't want anyone looking at her. Because I thought they would see the real me, someone so unappealing my parents didn't want anything to do with me. There I was desperately holding onto a guy I didn't even really like, who wouldn't know his way around a clitoris if someone drew him a map, on the promise of not being alone--not understanding I was better off without him. Then you came along and made me into this person who feels brave, beautiful and who believes in herself. I know I'm more than that wimpy fat girl.

"Was that wrong of me to want to do? I wanted to give you an experience you'll always remember, because when the time comes, whether it's next month or a few months or whenever, I'll always be thankful for everything you've given me beyond the body shaking orgasms you promised."

My hand in her hair, cupping her head, I hold her tight against my chest, fighting hard for control. There's something in my throat and it won't move. Clenching my eyes shut I work to take in air. Her arms around my waist cling tight as she cries into my chest.

I have no idea how long it is before we move but I know it's a while. Finally, I'm able to speak. "It was always there, if you want to give me the credit of letting it out then I'll take it. But you're the kind of survivor who would have become her own amazing person, because it would have fought to make its way out. I want you to know you aren't the only one who has enjoyed the woman you have allowed yourself to be. You gave me a birthday I'll never forget and always treasure. You've given me much more than you think you have. I'm happier than I've ever been just having you in my life."

Quiet surrounds us again until Sarah sighs. "Who was she?" 'She' could be about anyone, except I know exactly what she's asking.

"Carla, I met her at a benefit for the charity I have that helps pay for medical procedures people can't afford. I fell like a ton of bricks. Only a month in, I'm shopping for engagement rings, then I come home early one day. She's in bed with another woman. They were lovers for years. Their plan was to get me married then get money out of me in the divorce for the other woman's kidney transplant. The woman had been denied by the foundation because she was a drug addict, addicted at the time after relapsing five times previously. They found it fitting to make me pay through a divorce settlement. After her, I promised not to let a woman in again. I'd take my mom's advice and go for the money."

"She's why you have women in your life investigated?" She knows the answer.

"Yes, I want to make sure they have enough money in their own bank account they don't have to have mine. Also I don't want any skeletons popping out."

"Thank you for telling me, everything. I'm sorry I cried all over you like a baby."

"I hate when you cry. How about we compromise? I pay for the jet and you take the villa. The money is already in the bank for the jet."

She wipes her eyes, "Okay."

We're still in each other's arms for a long time before I take her to bed. We simply fall asleep there.

* * *

After that night, things are different between us. I know she loves me and won't leave me for the next best thing. Without the fear hanging over me, I'm able to be freer than I've ever been. She feels it, her happiness clear as she snuggles into me every night.

Our small bubble of happiness is burst almost a month later by a phone call. The security company is calling, a window was breached. Sarah had been called first and when she said she wasn't at home, the police were called. I'm out of my office before the woman finishes speaking. In my car, I call Sarah.

"Max." I can hear the stress in her voice.

"I'm on my way, baby, I'll be right there. Where are you?"

"About ten minutes away."

"I'm not nearly that close but I'll be there as soon as I can be."

I get there almost twenty minutes later. Sarah's SUV is in the driveway two police cruisers behind it. They try to stop me then recognize me and let me through to the house. Fuck. The front window next to the door is broken out completely. Everything is gone, from the television, to the furniture, even the dining room table. Sarah is coming out of her room when she sees me, she sobs my name. There's a sensation of being ripped across my chest at her tears.

Catching her to me, I hold her tight. I look at the police officer who seems to be in charge. "Mr. Brandt, they took everything except her beds and bedroom furniture. We got a description of a vehicle from a neighbor and of the two men but not enough to do anything with it. They were smart, they parked right out of the edge of the camera's sight. The security people called and the thieves used white paint with glitter making the security company think the camera went out instead of someone taking out the camera. Here's the police report for her insurance company. Sorry, but it's unlikely anything will be recovered."

I nod, not surprised. Holding Sarah, I let her cry until her tears run dry.

"Everything, they went through all my personal items and threw them around like they were nothing."

"We'll clean everything up, baby and take it back to the condo." I pull my phone out and call Ruth to let her know I won't be back to the office.

"I don't understand why I feel so violated, it doesn't even feel like home anymore. Still, these are all my personal things."

Rocking her, I run a hand up and down her back. "It's okay, baby, everything is going to be okay."

