by Cadence Vonn
Both men looked at each other and nodded.
“Sounds like a winner,” Christopher agreed. “I’ll get a new polo shirt and toiletries.”
He let out a low whistle when they entered Max’s suite a while later. “Jeez, Max, I could live here. Great view.” He stood staring at the lake, and Max opened the bar.
“Care for a glass of scotch?”
“Sure, with a little ice.”
“I’m going to let you two guys do some male bonding. I think I’ll head into the bedroom and change my flight, then take a long, hot bath. Good night.” She disappeared into the bedroom.
After making the necessary arrangements, she ran a bath and crawled into the steamy hot water. The scented bath crystals the hotel provided were a combination of lavender and vanilla, making the bathroom smell like a delicious confection.
A little while later Max asked from the doorway, “Am I too late to join you?”
Tess opened her eyes and smiled. “Not at all. The water is still hot, and I’d enjoy a back rub.” She scanned his firm chest and slim hips as he stripped out of his pants and shirt. After tonight she might never get another chance to hold him and feel him inside her. Tears ran down her cheek.
“Sweetheart, why are you crying?” He stepped into the tub and pulled her into his arms.
“Tonight will be the last night I can sleep in your arms. It makes me sad.” She cuddled against his chest, the water provided a warm cocoon.
“We’ll manage to see each other until I clear up this mess. Christopher promised to help keep you safe and out of my mother’s line of fire. Promise me you won’t believe anything you read in the papers. She’s no fool. She’ll make sure gossip circulates about Holly and me. I promise you nothing will happen between that woman and me.”
He reached down and lifted her chin. Her body slid up his in a gentle, seductive motion. With a soft caress of his tongue, Tess moaned, parted her lips and let him explore her mouth. His hands roamed down her back until they cupped her ass and squeezed.
“Oh God, Tess, I can’t imagine living without you. I’m falling in love with everything about you. I hope you understand how jealous I’ve become knowing I can’t call you mine in public. I want you night and day.”
“Me too, Max. The thought of you with another woman makes me crazy. I’m trying so hard to believe we’ll figure this all out and can be together. Loving you is so easy. Take me to bed. I want nothing more than to wrap our bodies together and spend our last night making love.”
The empty sensation in the pit of her stomach made her lightheaded. She hugged his neck and for the moment tucked away her fears.
“There’ll be many more nights. A lifetime of them.” Max helped her out of the tub and dried her off. He swept her up in his arms, and she giggled. He carried her to bed, dropped her in the middle and crashed down to suck on her breast.
She moaned.
“Shh. You’ll wake Christopher.” He nuzzled her breasts, nipping the soft skin.
“If you want me quiet, we should just go to sleep. You make me giggle, moan and scream when I’m in your arms. I’ll try not to be so vocal, but I doubt I’ll be successful. Chris will have to understand.” She sucked in her breath when he slid his body over hers. He held her firm with his chest pressed against her and smiled down at her.
“Let me get right to the point. I’m going to ravage you, and my mouth will capture all your screams of delight.” He reached for the condom on the nightstand, but she stilled his arm.
“Max, I’m on birth control. After everything we’ve talked about tonight, I’d enjoy feeling you inside me without a condom. I love you, and if I’m to believe you, we’ll be doing this for the rest of our lives.” Max gathered her up in his arms. He studied her face before he rested his forehead against hers.
“If you’re sure, I can’t imagine anything I would love more. No matter how many lovers we’ve had in the past, you’ll be my first and last skin to skin. I promise to cherish you for the rest of my life.”
“Me too.”
In one swift lunge, he sank deep inside her, and they gasped together. “You’re mine, Tess. Now and forever.” He thrust over and over, her hot wet flesh wrapped around him.
“Hell, Tess, you have no idea how spectacular this feels.” He dropped his head to capture her mouth and sucked on her tongue with the same rhythm his cock pounded below. Her moans filled the room, and she undulated her hips to make him move faster. He obliged with deep, penetrating strokes.
