Max Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 15)

by Faleena Hopkins

  She exhales, shakes her head and slides her arms through, frozen and blinking at my floor.

  My voice is gentler as I ask, “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing, I’m just…work is so…” Her face twists like she might lose it, but she takes a deep breath and finishes, “I’m fine. Just need some sleep.”

  As she buttons up I run a hand over my sweater because it feels like my chest might explode. I thought we were getting close, like something was happening between us. Ever since we spent almost the whole day naked at her place, she’s been harder to reach. “Your schedule used to be a lot freer.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s changed.”

  “On purpose?”

  She meets my eyes, surprised. “No! I want to be part of this project!”

  “Then why were you looking for a reason to leave right now? Stay with me a while.”

  CHAPTER 24

  N ATALIE

  I s he really that oblivious?

  The way he and Colleen flirted their asses off in front of me, did he think I’d be okay with that? But I have too much pride to say it hurt me. Was it just in my head? I know I’m not myself lately, no matter how calm I’m acting around Max.

  I’m hanging on by a thread.

  Paul is throwing shit-jobs at me, on top of my holiday ideas. There’s an insidious feeling that I’m in danger. I can’t shake it. I want nothing more than to give every hour to Max and his dream project, but Paul is making sure I’ve got nothing left to give.

  Defeated I shrug, “Isn’t being tired a good enough reason? Does there have to be more?” It’s half the truth, and all I’m capable of. “Everything feels hard right now, Max. I’m really tired.”

  Gorgeous green eyes soften. “It’s a good enough reason.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Come here.” Jogging his chin toward the kitchen he heads away. I follow to his refrigerator, wishing I could tell him the idea of them alone here rehearsing is murder. But they need to rehearse and I can’t get away on a Saturday.

  He fills up a teapot and puts it on the stove.“I’m going to fix you something warm so you can relax a little. You’re high strung.”

  “That sure makes a woman feel better when it’s called out like that.”

  He smirks and motions to a bar stool stationed at his kitchen island. “Noted.”

  I take a seat, thick coat bunched around me. “I’m just giving you some clues.”

  “To how your mind works?”

  “How most women’s minds work.” At his cocked eyebrow I add, “Never tell us to calm down either. That’s like touching a match to dynamite.”

  Max laughs and opens his cupboard. He’s a fairly tidy guy but there’s no rhyme or reason to his organization of them. “I’ve made that mistake before, actually.” As he sets mismatched coffee cups down his eyes are on a memory. “Once dated this girl in high school who had a temper like nobody I’d ever met. I’d tell her to calm down and you’re right, it never worked. Actually…”

  We both say at the same time, “it did the opposite,” which makes him smile.

  He bends over the island, leaning on his elbows, one leg back. “You should have given me that advice back then.”

  “Let’s go back in time and I’ll help you out.”

  “Would you? That’d be awesome.”

  “Sure let’s go.” Glancing around I ask, “Where’s your time machine?”

  “It’s behind that divider,” he smirks.

  “Nice try.”

  “We could go back in time to when you were naked in there with me.”

  “Not today.”

  Max gives me the sexiest, teasing look. “Come on. One for old times?”

  My eyes widen and I start laughing. “Now I see how you were so able to write that script about your sexy dad! You’re just like him.”

  The teapot starts to hiss. “Thanks,” he winks, and shuts the burner off, pouring into our cups. “Probably should get teabags for these. Pretty boring to drink just hot water.” He flicks smiling green eyes to me and spins around, whipping open a cupboard. Bottles of liquor glint in the light and he snatches Bookers whiskey from a shelf and pours some into the cups. “Hot Toddy time,” he murmurs, strolling from fridge to storage and back to the cups with the cloves, cinnamon sticks, honey, and a fresh lemon. As he slices it into wedges and gives them a squeeze he glances to me. “Now that’s a very different look than the one you gave me before.”

  Wanting to run into his arms and disappear for days, I glance down to my tense body. “What can I say? I love a surprise cocktail from the prohibition era.”