When she feels better, we take the next two hours to pack up everything personal she left behind. Half way through, she runs to a discount store to get more tubs as some of the boxes had been ruined. By the time we're done, the place is pretty empty. Someone has already come and replaced the broken window. The security company comes to replace the cameras. I can see why she was upset, her personal items are few when it comes to pictures and paperwork. The tubs of all her Christmas items had been opened then kicked over.

She follows me slowly back to the condo. I grab a tub and so does she. I ask Renee if someone would be willing to bring the rest of the items up and she assures me of course. A few minutes after I point her toward the spare bedroom to store the items, a man I know to be a maintenance man comes in carrying a tub. He's done in less than fifteen minutes. I tear off two hundred dollar bills and hand them over in thanks.

Finding Sarah on the sofa curled up in a ball makes my chest ache. I make us a few sandwiches taking them to her. "Eat, baby, it's been hours."

Listlessly, she eats half of a sandwich then curls into me. "I just want to go to bed."

"Okay, baby." Carrying her into bed, I lay her down. I pull off her sneakers and pants and leave her in the scrub top, bra, and panties. She wraps herself in the comforter and closes her eyes. Although I want to crawl into bed to hold her, I know she needs time alone. Closing the door lightly, I leave her.

* * *

The next day she's subdued, as she gets ready for work. I go into work and try, but I don't get much done, my mind on Sarah. Ruth is smart and keeps out of my way until almost the end of the day.

Knocking on my open door to get my attention. "Boss, don't forget tonight is your dinner with Cabot Tucker. After yesterday, do you want me to go instead of Sarah?"

Shit. "I frankly don't want to deal with his ass period. Is there any way I can put him off for another day?"

Ruth tilts her head. "Boss, if you had warned me yesterday, maybe, but this late and he'd be insulted. You know how temperamental he can be."

Fuck, she's right. "Yeah, if you would please. I'll let Sarah know. Eight o'clock, I'll see you there."

"Okay."

# Chapter Twenty Seven

--------

I'm reading on the couch when Max comes home. Bending down, he kisses my temple but it's not enough for me. My hand goes to the back of his head to hold him for a deeper kiss. "I'm glad your home early, even if we have to go out to dinner."

"Actually, baby, you don't have to go. Ruth will go tonight." He says as he sits down beside me.

This man makes me understand why people drink. "What? No, I told you. I go with you to those dinners."

"Sarah, I'm thinking of you. You had a rough day yesterday. I thought you'd want a night off. Besides Cabot Tucker is an ass, I would feel better if you weren't around him."

"I'm fine, will you stop treating me like I'm going to break over the smallest thing? I don't care about Cabot Tucker being an ass. Call Ruth. I'm going." I can see his mind working to argue. "If you don't call Ruth, I will. I know the restaurant. I'm going to show up there at eight o'clock with or without you."

Max is a master negotiator and knows today is not the day it will work on me. "Okay, I'll call Ruth. Tonight, please dress as conservatively as possible. Please."

I nod.

He goes into his office where he hides until it's time to get ready. His request in mind, I dress in a long black dress of satin. If it weren't for the pearl clasp belt, it would look boring as hell. The neck is high, the sleeves are long, all I have is a waist from the belt. To complete the conservative look I choose flats instead of heels.

When I go into the bathroom to fix my hair, putting it into a French knot, Max smiles with relief and kisses my cheek. He checks my hand for my ring before we leave.

Cabot Tucker is the asshole Max described. Loud, obnoxious, and leering at me constantly. The dinner is as bad as Max said it would be. Finally, it's clear it's coming to an end. Max takes me for a turn around the dance floor. Cabot had asked me to dance twice, each time Max said no in a lethal way that made me shiver. Even Cabot knew not to press his luck. "Do me a favor, go the ladies room and give me a five count. I'll be able to get rid of Cabot and his hooker for the night without him trying to give you a kiss and a grope goodbye."

"Okay." I go the restroom and keep an eye on my watch. To be on the safe side I give it six minutes. As I head back to the table, I see both men are standing at the entrance of the restaurant. I hang back, neither one can see me.

"No need to be so damned touchy about your girl, Max. She's a luscious piece, it doesn't hurt a man to look. Besides, if you don't want another man wanting it, what are the girls saying these days? 'If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.' I've never gone after a married woman and never would. I can take note of a pretty picture I can't have, just ask Diego. I still can't believe he got a woman as beautiful as his wife." Tucker shrugs then he's gone.

Once Tucker is gone, I step out from behind the potted plant. Slipping my hand into Max's I lean against him. "Yeah that guy is an asshole."

"Hmm..." It's his only response. He's quiet until it's time for bed.

