“Ready to escape the crush of humanity?” Ian asked.
“You bet.”
Their parents’ home evoked such a sense of peace that she hated to leave. Inside were two tall men, one of whom had a striking resemblance to Max. One of the men hugged both Max and Ian.
Max grinned. “Devonne, this is my oldest brother, Dustin. He and Colby are married to Tracey, who I’m guessing is fussing over the gowns.”
They shook hands. “You got that right, but we’ve insisted she buy at least one outfit.”
Max’s eyes widened. “Aren’t you the good husbands?”
Once more, she was coming in contact with two more men who shared a wife. That seemed to be common in this family.
“We like to spoil her. Soon, she’ll be outgrowing her old clothes, and we want her to find something nice now.” This came from Colby, the one who wasn’t related to the twins.
Ian’s mouth opened. “Holy shit. Does that mean what I think it means?”
Dustin grinned. “Yup. You’ll be an uncle in about seven months.”
They all pumped hands. How wonderful to be able to celebrate such good news with the rest of the family.
A pretty girl pranced in. “Did I miss anything?” She glanced between the men then looked at Devonne.
Colby puffed out his chest. “Just the most wonderful news. You’re going to have a second cousin.”
“Tracey’s pregnant? That’s awesome.”
Max pulled Devonne close to his side. “I didn’t see you out there. Did you see the show?”
“Are you kidding? I’d never pass up this opportunity.”
The girl stuck out her hand. “I’m Jade by the way. Max, Ian, and Dustin are my cousins.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Devonne was happy she liked the clothes. “Which ones did you pick?”
She sucked in her bottom lip. “I’m still trying to decide. I liked the jogging outfit you wore as well as the winter coat. I might get the long, blue chiffon dress that another model wore, but I’m a bit self-conscious in something sleeveless. ”
“I think the blue chiffon would look great on you. You’re tall and thin.”
Jade lifted the sleeves on her T-shirt to reveal muscular arms. “See?”
Max leaned toward Devonne. “Jaden is an amazing blacksmith.”
“Really?” She’d never met a female blacksmith. As a matter of fact, she’d never met a blacksmith at all. That was where she got her muscular arms.
Someone outside called Jade’s name. “Gotta go. Nice to meet you. Devonne. Dustin, congrats again on the baby.” Jade dashed outside.
“You have a lot of relatives,” Devonne said.
Dustin laughed. “You haven’t met half of them I bet. Between the three uncles, there are nineteen kids.”
She could only imagine what Christmas must have been like. She’d missed the last three Christmases with her family. She’d been either in New York or Milan. It was time for a change.
Max leaned over. “You ready to get out of here?”
Their flight wasn’t until 8:25 a.m., but she had packing to do. “I want to say good-bye to your mom.”
“I’ll see if I can drag her away from the crowd. If you go outside, you may spend forever talking with the patrons.”
How nice that he understood her need for some privacy. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “You are the best, Max Callen.”
He disappeared, and Ian took his place. “Sure you don’t want me to come along to California?”
He gave her that hangdog look. “Of course I would, but someone has to take care of the ranch.”
“Max just wants you to himself.”
She tapped his chest. “I’ll be back. Don’t you worry.”
Ian didn’t seem to care that his cousins were standing behind him when he lifted her up and kissed her. She hadn’t expected the rush of endorphins to flood her system, but Ian was a great kisser and knew how to savor her body.
“Ian, put that young girl down.” Mrs. Callen’s tone almost sounded tired as if she’d said those words many times before.
Ian lowered her the inch to the ground. Even though her face heated up, she walked over to Mrs. Callen and held out her hand. “Thank you for everything.”
Mrs. Callen took her hand and pulled her into a bear hug. “Know that you’re always welcome in my home.”
The generosity and kindness in the room nearly did her in.
Max came to her side. “We’ve got to pack. I’ll be back in a few days. I imagine you’ll be seeing a lot of Ian for dinner.”
Their mom patted Ian’s hand. “He’s always welcome, but I do need you to stay and help Dustin and Colby dismantle the stage once all the patrons are gone.”
He groaned. “Do I have to? It’s Devonne’s last night.” She said nothing, but gave him a motherly stare down. “Okay, I’ll help.”
Hand in hand, she and Max snuck out the back and slid into his truck to go back to the house. The silence helped unknot the tension in her shoulders.
“You want to sit outside on the rocker and relax a bit before dinner?”
“Sure.”
“Go outside, and I’ll get us some wine.”
She did appreciate that Max liked the simple things in life. To her, rocking on a porch, going for a horse ride, and buying produce from fruit stands signified the life she yearned for. But to completely leave the fast-pace life wouldn’t be easy. She needed to work, and she needed to achieve. There were a lot of hurdles she wanted to jump before her time was up.
Max handed her a glass. “You look pensive.”
She forced a smile. “Do I?”
“Are you confused about something?”
“I guess I’m a little sad about leaving Intrigue, but I have another life in Los Angeles that needs some attention.”
“Let’s not worry about what we can’t change tonight. We can have a nice glass of wine and enjoy each other. Then, if you’re in a competitive mood, maybe you’ll let me beat you at chess.”
