White-hot ripples of pleasure plunged south. She arched toward him wanting more. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails lightly scraping his smooth olive skin. “Max…” She panted between waves of bliss. “I … want … you …now!”
“Not yet. I want you to enjoy every minute.”
Well, what did he think she was doing, for Pete’s sake? Baking a cake? Seriously, she was about to explode. “Now … Max … now!”
He chuckled and kissed her stomach. “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?” He rolled away from her, stood and pulled a foil wrapper from the box of condoms on the bed. The ripping sound as he opened it set her teeth on edge.
God, what was taking him so long?
He dropped his boxers and stepped out in full glory. His gaze caught hers. Electricity sizzled the air and Sophie pulled a sharp breath. He was magnificent. Dark glistening skin, rippling toned muscles and abs that would have made a six-pack jealous. She lowered her gaze. Her pulse surged forward as he stood proud and firm before her.
He took his sweet time unrolling the latex. Sophie white-knuckled the plush comforter. If he didn’t hurry up she was going to jerk it out of his hand and help him.
Hungrily, she watched as he finally sheathed himself.
The knowing smile hovering on his lips told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. And he was enjoying every moment of it. Her hands tightened on the comforter.
He lowered himself to the bed, dipping the mattress again with his weight. “We seem to have a problem.”
“W–we do?” She gulped as his lips circled her belly button with soft kisses.
“You still have too many clothes.” His thumb flicked the elastic string at her hip. It bounced back with a small pop against her skin. The light sting was nothing compared to the ache building inside her.
Sophie tried to appear nonchalant, but her voice came out in a croak. “What are you going to do about it?”
“This...” His warm breath fanned her lower abdomen as his lips trailed down the side of her hip. He grasped the elastic string of her thong with his teeth and tugged lightly. The elastic slid down the swell of her hip and over her thigh. Then he repeated the movement with the string on the other side. With the lace now at her knees, he hooked it with his thumb, quickly slid it down to her ankles and tossed it to the floor.
“Oh!” Sophie cried out.
“That’s better.” His taut body settled over hers and he nudged her legs apart with his knee. “An even playing field now.”
“We’re going to play?” Her voice quivered the question, anticipation flitting through her.
“Like you’ve never played before,” he promised hoarsely, crushing her mouth with his.
She felt the first probing pressure against her sensitized skin. She moved her pelvis as a shudder rippled through her. He probed again, this time sliding inside and filling her with his throbbing warmth. A primitive groan erupted in his throat. “
Dio, bella
. You feel incredible.”
Sensations gripped her abdomen and plunged liquid heat into her core. Sophie bucked, tightening around him. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she panted breathlessly.
He began to move, deepening with each thrust. Sophie held on, arms tight around his neck, her breasts pressed against his chest. With each thrust the pressure inside her heightened until she felt she could no longer hold back. Her body tensed, her hands dug into his neck and she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Don’t fight it,
cara
. Let go and enjoy the ride,” Max commanded, his voice straining with his own effort to hold back.
Sophie relaxed then cried out as the climax ripped through her, sending her over the edge and back only to crash into her again and again. Emotional tears pricked behind her eyes. She had never felt anything so wonderful before in her life. Even the first time he’d made love to her it hadn’t been like this. She had been too distraught to focus and a little too tipsy to remember.
Seconds later she opened her eyes to find Max watching her tenderly. Then something moved behind his eyes, his features tightened and he moaned out her name as his release shuddered through him.
* * *
He hadn’t gotten her out of his system Max realized a few minutes later as he lay spent, flat on his back with Sophie’s warm body snuggled against him. Her head rested in the crook of his arm fanning silky burnished locks across his chest while her soft bare bottom pressed into his thigh and caused havoc with his libido. She moved against him and a bolt of heat flared inside stirring him to life.
Nope. He hadn’t gotten her out of his system. Not by a long shot. Instead, he felt like he’d just tasted a delicious appetizer and was still waiting for the entrée.
“Wow!” Sophie turned in his arm to give him a cheeky grin. “That was amazing!”