I undress in my closet to find Max still dressed and standing by the bed. "Hands on the bed, ass up. I told you I didn't want you near Cabot Tucker. You got your way, now is the time to pay for it."

Instantly, I'm soaking wet. I go down to my elbows pushing my ass out to him. The first smack is painful enough I can't hold back my cry of pain, my pussy tingles more fiercely than if a vibrator were in it. Another smack on my other cheek and I bite my cheek to keep from crying out. Then again, and again, and again, and I'm lost in the wave of pleasure and pain--and oh, god, I hit my orgasm with a long moan. My legs give out. Max picks me up, settling me so my torso is on the mattress but my ass is still hanging off the high bed. I'm expecting a hard fucking. His fingers push into me, toying with my juices then a finger pushes slowly and steadily into my ass. My body is still limp from my orgasm and doesn't fight his entry.

Oh, the feeling is different than I thought it would be, as slowly he fucks the finger in and out of me. Deep he goes then out, until he's almost entirely out. Is that moan coming from me? I wonder a moment as he pulls out entirely then his fingers play again in the wetness of my pussy. This time he adds a second finger. Now I'm feeling the pain I expected only it's reminiscent of the pain when he spanks me, there's pleasure mingling, shooting through my entire body not just my pussy. Both fingers are fucking me, deep then almost out entirely and with every push, I'm moaning for more. Max's cock pushes hard into my clenching pussy only two deep thrusts before he pulls out then I feel him pushing into my ass.

I fight not to cry out from this new pain. Max's cock, at well over eight inches and massively thick, is far different from his two fingers. His entry is relentless, forcing my body not to fight him is hard. "You can take my cock, baby. That's it, that's my sexy baby."

He doesn't stop until we're skin to skin and then he doesn't move an inch. Oh, god, I feel agonizingly full but somehow it's not enough as I work my clit feverishly. Max's breath is in my ear, "See, Sarah, you took my cock, every inch. Such a hungry, greedy baby you are. That's it, come for me." I come--my pussy aching from missing his cock inside me.

I'm still shaking from orgasm when Max's hands go to my hips and he pulls his cock out until only his beautiful thick head is inside. Seconds later he thrusts back inside, pain and pleasure are twisting through me. Now he's fucking me as fiercely as if he were fucking my pussy. I'm begging for more because the pleasure is so intense it takes me over entirely. Harder, deeper, more, I'm chanting in desperation. There's no slow build, one moment I'm begging, the next I'm screaming as my climax slams into me like a runaway train. I collapse onto the bed, the world fading away until I feel Max swelling even more then flooding me with come. The sensation of him hot, thick, filling me full, his cock convulsing with his orgasm has fire racing up my spine and sends me into darkness.

The next day I wake to realize I hadn't showered after we made love. I slip from bed, taking a long hot shower. As the memories rush back through, I'm astonished at how pleasurable it was. How even now as my fingers slide over my body and clean Max from me there I'm toying with myself in a way I never would have imagined.

"My greedy baby wants more already?" The glass door to the shower is still closed. Max is watching me, his cock hard.

My answer is to continue to fuck myself and moan his name.

I'm late to work for the first time in years.

* * *

The next few weeks slide by and I'm in a cocoon of happiness. It's weird, I thought the tummy flips when I merely think of Max were supposed to fade, yet they haven't. My whole body still tingles at his kiss, I still get wet at the thought of him. He still has me panting from an intense eye fucking over the dinner table during a work dinner. He's still the first thing I think of when I wake and the last thing I think as I fall asleep. There's just one thing throwing shade into my sunshine. Every once in a while, Max disappears from me. He's right beside me but he's lost in thought, intently enough I sometimes have to shake him. I try not to think about it though, because Max is even more attentive, caring, and dare I say loving, than ever.

Every day he wants to hear about my day, holds me while I cry about one child or another, moan about Mary or Linda. Andy has left and I don't like her replacement. I even manage to get him to talk about his days.

All is right in my world, yet, I feel a change coming, and I just wish I could tell if it was good or bad.

# Chapter Twenty Eight

--------

I'm standing in Cartier and my skin feels too tight. I don't know what I'm doing here, this wasn't planned. The sign caught my eye on my way back to the office. Without another thought, I turned into the parking lot. Okay, yes, I know what I'm doing here. I've been thinking of it ever since that night. Of all the fucking people, it was because of Cabot Tucker I'm here. He was right, if I really wanted men to back the fuck off because she was mine then she needed the ring to tell them. Well, Tucker and the way Sarah has been glowing lately, as if a light inside her was permanently turned on. If I were honest with myself, it had been there from almost the beginning but since that day in my office, it's been brighter than ever.

