by Cadence Vonn
He grabbed her ass and yanked her forward, so they fit together like a perfect puzzle.
“Someday there’ll be nothing between us, including a condom.” He pulled one out of the robe’s pocket.
A thrill ran through Tess’s body. Max suggested a future together. She stilled his hand. “Here, let me give you an idea how it will feel.” She slipped off the table and knelt before him. “Sit on the chair.”
“Gladly.”
She leaned up and ran her tongue over the top of his cock. He sank his fingers into her hair and assisted her bobbing head as she rode him with her mouth. His legs quivered under her hands, and he pulled her hair tighter. The shot of pain liquefied her core.
She wanted him to beg for release. She lifted her gaze to his face and slowed her movement. A flick and swirl of her tongue around the tip, made him growl. He pressed her head down, but she resisted the push and lapped up the side, stroking from his balls to the top. She returned to take him in her mouth, and he moved his hips with a hard thrust to get deeper.
“Fuck me, Tess. Straddle me, now. I want your breasts close to my face when I sink inside you.”
She rose, waited for a second while he rolled down the condom, and then lowered her body on his throbbing erection.
“Mm, Max. You feel so good.”
He grabbed her ass cheeks and moved his hips to deepen his penetration. “Move with me, babe.” He gyrated under her, causing her to rise and fall as if posting on a horse. The faster he drove inside her, the more she whimpered. “Hold your breasts so I can suck on one.”
She did as he asked, and the moment he tugged on her nipple, she lost control. Her whimper became a soft cry. His fingers tightened and dug into her flesh. Her hair curtained his face when she dropped her head and hissed, “God, yes.”
Max pumped harder, then tensed. He bit her breast, the beat of his cock stilled as he marked her skin with his teeth.
Tess collapsed in his arms. His hands roamed over her body in lazy circles that teased her skin.
“Are you ready for a shower and some sightseeing before we pick up Christopher?” He sat her up, gathered her hair off her face, and planted a tender kiss on her kiss-bruised lips.
“Only if you promise me we can do this again later today.”
“Promise.” He carried her into the bathroom with her legs wrapped around his waist and his hands gripping her ass. She teased him with fluttering touches as they both moved about the bathroom trying to get ready to go out.
After visiting three different galleries and snapping dozens of pictures, Tess stowed her cellphone in her purse with a contented sigh. All the different paintings gave her ideas for her designs. She’d add painting on fabric as her next big challenge. Max took her to lunch at a sidewalk café which served the best brochette she’d ever tasted. When they finally returned to their room, she kicked off her shoes and curled up on the couch for a few minutes.
“Thanks for the lovely day.” Tess caressed Max’s arm. “ But as much as I’d love to sit here and not move, I need to get ready for dinner.”
She decided to take a quick shower, and Max followed. “I’ll wash your back if you wash mine.” He pumped his eyebrows like a cartoon villain.
“I don’t think we would make it on time to pick up Christopher if we showered together. I’ll only be a minute, and then you can take a turn.” He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, smirking at her as she rinsed off, shaking her bottom at him and laughing.
“Woman, if you keep it up, we’ll end up in bed, and Christopher will be furious with us. Now behave and get out so I can finish.” Max kissed her on the nose and slipped into the shower as she stepped out.
When he finally walked into the living room, Tess waited for him near the windows.
She turned from side to side. Her red dress clung to all her curves and showed a glimpse of her breasts inside the deep V. “Well, what do you think?” she asked with a huff at his silence.
“I’m trying to decide if I should let you out in public or chain you to the bed. Did you bring anything less sexy?”
She fisted her hands on her hips and shook her head, so her hair fell over one eye. “If you don’t want to be seen with me, go and pick up Christopher, and the two of you can have dinner alone. I’m sure I can find something to eat downstairs.”
“Not on your life, sweetheart. If you insist on wearing that provocative dress in public, I need to be your bodyguard, because every man who sees you will want your body.” He gave her a sweet kiss, pulled her hands off her hips and held them behind her back. The kiss deepened, and he pressed her lower back, making her arch her breasts against him.
“Let’s go and get this dinner over with. What was I thinking, wanting to take you out tonight? After a lovely day, we should have stayed in and had a picnic here in the suite. I hate sharing you. I can cancel the reservations.”
Tess chuckled when he released her hands and straightened his sports coat. “We can’t cancel on Christopher. It will be fun, and we have all night for dessert.”
“Mm, you as dessert will get me through this evening.”
A few minutes later Chris waited for them outside of the Ritz.
“As usual, Tess, you look amazing.” Christopher gave her a kiss on the cheek as they got out of the car at the restaurant. Half-round booths lined the walls, each with its own sense of privacy. The plush leather seats wrapped part way around tables with white cloths and elaborately folded napkins.
When they were seated in a corner booth, Tess sat back and admired Max and Chris. The booth gave her the opportunity to sit between them and enjoy looking at the two men, who could be brothers.
The waiter popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and filled their glasses. Max raised his and said, “To my beautiful Tess. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.” He held his glass toward her and Christopher, and they all clinked them before taking a sip of the expensive bubbly.