Max chuckled and kissed the top of her head. He breathed in her fragrance, lavender and vanilla mixed with something a little more womanly and a lot more enticing. “
You
were amazing.” His dark brows shot up. “I could go another round or two. What about you? Do you think you can keep up?”
Her laugh sprinkled the air. She rolled over to straddle him, pinning his hands above his head to the bed. “Whip out the glove and just try and stop me.” She leaned down, her breasts lightly brushing against the hard wall of his chest and caught his lower lip between her teeth. She ran her tongue over the edge and suckled before slipping her tongue inside his mouth. Max pulled a ragged breath then devoured the sweetness of her lips. Somehow, he knew he wouldn’t even be satisfied with the entrée. He might need the whole damn menu because it looked like it was going to take a lot longer than he thought to get her out of his system.
A whole lot longer.
* * *
Two hours and a few more condoms later Sophie listened to Max’s steady breathing beside her. His soft breaths accompanied by an occasional light snore seemed to echo through the room. She gently lifted his arm from her waist and eased out of bed, careful not to wake him. Another sense of
deja vu
settled over her as she scrambled for her clothes. Six years ago she’d stolen away in the middle of the night after their lovemaking too. A little flutter of guilt tickled her stomach. She should at least tell him she was leaving.
Moonlight filtered through the window and pooled in a circle on the carpet near her panties. She reached for them and searched for the rest of her garments in the semi-dark room. Within seconds she’d located everything and quickly dressed.
Since her shirt was missing several buttons thanks to Max’s impatience, she buttoned the top three and tied a make-shift knot under her breast with the rest of the shirt leaving her stomach exposed like a belly dancer.
It’s better than nothing, she told herself. She couldn’t very well walk through the hotel in her bra and slacks.
Sophie tip-toed across the room to the door.
“Where are you going?” The deep timbered voice startled her. Sophie froze in mid-step. The bed creaked as Max raised up on one elbow. Even in the moonlight, she could see his brows draw together in a formidable scowl.
“I … uh, have to go.” Sophie licked her lips.
“Running away again?” His soft taunt challenged, daring her to deny it.
“Of course not.” Sophie gulped. Or was she? A little part of her didn’t want to face him in the morning. Didn’t want to hear him say ‘So long, it’s been fun. See you around’. She wasn’t ready for him to say it was over. Whatever
it
was.
But, that didn’t mean she was running away again.
Did it?
“Looks that way to me.”
“I have to get home. My babysitter will be wondering where I am.”
“I thought you told her you’d be late.”
“I told her I’d be back around midnight. It’s a little past already.” True enough. She did tell Mrs. Lewis, who was keeping Alex in her own apartment two doors down from Sophie’s, she’d be back late. Since neither of them wanted to disturb a sleeping child at such an hour, though, they’d also agreed Sophie could pick him up in the morning.
So why
was
she sprinting for the door like a marathon runner at the finish line?
“Liar,” he said softly. “Come back to bed. I’ll make it worth your while.” His silken, suggestive tone sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.
“I–I can’t. Alex might wake up and wonder where I am.” Sophie reached for the door handle and hoped he couldn’t see her hand shaking.
“Fine. Have it your way.” Max expelled a sigh, sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The springs creaked beneath his weight. “I’ll get dressed.” He reached for his boxers and stood.
Good Lord. Sophie swallowed hard. Moonlight bathed his muscular body in a sheen of glistening yellow light, his rigid need for her evident in the pale beam. Sophie bit back a wave of disappointment as he slid into boxers then his trousers and reached for his shirt.
“Why are you getting dressed?”
“To see you safely home.” He grabbed his keys from the nightstand.
“I’m a big girl, Max. I can see myself home.”
“No. It’s too late for you to be out on your own in the city.” He tucked his shirt in his trousers.
“I have my car here at the hotel.”
“Then I’ll follow you.” He crossed the room and fumbled through a small desk drawer.
“This is ridiculous.” She sighed with exasperation. “I’ll be fine. I’ve lived in New York for over six years. I know how to be careful.”