I know I'm being demanding but nothing is right. The third salesman is attempting to placate me with the same damned tray the first one did. Then it hits me, I want emeralds like her eyes. "Emeralds, I want emeralds."

The man nods, "Of course, please have a glass of champagne. I'll be right back."

I don't want liquor. I want a ring Sarah deserves. The ring would mean even more to Sarah, remembering how badly we both wanted each other, and her refusing to give in because she was engaged. If she were married she wouldn't go anywhere and her being out of sight wouldn't have me stressed the fuck out.

Stalking the room, the area they take the serious buyers to, I'm aware I'm making people nervous, but I don't care. The man comes back with three long trays. I see it. It's large, in a perfect oval with four gold prongs holding it in the setting. "An excellent selection sir. It's a nine carat Columbian emerald almost flawless, while the cut is unique, it shows the beauty of the color of the stone."

"This is the one." I hand over my card.

"Yes, sir." The guy looks relieved.

I refuse the stupid bag, tucking it into the front inside pocket of my suit. As I close the door to my car, my phone rings. Checking my phone, I see it's the front desk of my building.

"This is Max Brandt." Why the fuck is my heart thumping in my chest? Mother fucker.

"Sir, it's Renee. Per your instruction, I'm calling to inform you a visitor has gone upstairs for Ms. Willock."

My chest twists. "Who?"

"The man gave his name as Sam Martinez. When I first asked Ms. Willock if he could come up, she asked to speak to him. After she spoke with him, she sounded upset, even though she said he could come up."

"Thank you for calling me to let me know." I mumble. My lips feel numb, shit my whole body feels numb. For the first time in years I don't know what to do, my mind is a blank. Do I go back to work? Do I go home and confront Sarah? The idea of seeing her together with another man is like a blow to the temple. I stare blindly at the wall in front of me.

# Chapter Twenty Nine

--------

It's my day off and I'm making meatballs for dinner tonight when the phone by the door rings. Huh, I check the time, it's a little after ten in the morning. Quickly, I wash my hands and answer the phone.

"Ms. Willock, it's Renee. There's a man here for you. He says his name is Sam Martinez. Shall I let him up?" There's a whooshing noise around me. My knees go weak and I lean against the wall for support. Could it really be, after all this time?

"Can you put him on the phone please?" I'm scared to believe it's real.

"Sarah, I'm sorry this has taken so long, care bear, but I'd really like to see you." Tears flood my eyes, it's really him.

"Give the phone back to Renee." I whisper.

"Let him up, please."

"Yes, Ms. Willock." Renee hangs up the phone and I'm left listening to the dial tone.

Trembling, my hands go up to wipe the tears but they keep coming. I use my apron to wipe my hands then tear if off. The knock I've been expecting comes. Taking a deep breath, I open the door. We both burst into tears and I'm hugging him tight.

* * *

The front door opens, hitting the wall with a bang. I look up to find Max standing in the doorway. Although, in the back of my mind I wonder what he's doing home early, I'm so excited for him to meet Sam I practically run to him. "Max, he's here. He actually came to see me." Max is looking at me oddly and is he pale? I tug him toward the waiting Sam. "Come on, my twin brother Sam, he's going by my mother's maiden name now. Can you believe he just thought about coming to see me yesterday then calls in to work and gets on a plane? That is something dad would have done. Sam this is Max, he's in commercial real estate, he's smart, funny, and don't tell anyone, but a sweet guy." I pull Max down beside me.

Sam says hello and holds out his hand, which Max looks at for a second too long before responding with his own hand. "I owe you an apology, too, for just dropping in like this, only it's long past time. I'm really glad Sarah found someone who cares about her as much as you do."

"Max, Sam's been telling me the whole awful story of his years on the streets before his trust fund kicked in at eighteen. I get it Sam. You needed time to heal. It's okay."

"No, care bear, it's not. Don't give me an out I don't deserve. The school kicking me out was horrible, yes. Grandmother turning her back on me, not surprising really. Except, none of that had anything to do with you. You were always there for me. To lump you in with the bad memories of what happened during my years on the street was bullshit. Sung made sure I realized it and I needed to apologize.

"He's really the reason I'm here. We've been talking adoption, but he refused until I saw a therapist and worked out my own family drama past. He didn't want me bringing it into our own family's future."