  He chuckles, “Nice! Welcome to my speakeasy!”

  Pleased I made him laugh, I add on a smile, “Hidden bedrooms and all,” and take the offered cup to sniff his handiwork, closing my eyes. “Mmm, that smells delicious.”

  “Of course it does.”

  “Because you made it.”

  “That’s right,” he winks again, charm turned up to eleven as he taps his cup against mine. “To relaxing those shoulders.”

  “Yes, please,” I whisper before blowing and venturing a sip. “Mmm, delicious. Why am I just now learning about this?”

  “You probably drink martinis.” He leans against the counter, his cup at his command.

  Amused I lean against the island, opposite him. “Why is that your guess?”

  “Because you’re sleek.”

  “Sleek?” I slide a fingernail along the side of my hair, wondering if he’s comparing me to Colleen. I’m about as opposite to her as I can be. But I manage to hide my insecurity with a simple, “Thank you.”

  “You look like you could hold a whip pretty well, too.”

  A grin flashes from surprise. “Hate to disappoint you, Max, but I’m not into BDSM.”

  “Just a little whip?” he teases.

  “Don’t talk about your penis that way.”

  A guffaw explodes from him, leaving the cutest smile lingering in its wake. “My cock is far from little.”

  “Seen a lot of phalluses have you?”

  “My fair share.”

  I smile from the rim of my steaming cup. “Oh? Do tell,”

  “You know urinals are a thing, right? Can’t help but see how you measure up against the next guy.”

  “So, when you’re spying on the sizes of your urinal neighbors do they notice?”

  “We strike up a conversation so we can pretend we aren’t doing it.”

  “That’s hilarious!” I take a small sip, licking the honey from my lips. “I bet they wished they hadn’t looked.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because you’re so big!”

  “Ah ha!” he bellows, holding the cup high above his head. “Victory is mine! You admitted I’m hung!”

  “Stop it, of course you are. You’re spilling your Toddy.”

  He rubs the drips off his wrist with the hem of his shirt. “Worth every lost drop. So, you wanna see my cock again right now?”

  “What? NO!”

  Walking toward me, Max dips an eyebrow. “You sure?”

  “Yes,” I laugh, holding out my arm. “Go back to that counter where I can keep an eye on you.”

  “Up close you don’t have to strain.”

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “Because you think I want to have sex with Colleen?” My lips part and he smiles, running a finger over my lips. “I know why you were glaring at me. From one jealous fucker to another, I recognized that look.”

  “She’s very beautiful.”

  “Yes, she is. There are a lot of beautiful people in the world. She’s not my type. And I’m not interested in her like that.”

  “Really?”

  “Mmhmm.” He leans in to kiss me and I close my eyes as his lips take the green monster away.

  “I was jealous, but it’s not just that. I can’t because…you don’t understand.”

  “If you tell me, I will.”

  “Things
are tense at my job.”

  Understatement.

  Sliding his hands up my sides, Max murmurs, “I can make life very fun, don’t you remember?”

  “It’s totally slipped my mind,” I dryly reply.

  He grins, but it fades as his fingers slip under my hair. “Natalie, I’d love to fuck you right now. I could slip my fingers under that mini skirt, those black tights would slide right down. But we’d have to put these superhero boots back on for the actual penetration because oh man, they are smokin’ hot..”

  I care about you and I can’t.

  Paul will never let me.

  I’m too tired to be smart.

  I bend to him as Max claims me in a kiss that tells me he wants me as much as I want him. He lifts me onto the counter and parts my legs, looking down at the crotch of my tights, pulled taut between my thighs. “You’re wrapped up like an early Christmas present.”

  I sigh and close my eyes, letting all the stress quiet down as he rubs my pussy over the nylon polyester blend, boot heels propped on the drawers below the kitchen island, knees bent. Max’s eyes lock with mine, both of us hooded with need.

  “That feels oddly comforting.”

