Page 33 of The Chase

“Maxine. I uhh—Rox is my boss.”

Noah and Metzy both gave me a look, but I didn’t blame Max for the confusion. We hadn’t put a label on things yet. I wasn’t sure if I could do the boyfriend thing, but I wanted to try it with her. It was why I wouldn’t go inside with her last night. I had already messed it up so much; I had to woo her a little before I had her in my bed again.

Max daintily ate her slice of pizza and talked with Dinah about their experiences being vegetarian. Noah nudged me with his elbow as we stood next to each other, leaning up against the kitchen counter.

“Stop it,” I scolded him.

He smirked. “No, you get a taste of your own medicine now.”

“Shut it!”

He laughed.

He was probably right, though. I gave him a lot of grief when he and Dinah were figuring out their feelings for each other.

I poured myself another glass of wine and turned to Max. “Max, you want another glass?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, please.”

Hmm, I liked the sound of that phrase on her lips.

I poured her another glass and handed it off to her. I took her empty plate and put it in the dishwasher. I wished I didn’t have to get up so early to fly tomorrow. Or I would have been inviting her to stay over tonight.

The girls chatted for a bit while the boys and I started talking shop until some people started heading out. Which made sense since we had to get up early for our road trip tomorrow.

My sister gave me a knowing look before dragging Benny into his bedroom, leaving Max and me alone.

“I should probably get going,” Max said, but something rooted her to the spot.

“I wish you didn’t have to, but I have an early flight tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Sorry if I hijacked your get together.”

I shook my head and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Not at all. I’m glad I got to see you before I left. I should have gotten you a ticket to the game.”

“You don’t have to do that. I like watching from my couch and yelling ‘shoot’ at you,” she said with a cheeky smile.

I laughed. I liked when she came out of her shell to chirp me.

“I should call a car,” she said.

“C’mere you,” I growled.

I threaded my hand through her hair and slanted my mouth onto hers. She laid her hand flat on my chest while we kissed, our mouths hungry and aching to never let go. Her kisses were timid and shy at first until my tongue glided across the seam of her lips. When she opened to me, it was like she unlocked a part of herself she kept a secret from everyone else. I tilted her head to get a better angle and devoured her mouth.

She made a surprised noise in her throat when I nipped at her bottom lip and clenched her jaw in my hands. She gripped my shoulders while we kissed until we forgot to breathe. Then our hands were desperately roaming over skin. She straddled me while I slid my hands up her bare thighs. I wanted to touch her again; I wanted to taste her, and I wanted her to enjoy it this time. But I didn’t want to push her.

I left a hot trail of kisses down her neck, and she tilted her head to give me more access. I smiled into her skin at the tiny moans escaping her lips. My hands had a mind of their own as I played with the string of her thong underneath her dress.

“TJ, please,” she moaned.

I kissed up her neck and sucked on her earlobe. “What?”

“Can you…can you touch me, please?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“You sure?” I whispered in her ear.

She nodded. “Yes, please. But maybe not in your living room?”