Chapter Seven
Lucy
The past few days have been perfect. I woke up in the arms of the man I have always wanted, had sex for the first time, ate food, had more sex, then fell asleep in his arms again. I couldn’t think of a better way to have spent my last days of freedom.
I always thought I would feel sore when I finally did it. Yet, all I feel is a delicious ache, and not just between my legs. Considering how much I put my body through daily, I have used muscles I have never used before.
Sitting in the passenger seat of Max’s car right now, though, is torture. Neither of us has barely spoken two words to the other. It is as if we are walking the green mile. Well, driving it anyway. In another five minutes, we will be back at our family home, where our parents will be waiting for us. We decided last night that we won’t wait to tell them. Thinking that the longer we wait, the worse it will be.
Max says he isn’t nervous, but his body language betrays him. The way he is white knuckling the steering wheel right now is the biggest hint at his feelings. I know he doesn’t want to hurt our parents, just as much as I do.
“We’re doing this?” I ask more than state.
“Baby, there is nothing I want more.” He replies confidently.
“Are you sure? I want this too, I want you. I’m just so nervous over how they could take it,” I confess.
Instead of replying to me, he makes a sharp turn, swerving the car, pulling up on the side of the quiet road. He spins his full body towards mine, taking my hand into his.
“Max! What are you doing?” I squeak as I gawk at him.
“Lou, I have never been so sure of anything in my life. Have these past few days not proved how much you mean to me? It has always been you.”
I don’t blink as my eyes bounce between his, taking in the sincerity of his words. His chest is rising and falling deeply, as if he can’t quite catch his breath.
“Lucy, I love you. So much so that nothing they could say would keep me away from you. As long as you will have me, I am yours,” he takes my hand, lifting it to his lips. “Please tell me I’m not alone in this.”
“You’re not alone,” I say as I bat away an escapee tear. “I love you, too, Max. I love you so fucking much, it hurts.”
The smile that transforms his face is magnificent. “You don’t understand how much I have needed to hear those words leave your lips. But Lucy, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you.”
I undo my seat belt and climb over the centre console to sit in his lap. Grasping his face between my hands. “It’s you. It has always been you,” I say as I take his lips with mine.
It’s not a soft and loving kiss. It’s hard, filled with passion, lust, and fear. Fear of what is to come when we walk through our parents’ door. After a moment, he leans his head against mine whilst we both come back down to earth.
“We’ve got this,” He states, before stealing one last kiss.
“Yes. Let’s go and face the music.”
“They’re here!” Liz shouts from the front steps the second I open the car door. Wow, she must have stood there waiting for us the whole time. “Oh, my girl, come here. I want to see that pretty little face of yours.”
When I am in touching distance, she grabs me and wraps me in the most comforting mum hug possible. Then leans back to study my face.
“Are you eating? You look like you’re not eating. I’ve made your favourite, and I expect you to eat the lot.”
Typical Liz. She still doesn’t realise that I do a ridiculous amount of exercise every day, and have to look like this for my job.
“Yes, I am definitely eating,” I reply with an eyeroll.
“What about me?” Max pipes up. “Where is my hug and offer of food?”
“Pfft, I see you too much. I never get to see our girl. I can’t wait for you to tell me everything that you’ve been up to.”
She pulls me along into the house, where I am guessing my dad is waiting. I glance back over my shoulder to see that Max is close behind. He gives me a knowing smile and a cheeky wink. We’ve got this. Everything will be okay. It has to be.
“Lou-lou!” My dad exclaims as he rushes over to me. “Do you have to keep swanning off to new places? You could always just stay here, forever?” He says with a smile.
“You would love that, wouldn’t you?” I laugh. He would keep me locked in a tower if he could.
