by Ciana Stone
God, she’d felt so good against him when she first came to him. Her skin was warm beneath the water droplets that glistened like liquid gems in the moonlight, her full firm breasts pressed, flattening against his chest. That was the stuff of dreams. Then what had happened on the boat. That was fantasy in its purest form.
Max pressed the heels of his hands against his burning eyes. God, he wanted her—to kiss her, touch her, have her.
The thought of that happening again excited him painfully and made him weak-kneed with fear. What was he to do? He was going mad with wanting to see her. But what if she wasn’t as eager to see him? What if he’d been mistaken about what happened between them? She wasn’t like him. She probably had experience with men. What if what had happened had meant no more to her than any other sex she’d had? What if she didn’t even think it was good? What if it meant no more than…than what? His mind went blank.
Panic struck. He couldn’t think, couldn’t reason. For the first time in his memory, his mind failed him. At last he understood what it was to be victim to desire. He wasn’t sure he was strong enough to endure it.
He was about to turn and leave when the door opened. Nikki stepped out and stopped abruptly. Mere inches separated them. She looked up at him and smiled. “Hey.” Her voice was soft and low, and made him want to push her back into her room and do all the things he’d dreamed of.
Nikki recognized the longing in his eyes because she was feeling the same thing. Their lovemaking the previous night had inflamed her in a way she’d never imagined possible. Since she’d come to bed, she’d tossed and turned, thinking of Max, wanting him again.
She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him along with her as she backed up into her room. Surprise registered on Max’s face, then joy. He pushed the door closed behind him and she pushed him back against it and pressed against him, fisting her hands in his hair to pull his head down to her for a long, passionate kiss.
This time Max wasn’t hesitant in returning the kiss. He fed off her like a man who was presented with a delicious delicacy after years of deprivation. Nikki moaned and pressed tighter against him, thrilling to the pressure of his erection against her belly. She broke the kiss to take Max’s hands and guide them to her breasts.
Max groaned as he cupped her breasts, running his thumbs over her hard nipples. He feared he would climax in his pants when she unbuttoned his shirt and started kissing his chest.
A knock at the door had them both freezing in place like deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Max quickly ran to the bathroom and hid behind the door. Nikki took a moment to compose herself then opened the door.
Deborah stood outside. “I’m sorry, I thought you’d be up and about by now. Shall I come back later?”
There was no way Nikki could let Deborah find Max in her room. “Actually I’ve been up a while but I’m right in the middle of something on my thesis. Could you give me an hour?”
“Of course,” Deborah replied, but craned her neck to see around Nikki and into the room.
“Thanks!” Nikki smiled and closed the door in Deborah’s face then locked and leaned back against it, blowing out her breath.
Max returned to the room and walked over to her, running his hand along the side of her face, down her neck and to her shoulder. Nikki smiled up at him. For a man who hadn’t had much in the way of physical relations with a woman, he had a real knack for touching a woman just the right way.
“That was a close call. We’ve got to be more careful,” she whispered.
Max knew she was right, but for the first time in his life he longed for the courage to throw caution to the wind. He pulled her to him, staking his claim with a kiss that earned him a sexy moan from her. As her arms wound around his neck, he lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist, still locked in the kiss, and he carried her to the bed.
The feel of her firm legs gripping him and her hot sex pressing against him enflamed his passion. He sat down on the bed with her wound around him and abandoned her lips to feast on her neck.
Nikki rocked on him, fueling his desire. He rolled her onto her back on the bed and straddled her, his hands tracking over her breasts. She arched her back, pressing her breasts up into his hand with a sexy groan.
Max grinned and grabbed her shirt at the neckline. One strong pull and the fabric gave way, ripping down the middle to bare her breasts. As he cupped them in both hands, his mouth closed on a nipple.
A shockwave of pleasure raced from her breasts to her sex. Max was like a drug. One time and she was addicted. She couldn’t get enough of him. Running her hands under his shirt, she ran them over his tight abdomen. But touching wasn’t nearly enough. She needed to see and taste him.
“Take it off,” she said.
Her hands were tracing over the chiseled muscles of his abdomen and chest before he was free of the shirt. Up over each ridge until she reached his neck. As she pulled him down to meet her lips, he rolled them over, bringing her on top of him.
Nikki took her time exploring his mouth with her tongue, then pulled back to stare into his eyes, seeing the hunger that shone in their depths. She traced her fingers over his face, feeling the strong bones beneath the taut skin, delighting in the rasp of his beard against the tips of her fingers. She lowered slowly, nipping his lower lip then devouring him with a kiss.
Without breaking the contact of their bodies, she slid down, letting her lips travel across his firm chin and down his neck. His taste was unique and intoxicating. Slithering lower, she explored his chest and torso with her mouth. His body was beautiful, strong and muscular and perfectly proportioned.
Reaching the obstacle of his pants, she rose to her knees and reached for the button on his pants. Max smiled but took hold of her wrists and sat up, pushing her arms behind her back to capture both wrists in one strong hand. As he pulled her arms back, creating enough pressure that she bowed backward to relieve it, he ran his tongue along the soft underskin of her breast and up along the side. She arched more when he flicked his tongue over the nipple.