"I should go and give you guys some privacy. This is a family reunion." Max looks a little uncomfortable but more like his normal self.

"It's okay, I actually need to get going. My flight leaves in a few hours. From what I've heard it will take almost that long to get to the airport. I'll be back, sis, I promise. Sung has a sister in Austin."

Checking the clock I see it's after three already. "Wow, I had no idea we'd talked this long. You're right about traffic, though." Out of the corner of my eye, I see Max startle as he looks at his watch. The tumblers are clicking into place for me, Max can be such an idiot.

Walking Sam out, we hug tightly and he kisses my cheek. "He is hot. Go easy on him. Men in love don't always handle it very well."

"We'll see." That's Sam and me, it didn't matter it's been years, we read each other's mind and body instantly.

I close the door and lean against it. Max is on the couch, his hands in his hair staring at the floor. "For a man smart enough to reach billionaire status, you sure are stupid when it comes to women. Is it all women... or just me?"

My words are a prod. "Go get packed. I'll call to get us a flight."

I pretend ignorance. "A flight where?"

"Vegas, we're doing this today. Enough is enough." His voice is harsh.

Slowly, I make it to the back of the sofa, as I appear to consider his words. Inside, my heart is somersaulting but I don't dare let it show. Tracing the stitching in the couch I don't look up. "Nope, I'm not going to Vegas until I get a better reason." I look up to see he is pissed. "Hey, you are damned lucky I'm not making you get down on a knee."

Holy shit, Max jumps over the couch to stand in front of me. In slow motion, he goes down to one knee. A trembling hand goes into his jacket pocket. "Marry me, to save me from going out of my mind with the fear you'll wake up one morning and realize you deserve better than me. Whatever it takes to make you happy I'll do it, the kids, the house in the suburbs and a lawn full of fake deer and so many Christmas lights the house can be seen from miles away. Anything you want, it's yours."

His words send me to my knees. "Oh, Max, it will never happen, because I love you. I have what I want, your heart, and I promise you I will always treat it like the treasure it is."

The grip on me verges on pain but I don't dare complain. "Fuck, Sarah, I kept telling myself the feeling would pass but it didn't, it only got stronger. I didn't even know what it was. I had never felt anything like it before. The only reason I realized it was love was because I saw it in your eyes, too. Baby, you don't have just my heart, you have my entire soul. If I lost you I couldn't imagine going on another day."

"I love you, Max. I'm not going anywhere. Do we really get to have babies?"

* * *

This is the woman I love, the ring box still isn't open. She cares more about babies than the ring. Opening the box, I at least get the happy gasp I had hoped for. "Yes, two babies, hopefully girls."

"It's gorgeous, but I was thinking four and a little boy with your chocolate eyes would be even better." There she goes getting her way. Seeing the ring on her finger, her eyes are glowing brightly in happiness, even though there are tears there. "Come on, let's go get packed."

She moves to stand. I shake my head. "Fuck Vegas, you deserve to have a real wedding."

Her beautiful face scrunches. "Okay, to no on Vegas. I would like my friends to celebrate, but something small. We can do it here with a judge or something."

"Anything, baby, but soon. We'll fly your brother and his partner out. You want to throw you birth control away and start on those babies?"

"No, not for at least a year or so. I love you and want you all to myself for a little while. Babies are very demanding, morning sex and weekends spent naked will be limited, but don't think because we're having kids and our lives will be busier you get to shirk your husbandly duties. I expect quickies in the shower, spankings followed by you in my ass, and being woken up with your cock in my pussy at least twice a week.

I can't stop my laughter at her seriousness. "All you have to do is ask."

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# His Under Contract

Holly

As a kid with a Marine for a father, and a doormat stay-at-home mother, I didn't have huge aspirations for my future. Maybe a teacher--working with kids, and then enjoying a summer break. However, I didn't think I would end up a housekeeper scrubbing floors. It doesn't matter if the floors are in a million-plus dollar condo, in one of Chicago's most exclusive addresses. I'm still on my hands and knees for one of the most obnoxious assholes I've ever met. The jerk believes his own press as one of the biggest rainmakers in Chicago. A lawyer specializing in business and sports contracts, Ethan Bishop is sought after in the boardroom and the bedroom. While even his sister thinks he's best taken in small doses, she offers me a job I can't refuse, not if I don't want to go back to my parents with my tail between my legs. I need this job, and it's not like it's forever, just until I'm not on the edge of poverty. Let him be the unrepentant manwhore who didn't do repeats. It's better for him not to be at home, so close that my stupid body goes nuts when I even think of him. It's better this way, because he could never want me. I'm a plus size not a size two model he's used to having. I'm safe, it doesn't matter how badly I want him, he doesn't want me. Does he?