  “Little rubdown,” he murmurs, tucking his tongue barely inside my mouth. He goes for the boots, slowly unzipping and setting them nearby. “Wait here you two. Don’t run off.” Slipping my tights down takes some wriggling and we laugh under our breaths.

  He tosses them with a flourish to keep me smiling.

  “You’re so fun, Max. I miss spending time with you.”

  He frowns, “Then make more time for me.”

  I can’t give him that but I can offer my tongue.

  He captures it, sucks on it, and unlocks my jaw with a deeper kiss, before turning to snatch my boots off the floor and slide them back on as I hike my skirt up more. Green eyes fire up at my pussy being exposed, boots high, skirt higher. Bending, Max licks me, strokes, penetrates me with his hot tongue, stopping once to murmur, “You taste so good, you know that? Salty and sweet.” He flicks my clit and slides one finger in as I spread my legs wider. “You like that, Natalie?”

  “Mmhmm, keep licking me.”

  “Fuck yes, say it again.”

  “Lap. Me. Up.”

  He groans, “Yes ma’am,” and does as he’s told.

  My core pulses, insatiable for everything he’s giving. His hot breath. His greedy tongue. The finger that just got joined by a friend, both of them helping to bring me to a whimpering mess of ache. My head feels too heavy for my neck. I throw it back and rub against his beautiful mouth. “Just like that. Take me over the edge so I forget who I am.”

  The man makes a meal of my pussy until the quakes are so strong that I lie back, crying out with each one.

  I hear a zipper.

  Involuntarily I moan, “Yes,” as I feel his hard mushroom tip rubbing me through the aftershocks.

  “Dripping,” he groans thickly and slides into my overly-sensitive pussy inch by inch and each one is better than the last.

  There is no Paul.

  No Juniper.

  Manipulations are gone.

  It’s just me.

  Human.

  About to fuck him like an animal.

  CHAPTER 25

  N ATALIE

  A phone rings in the distance, sounding so far away that at first I don’t realize it’s mine. But it is. And it’s the ringtone I use for Paul to make sure I never make him wait.

  Blinking to Max I see him looking over to it, too. We’re both panting. I spot red streaks on his neck. “I think I hurt you.”

  “Just slightly,” he shakes his head, closing his eyes to gather his bearings. “You fucked the shit out of me is what you did.” Kissing me he tries to continue the third round but I press my palms onto his chest.

  “I have to call my boss back.”

  “Now? He can wait.”

  “No, he can’t.”

  “Wait, you don’t have to push me out. Let me just get a towel for you.” I close my legs as he starts turning on the warm faucet, waving his fingers under it for the temperature.

  “Max, it’s fine. Just give me the towel.”

  He frowns but gives me the dry towel.

  “Thank you,” I mumble, ass exposed, skirt hiked, boots clicking fast. Placing his towel on the couch I sit down and dial Paul. “Hey, it’s me. Sorry, I had my ringer off.”

  His voice loses the edge it had when he barked hello. He gives me a rundown of what’s not working with the lights I bought. I barely hear any of it. “Get over here now,” catches my attention and I close my eyes.

  “Okay, on my way.”

  He hangs up and I take a couple deep breaths to calm myself.

  “Natalie?”

  The voice is so gentle it pulls my head left. Max has zipped his pants, but the belt is still open. He’s a wreck, scratch marks everywhere. I blink away from him.

  I sound hollow, empty.

  “I have to go in. This was fun though.”

  Unfeeling.

  Max drags fingers through his hair with a hard chuckle, like he can’t believe I’m so cold. “What’s the deal with your boss?”

  I stand up, clean myself a little with the towel and head for my tights. But I have to pass Max on the way and he grabs my arm. Not hurtful or abusive. Just…desperate. “Natalie, talk to me.”

  “I told you this would make it more complicated.” Tugging free I hurry to my hose, unzip and yank off my boots to get these tights back on. I reach for the nearby paper towels and tear off a sheet, folding it and tucking it. This will have to serve for when he comes back out and I’m halfway up Highway 75. “I feel you staring at me.”

