#1 Love

by T Gephart

  His abs tightened as he swallowed a breath, my slow suck drawing him deeper into my throat as my hands pumped.

  “Maya.”

  It was a warning, his hands threading in my hair as my tongue flattened against the underside of his erection while my fingers gently pulled on his balls.

  His hips thrust, pushing himself deeper into my mouth while I fought the urge to gag. My teeth grazed him gently as he pulled himself out, repeating it over and over as his hold on my hair tightened.

  “This is what I thought about on the dance floor tonight,” he gritted out, his jaw tense. “About taking you and not giving a fuck who sees.”

  His hand went from my hair to his cock, pulling himself out of my mouth and giving himself a tug. “Stand up.” He held out his other hand, helping me to my feet.

  The height difference wasn’t in our favor, needing to get on my toes just to kiss him. But he didn’t share the same concerns, lifting me off the floor and holding me in his arms as I wrapped my legs around him.

  Our mouths tangled, hot fevered kisses as the blunt head of his erection poked me. All I had to do was press down against it and he’d be inside of me. I wanted him to fill me, to feel the sweet bite against my skin as I adjusted to his girth.

  My hips swiveled against him, using him for the friction I needed but not seeming to get enough. And then without thinking I pushed my hips down, the tip of his cock entering me.

  His hands dug into my skin, holding me steady so I couldn’t move. “Condoms are in the other room, Maya. I’m not wearing anything.”

  “It’s okay, I promise it’s okay,” I begged, needing more of him.

  He hesitated, probably having the same arguments in his own head that he’d shared with me the first time we got together and didn’t have condoms. I was on the pill, we both had a clean bill of health—but was it really worth the risk?

  “Fuck it.” The argument was settled as he tilted his hips and pushed into me.

  It felt so good, his skin bare against mine as he continued to pump. My hands adjusted their grip, feeling the strong muscles of his body flex with each movement, my ankles locked at his back.

  My skin felt electric, the hard pebbles of my nipples teased by the firmness of his chest. I felt myself tense, the familiar wave of arousal flooding my body with the desperate need to come.

  It was primal, fucking each other as we groaned and grunted, every inch of him spearing me deep and fast until I thought I was going to explode.

  “Too good.” He cursed against my mouth. “This feels too good. I need to pull out.”

  “Don’t,” I warned. “I want you inside of me.” My hips rocked, praying he wouldn’t stop. “Please don’t stop.”

  He bit his lip as his eyes darkened, hips continuing to pistol. I could tell he thought it wasn’t a good idea but he wasn’t going to tell me no.

  I came with a shout, my body trembling as I held on as he continued to pump, his finish coming a few seconds after mine as he exploded inside of me. Our bodies pulsed as his load shot into me in hot bursts.

  His lips kissed me gently on the shoulder as he smiled against my skin.

  “You are such a bad influence.”

  MY EYES OPENED AT THE sounds of incessant buzzing, followed by a low ring tone that wasn’t mine. I groaned, shoving Alex roughly as I pulled a pillow over my head. We had been up late, moving to the bedroom shortly after the sex in the living room where I did my best to exert as much bad influence as I could. It was way too early to be awake, especially when we didn’t have to.

  Alex rolled to his side, taking me with him as he answered his phone. “Yeah,” he bit out gruffly. He wasn’t feeling the need to be awake either.

  “Umm . . . yeah, why?” I felt his body stiffen as he spoken on the phone. “Okay, hold on.”

  His hand peeled the pillow I was holding against my head, and kissed me gently. “It’s Roman, he needs to talk to us.”

  “Roman?” I shot back confused. What could he possibly want with both of us?

  Alex shuffled up the bed, hitting the speaker button on his phone as I settled beside him. “Okay, you’re on with both of us. What’s going on?”

  “Good morning, love birds.” I could hear the grin in his voice, sounding too chipper for that time of the morning. “How’s everyone feeling? Good? Great to hear. Now, I’m sure you already have plans for the day but they might want to include calling your mothers.”