Using the tip of his tongue, he traced increasingly smaller circles around her nipple until finally capturing it between his teeth. Nikki moaned in pleasure and rocked against him.
Max released her wrists and, holding her by the waist, moved her off the bed to stand in front of him. He kissed her stomach, running his tongue down to the top of her shorts as his hands moved up along the sides of her legs. He unfastened the shorts and pushed them down over her hips.
Nikki stepped out of them as his fingers slid under the thin strap of her thong to pull it down. When his lips moved down below her stomach, she fisted her hands in his hair, closing her eyes in pleasure.
Max inhaled her scent, his lips lingering on her soft skin. Each kiss was slow, each taste intoxicating. His mouth moved to the mound of her sex, lips opening and tongue dipping into the top of the slick fold to find the bud of her clit.
She shifted, spreading her legs to provide him better access. His hands moved to squeeze the cheeks of her ass, fingers working into the cleft between them. When his fingers spread her sex and slipped in, she moaned and clung to him.
The sound was the sweetest he could imagine. That he was the cause of her pleasure was the greatest thrill he’d known. He wanted to give her more, was eager—no, greedy—to have her quivering with desire, screaming in ecstasy.
Her body was starting to tremble and a sound escaped her lips that was primal. He knew she was about to come and while he wanted to give her that delight, he also wanted to prolong things a bit. He moved his mouth slowly up her body, his hands traveling up her back as he stood, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss.
She moaned into his mouth and reached for the button of his pants. This time he didn’t stop her. Nikki pushed his pants down and ran her fingers under the waistband of his boxers, then slid them inside the material, grabbing his ass to pull him toward her as their lips and tongues explored.
He c
upped her from behind, slowing the rotation of her hips as she ground against him. She stepped back and pushed his boxers down over his hips. As he stepped out of them she ran her fingers through the hair at the base of his dick and down into the crease of his thighs. He couldn’t suppress a quiver when she ran her finger down his shaft to the head then fisted him.
God, she turned him on so much that one more squeeze and he’d be wanting to come, and he was nowhere near ready for that. He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, laying her down on the bed. He slid his hands down her arms and over her hips, kissing her stomach and letting his fingers drift up the inside of her thighs to brush her sex.
Her breath hitched as his fingers found her clit. He spread her sex, his mouth taking the place of his fingers, licking and sucking until she had both hands tangled in his hair and her legs over his shoulders, heels pounding on his back.
At the first spasm that shook her body, he rose and lifted her hips, penetrating her silken wetness. Her muscles tightened around him. He wanted to pound against her but fought for control, keeping it slow until the length of him was inside her.
Her body trembled, her hips rolling in eagerness. Max started a slow rhythm, pulling out almost completely before plunging back in again. Nikki moaned and writhed against him.
“Yes. Yes. More,” she begged breathily, her pleas robbing him of his intent to take it slow.
He grabbed her behind the knees and lifted her legs up, pounding faster and harder. “Max,” she breathed, her body quaking with sensation. It was enough to erode his control almost to the breaking point. He had to slow.
Lowering her legs to the bed, he moved on top of her, capturing her lips. The kiss was slow but passionate, matching the motion of his hips. Together they moved in a primitive dance, each naturally matching the rhythm of the other.
When Nikki deepened the intensity of the kiss and wrapped her legs around his waist, the tempo increased. She pushed against each thrust, taking him deeper inside her. Her breath came in short pants, faster and faster until suddenly her legs tightened around him in climax.
Wetness poured between them as she trembled and tensed. He slowed his movements, enjoying the feel of her orgasm and fighting to contain his own. When her body went limp, he pulled out. His mouth traveled to her breasts, teasing her nipples as his hand moved down her body, caressing softly, then beneath her.
With economy of motion he rolled her over on top of him. His fingers moved between her ass cheeks, over her anus and down to her swollen labia. He fingered her clit gently and she pushed herself up, supporting herself on her arms so that her breasts dangled in front of his face like tempting fruit.
Not willing to pass up on the offering, he sucked one nipple into his mouth, his hand still fingering her. Just as another orgasm began to ripple through her body she rose on her knees. Gripping him firmly, she impaled herself on him.
Max let her set the pace, watching with fascinated lust as she rode him. Sweat poured from both their bodies. Her eyes locked with his and he could see the passion burning in them, the pleasure she took from him evident in her face and her breathy moans.
It was more than he’d dreamed of and everything he’d wished for. With eyes locked and bodies connected as one, they rode the wave of passion until finally he could hold back no longer.
She quaked against him, her sex milking him as he came and then collapsed on top of him. For a long time neither of them moved. When she rolled off him, they were both slick with sweat.
Suddenly she bolted up from the bed. He sat up, wondering what was wrong, and she pointed to the clock. The maid would be back soon.
Nikki ran to the bathroom and he followed. As she started the water in the shower she turned to him.