“I said I will follow you.” This time his commanding tone left no room for argument. He pulled his checkbook from his desk drawer and began to scribble.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m writing you a check.” He ripped the paper from the pad and held it out to her.
Sophie froze. He was what? Bile churned in her stomach. What was the check for? Was he
paying
her for tonight? Oh, God. Did he think she was a prostitute or something?
A wave of dizziness slammed into her. Surely, he didn’t think…
“What’s wrong?” Concern laced his voice. “You look like you’re about to faint.”
“Wh–what is the check for?”
“I told you. It’s for you.” A frown perched between his brows when she swayed. “Maybe you should sit. You don’t look too well.” He steadied her with his hand.
Sophie backed against the door, her knees quivering. Another wave of nausea rushed to her throat. She wrenched her arm free from his hand. Oh, God! He thought – “I don’t want it. You’re not going to pay me for … for this.”
“Pay you?”
“For sex.” Her voice cracked and she hugged her arms tight. She would
not
let him make her feel cheap.
Max stiffened, his tone dangerously quiet. “I assure you I have never had to pay anyone for sex and I don’t intend to start now. This is your first child support check for Alex. We haven’t discussed a sum, but I believe I have been fair.” He set his jaw and placed the check in the palm of her hand. “If this is not suitable, we can discuss it at a later date.”
Her hand shook so hard the check fluttered to the floor.
A curse fell from Max’s lips. He reached down to pick it up. “I said take it.” He shoved it toward her, eyes glittering dangerously.
Sophie gasped at the amount. He had been more than generous, but she didn’t want his money. She didn’t want anything from him other than a father for her son.
If
he could handle the job. She lifted her chin, her lips tight. “I don’t want your money.”
A muscle twitched in Max’s square jaw. “Don’t be a little fool . My son will not do without because you are too proud to accept my help. I intend to make sure he has everything he needs.”
Hot, biting tears pricked behind her eyelids. She blinked them away.
How dare him!
“I’ve taken care of Alex for the last five years. He hasn’t done without anything.” Her voice choked on a sob. She’d done the best she could for her son and though she knew he didn’t have everything he wanted, he did have everything he needed. “I’ve been a good mom to him.”
Max swore softly and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m not criticizing you, Sophie. I just want to make sure he is well taken care of.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he put a finger to her lips. “You’ve done a great job with him. I can see that. But I’m his father and I’m in a position to make sure you both have everything you need. You can accept my offer or we can hash it out in court. Either way my son will be well taken care of. I won’t shirk my responsibilities. Now, is the amount suitable?”
Sophie’s shoulders slumped, but she nodded. “More than suitable. It’s too much.”
Her fingernails dug into her palms. She didn’t want his money, for Pete’s sake. She didn’t want to feel obligated to him in anyway. No matter what the reason. This was why she’d left L.A. in the first place. To get as far away from money, power and control as she could.
Still he
was
Alex’s father and he did have a say in her – their – son’s well-being. She supposed she should be thankful he was willing to step up to the plate. But she wasn’t.
“Nonsense.” Max shook his head. “Use what you need each month. Put anything that’s left into a savings account for when he’s older. I don’t want either of you to be strapped for cash.”
Did she really have a choice? If she refused, he’d take her to court and there was a very good chance she might lose Alex. Her stomach lurched to her throat. She couldn’t risk it until she had the money to fight for her son. She didn’t like it, but she knew she had to give in.
This time.
Just like my mother always gave in to my father.
Was this how her mother had felt? Powerless against her father’s unlimited arm of power?
A lone tear threatened the corner of her eye. She blinked it back before Max could see.
She would
not
fall into the same defenseless trap her mother had been in. No matter what.
Max ran his thumb down the hollow of her cheek. “If you’re through imagining the worst about me, I’ll see you safely home.” A devilish grin turned up the corners of his mouth. “Unless you’d rather come back to bed.” Sophie shook her head, but did manage a half-smile. Or a half-grimace depending on whether one viewed the glass half full or half empty. Right now hers was half empty. “I’d better get home to Alex.”