Ethan

In my world, the stakes are high, million dollar high, so no, I'm not nice. I don't say please or thank you and I never apologize. If you have a problem with that, it's your problem not mine. I didn't make partner at one of the biggest law firms in Chicago at only thirty-two with my winning personality. I'm on top because I make money for my clients, whether it's a high stakes takeover, or a player getting paid every dime he's worth. My clients come out on top. I have worked hard for the life I have, the million-dollar condo, the Ferrari in the garage, and the hottest woman on my arm and in my bed. So, if my bitch of a new housekeeper wants to look down on me, like I give a fuck. My one weakness, my little sister parked me with a housekeeper who is far from perfect. Okay, she has the cooking and the cleaning down. But damn, does she have an attitude and a mouth on her that smiles even when she's insulting me. It's a good thing she isn't my type, or I would make her pay the best way possible. At least, I'm trying to tell my cock she's not my type, only the asshole has had his own idea since he saw her. It won't last long though, it never wants any woman for long. When she offers herself to me, it's with a contract where I hold all the control, all I have to do is sign.

# His Healing Touch

# (BBW Erotic Romance)

# Buy Links

Maggie Pruitt can take care of herself, thank you very much. She doesn't need the drool worthy ER doctor carrying her away from her problems. Although she is pretty impressed he's strong enough to carry her size fourteen muffin-topped butt away if he wanted to. She's been taking care of herself for years and she doesn't need anyone's help.

Okay, maybe just this once and just until she can walk without crying. Besides this is a one-time kind of thing. It's not every day a nearly one hundred pound Rottweiler takes off on her without warning. As soon as her right ankle doesn't stop exploding in pain when she steps on it and her left knee stops feeling like it's being poked with a sharp object she's out the door.

She's gone this long alone and really she's happier that way, really. She doesn't need some man to complete her. Now if it's sex he's after (with her?) that's something she's very willing to have the doctor's healing touch for.

Because as far as everything else in her life is concerned she's fine. Really. 

# Rafael's Woman

# (BBW Erotic Romance)

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Carrie Whitney's young twin brothers have messed up one too many times, and if she can't get Rafael Castillo to change his mind, then they are going into juvenile detention and they'll be lost to her. She has no choice but to go to Rafael to beg for her brothers to be given another chance. Nothing goes as planned, and in a whirlwind of tears and accusations, Carrie finds herself in the arms of a man she knows has the power to make or break her world. He wants her, short and chubby Carrie never believed a man like him could want her, but she knows it, from the look in his eyes and his touch. Never expecting to find someone like him, she is willing to take him any way she can get him. Too soon, and yet not soon enough, she's begging him for the only relationship she knows he's prepared to offer her. One based only in her bedroom, no promises, no holding hands. She's sure she can hold out long enough for him to figure out he cares about her in the way she knows he does. Yet, as the weeks turn into months without the words she needs, Carrie isn't sure she can continue. Far too quickly, the question becomes: has she read into his touches and kisses more than there was, or does he love her as much as she loves him? If he does love her, why won't he move them out of the bedroom into the world outside of it, and if he doesn't, then how long can she continue to be simply Rafael's Woman?

Rafael Castillo wasn't expecting the tiny woman with the bright blue eyes to turn his world upside down, and he doesn't like it. It doesn't matter what he wants, family expectations mean a woman like Carrie is off limits. She'll want and deserve marriage and she isn't the type of woman he's expected to marry. Her offer of a sex-only relationship is a blessing and curse, he doesn't care what she says, he can see the love in her eyes. Lying to himself, he takes what's offered and plunges deep into something he never thought he'd feel or know again. He's always disdained the hot-headed Latin stereotype, so why the hell does the idea of sharing or seeing Carrie with anyone else but him send his temper soaring? This wasn't the way it was supposed to go, and now that he's lost in her beautiful body, the way out of their nights locked in her room, away from the pressures of expectation, is harder to find.

# His Hidden Agenda

# (BBW Erotic Romance)

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I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. He's always so charming and gorgeous and everyone in the office loves him, but not me. He's my competition and I hate him. I deserve the promotion, I've given not just my nights, but my weekends and even my marriage to this company, and I deserve the promotion. Only, it's Alex my bosses are patting on the back and taking meetings with. I'm positive the only reason Alex is nice and smiling to me is because he's trying to throw me off my game. Men as gorgeous as he is don't let their eyes linger on fat girls like me. He's blueblood, I'm south side Chicago, below the poverty line, he's Harvard and I'm night school six years to get a degree; on paper, it's laughable. He can't really want me, there has to be something he's hiding, a hidden agenda only he knows.