“I’ve been thinking. We need to check out Mark Robinson. Maybe where he lives so we’ll know what kind of security he has before we talk to Ben again.”
Max signed his agreement.
“Good,” she grinned. “Now here’s the tricky part. Getting you out of here. I don’t know zip about surveillance and security equipment but you do. So help me come up with a plan on getting you out without anyone finding out.”
Let’s go to my room, he signed.
“Okay.”
They showered and dressed quickly. Checking first to make sure there was no one milling about in the hallway, they hurried to Max’s suite where he went directly to the computer and started tapping away. His decipher program displayed his thoughts on a separate monitor for her to read.
You have to talk to Grandfather. We’ll need his help.
“Okay,” she agreed. “But help with what?”
Max grinned and tapped out more. Nikki’s eyes widened and she turned to him with a skeptical look. “I don’t know, Max. If we get caught, chances are I’ll get the boot and you’ll…well, you know.”
Yes, I’ll be institutionalized, the words appeared on the monitor.
“It’s a big risk.” She put her hand on the arm of his chair and leaned down to look him in the eyes. “Are you sure you want to chance it?”
He nodded emphatically. There was nothing she could do but agree.
—
Nikki’s eyes moved over the words on the page of the book before her but she didn’t comprehend a single word. She was as nervous as a cat confronted by a Rotweiller. This was the day the plan she and Max had formulated would be set in motion.
She considered it again. They both stood to lose if anything went wrong. She would lose the job and end up on the street. Worse, she’d be barred from ever seeing Max again. But he stood to lose more. If the plan turned south he would, in all likelihood, end up in some institution, drugged and imprisoned for the rest of his life.
What the hell are you doing? her conscience demanded. Nikki wished she could answer her own question. Her rational mind knew what she was doing was dangerous. If she had any sense she would back out. But her good sense diminished every day she was with Max. All she could see, think or feel had to do with him and the growing emotional bond between them.
Maybe it was foolish and dangerous and maybe they were fated to fail, but she had to try. If someone didn’t prove Max’s stability and intelligence he’d be a prisoner forever. And she’d lose him.
She didn’t think she could bear that. As improbable, ill-advised and foolhardy as it was, she loved him.
A sudden commotion alerted her to the initiation of their plan. She jumped up and ran inside.
Max was in the conservatory, throwing a gargantuan fit. He was throwing priceless art objects, pushing over furniture and racing around like a madman. Osgood rushed toward the conservatory, shouting for Louise to call Steve.
Nikki ran as fast as she could to Osgood’s office. She dumped out the pen holder on the desk. Just as Max had said, a small key spilled onto the desk along with the pens and a silver letter opener. She ran to the closet in the office. Mounted on one wall was a small locked cabinet.
With trembling fingers she inserted the key and turned. It opened. Inside was a box of individually packaged syringes and a line of small glass vials with rubber stoppers. She yanked up her shirt and unzipped one of the fanny packs strapped around her waist.
She scooped all of the vials from the shelf and placed them in the fanny pack. That done, she unzipped the second pack around her waist and took from it identical vials.
As she lined them up on the shelf she said a quick prayer that the trust she and Max had placed in Simon wasn’t misguided. He’d provided the replacement drugs and had assured them that the vials contained nothing more than saline.
Quickly locking the cabinet, she raced into Osgood’s office and dumped the key back into the pen holder along with all of the pens and the letter opener. She ran through the kitchen and collided with Louise. The impact sent them both staggering backward.
“I’m sorry!” Nikki made a grab to steady Louise. “I was looking for you! Max—”
“Yes, yes! I know.” Louise hurried by her.
He caught sight of Nikki in the doorway. She nodded at him to let him know she’d succeeded. Max pretended to trip and Steve jumped on him, getting him in a hold with his arm around Max’s neck, twisting Max’s arm up behind him.
Max struggled and the gardener joined Steve to subdue him. Osgood shouted for Louise who dashed into the room a few moments later, red-faced and out of breath. She handed Osgood a syringe and a vial.
Nikki held her breath as Osgood prepared the injection and approached Max. Max put on a brilliant performance, fighting and making it hard for the men to hold him still enough for Osgood to inject him.
He continued to struggle for several minutes then his movements started to slow. With each passing minute he became more sluggish until finally he seemed to wilt and sag.
Osgood nodded to the men who held Max. They half carried him out of the room, his feet moving but primarily being dragged.
Nikki waited until Osgood started out of the room behind them. “Was that really necessary, Mr. Gaynor?”
“Ms. Morgan, I have neither the time nor inclination to indulge in yet another debate with you over Maxwell’s care.”
“But it looked like you gave him a lot of whatever that is,” she indicated the vial in his hand. “How long will he be out?”
“Until morning.”
“Oh, okay. Well, should I check on him later?”
“No need. He’ll not awaken before tomorrow morning.”
“But what if he does?”
Osgood heaved out a loud breath. “He’ll be restrained. If he awakens he will press the call button and someone will see to his needs. Barring that, everyone—and I do mean everyone—will stay away from him. Is that clear, Ms. Morgan?”
“Crystal,” she replied.
