I sighted Max’s Aston Martini parked underneath the same tree it’d been the day before the minute I alighted from my cab. Tipping the driver generously due to how great of a company and extremely chatty he’d been, I slung my white duffel bag over my left shoulder and sauntered across, pulling the side door open. As soon as I slammed the door close, Max leaned in, capturing the side of my lips in a kiss and sucking on it agressively. I placed a hand on his biceps and leaned back with an exhale.
“You look beautiful,” he holds my gaze, running his fingers through my hair. I nuzzled my face closer, craving the warmth of his hand. Electricity and an insanely high sexual tension lapped up around us.
I tilted my head, moaning as his lips attacked my neck next, trailing light, feathery kisses at first before they became urgent – more demanding. Dipping a hand into my dress, he cupped my left tit softly, the fullness filling his large hand. My nails dug into the leather headrest as I writhed about, the intensifying pleasure making it hard for me to sit still. Everything was perfect. This was amazing.
Beyond amazing.
“You have no idea how much I’m dying to have you, Elaine,” he rasped, taking my hand and guiding it away from his hair to his hardened crotch – to prove his point. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin, and whether it’s because of his deep, sexy voice or hot breath hovering mere centimetres away from my neck, I’d never know.
Oh, God. What in hell was this man doing to me?
I’d never met – I’d never, ever met a man who had such utter control over my body. Who knew all the buttons, all the secret spaces to touch and make me convulse with passion. He had the right voice, the right words, the right gestures – he was that phenomenal. Each new sexual encounter between the two of us had me looking forward to the next.
But then I remember… this wasn’t the second or third time he was coming here. He might have had a lot of girls in this same car, seated in this same seat, saying and doing the same thing he was doing to me right now. The thought of that overrode the initial excitement I’d felt, and now I felt… stupid in a way. Not that I was jealous, nor did I care about his past but I suspected that he’d had at least a girl in his car since we agreed to be exclusive a few days ago.
“What’s wrong?” his troubled voice snapped me out of my pointless wonderings. I stared into the mix of lust and confusion in his eyes and shook my head. He didn’t deserve to know what I was thinking. The deal was to live and enjoy the moment, not being insecure. I had to stick with that no matter what.
And after all, I still had secrets of my own. My past wasn’t any better.
I sighed, forcing a smile as I patted the side of his clean-shaven face, “It’s nothing, sweetheart. I was just… lost in thought, I guess.”
He didn’t miss a beat before asking. “About what? You know you can tell me anything, right?”
I shrugged, embarrassed. “I don’t want to ruin things. It’s best I keep these thoughts to myself.”
“Just say the damn thing, Elaine.”
“Okay,” I sucked in a deep breath, rubbing my sweaty palms against my lap. “It might see inappropriate for me to ask because we don’t have a lasting definition to what this – ” I gestured between us, ” – what this thing going on between us is, but I want to know how many girls have sucked you off in this car since we agreed to this.”
“Fuck,” he ran a hand through his hair and down the nape of his neck, the bulge in neck bobbing as he thought hard.
“Forget it, it doesn’t matter,” I said in a rush, rubbing my arms as I tried to play down the awkwardness that had slowly settled. “I shouldn’t have asked. It’s not in my place.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. I’m so sorry, Elaine,” he cupped my cheek once more, his thumb tracing the outline of my lips. “If I’m to tell you the honest truth, then the answer is no. The night I found you here with that dark dude, I came with a friend. He’s the one I went to pick up after I dropped you off, and I spent a great part of yesterday in his place. Alsina and I have nothing going on anymore.”
A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t know if I should believe him, considering the fact that he’d been telling lies from the very onset.
As though reading my mind, he continued. “I was never a honest man. But ever since I met you, I’ve been trying to be a better person. A better man that you’d be proud of. Our start wasn’t the ideal one as I’d thought and I’m more than glad that we get to fix it now. I’ve promised to be honest and transparent with you until I’m confident enough to take the next step, which is marrying you. You belong in my home. In my bed. Birthing my kids.”
I melted against him as he kissed me gently. Of all things he’d ever said to me, those were the sweetest.
“I don’t want you to ever doubt and disrespect me like you did before,” I murmured, stroking his chin. “You’re the only guy I’ve ever had strong feelings for, even after five years of being apart. You’re my oxygen. It hurts when you don’t want to hear me out but go right ahead with your assumptions.”
He exhaled. “Sorry if I made you feel that way. I’ll try my best not to be less of an arsehole from now on.”
“You make a hot arsehole though,” I giggled. “Tonight, let’s put everything that’s happened between us and just enjoy each other’s company. Let’s talk about ourselves. Let’s share what we’re passionate about to each other.”
He stilled for a moment, then turn to look out the window, towards the direction of the pulsating club. He hissed as he made a decision. “We’ll do all that… but not here. This is not the right place.”