Max’s whole body shook with a need he’d never experienced before. He wanted to fill her, claim her once and for all. He held back, not wanting to lose it before Tess surrendered to him completely. Her whimper told him she was close.
“Come on, baby.”
She arched and her breasts smashed tight against his skin. Her heat engulfed him, and with a cry that matched hers, he shuddered in her arms and stiffened. Her muscles pumped him dry.
He collapsed and pulled her to the side. “You now have all of me. I’m yours whether you want me or not. There’ll never be anyone else.”
She kissed his neck in agreement and murmured her contentment. “Good night, Max. This has been perfect.” She pushed the specter of her father and Millicent out of her mind. She’d deal with what came next when Max was finally free.
“Good night, sweetheart. I’ll hold you all night long if you don’t mind.” In answer to his question, she cuddled closer before she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Ten
The rain pelted Tess’s windows, making Friday afternoon almost unbearable. She needed to get out of her apartment and run. An August rain made the city humid, and this year’s heat wave wasn’t breaking with the storm. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and grabbed her umbrella. Even a walk in the rain sounded better than sitting in her apartment staring at her computer screen and phone, hoping for a quick message from Max.
She’d love to hear his voice. Last night she dreamed he married someone else. A faceless woman who laughed at her as she cried at his feet. His mother’s cackle woke her, and she lay awake for hours trying to convince herself she had nothing to worry about. He’d assured her of his love in Chicago. But when he wasn’t around her fears chiseled away at her faith in everything working out.
Her phone rang, and she grabbed it, wishing for the screen to blink his number. Her shoulders sagged. “Hello, Chris.”
“Sorry I’m not Max. But I do have a message from him.”
“Really? Is he okay?”
“As good as he can be at the moment. Apparently, Aunt Millicent stormed into his office and demanded he rehire Elizabeth. Maximilian said no. Max and I agreed if his mother showed up at the office, Anna would summon me to interrupt the situation and pretend we had a meeting. When I arrived, my aunt’s shrill voice could be heard screaming nasty things at him. In the end, the woman accused him of being like his father. That’s when I knocked and walked in on the meeting.”
“Damn. Did she leave?”
“Yes, but only after telling Maximilian she would speak to him at home. He told her it would have to be this weekend because he had meetings in the evening and he would be staying in the city. He called me last night and told me some guy in a black sedan has been following him home every evening.”
Tess groaned. “Maybe it’s good I’m going to New York next week. Julian called and needs some assistance with a new show, and I told him I’d be glad to help out. I need to try and focus on my work and not Max. As much as he claims he would leave Westfield Industries, I can’t imagine he would walk away from the family business.”
“Don’t give up on him. I have something for you from him. Are you free this afternoon?”
“Sure. I was going to take a walk in the rain, but I’ll stay here.”
“Great. I’m heading out of the office now. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
She let a damp Christopher in a half hour later. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Yeah
. Do you have any red wine?” He took off his wet shoes and padded into Tess’s kitchen behind her.
“I do. I’ll pour two glasses. Do you have plans for dinner tonight?”
“No. I was hoping you had something here to eat.”
“I can throw a pizza in the oven or heat the lasagna we froze a few weeks ago.”
“Throw the lasagna in the oven. You look like you could use a good meal. Haven’t you been eating?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite. Let’s take our wine into the living room and sit while dinner heats.” Tess led the way and curled up on her favorite chair. Its shabby, chic cover added a flowery brightness to the room.
Chris put his wine glass down on the coffee table, pulled out a gift-wrapped box from his pocket, and handed it to Tess. “From Maximilian.”
She looked at the package. Gold paper from LeMond Jewelers wrapped the long thin box. The size spoke bracelet or necklace.
Her discomfort must have shown on her face because Chris said, “He assured me it’s not a goodbye present.”