There is, and when I finally find out, I'm going to have the hardest decision I've ever had to make. The company I've put my life into--or a chance at the kind of love I never believed existed before. 

# His Hostile Takeover

# (BBW Erotic Romance)

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Ellie Shaw has been in love with Greg Turner since she first met him at sixteen. It doesn't matter that now at twenty-four he still treats her like a kid sister, Ellie still loves him. So, why did her body go haywire when she first met Dmitri Markhoff? Dmitri was taking over the company she had worked so hard to keep going; Ellie wasn't part of the bargain. Okay, she needed the job of personal assistant he was offering, and it was only for three months. That was more than enough time to save money so that once the time was up she could support herself while she found another job, she would move back to Alexandria and be near Greg. She loved Greg. Hormones--and never having been touched--were all that was making her feel the way she did about Dmitri. She was sure of it. Besides all of that, men as gorgeous as Dmitri Markhoff didn't look twice at women like her, who wore a dress size in the double digits; they went for models that were a size zero.

Dmitri Markhoff is a ruthless corporate raider and had long given up on soft feelings for women. He enjoyed their bodies and paid for it in diamonds and other trinkets. All he wants is Elise's lush body, which has the kind of curves that should come with a warning sign; love isn't something he's looking for. When he figures out that Elise is untouched, his body goes into overdrive. Even though he's aware that keeping her is wrong, since all he wants is sex, he's having the hardest time letting her go.

# A Favor

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Zoe has been called cold and empty and undeserving of love when she can't give it back. It isn't how she wants be, but she knows no way of changing it, so she understands and hasn't gone looking for a relationship. But then it finds her in the form of Sam King. Sam is a former Ranger, scarred on the outside from a mission that forced him out. The security contracting company needs Sam, but very soon Zoe realizes she needs him too. But it isn't fair to get involved with him when he's already been hurt, she has no right to add to his pain. But Sam is insistent that he's not looking for a relationship--sex is all he wants and needs from her. Fighting Sam and her body is a lost cause, and she gives in. Soon she's the one wanting more from Sam, but how can she find a way to not be cold and empty? Is it her turn to end up hurt at the end?

# His Next Chapter

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Lukas Everett is Avery Parker's new reclusive landlord. He's gorgeous but damaged, as damaged on the outside as Avery is on the inside. A car accident that killed his wife left him with physical scars that cause him to hide from the world. Avery hasn't had it easy in her few physical relationships and isn't looking to get involved with anyone, let alone someone as cold and hard as Lukas. Lukas seems just as intent at keeping her at bay, even though she knows he feels the same longing she feels. With her mind telling her to run and her body begging her to stay, Avery accepts his job offer. She discovers that Lukas doesn't just own properties but is hiding behind a pen name as a popular writer that she herself has enjoyed. It isn't long before Avery demands all the passion she sees in Lukas, but will she just be the next chapter in his story or will they find their own happy ending?

# His for More Than One Night

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Kate Frazier wants one night and one night only. It's the only thing she's made for, the only thing she's capable of. She doesn't want any hand holding or cuddling;, she wants to get off and then she wants them to leave. She likes her men bland, boring, and non-threatening--only the Nordic god staring at her from across the pub is anything but. One by one she's breaking her rules for only one night, because the moment he gets close she can't help herself.

Trey refuses to let it go at one night. He knows her secret, the one she's tried so hard to pretend didn't happen, didn't exist, even as her nightmares still haunt her. He knows and has her admitting to the rape she suffered at the hands of her mother's boyfriend for two long years, and he knows about the frantic, ugly things she did with anyone who would have her in her teens. He sees it all and it doesn't faze him. He wants the woman she is now and he's not going to let her go.

Now Kate has to make the decision to go through the painful door of her past to the other side, where Trey and the happiness she never thought she could know is waiting.

# The Gangster's Girlfriend

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Miranda Beckett has been born and bred in Chicago, and with that comes the knowledge that the city built firmly on criminal enterprises is still a city where crime is as much of the economy as the retail shops and hotels that line Michigan Avenue. Just like others in Chicago, a blind eye is a content eye--until it's all brought into sharp focus by her younger brother one late night. She hasn't seen her brother in years, and the last time she told him she never wanted to see him again, so she knows it's desperation that led him to her door. Before, he flat-out stole from her, but now he's pleading for the money. He pleas for the money that he owes the head of the IRA in Chicago, and then he threatens that Declan Kelly knows about her and that she has the money, and if she doesn't give it than Kelly will come for it himself.

