Maxen (Kinky Shine Book 2)

by Stephanie Witter

  “Oh shit! It’s my parents.’’

  “You picked ‘Trouble’ for your parents’ ringtone?’’ I asked bewildered and ready to laugh. Lark had always been a straight-A student, very driven and the only real mistake and risk she’s made was when we all went to Vegas. I didn’t think her parents had ever had to raise their voice against her growing up. I also knew from Alan that her bad temper had never made an appearance with anyone other than me or in very few instances growing up.

  “Oh, shut up. If they call it’s never good. Usually, I’m the one calling them.’’

  She jumped to her feet and didn’t bother covering up with the bed sheets. She hunted down her purse where her phone probably was, and I watched her delicious body, her curves. I was growing harder. I had to put my hands under my pillow before I touched myself.

  I didn’t think that’d be good to put my hand on my dick considering she’s about to answer her parents’ phone call. It’s strange already to see the woman I just had sex with naked about to talk to her parents who probably had no idea she’s naked with a fucker equally naked sprawled on a big bed.

  “Allo?’’ she answered, a bit out of breath. At hearing her and watching her chest rising and falling faster, moving her breasts in a tantalizing manner, it gave me more wicked ideas.

  Oh shit. I really should close my damn eyes. But I didn’t. Maybe I should have because now my heart was taking a nosedive and my erection disappeared into thin air when I saw her paling. I cursed under my breath and quickly stood up to get to her. She shook her head and held up a hand to stop me before I reached her.

  I scowled, and the first thing that popped into my head was to swat that hand away and gather her in my arms anyway, but she looked troubled. No need to be an ass to prove a caveman point when she’s on the phone with her parents.

  “We can’t really leave, you know? Outside… well, it’s a circus,’’ she said quietly, her voice shaking when her grip on her phone turned deadly. She fell quiet, her eyebrows now bunching over her eyes and her mouth twisted into a grimace.

  I wasn’t Sherlock, but it didn’t bode that well. Buck ass naked and not a care in the world, I crossed my arms over my chest, parted my legs as if getting ready to get punched. I waited patiently for Lark to resume her phone call and agreed to whatever her parents asked.

  She lowered her arm with her phone still in hand, but the screen was back to black and fixed me with a panicked look I fucking hated.

  “What? What is it?’’

  She shook her head as if to clear her mind and she glanced back at the phone before she put it on the furniture holding the TV hidden inside. “My parents heard about our marriage when they were at work. They’re on their way home and want to see me.’’ She bit her lip and cleared her throat. “And you.’’

  I’ve known it was coming from the moment her parents called, but somehow it’s hitting me just now. I was about to meet her parents. I’ve never met parents in my whole fucking life.

  I toyed with the barbell in my eyebrow.

  Parents didn’t like me on principle. With all the press regarding my sex life, I couldn’t possibly be boyfriend material in any parents’ eyes, and I got it.

  Fuck, it’s starting to make me nervous.

  “I’ve never met your parents. I mean, we’ve known each other since we were eighteen and I’ve never met your parents.’’ If I had, it would be better. Oh shit. “Tell me you didn’t criticize me back then.’’

  She cringed, and I swore loudly.

  “I know, I’m sorry, Maxen. You used to piss me off so much!’’

  “That’s just great.’’ I shook my head and rubbed my face. “All right. We need to shower and then I’ll find a car. We’ll take the back door and see if none of these paparazzi found it. Right now, I don’t much believe in my fucking luck.’’

  She frowned and shook her head. “It’s not the end of the damn world, Maxen. Don’t overdramatize. They’re just my parents.’’

  “Your parents that actually give a fuck about you just heard from the fucking media that you’re married to me, Lark. I’m a huge dude with tattoos covering my fucking arms and chest, and I have piercings. The same dude you’ve spent years talking shit about to your parents. Don’t tell me they won’t want to kick me in the balls as soon as they meet me.’’

  “Let’s shower,’’ she said and turned around to go straight to the bathroom, making sure she didn’t look at me.

  Figured.