She gave him a half smile and carefully opened the gift. A slip of paper rested against the outside of the velvet box. It read, My love, this is my heart hanging from the lifeline attached between us. I want you to take care of it until I can stand by your side for everyone to see. Love, Max
Tess’s hands shook as she lifted the black lid. Nestled against the velvet interior was a heart pendent made up of red rubies. It hung from a hand-wrought gold chain that looked like a fine piece of rope. She held it up, and Chris whistled.
“Maximilian has excellent taste.”
She slipped it over her head, and it rested above her breasts, near her heart. The puffy, ruby-encrusted heart reflected the light and glimmered seductively against her skin. “Oh my, Chris, it is exquisite, isn’t it?”
“It’s amazing. You can wear it this Sunday when you come to my mother’s birthday party. She’s invited you, and I couldn’t think of a reason to give that you wouldn’t come. It’s a garden party, and Maximilian will be there. He wants to see you wearing the necklace. Maybe I can even finagle a way for the two of you to steal a kiss or two. What do you say?”
She stroked the rubies, closed her eyes, and imagined Max’s arms around her. “I’d like that. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle seeing Max with Holly. I’m sure she and his mother will be tagging along.”
“Yes, but not together after the fight they had in his office, and I doubt Maximilian will pick up Holly. But she’ll be there. Aunt Millicent sent a RSVP for two and Maximilian sent his own for one.”
“I see. Well, I’ll go. Will you pick me up or should I find my own way?”
“I’ll pick you up around noon.”
“Sounds good. Why don’t we see if the lasagna is ready and make a salad? All of a sudden I’m hungry.”
He laughed and followed her into the kitchen. He poured more wine into his glass and set the table.
“I’d forgotten you were going to New York next week. I know I took off some vacation days to join you. Do you mind if I come a few days ahead of schedule if I can get away?” He pushed his dish away, every speck of food gone.
“I’d love to have company.”
“Is your mother’s apartment ready for us?”
“I talked with her last night, and she said she got the call that everything is cleaned. It has two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom so you can come and go as you please while I work.”
“Jeez, Tess, we should have done this before. We could have been going to all the new shows.”
“I’m not a big fan of New York City. The theaters and museums are wonderful, but all the people make me uncomfortable. I prefer Boston to New York.”
“I bet Maximilian will figure out a way to see you there. It’s an easy enough place to get lost.”
“After Chicago, I doubt he’ll risk coming to New York. I’ll keep my fingers crossed he’s able to get away. Besides, I have my work, and I’ll enjoy seeing different shows with you and Julian. I predict the two of you will hit it off.”
“Little Miss Matchmaker, let it rest. I’m sure he’s a nice man, but my first priority is to enjoy the city with my best friend.” He squeezed her hand then kissed her good night. “I’ll see you this weekend.”
****
On Sunday morning they pulled up in front of a large, two-story stone house. Small tents were set up around the grounds to provide some relief from the sweltering heat. Cars were parked in rows along a small field that flanked the right side of the residence.
“Welcome to my parents’ country estate. I’ll give you a tour later. At some point today I’ll ask you if you’re okay. Claim to have a headache, and I’ll show you to my room so you can rest for a few minutes. Maximilian will already be there. For goodness sake, make sure you lock the door. And don’t spend hours together. Also no screaming. I won’t be able to explain any loud moans.” He rolled his eyes, and she laughed for the first time in a week. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, Chris. We’ll be quiet. I can’t wait to introduce you to Julian. I think the two of you will hit it off. He loves a challenge the way you do. Both of you are detail-oriented.”
“Let’s get this day over with. I for one hate the heat and talking about nothing. I’m glad my father insisted no sports coats. The heat would have been suffocating. They should have changed it to a pool party.”
Tess linked her arm with his and strolled into the cool interior of the house. People mingled near the food tables that were set up inside instead of the hot outdoors. He led her over to his mother.
“Mother, happy birthday. You look beautiful today. That color suits you.” Christopher gave her a hug and then stepped aside so Tess could say hello.
“Happy birthday, Mrs. Westfield.” She held out her gift, and Edith smiled.