Miranda refuses her brother, and she knows she'll be able to refuse Declan Kelly when the time comes. But she's wrong, so very wrong. It isn't money Kelly wants, it's her. Her expertise as an accountant to audit his books and find who is stealing from him--that's it, he tells her, but his eyes tell her there's more.

Without even being quite sure how and why she agreed, a deal is struck, and Miranda wonders how long she can fight the need for a man she can't have. It's one thing to know what Declan Kelly does and another to allow herself become involved with him. She is sure she can keep Declan at bay--she has plans to become a gangster's girlfriend or lose her heart to him. 

# His Marriage Demand

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For two years, Ria has longed to touch the fire in Drake Hawthorne's eyes, but she doesn't dare. The hotel where she works has a strict hands-off-patrons policy and if it's found out she's even lingered too long in his room, she'll lose the job she's worked so hard for. Maybe if she were more reckless and willing to step out on a ledge she would, but she isn't and she can't. Because it isn't just Ria's welfare at stake, but her little brother's, and she's not able to put his happiness on the line for her own. So, she'll keep hiding behind the meaningless wedding ring and fake husband that she knows is the only thing that has kept Drake from pushing her for more. She's seen enough rich and powerful men like Drake Hawthorne to know they didn't care about the havoc they left behind only for the moment where they got what they wanted. Ria needs more than a moment, she wants and needs forever.

When Drake finds out there isn't a husband, he demands marriage, and Ria opens her mouth to say yes, until he warns her about the ending. Marriage shouldn't come with a time limit and Ria refuses to give in. Just when it looks like forever is promised, will a threat from her past cost her the future that's within reach with Drake?

# His Secretary With Benefits

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Laura is a blonde with a bombshell body that has men drooling over her and treating her like a blow-up doll, to be used only for their pleasure. Growing up, Laura was taught sex was a dirty thing and it wasn't to be enjoyed. Her first boyfriend did a good job of making sure she didn't; same with her ex-fiance. A job offer comes her way that has Laura's interest, an assistant is leaving her position and is trying to find a replacement. The only thing is, her replacement has to be willing to let her boss have his way with her whenever and however he wants. Laura's shock is quickly sidelined as the woman describes the complete and utter satisfaction she finds in her boss's demands. Having never experienced that kind of pleasure before and wanting to know what it's like, Laura agrees to meet Paul.

The very first time she meets him, she knows he's what she wants, what she needs. It will be mutually beneficial for the both of them. Hot, satisfying sex on tap for the both of them. That's all she wants, all she's looking for, right? Falling in love isn't on the agenda for either of them. 

# His Back Bay Princess

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Diego Suarez is a Boston homicide cop who comes from a completely different world than Catherine Fisher. He's the son of Mexican migrant farm workers; she can find the founders of Boston in her blue bloodline. He had to endure a stint in the Marines to fund college; she went to a private university and her graduation present was a three-story home in Back Bay, where Diego couldn't even afford property taxes. They are different, too different for it to work out between them. Cat deserves better than what he can give her. It will never work.

It doesn't matter if the only time he feels alive is when he's with her. It doesn't matter that she looks at him with all the love she feels for him in her eyes. One day she'll wake up and figure out she can do better than him. It's better to never start something that won't last, can't last.

Catherine doesn't care about money, the having of it or lack of it. All she cares about is Diego. After Diego has been shot and she is asked to look after him, she knows she has just one last chance to find out what is keeping Diego from her. She knows he feels something for her, so why is he pushing her away? 

# Abby Has Gone Wild

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It was just supposed to be a one-time thing, posting a naked picture of herself on a social website that has hundreds of other women doing the same thing. Only, it very quickly hooked Abby on the high of knowing that others desired her body. Until it's just one man who has her full attention. Jack is gorgeous and he wants her; and it's Abby's worst luck, she believes, that he's in the same city of Austin. Abby isn't ready for more than what she can give from behind the safety of her keyboard. But Jack won't take no for an answer when her body and her moans are telling him yes. Having tracked her down, she finds Jack even more enticing in person than from behind the computer. She can't ignore that her body wants him just as badly as he wants her. Jack won't give up on her, and Abby has to decide if she's willing to give up the safety of being alone to let Jack in.