  “I thought you agreed not to tell anyone?” Alex fired back, clearly annoyed.

  Roman laughed, seeming to be thoroughly enjoying himself. “I didn’t tell a soul, dipshit. But that photo of the two of you mouth fucking each other on Astrid’s Instagram account is another story. Not very smart, little brother.”

  “SHE POSTED IT ON INSTAGRAM?” I screamed, suddenly wide awake as I grabbed for my phone and opened the app. I didn’t even need to try to find her account, Astrid doing us both a favor and tagging us in the steamy pic. It wasn’t the pic she had shown us, with this one taken a minute or two earlier. Her head was in the side of the frame, her mascara’d eyes looking dreamily as she covered her cheeky smile with her perfectly manicured pink nails. #Lovers #AlexIsOffTheMarket #LegalAffairs #SoHot #DebriefingNeeded

  Oh.

  My.

  God.

  My eyes widened at the number of likes and comments. She wasn’t kidding when she said she had a following, her posse of “influentials” loving the steamy picture of Alex and I.

  Alex grabbed the phone from my hands, his hand tightening around it. “Fuck.”

  “Yep,” Roman answered. “Anyway, don’t tell me I never do anything for you.”

  “Wait, what are you doing up so early?” Alex checked the time display on my phone as he handed it back. It was only five thirty.

  “My son is a tiny terrorist who has a vendetta against sleep. I’m doing my best not to give in to his demands,” he deadpanned.

  “Thanks, Roman.” I rubbed my temples, the idea of a lazy Saturday morning with Alex swirling down the toilet.

  Alex grabbed my hand as he shook his head. “Yeah thanks, Roman.”

  “Don’t mention it, kids. Have a great day.”

  He hung up and was no doubt going to laugh at our carelessness. We weren’t exactly hiding our relationship, I just wanted us to be in it awhile before my mother got any harebrained ideas and started planning a wedding. She’d always loved Alex and his family, it would be like Christmas coming early knowing we were together.

  “Fucking hell. I’m going to kill her.” Alex scrolled on his phone, finding her name and pressed call, it automatically diverting to voicemail.

  While he tried again, I returned back to the post. Not only did it have thousands of hearts and comments, but I’d seemed to have picked up at least a thousand follow requests not to mention at least twenty direct messages.

  So much for flying under the radar.

  And if I thought Instagram was a problem, then it had nothing on my actual phone. It was still on silent, with about thirty missed calls from Jackie and Lisa combined and so many text messages I was surprised the thing hadn’t dissolved.

  “SHIT.” The bubble of the family group chat was sitting at twenty unread messages. No need to guess what the topic of conversation was, my brother Jordon had his own little sleep terrorists so I was sure he’d seen it too.

  “She’s not answering.” Alex pulled the phone away from his ear. “If I can just get through to her, I’ll make her delete the post.”

  “Pretty sure it’s been screenshot and regrammed a bunch already. It’s been up for hours. And I’m almost positive my family already know too.” I waved my phone, displaying its obnoxious unread messages.

  And speak of the devil and he doth appear, the freaking thing started vibrating in my hands, the word MOM lighting up the screen.

  “Well, this will be fun.” I grimaced as I swiped and answered. “Hey Mom, what are you doing up so early?”

  I was hoping it was a co
incidence and she was awake because her micro herb garden needed watering or something. But the minute I answered, there was no doubt she knew. “Maya Louise Zaveri. Are you dating Alex Larsson and didn’t tell me?”

  It was clear she was pissed, and not because I was dating Alex. It was because I was dating Alex and didn’t tell her about it.

  “Mom, it’s new. I just didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea or get too excited.” I tried my best to talk her off the ledge.

  “What wrong idea is there to get? I think from that photo it’s pretty clear what is going on.”

  Well, she had that right. It was damning evidence to say the least, with random strangers weighing in on what songs were going to be on our sexual soundtrack. Had to admit, some of their suggestions had actually been decent.