  I was fucked.

  At least, I was going down after I had the chance to be with Lark. It’s more than I’ve ever thought possible.

  ***

  LARK

  “Calm down, Maxen. They’re not going to shoot you, damn it,’’ I said with more bite than necessary.

  The man was nowhere near his usual cocky self and I probably shouldn’t kick him when he was already, figuratively speaking, down. His eyebrows had been lowered over his eyes ever since my mother’s phone call, and he’s barely uttered a few words. The strangest thing; he hadn’t tried anything when we took a shower together. He washed and then left the bathroom with a towel around his hips to get dressed.

  It’s obvious he’s nervous and wasn’t used to meeting parents, but his nerves were getting to me, and I was all jittery.

  Why had I never told my parents about my marriage in Vegas? Oh yes, because I didn’t want to disappoint them and mostly because I didn’t want to face the truth about what I had done. And maybe the why behind my action all these years had a lot to do with unresolved feelings, feelings I had never wanted to face.

  “They’re not going to tell me ‘welcome to the family’ either,’’ he replied darkly, his eyes glued to the back of our driver’s head who was hired in under an hour with Floyd’s help.

  We’ve been lucky to not be spotted by photographers before we had to drive in front of the hotel to get to my parents’ house. Some of them tried to chase the car, but ultimately, they weren’t a match to it. That was a bit overwhelming and a whole lot frightening. I didn’t know how Maxen and the guys did this on an everyday basis. This was insane.

  “Maxen,’’ I sighed and gazed at the familiar suburb neighborhood passing by as we drove closer to my parents’ house where I grew up.

  “What?’’ he asked softer, his attention back on me.

  I grabbed his hand from his thigh and entwined my fingers with his. “They’re not bad people. They’re going to be cold at first, but I’m sure you don’t have to worry yourself so much. Anyway, it’s my life. They can judge, but ultimately, I could have done a lot worse.’’

  “Is there a compliment somewhere in there, babe?’’ he asked with a crooked smile that I wanted to kiss.

  “Maybe.’’ I smiled back and I didn’t know how long we spent looking at each other, locked in a silent communication that had me tingling, but the car came to a stop, and we were both brought back to the present. “There’re no journalists,’’ I remarked after a quick look around the street I’d grown up on.

  The small houses were the same if maybe a bit older looking for some. It’s the perfect picture anyone had of a middle-class suburbia, and it brought a fond smile to my face. I wondered what has become of some of my old friends here. It’s funny how usually I didn’t think about that when I visited my parents. Everything had changed rather drastically in a matter of a few weeks. Life could be a rollercoaster like that, and Maxen’s life seemed to run at breakneck speed.

  “Mr. Walton, I’ll be stationed here.’’

  “Good. Thank you. If we’re staying longer, I’ll let you know.’’

  Our driver nodded and got out to open my door while Maxen jumped out on his own, stretching his big body as if he’s ready to go in a ring for the fight of his life. I’d be laughing if I hadn’t been so stressed myself. Two hours ago, we were in bed, naked after the best sex of my life. If only we could have stayed there.

  “Ready?’’ I asked when I reached his side. We’re standing in front of my paren
ts’ house, looking at it with apprehension.

  “I don’t think standing here the whole night is going to do a damn thing. And please, kill me if I use fuck or any variation too many times.’’

  “You really are nervous,’’ I said with a chuckle that died when he glowered at me with his green eyes that darkened just like when he’s turned on and ready to fuck me.

  God, when angry he’s a sight to behold. I wondered if maybe back in college that wasn’t why I so easily bickered with him even if I would have never admitted that aloud.

  “I don’t want to make a bad impression, Lark. I know our marriage is a fucking scam, but you also know it’s important to me. I don’t want to embarrass you with your parents and…’’ He rubbed his eyes and went back to looking at the house as if it was a haunted spot about to give him the fright of his life.

  “And? You don’t want to disappoint me?’’

  “Nah, I don’t want you mad at me. Disappointing you? I bet it’s just a matter of time before that shit happens.’’

