I let my fingers trail up his stomach, starting at his belly button. “I’m not sure, probably some laundry and finishing up the reading I need to do for the seminar. Why?”
“Come to family dinner at the Donnelly house.”
I push up onto my elbow. “You want me to have dinner with your entire family?”
He nods. “Sure, why not. Kat already adores you, you’ve met Sawyer and Beckett, all that’s left is my parents, and I know they’re going to love you, too.”
“But they’ll know we’re together.”
His gentle smile says it all. “That’s fine with me.”
Well okay, then.
Chapter twenty-three
Heidi
I lean against the inside of the car, feeling the wind rushing through the open window. It’s invigorating, freeing, and brings a smile to my face.
This is what I’ve always wanted my life to be. Full of moments in time that are balanced, happy, peaceful, and with someone by my side who trusts and treasures me, the way I do them.
Turning my head, I look at Max’s strong profile. His hand is on the wheel, holding it confidently, the way he holds me. His face is relaxed, and I love that I get to see this side of him. We’re heading to Dogwood Cove, and while I’ve been there before this still feels brand new. Because I’m experiencing it with him.
We decided not to hide. The chances of someone from the hospital seeing us are slim, and we’re willing to take that risk now, when we weren’t before.
Neither one of us is saying it, but I’m certainly feeling like things are growing deeper and stronger between us. I’m falling in love with him, the more I learn about who he is. And today, having the chance to be in his hometown and spend time with his family, I suspect I’ll only fall even more.
“So, we’ll grab lunch at Camille’s, then head to the beach for a walk before dinner at my parents’ house. Does that still sound good to you?” Max glances quickly over to me, catching me staring at him, and quirks his lips up in a smile. “Sweetheart?”
“Mm-hmm.”
His throaty chuckle makes my smile grow even wider. “Heidi, if you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’ll be finding the nearest dirt road to pull off, so I can distract you the way you’re distracting me.”
I inhale sharply at the lust that drips from his words, squirming in my seat to ease the ache that’s suddenly present between my legs.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he murmurs, his eyes glued forward. A hand suddenly lands on my leg, and I automatically part them. “Oh babe. You’re a dirty girl.”
The car suddenly veers off the highway and onto a bumpy gravel road. Max maneuvers down the road expertly, turning into a wooded area that I would have never noticed from the road.
He puts the car in park, then presses the button to release both of our seatbelts. Then his hands are tangled in my hair as he holds my head possessively but gently. His lips find mine and I no longer care if anyone sees us. I only care about how good he makes me feel.
“Max,” I murmur as his lips trail down my neck. “What about our plans?”
“There’s no one waiting on us, sweetheart. Besides, do you really think I would give a shit about anything other than you? Especially when your pussy needs my attention?” he says gruffly as his fingers make quick work of unbuttoning my shorts.
His thick fingers slide under my panties, zeroing in on the already damp juncture of my thighs. “Wet for me? Good girl. You’re gonna come on my fingers, sweetheart, and maybe then I’ll let you suck my cock so we can both know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what we have is worth any risk.”
His dirty words speak to all my buried — and not so buried — insecurities. I moan out his name as he pinches my clit lightly before rubbing slow circles, soothing and tormenting me at the same time. It’s cramped trying to do this in a car while I’m still, basically, fully dressed.
Max clearly feels the same way. “Lift your hips, sweetheart.” I do, and somehow, we manage to shimmy my shorts down slightly, giving him much better access. “That’s a good girl. Fuck, I need to taste you.”
Don’t ask me how a big man like Max manages, but he somehow folds his body in half. The next thing I feel is his tongue licking up my slit, then swirling around my clit, sucking gently. When he sits back up, I whimper at the loss of his mouth, but then he’s pressing his lips to mine. The taste of me, mingled with the taste of his mouth, is beyond hot.
“Goddamn, you’re sweet. Perfect. You ready to come for me?”
I nod frantically, my head thrown back against the headrest of my seat. I’m breathing heavily, full of desperate need.
“Look at me, Heidi.”