“Max, that was sweet. I’m lucky too.” She caressed his cheek, then rested her hand on top of his.
“I feel like a third wheel here.” Christopher scoffed.
“If it weren’t for you, Tess and I would never have met. You have proven over and over to be a true friend, and I’m glad you’re my cousin as well.” Max inclined his glass toward Christopher and then drank the rest down. He poured another round and relaxed against the supple leather.
Tess looked between the two men and froze when her gaze caught a glimpse of two women entering the restaurant. “Oh God, it can’t be.”
She moved more toward Christopher and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Max raised his eyebrow at her.
“Christopher. Tess. Maximilian.” Mrs. Westfield’s voice sounded bitter and disappointed when she reached their table.
“Mother, what on earth are you doing in Chicago—and you brought Holly?” Max stood, his ability to cover his shock impressed Tess as she sat rigid next to Chris.
“We heard you were alone in Chicago, and Holly and I thought we might surprise you. I haven’t been to Chicago in ages, and Holly has never been here.”
“Will you be adding two people to the party?” The maître d’ asked from behind Holly.
“Yes,” Mrs. Westfield spoke before Max could answer. “We’ll need one chair.” She turned to Holly and said, “I think there’s room next to Maximilian for you.”
Chris took hold of Tess’s hand and caressed her fingers to help her regain her composure.
Maximilian slid into the booth, and Tess gave a silent thank you for the tablecloth that covered their laps. He pressed his knee against hers, and she didn’t move away, gaining strength from the connection.
When the two women were seated, Max said, “I still don’t understand how you knew I was in Chicago.”
“I spoke with your office on Friday, and they told me you were stopping in Chicago for the weekend. I couldn’t imagine why you would want to be in this city alone.”
He spoke through a tense jaw.
“You should have called. I would have told you I was meeting Christopher and Tess and saved you a trip.”
“Funny how they happened to be here this weekend.” Millicent turned her sour glare on the couple.
“I had business here in Chicago.” Christopher shrugged. “We’re remodeling our regional office, and I needed to be here to sign the final drawings for the work. Maximilian wanted an update, so I suggested he stop on his way home and take a look at the drawings and walk the building. As you know, Tess joined me Friday afternoon when I was finished.”
“Yes, of course. It’s nice to see you and Maximilian getting along so well.” She dismissed Christopher’s explanation with a wave of her well-manicured hand.
Tess almost felt sorry for Holly, who sat quietly at the end of the booth trying to look like she belonged. Didn’t she have any backbone? From what Tess had witnessed, the young woman did everything Mrs. Westfield asked. Although with Max as the gold ring, she understood the young lady’s actions.
“Since we’re all here, we might as well enjoy dinner.” Millicent opened her menu and studied the offerings. She raised her head, narrowed her gaze at Tess and said, “The menu seems to be in French. Do you need it translated?”
Tess squared her shoulders and held Millicent’s glare with one of her own. Without missing a beat, she said in perfect French, “No, thank you. I’m quite capable of reading the menu. But I prefer Christopher order for me. He knows exactly what I love to eat.”
Chris squeezed her hand under the table and coughed into his other hand to hide his laugh.
“I see.” Millicent slapped her menu shut. “Maximilian, maybe you would like to order for Holly?”
“If Holly can’t figure out what she wants for dinner, then you order for her. After all, she’s your guest, not mine.”
After a tense moment when the orders were taken, Mrs. Westfield asked, “Where are you all staying?” But she focused her razored glare at Maximilian.
“A comfortable hotel not far from here. And you, Mother?”
She huffed at his answer. “Holly and I have a suite at the Ritz Carlton.”
Christopher stiffened. Tess gripped his hand so he wouldn’t blurt out something about them being at his hotel.
“Maximilian, maybe tomorrow you can escort Holly and me to the art museum.”
“I fly out in the morning. If you bothered to ask your source my schedule, it might have saved you a trip. I hope you and Holly enjoy Chicago on your own tomorrow.”
Millicent turned to Tess and Christopher. “When do you two leave?”
“Tomorrow as well,” Christopher said.
Tess pondered her answer. Max had made her ticket for Monday so they wouldn’t be traveling together. No matter, she would leave tomorrow with Christopher or Max. She wouldn’t stay in the same city as Max’s mother.
“I’m leaving tomorrow as well.” She gave the women a shrug and noted the frown that formed between Max’s eyes.
After a miserable meal where everything tasted like sawdust to Tess, Mrs. Westfield pushed back her chair and stood. “Holly and I are leaving. I hope the three of you have a nice evening together.” She turned to Max. “I’ll see you at home Monday night. We have some business to discuss.”
Max glared at his mother and balled his napkin in his hand to control his temper. “Good night, Mother. Holly.” He and Christopher stood as the two women left the restaurant.
Tess shifted her body closer to Max when he slumped into the booth. She played with his fingers until he relaxed.
“Now what the hell do I do?” Christopher grumbled. “That woman is in my hotel. I can’t go back without Tess in case she sets a trap to catch the two of you in a lie.”
“I never thought my mother would go to these lengths. We’ll return to your hotel room with you. You can pack and come to our suite. It’s large enough that we won’t bump into each other during the night. We can all head to the airport together tomorrow. I take it, Tess, you’re not planning to stay until Monday?”