“I’m so glad you came today, Tess. It’s nice to see Christopher so happy. He always smiles when you’re around.” She took the present from Tess and opened the box.
“My goodness. These are lovely, and they’re my favorite color. Look, they match my dress.” Edith held one of the earrings against the fabric. “Do you mind holding the box a moment?” She held it out to Tess, who took it so Edith could remove the earrings she wore and replace them with the ones Tess gave her. “How do they look?” She turned to Christopher for an answer.
“Divine, like you. Tess has a marvelous eye for color and style.”
“Thank you, dear.” She squeezed Tess with one arm. “You and Christopher go and enjoy yourselves. There’s champagne in the dining room, but on such a hot day I’m not sure it’s a good idea to drink.”
“I agree. I think I’ll stick to ice water.” Tess left with Chris, and they walked hand in hand through different rooms and talked about the art on the walls.
“Christopher, Tess, how nice to see you.”
The pair turned in unison, Chris gave Tess’s hand a squeeze at the sound of Aunt Millicent’s voice.
“Aunt Millicent. Holly. Maximilian.” Christopher nodded to the three people. “I’m sure my mother is happy you’re here. Too bad it’s so hot outside, or we could find a seat on the terrace and have a drink together.”
Tess met Max’s quick glance with a smile. She reached up and rubbed the heart resting in the vee of her dress.
“That’s a beautiful necklace you have, dear.” Millicent spoke to Tess in a sickeningly sweet voice. “A gift from Christopher, perhaps?”
“Perhaps,” she replied with a secret smile. It wasn’t a lie, technically.
“Maximilian, you should be taking notes,” his mother admonished him. “Sometimes I think you don’t have any idea what a man should give a prospective wife.”
“It’s a beautiful necklace. My cousin has excellent taste in jewelry. Next time I feel the need to purchase something for a beautiful woman, I’ll take him along.” Maximilian narrowed his eyes. Tess shifted under his gaze. He didn’t like her giving Christopher credit, b
ut the situation warranted the small lie.
Christopher coughed. “Anytime, cousin. Why don’t we all find the champagne my mother told me about? I could use a drink.” He led Tess away.
Tess preferred lemonade. She and Chris sipped their drinks, and avoided Millicent and Holly. An hour later Max found them in the large living room. He approached Christopher and stopped to talk business for a few minutes. When he left, he winked at Tess and headed toward the grand staircase.
“You look a little pale. Do you feel okay?” Chris maintained a straight face.
“The heat has given me a headache.”
“Why don’t you rest.” He squeezed her arm and led her up the stairs. “Don’t be gone long. Aunt Millicent will be hard to keep distracted for any length of time.”
Tess planted a quick peck on Chris’s cheek then slipped inside the room. Max trapped her against the door and smothered her with a hard kiss. The click of the lock sent her nerves spiraling into overdrive. She twined her fingers through his hair and tugged his head down so she could devour him.
She tried talking, but Max stopped her from saying a word with another kiss. When he caught his breath, he said, “No talking. I want you now. Talking later.” He unbuttoned the two buttons at the back of her neck, and her dress floated to the floor. “You present a provocative sight in that lacy thong.”
He knelt and lowered the tiny confection. With a flick of his wrist, he brushed it aside so he could sink his nose into her curls. He inhaled and whispered, “I’ve dreamt about you all week, and now I owe you one tongue lashing.” He spread her legs and sank his tongue into her wet folds.
Long, deep strokes caused Tess’s legs to tremble against his face. He pulled her leg up and wrapped it around his neck. She clutched his hair to steady her body and not collapse from the intense currents of emotion racing through her.
“Oh, Max.” She whispered, trying to remain quiet.
He lifted his head and pulled her down on the rug. She spread her legs in invitation. He wiggled out of his pants and gave her a wolfish smile as he plunged deep inside her. “I love not wearing a condom. You’re so fucking wet. I want to get deeper.”