“You have the best way of looking at things.”
He polished off half his glass. “Thanks to you.”
She pointed to her chest. “Me? How?”
Max leaned forward. “It’s hard to explain, but when I saw how happy you and Ian were together, I realized I wanted some of that. I’m trying to let go of some of my issues. Most of them revolve around Ian.”
She let his words sink in. A puff of wind caressed her skin, and she closed her eyes, trying to absorb all the good this place had to offer. They must have sat in silence for fifteen minutes, but it gave her quality time to reflect.
“You ready to be beaten?”
She loved the challenge in his tone. “You are so gonna lose.”
Chapter Thirteen
Part of Devonne was happy to be back in Los Angeles and part was not. The best thing about returning was that Max was by her side. She never realized how much enriched her life was when she had someone she loved by her side.
Yes, she loved him. Sitting on the porch last night made her realize that a piece of her soul had been missing all these years. Traveling had taken a toll on getting close to anyone.
Max headed to the rental place. “I’m going to rent a car.”
“That’s silly. We can take a cab back to my house and use my car.”
He tapped her nose. “When we’re sitting across the street from your shop spying on the delivery truck, you don’t think your manager will spot you?”
Her shoulders sagged. “I didn’t think of that.”
He smiled. “That’s why you have me around. To protect you.”
From myself.
They got the car with no problems. “You want me to drive?”
Max raised a brow. “If you’re trying to emasculate me, you’re doing a great job.”
“You don’t lack confidence.”
“Not usually, but I might if you try to take away my driver’s license.”
Once they got on
the road, she had to direct him through the maze of freeways. The roads were congested as usual, and the traffic nearly came to a stop several times.
Max never took his gaze off the road. “Remind me never to move to LA. Give me the open plains any day.”
She laughed. “I hear ya.” Her stomach grumbled. “I don’t think I have anything good to eat at the house. Mind if we stop off at the farmers’ market?”
“Just tell me where to go. I’ll be your chauffeur for the week.”
She hoped he’d be more than just her driver. Having a lover and a protector would be a dream come true. If only Ian had been able to come, her life would be complete. Max found a parking place in front of the market on the first sweep.
The heat was a lot more intense than in Wyoming, and she hoped it didn’t dampen his mood too much. When they passed the entrance, Max stopped at the old timey gas pump. “This is remarkable.”
“I love the oil bottles the best.” She grabbed his arm. If he stopped to sightsee, they’d never get food. “You a pizza guy?”
“Can a cowboy rope a calf?”
“I’ve never seen you do that.”
“Actually, my sister, Sam, is the roping champion, and Ian’s pretty good with a rope, too, but give me a few tries and I can get the job done.”
There was so much to learn about this wonderful man. They ordered their own style of pizza and sat at the outdoor tables to enjoy the fare. “This tastes so good.” She licked her lips then wiped then clean.
“I guess you don’t have to watch your weight anymore.”
“Contrary to popular opinion, I’ve never really watched my weight. I probably could eat a horse a day and not get any fatter.”
He grinned. “That’s because it might take more energy to chew a whole horse than there are calories in one.” His humor grew every day.
They finished their meal before the midday heat set in. “Let’s get back to the condo, and we can shower and relax. I’ll be able to do a search from there as to when the next shipment is due.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Unfortunately, the traffic was worse driving home, but that was the hazards of living in the city. She liked that her condo was located near the store since driving was a royal pain. She’d purchased her place not only for the location but because it had an underground parking garage. “There’s a spot. We are so lucky.”
He groaned. “I might visit here, but I wouldn’t want to live in a town this crowded.”
After seeing Wyoming, she tended to agree. They took the elevator up to her place. Inside, it smelled a bit stuffy. “Let me turn on the air conditioner to freshen up the place.” She adjusted the dial to make it a lot cooler. “I only have a one bedroom. I hope you don’t mind sharing my bed.”
Max put down his suitcase and stepped close. Her pulse shot into overdrive, and her pussy melted. His kiss was soft and gentle. Since she was tired, the pressure was just the right amount.
“Did you say something about a shower?” He licked his lips as if he wanted to savor her taste.
“I only have one.”
“Would you mind if we share? It’ll save water.”
Right. Like he cared about that. He just wanted to get naked with her, but she had no problem with his plan.
Another reason she bought this condo was because of the large size of the shower. It came equipped with two showerheads, which she thought was overkill. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“No problem.” She tossed him a smile, picked up her cases, and headed into the bedroom. Max followed.
She’d just put down her case when he spun her around and planted a kiss on her. “I can’t get enough of you.”
They’d had sex two days ago. “Don’t you want to take a shower?”
His response was more kisses down her neck. “I need to get you naked.”
Naked was good. Since he liked to participate, all she did was kick off her shoes. Max could do the rest. He flung off her dress and peeled down her bra straps but kept the back hooked.
“Your skin is so soft.” He stroked her shoulders as he nibbled a path down to the top of her breasts.
Only having one of them naked wouldn’t do. She undid his belt, unsnapped and unzipped his jeans, and tugged them down over his hips. To her surprise, he wasn’t wearing any underwear.