  Alex held out his hand for the phone, gesturing for me to pass it to him. My head shook as I continued to deal with my mom. “You’re right, and I didn’t want you to find out that way. But know that we are both happy and it’s a good thing.”

  “Oh, Maya.” I could hear her voice warble.

  “Do not cry, Mom,” I warned, knowing the tears were going to come whether I wanted them or not.

  “I’m just really glad. He’s such a good boy and well, I’m just so happy for you.”

  “Yeah, well I’m glad too. Now, can we maybe talk about this in a few hours when it’s a more reasonable time?”

  “Of course, baby. But you might want to talk to your brothers. Jordon is threatening to get on a plane and . . . wait a second, I need to read it.” Her voice lowered as she moved the speaker away from her mouth. “Remove Alex’s spleen through his nose if he hurts you.” She brought the phone back to her mouth. “I know he’s a doctor, but I don’t think that is possible.”

  “No, it’s not and I’ll talk to him. And everyone else.” I shrugged, knowing Ben and my sisters-in-law probably had their own ideas on what was happening. Not that it would change how I felt about Alex or persuade me I had made a mistake.

  “Okay, sweetheart, call me later. And give my love to Alex.” She chuckled on the phone.

  “Will do.” I hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed. “Just so you are aware, my mother is probably planning our wedding and naming our children. If you are as smart as you say, you should probably run now.”

  Alex kissed my shoulder and smiled. “I’m not going anywhere and I’m not afraid of your mother.”

  I shook my head, waving my finger. “You have no idea what you are dealing with. Run. Run away and don’t look back.”

  “You don’t think I’m going to be getting the same kind of heat from my mother? The same woman who had five boys and looked at you as a surrogate daughter? At least your mom lives out of town, we’re scheduled to meet mine for brunch later today.”

  Ah crap.

  I hadn’t thought about that, our plans to smuggle in the bottle of Yarra Valley Shiraz taking a backseat since the evolution of our early morning drama. It was definitely going to add a degree of difficulty. Fairly sure the chances of the two of us sliding down to her cellar undetected were extremely low. Especially when we were probably going to be watched like hawks.

  “Okay, divide and conquer.” I sat up, not willing to let it spiral anymore out of control than it already had. “I’m going to call my brothers and deal with that and you see if you can get a hold of Astrid. While the damage is done, we still have clients and partners we need to answer to. Hopefully they don’t mix in the same circles.”

  “On it.” Alex moved from the bed and grabbed his phone. “I’m calling her agent. She might not take a call from me, but there is no way she’d dodge a possible booking.”

  He wandered into the living room to make his call while I called my brother, Jordon, first. He was angry, thinking Alex was using me as his new plaything, still seeing me as his kid sister he needed to protect. I assured him that no one was or would take advantage of me and I didn’t need protecting. I know in a lot of ways he took Dad’s departure a lot harder than us. He was forced to grow up sooner, and be the man of the house when most of his friends were out getting wasted and screwing girls. It was hard for him to see me as a woman who knew her own mind, which was part of the reason why I had to leave when I went to college. I promised him I was okay, and that I was happy and that I needed to live my own life. And that life included Alex Larsson.

  Ben was easier to convince. He was happy for me as long as I was happy, but warned that if Alex ever hurt me, he’d make it so his body would never be found. Typically the kind of threat you’d expect from a brother, but as an engineer on a construction site, Ben actually had the resources to do it.

  After an exhausting marathon of calls—which included another to my mother who had texted me three time while I was on the phone to my brothers—I pulled the phone away from my ear and collapsed on the bed.

  Alex had been making some calls of his own, the post and photo of us miraculously disappearing after a heated call to her agent.

  Part of me hated the intrusion into our personal lives, our relationship public fodder for people to weigh in on. But another part of me was glad, being pushed to say to everyone what I already knew in my heart.

  I loved Alex Larsson.

  “Well, Nick and Dave think it’s utterly hilarious, while Eric tried to convince me that it might not be a bad thing. Apparently he knew or Tia knew, anyway, he thinks we should just do our thing. I haven’t spoken to my mom yet; I figured she is probably sleeping. Jeremy, the agent for my three brothers, sent a group text to all of them when he saw it and asked if I wanted to work.” Alex shook his head as he laid beside me. “I can’t believe he woke them to ask, like law is just some hobby I’m doing to pass the time.”

