He nodded. “At least when I was younger. I didn’t see her much after I left home. Not until near the end.”
“Breast cancer, right?” she asked. “I saw her obituary.”
“She was stage four when it was discovered, so it all happened pretty quickly. When she knew she didn’t have much longer, she asked me to come. It was the least I could do,” he said. “My mother gave up a lot for our family, and I wasn’t the easiest kid.”
The remorse in these words was doing funny things inside her. It must have shown on her face, because the corners of his mouth turned up, and he shook his head.
“Nope. Don’t think it.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I see that sympathy,” he said with a wry smile. “But I’m the last person you should feel sorry for. I’ve been all over the world, graduated from an Ivy League school and played professional rugby. I have more than enough money, and...” His hands glided up her legs, around her ass, and he pulled her against his erection. “I even have a nice big cock, which you seem to appreciate.”
She sighed. “Ah, the priorities of the male mind.”
“If that’s a priority list, I’ll put big cock first.” His delivery was so deadpan that she laughed, despite all the seriousness of their conversation.
He was doing it again. Teasing, making her laugh, steering her further away from any personal discussion about him. But maybe that was okay. Because they weren’t together, and he seemed to be asking her to go to this function as a friend. Or some version of that.
“Max?”
“Yeah?” He was lazily stroking her thighs.
“I’ll be your date for the dinner.”
Max blinked at her in surprise. “You will?”
She nodded.
“It’s not private,” he said hesitantly.
“I gathered that.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her neck. “Thank you.” He moved a halter strap aside and kissed the curve of her breast. His lips lingered on her skin, his hot breaths sending shivers through her.
“Are you going to give me a thank-you present?” she asked, rubbing against his cock.
He laughed. “You’re lucky I brought a condom tonight. I don’t think you want the kind of present that keeps on giving.”
She pulled back. “You don’t have an STD, do you?”
Max let out a whoop of laughter, his body shaking against hers. “Hell, no. I meant a-bun-in-the-oven kind of present.”
She plopped her head onto his shoulder and laughed.
“I can’t believe you just said that,” said Max, poking her sides. Then he pulled her against him, flush with his body, and she rested her head on his warm chest. This was probably her best dinner date ever, despite the fact that the rest of her food was probably covered in sand at this point.
A burst of longing hit her, deep in her chest. Oh, he was so warm and sexy and fun, so Max.
She took a deep breath, resting her hands on his cheeks, the stubble of a day’s worth of growth prickling her fingers.Don’t think, Nat. Just enjoy this before it disappears.
“Okay,” he said. “Thank-you present, coming up.”
One of his hands moved up her back and tangled in her hair as he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were soft, so achingly gentle. It was nothing like the explosively hot kiss in her kitchen, with its promise of other, dirtier things to come. This was a kiss just for this moment. He coaxed her mouth open, sucking on her bottom lip. She stroked his tongue with hers, and he responded. It was devastatingly intimate.
She lost herself in the kiss, her whole body coming alive as their mouths became one, promising, begging with hungry groans instead of words. Oh, she could kiss him all night long. Except they didn’t have all night. Sooner or later, they had to get back to Alya. Natasha tried to get her mind to focus.
“Sex on a beach.” Her lips brushed against his as she spoke. “I’ve had the drink, and it was just okay. Maybe the real thing is better?”