  “What do you expect me to do?”

  “Act like a Cocker.” Meeting his eyes I expect a smile, but he’s glaring at me.

  “The fuck?” he growls, turning on his bare heel to pace. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  My chest tightens and I want to reach for him, and explain that I’m scared. On my way to my coat and computer bag I laugh instead, “You own the world,” my voice tinny and false. But I keep talking anyway, rattling off a bunch of bullshit. “Brush this off as just another fuck and let’s get back to work! It doesn’t have to mean anything. And it makes no sense that I stay the night or get mushy or something stupid like that. We’re grown adults.”

  “I own the world?” he repeats, disgusted as he follows me to the door.

  “You’re the most confident family around. The world is yours! That’s what I meant.”

  “You know I pay my rent here, right?”

  Blinking at him I adjust the strap on my shoulder. “What are you talking about? I never thought you didn’t.”

  He stares at me, then rubs his face. “You’ve lost me. I’m completely confused.”

  Try as I might to grab the door handle I touch his neck instead. “You’re bleeding. I’m so sorry.” Struggling I force myself to leave him. “Goodnight Max.”

  As my high heel boots echo through the small parking lot I know he’s watching to make sure I’m okay. And that hurts more than when he did the same for that actress. I don’t want him to be kind to me right now, and yet…I crave his kindness.

  Because I’m fucking terrified.

  CHAPTER 26

  M AX

  “Y ou seem distracted,” Colleen says as she pulls her hand from my turtleneck the next night. “Everything okay? Am I not doing it right?”

  “No, you’re great,” I mutter, walking to my coffee table and dropping the script. “My head isn’t here right now. I’m sorry. Just give me a second.”

  Her tone is reassuring, “Sure. We don’t have to rehearse tonight.”

  My frown slides from the script to her. “You okay with that?”

  “Of course!” She smiles and walks closer. “We could just…talk.” Her hand slides up my shirt again, only this time not in character.

  I clasp it, stop its trail. “Colleen.”

  “M
ax, I see how you look at me.”

  My lips part from surprise. “Never meant to give you that impression.”

  “Right, because you’re the director and it wouldn’t be professional. But people have off screen affairs all the time,” she purrs, stroking my chest. What she doesn’t know is the scratches are healing and that caress kinda hurts. “I don’t mean affairs like cheating. But you know, a love affair.”

  My eyebrows pierce together as I return her hand back to her. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I wanted this, but this isn’t good for the project.”

  Clearly not used to being turned down, my lead actress blinks in shock and takes a vulnerable step back. “Oh, wow, God, I feel like an idiot. Are you into men?”

  “No. I’ve just put every dime I’ve saved my entire working life into this film and I don’t want to screw it up.”

  Colleen nods, processing it, opens her beautiful lips but closes them again. I’ve stumped her. “Oh I see!” She brightens up, and approaches me one final time. Those gorgeous doe eyes widen like we’re in on a secret she just figured out. “We’ll stay like this until the shoot is over.” Her hand waves between us, indicating distance. “And then as soon as we’re wrapped, we can have fun.”

  Chewing my lip I’m speechless. But there’s no way I’m turning this offer down. We begin shooting next week. If she feels rejected she might walk. So I give a smile that deserves my own Oscar. “That’s a great plan.”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “I love it.”

  Proud of herself she rises on her tiptoes and kisses me. I’m frozen, and don’t return it. The peck goes unanswered but this girl is not deterred. She can write off my unresponsiveness to ambition and maybe even strength of character.

  Really, I’m just not interested.

  “Max, I’m going to go home and I’ll be thinking of you.” Her head tilts. Then she grabs my crotch out of the blue. “And I want you to think of me, too.” Smiling she releases my package and picks up her scarf, her white coat, the matching clutch purse. Natalie dresses nice, too, but she doesn’t look like a walking cotton ball.

  Stop it, Max.

  Keep Colleen on the actor-pedestal.