  “Well, agents aren’t exactly the most sympathetic of creatures. I hope they told him to fuck off.” I turned to look at him, his blond bed hair so perfectly mussed it was grossly unfair.

  “Yep. Although, Nick did threaten to remove my balls if I hurt you.” His finger traced the edge of my ribs. “He’s made it clear out of the two of us who is his favorite.”

  Years ago, hearing that Nick felt that way would have made my year. But as I hugged Alex, I realized that had just been a schoolgirl infatuation.

  My lips brushed against his as I whispered, “Jordon says he’ll remove your spleen through your nose.”

  “Well that sounds painful.” Alex laughed. “Guess I better make sure I don’t fuck this up.”

  “Likewise, and just so you know, none of what they say means anything.” I grabbed his hand and rested it on my heart. “Because there’s only two people we need to worry about. Me and you. I don’t care what anyone else says.”

  Jackie and Lisa were doubly pissed. A. Because I hadn’t given them all the juicy details of my friends-to-lovers romance, and B. Because he was Alex Larsson.

  Both of them were flabbergasted as to how I’d held on to that little gem for so long, not breathing a word to any of them, let alone growing up with intersecting families. They understood when I explained all of my reasons why—my dad and the disgrace affecting the Larsson family, and my need to protect them and feeling responsible—and they agreed to forgive me. But apparently that didn’t get me off the hook for a future cross-examination from both of them.

  It was a compromise.

  And speaking of cross-examinations.

  “Don’t you think we should have called your mother and explain about the picture before she sees it?” I warned Alex, my hands clutching my handbag that weighed a ton thanks to the Shiraz I had stashed in there. The challenge was still on apparently, because we needed more drama in our lives.

  “Trust me, I know my mom and it’s easier if we just do it face to face. Like ripping a Band-Aid, right off. Then everyone will know and we can move on with our lives.”

  Alex pressed the doorbell and my heart was pounding. It had been hard enough going to Kate Larsson’s house the first time when all I had been carrying was my father’s bullshit, now
a woman who used to change my diapers would know I was sleeping with her youngest son. Not sure how to make myself feel less awkward about it.

  Kate answered, looking just as amazing as the last time, and smiled warmly at both of us. “Maya, Alex.” She held out her arms. “Come in.”

  She fussed with Alex’s hair telling him he needed a cut and complimented me on my cute skirt. If she’s seen the picture or knew anything, she wasn’t showing it.

  “You two are the only ones stopping by.” She sighed, showing us to the already set table. “Eric has an audition in New York so Tia and the kids are with him and staying in Brooklyn for the week. Roman and Lauren had a bad night with baby Lucas so decided to try and get a nap if he lets them. Dave and Jessica said they double booked and their other plans weren’t breakable. And Nick—well, I haven’t heard from him or from Claire to be honest.”

  It was decided—by Alex—that the rest of the crew sit out, and give us time alone with Kate. Roman had been the only one who’d protested, but was brought into line by his very persuasive wife. But of course that was all news to Kate who was wondering why her house that was usually bustling for brunch only had the two of us.

  “Their loss.” Alex leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek and then sat down beside me.

  He tried to grab my hand under the table and I kicked him. If we’d somehow caught a break and she hadn’t seen anything, then she wasn’t going to get a personal show at her dining room table. We were going to do something novel and tell her.

  “Anything I can help you with, Kate?” I offered, standing while Alex grinned from behind his glass of orange juice.

  “No, sweetie.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’m making a baked omelet that is almost done and the salmon is ready. Why don’t you two tell what you have been up to?”

  My eyes shot to Alex, encouraging him to take the lead. That was our cue if ever I’d heard one and dragging it out wasn’t happening.

  Alex cleared his throat, coughing to hide his laugh as I kicked him under the table again.