She shook her head and let out a sad sigh. Nothing like a cold bucket of Millicent witch water to dampen a romantic weekend.
Max caressed her fingers under the tablecloth. “Everything will work out, I promise.”
“After tonight she’ll use a private detective to trail you instead of attempting to catch you herself. We’ll never be able to meet in secret again.” Fear and resignation laced her words. How would they be able to see each other? Panicked over losing Max, a bead of sweat formed on her forehead, and she took a slow deep breath to stop the sensation of fainting.
“With Christopher’s help, we can continue to see each other until I’ve found a solution to the situation.”
“Explain your situation,” Christopher demanded. “Because I don’t understand why you can’t tell your mother about Tess.” He leaned toward her and rubbed her arm, trying to comfort her.
Maximilian closed his eyes and let out a defeated sigh. “You and Tess deserve to know the truth, but if you ever repeat any of this to anyone else, I’ll fire you.” He waited for Christopher to acknowledge the statement before he continued.
“My mother was very aware of my father’s indiscretions. The last woman my father spent time with had lasted for six years before he died in her bed. Over the course of those six years, my father lavished this woman with expensive gifts—a condo, car, jewelry, and stocks in Westfield Industries. Eventually, he approached my mother for a divorce.” Max tightened his jaw.
“She knew about all his affairs, so for the last twenty-five years they were married, she secretly purchased stock in the company. It turned out she owned more stock than my father. She threatened to ruin him if he didn’t stay married to her and return all the stock he’d given his mistress. She also stipulated a change in my status when I turned thirty, at which time I became vice president of the company.”
Maximilian took the last swig of his wine before he continued. “Of course my father agreed. He didn’t want to lose his job as CEO, and he figured I wouldn’t give him a hard time as vice president. When my father died suddenly, the company was struggling, and the board insisted I step into his position. At that point, I’d been doing most of the work while my father found other distractions.” He took a large gulp of air and released it in a slow steady exhale.
“My mother stepped in as the majority shareholder and demanded I agree to marry the woman of her choice or she would hire someone outside the family to run the company. I really didn’t care about a wife. I wasn’t interested in anyone at the time and figured I could find a loophole in her plans if I didn’t like the woman she chose for me.”
“Well shit, Maximilian. How do you expect to get out of this one?” Christopher signaled for another bottle of wine, and the three of them sat in silence until the waiter opened it and filled their glasses.
“I have my lawyers trying to figure out a way around the agreement. In the meantime, I’m covertly selling off my stock, so I don’t harm the company if I walk away from my job. It takes time to liquidate my portfolio without tipping off my mother.” Maximilian shrugged. “Now you see my dilemma. I need to be free to walk away before my mother announces my engagement.”
“You would leave Westfield Industries?” Tess asked, surprised he would consider such an option.
“If I have to. My mother is a bitter, controlling woman. I’ve put up with her parading women in front of me because I was focused on restoring Westfield Industries. After the last three years, everything is coming together, and the company is growing again. But now the devil wants to get paid. My mother insists I marry by the end of this year. Until I met you, Tess, I figured I had six months to find the loophole in her plan. But she knows something’s up and is pressing me to marry Holly.” Maximilian snorted. “I didn’t care if it were Holly or any other woman. If I found no other option, I would marry the woman and become like my father.” He swallowed the last big gulp of wine from his glass. “Then we kissed and my life tilted in a diffe
rent direction.” His smile spoke volumes as his eyes softened when he looked at her.
“I still don’t understand why it’s so important to your mother to choose your wife. This is the twenty-first century, after all.” Tess stopped talking. The idea her father wanted her to marry a certain man so he would have more control over that person made her clench her fists under the tablecloth. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She knew the frustration of dodging his constant manipulation, and he didn’t have a signed contract. She nodded. “Never mind, I understand.”
“It’s all about control. Holly will do my mother’s bidding in order to marry someone wealthy. My mother assumes if my wife is under her control, then so am I.” Max looked from Christopher to Tess. “Let’s finish our wine and leave. I’m tired.” He ran his knuckles up her thigh and gave her a sad look.
“All right. Maybe a new day will make things better.” Tess slid out in front of Christopher, making sure it looked like she was his date. Max gave her a sad smile and followed the two of them out of the restaurant.
“How should we work this?” Christopher asked once they were in the backseat of the town car.
“I’ll buzz my mother’s room when we reach the Ritz. You and Tess go up to your room, pack your suitcase and check out. Wait for me in the car. I’ll keep her occupied for twenty minutes and then meet you, and we’ll head to my hotel for the night.”
“I have a better idea,” Tess spoke up.
“Shoot,” Max and Christopher said at the same time.
“Why doesn’t Chris come straight back to our suite? He can take a taxi back to the Ritz in the morning, and if your mother sees him, he can say he saw me off to the airport since I was on a different flight.
“I’m sure the boutique in our hotel will have everything he needs as far as a change of clothes for tomorrow morning. I’ll pack his suit in my suitcase and give it to him when I see him this week. That way you won’t have to see your mother again tonight.”