I furrowed my brows. “So what are you suggesting?”
His blue eyes turned to me, a warm sparkle in them. “Home. Come home with me.”
“What?” I bristled in alarm. “Do you even know what you’re saying? I could get into trouble!”
“Shhh,” he pressed a finger to my lips, shutting me up. “No one will know. It’s nine PM for crying out loud.”
“Max…”
He held my gaze. “I want you to trust me, babe. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Give me your word and we’re out of here.”
I bit my bottom lip, contemplating the risk and consequences. I could lose my job, and if I lost my job, I could lose my home. Finn and I would be thrown out. My secrets would be exposed.
I want you to trust me, babe. Could I really depend on him?
Anyways, fuck it.
“Alright,” I said at last. “Let’s do this.”
–
We meandered down the dark road for a while, aided by the blinding headlights. I rubbed my chilly arms and tried to visibly relax as a song by the Weeknd blasted off through the Bluetooth. Max bobbed his head to the beat, driving through wide, gigantic gates into a circular driveway. I scanned the towering mansion, drawing in a deep breath. Jesus freaking Christ. It was the very definition of wealth, and if I calculated correctly, it’d take me at least fifty years of intense hard work before I could dream of affording a place so huge.
He turned off the ignition and unbuckled his seatbelt before ambling out. My heart hammered in my chest, a million questions in my head as I watched him come around to my door to help me out. He chuckled at my shocked expression, taking my hand and pulling me towards his front door.
“Max,” I blurted out, my eyes sweeping over the impressive structure, “this is heaven! How on earth…”
“Mr. Sturm?” a voice that sounded oddly familiar called from the window. A second later, a flashlight shone over us, Max serving as a shield. “Oh, it’s you. I’m so sorry, Sir.”
“It’s okay, Margaret. Please open the door.”
The nanny looked a lot more older than she sounded on the phone. I placed her to be in her mid-forties; tall in an imposing way and huge, a haunty spring in her steps. “Good evening, Ma’am.” she greeted me politely.
I beamed, extending a hand. “Evening, Margaret. I’m Elaine. You spoke with me on the phone yesterday.”
Realization dawned, and she chuckled. “Nice to meet you ma’am. You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She turned to Max, “I decided to wait for you to come home before I leave. Is there anything else you’d like me to do for you?”
He shook his head. “That’ll be all for the day, dear. Elaine and I can look after ourselves after you’re gone.”
“Alright.”
After she left, Max led me to the bar counter close to the kitchen which was covered in pristine, stainless steel. “What would you like to have, sweetheart?” I settled on a high bar stool while he disappeared into the kitchen to fetch glasses. “Shoot,” he exclaimed when a glass cup slipped from his grasp and shattered on the tiled floor. “Darn.”
I rushed to him. “Hope you aren’t hurt? Step away from the shards. Let me clean it up.”
He held my arms, stopping me. “Come on, it’s nothing. Let’s leave it for Margaret tomorrow.”
“But what if…”
“Elaine.” he breathed.
I gave up on my protests. “Alright.”
“I’ll go fetch another glass cup.”
When he came back, he held up a bottle of Chardonnay and Moscato. “Which do you prefer, my lady?”
I blushed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Whichever one you like, I’m fine with it.”
“Make a choice.” he insisted.
I cocked my head to the side. “Chardonnay?”
While he poured the wine into our glasses, I decided to ask him what I’d been dying to ask. “Max?”
“Huh?”
I took a deep breath. “I was thinking… this place is so lavish and beautiful. Where did you get your money from? Is the publishing house the only private property you own?”
I knew I’d said a lot when it took him a while to respond. “Well, Elaine your questions are a little bit.. difficult to answer. But I’ll try my best. The house is mine… I built it with my trust fund, as well as my other businesses. The publishing house is my Mom’s dream before she passed away.”
Well, I had no idea that he was a trustfund baby. “I’m so sorry about your mother. You must really love her a lot.”
“She was an incredible woman,” he shrugged, his eyes softened. “Nothing feels the same without her here. She was my best friend.”
“How about your dad?”
“Oh,” he said coldly, his countenance darkened. “He’s fine. Remarried barely one month after my mom died. Turns out he’s been having an affair with my aunt few weeks before mom kicked the bucket,” his voice was laced with so much venom. “I barely go see them.”
“That’s…” I sought for the right words, my mind completely blown, “that’s mean. Oh my god.”
“It’s all over now. I won’t need him ever again,” he shrugged nonchalantly, sliding my glass of wine over. “I have all I could ever ask for. Properties, money… you.”
I flushed, batting my lashes shyly. “Aw. Stop it.”
He raised his glass for a toast, and I clicked mine quietly against his. “I propose that we play a game.”
Bringing the glass cup to my lips, I inhaled deeply, relishing the grape flavour. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare.” His blue eyes flared in challenge.
“Kiss me.”