  I squeezed his hand. “I bet it’s not gonna happen.’’

  He opened his mouth to say something, but he’s interrupted by someone clearing his throat loudly. Maxen’s attention snapped to the front door of the house, his eyes briefly widening in panic. I had to bite my tongue to not laugh, but it’s more from nerves than actual humor in the situation. The need to giggle was really hard to stifle when my shoulders started to shake almost uncontrollably.

  My father was at the door, arms crossed over his chest, probably further wrinkling his dress shirt. Buttons were open at his neck, and the sleeves were rolled up over his forearms. My dad’s hair was thinning, but it wasn’t noticeable. His cheeks and chin had dark stubble from the day spent working at an insurance agency in a small cubicle. Anonymous among the anonymous.

  “Are you going to stay standing there or will you come inside before someone spots you and brings the circus here?’’

  Maxen’s hand tensed around mine and finally, he started walking briskly. I had to trot beside him to keep up. Once in front of my father, he released my hand and shook his. One look at the handshake showed me that my dad tried to do some damage to my husband’s but considering how big Maxen’s hand was and how much strength he had, I didn’t think it was doing much.

  “Nice to meet you, sir,’’ Maxen said with a calm voice that hid his real state of mind.

  My father nodded but kept his thin lips sealed.

  Okay. That’s not awkward at all.

  “Hey, Dad. How was work today?’’

  My father’s blue eyes locked with mine and I cringed when the lack of amusement in them hit me square. “It was good until your mother called me in a panic to tell me you’ve been married since you were twenty-one to some rock star. Care to explain that to me?’’

  “Sir, I can—’’

  “I’m talking to my daughter, not you,’’ Dad interrupted Maxen rudely, a powerful glare I’ve rarely seen on his face in all my life. That didn’t bode well at all. Oh shit. My bout of weird giggles wasn’t anywhere in sight anymore.

  “Let them in, Paul,’’ my mother said from behind him, and I couldn’t help the small relieved sigh from escaping my lips.

  We all walked in and met my mother in the family room, standing in front of the dark TV’s screen. Maxen made a beeline for her and shook her hand while I didn’t know what to do. With my father’s cold welcome and the tense lines on my mother’s face, I didn’t feel much like hugging.

  She’s still wearing her slacks and flowery shirt for her job at the local doctor’s office where she covered the front desk. I bet one of the patients told her about the media mess considering my mother had worked for this doctor since I started middle school and I used to stop by once in a while after school for years. I was known around here.

  “Maxen, this is Paul and Ellie Hardin, my parents. Mom, Dad, this is Maxen Walton.’’ I made the introduction barely breathing.

  Heat crept over my face while I was standing next to Maxen, our arms touching. My parents were looking at us intently. Usually, they’d probably have offered a seat on the sofa and a drink, but right now, it didn’t feel much like a courtesy visit and more like an interrogation.

  “Maxen Walton, your husband,’’ my mother said, her voice filled not with disappointment as I’d expected, but sadness.

  Dad wrapped an arm around her shoulders and glared at me. “How could you have hidden something like that for so long? Does Caleb know?’’

  Maxen made a sound from the back of his throat, but I ignored him while my parents stared at him with a deep frown accentuating the small lines marking their faces.

  “Caleb knows. Actually, he’s the one behind the leak to the media. I suppose it’s his petty way of getting back at me for this marriage,’’ I replied bitterly. Maxen put a hand on the small of my back and it centered me. I looked at him and smiled with gratitude, but the hard mask on his face worried me. “As for the marriage itself—’’

  “It was my fault,’’ Maxen said, cutting me off. “I can’t tell you exactly how it happened because it’s…uh, fuzzy, but it’s my fault. Lark came to LA a few weeks ago to rectify this mistake. Don’t hold this against her.’’

  “Maybe you instigated this which wouldn’t surprise me much with what I’ve read about you in the papers,’’ my father said, and I made a move to stop him from insulting Maxen, but Maxen’s hand on the small of my back tightened its grip on my top, and I stayed quiet. I did shoot daggers at my father who completely ignored me, though. “But Lark was an adult. If she was able to say ‘I do’, she knew what she was doing.’’ And my father’s judging eyes went back to me, and under the cold anger, I perceived sadness too.