“You’re a naughty boy.”
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment.” He slipped the straps lower and dragged down her bra until her tits popped out. His mouth devoured her nipples. She arched her back as tiny electric shocks sizzled up her spine.
His hand cupped her pussy. “I want all of you.”
“Get out of your clothes, and I’ll see about donating some of me.”
He grinned as he toed off his boots and stepped out of his jeans. His shirt floated to the ground a second later. “That better?”
She ran her hands down his rippled abs, but stopped short of touching his cock. His dick twitched. Too bad. He’d tormented her, and it was high time she returned the favor. Her hand brushed the tip, and his jaw tightened. Driving a man crazy might be fun. She stepped away from him and leaned over.
“Do you have anything to fill my ass?”
“You’re the match to my wick.”
“Ooh, a poet.” She giggled. Dear Lord, what had come over her? He’d turned her into a big flirt.
“I brought something to help you out.” A large zipper sounded. A jar opened, and a smell of mint filled the air.
She connected the dots. “Is that lube?”
“And a glass plug to help stretch you out.”
“You don’t want to come in my ass now?” She spread her cheeks. Never had she been this brazen, but on the flight over she decided he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
“You couldn’t handle me.” Foil ripped, and she thought he’d change his mind. Latex snapped, not once but twice.
She looked behind her. A condom was on his very erect cock and a cot was slipped over his finger. He slathered cool mint on her puckered hole, and the rubbing alone got her hot. Okay, being with a naked Max got her hot, too. Knowing she was playing with fire didn’t stop her. Ever since she’d met Max and Ian, she’d entered a whole new world, one that she wanted to explore.
His finger dipped into her hole and slid passed the muscled ridge with ease. He made a circle with his finger over and over again as if he were trying to stretch her out.
He pulled out his finger, and then more mint scented the air. Something cold touched her ass. She hadn’t meant to tense, but her body had just reacted.
The slap took her by surprise, but it didn’t sting much. “What was that for? Am I’m bad now?”
“On the contrary. You’re being very good. I just want your rear to be tired enough to let go of its tension.”
“Maybe you should slap me again.”
His cupped hand came down on her ass with a tad more force. The quick sting heated her body. When she didn’t jerk, he must have considered it consent, for she received two more equal spankings.
Cascading ripples of warmth and pleasure dripped over her rear. “Ooh, nice.”
Max rubbed her ass then pressed the glass cock against her hole and threaded part of it in. The tip was a lot wider than his two fingers ever had been.
“That’s big.” She wasn’t frightened by its size. Curious about which sensations it would evoke was more like it. She wiggled her butt to help guide the plug in.
“You have a great ass.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I more than just like it.”
She was in midsqueal when he worked the plug in another inch. He kept pressure on the end. When she shifted her weight to the right, the glass hit some pleasure nerve and caught her by surprise. Maybe she’d been missing out on something wonderful by not engaging in this kind of activity before.
Max kept massaging her rear and back while he eased in the plug. When it was fully seated, he lifted her shoulders. T
he change in angle made the glass hit all sorts of divine nerve endings, and she smiled.
He turned her around and kissed her. “I see you’re beginning to understand the scope of possibilities.”
“Yes.” She wrapped her hands around his neck and returned the kiss. She dragged her lips down to his chin and gently nipped.
His hands cupped her rear and pressed on her ass, driving the wedge in deeper. Tingles shot up her spine at the added stimulation.
“Wrap your legs around me.”
“Standing up?”
His lids lowered, and his lips parted. He lifted her rear up as high as his waist, and she did as he asked. Hooking her legs, she pressed her hips against his cock. Since their lips were at the same height, she took advantage and kissed him again. He softened the kiss, and when he leaned his head back for a moment, their lips clung to each other. The tentative connection nearly stole her breath.
Wanting to take a bit more control, she went on the attack and delved into his mouth. He was all man and pure sex. A powerful need to possess him washed over her. Their tongues dipped and darted, daring each other with their thrusts. Her fingers held onto his bunching shoulders as she rocked her wet pussy against his cock.
“I want you.” To prove her point, she slid up and down his length.
He groaned and reached below her. In one quick move, he lifted his cock off his stomach and replaced the tip into her opening. Her pussy swelled in anticipation. Since she had the advantage, she slid downward onto his full length. A world of sparks crawled up her channel. The tightness registered. With the plug in her ass, there was no room to move. Her fingers dug into his skin as she urged her muscles to relax.
Once she regained her balance, she lifted up slowly. Instead of dropping down hard, she teased the tip of his cock. He moaned. Her nipples tightened as she rubbed against the hard plains of his chest.
“You witch.”
That was high praise indeed. This time when she enveloped his cock, she squeezed tight, milking him with all her might.
His lips latched onto her neck, and his suck turned into a kiss. He moved his head up her neck and captured her earlobe with his teeth. As he tugged harder, the pulses tripped down over her tips straight to her pussy. She plastered her breasts to his chest and dropped back her head.
Intimate Illusions [The Callens 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11