  I should have told them everything as soon as I had returned from Las Vegas. I had always been close to them, and I never hid things from them. Never, unless it concerned my marital status.

  “I know I’ve messed up, but it’s not like I’ve made a habit of it. I’ve always been the good girl, the good daughter.’’ I looked around the house and saw pictures of me from various ages, some flattering pics, some not so much. “I’ve studied to get a full ride to college, I’ve worked to pay my own way, got a good job as soon as I was out of college, got with someone perfect on paper. I’ve always done what’s expected. Always, but that one time in Vegas. Do you really have to hold it against me?’’

  My parents exchanged a long look, and finally, my mother decided to play hostess. “Let’s sit. Would any of you like something to drink?’’

  “Water if you don’t mind,’’ Maxen asked with a strangled voice that barely sounded like his own.

  “We don’t have expensive water brand around here,’’ Dad said, baiting Maxen and I glared at him.

  “Good. I’m not much into sissy water brands supposedly from the purest source or whatever. And sir, for your information, I grew up in a house that was half the size of yours. There’s nothing fancy about me aside from the house I was able to buy thanks to my work with the band.’’

  I smiled behind my hand at Maxen’s polite, yet sharp way of putting my father in his place. Any other time I’d be bitching the person who would have gone head to head with one of my family members, but this time around my dad kind of deserved it.

  My mother excused herself with a twitch of her lips, and I was sure she saw the appeal to this even though she’s more on Dad’s side than mine at the moment. At least she wasn’t being openly opinionated when it came to my husband. That’s a good first sign.

  Silence fell around us until my mother came back with water and glasses. She set everything on the low table. Maxen and I were on the couch, sitting real close while my father sent daggers at Maxen from one armchair and my mother fidgeted from the other one on my side. That’s interesting.

  I grabbed a glass, took a sip and watched Maxen do the same after a quick ‘thank you’ to my mother whose eyes kept on going to the tattoos on Maxen’s knuckles spelling ‘fuck you’ with a sm
all star on his last knuckle. I was close to laughing hysterically at the situation again. I also started sweating. I kept drying my palms on my thighs while Maxen’s eyes didn’t leave my dad’s face. I didn’t have the right chromosome to fully understand both men’s behavior right now. It was like they're both waiting for the other’s next move to counter accordingly.

  “I thought you two didn’t like each other,’’ my mother observed after what felt like a very long silence.

  Maxen and I exchanged a quick look with a wry smile before we stared back at my mother.

  “We used to…um…misunderstand each other,’’ I stammered, unsure of how to put words into this surreal situation and my feelings and behavior toward the man I’ve married.

  “Misunderstand?’’ My father scoffed before pinning me with a stern look. “I remember once you described him as a ‘womanizing pig who has nothing in his head because all his neurons went straight to buff the muscles in his arms’ or something close.’’

  I groaned and covered my face with one hand and tightened my grip on the glass with the other.

  “Paul!’’ my mother admonished my father, apparently more subdued than him. She probably had more qualms about insulting someone under her roof, someone famous at that. She’s always had a soft spot for gossip rags, and I was sure that somewhere underneath her disappointment and sadness she’s a bit starstruck even though Kinky Shine’s music wasn’t exactly her cup of tea.

  “You said that?’’ Maxen asked me with a barely contained laugh, and one look at him relaxed me. His green eyes were dancing with mirth, and his mouth was stretched wide in a blinding smile.

  “Yeah. I think it was freshman year at Thanksgiving or maybe over Christmas break. Sorry.’’ I bumped my shoulder into his.

  “Don’t apologize. It’s a unique way of insulting me. That should make me feel special, huh?’’ He winked at me, and my cheeks must have turned pink as warmth spread over my face and down my neck.

  “Shut up, you idiot,’’ I mumbled. My parents had a matching surprised look on their faces. “What?’’