Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
“I’m going to miss you,” I whined as I hugged Molly and Kara at the airport.
“We’ll be back in less than two weeks, and then the hunt is on for an apartment.”
“If you want, I can start looking for you. It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
Kara gave me a soft smile as she grabbed my hand. “Are you sure Max won’t stay after your arrangement is over?”
“Yeah. I’m positive. I don’t know what his plans are, and I don’t want to know. He has deep-rooted family issues, and he has no intentions of settling with me. I can’t go through the emotional pain of hoping we have a future. It’s not fair to me.”
“You’re right. Just hang in there, Emma. We’ll be back soon, and then we’ll get your mind off of him.”
I gave them each one last hug and waved goodbye as they went through security. I sighed as I hailed a cab back to my apartment. I changed into my workout clothes, went down to the gym, and jumped on the treadmill. As I was running, I couldn’t help but think about last night. The party was okay, but the best part was what took place in Max’s bedroom. The hunger he had for me when I told him that maybe I would contact Lucas after we split up was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. I could tell he was jealous and didn’t want to hear of another man. But was he jealous enough to keep me? Could his jealousy overrule his non-commitment issues? Before I knew it, I had been running on the treadmill for over an hour. I was sweaty and desperately needed a shower. I grabbed the towel and wiped my face as I walked back up to my apartment.
I turned on the hot water and let it run for a minute before stepping into the shower. I looked in the mirror and placed my finger on the butterfly pendant Max gave me. The words he spoke haunted me. “I always want you to dance, Emma. Promise me you’ll never stop dancing.” I didn’t think too much about it when he said it to me because I was overwhelmed, and we were running late for the party. But after settling into bed last night, it was all I heard. I didn’t tell Molly or Kara what he said because they’d make a big deal about it. My feeling was that he gave it to me to keep as a memory of him and the times we spent together after he was gone. Just as I was stepping into the shower, my phone rang, and it was my mom. I’d call her back after I was finished with my shower. She'd be mortified if she only knew what I was involved in.
I stepped out of the shower and put on a pair of yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt. It was seven o’clock, and I wasn’t planning on going anywhere. I hadn’t heard from Max all day, and I was feeling a bit lonely without Molly and Kara. I heated up a couple of slices of leftover pizza, poured a glass of wine, and called my mom.
“Hey, honey. How are you?”
When I heard her voice, tears came to my eyes. I missed her.
“I’m okay, Mom. How are you?”
“I’m good. Is something wrong? You sound down.”
The lump in my throat was getting worse because I just wanted to break down to her, but I didn’t want her to worry.
“I’m fine. Kara and Molly left today, so I’m just feeling a little down.”
“Aw, sweetheart. Haven’t you made any new friends yet?”
“Yeah. I have. I’m just a little homesick.”
“How are the men in New York City? Have you met anyone special yet?”
“No. I really don’t have time for that right now with school.”
“You have to have some fun, Emma. When is Macy coming back?”
“Next week, I think.”
“That’s good. Then you won’t be so lonely. Listen, baby girl, I have to go. We’re just on our way out to dinner. I love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Mom.”
As I poured another glass of wine, there was a knock at the door. The only person it could have been was Max; frankly, I wasn’t in the mood to see him. I got up, looked out the peephole, and was shocked when I saw Fiona standing there.
“Fiona, hi. What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t know where else to go, and I can’t go home.”
She was totally wasted. She stumbled through the door, and I grabbed her arm to prevent her from falling over.
“You’re drunk.”
“Very observant.” She smiled.
“Did something happen?”
“Life,” she slurred.
I took her over to the couch and made her sit down. I grabbed my wine glass from the table as I saw her reach for it.
“You’re so pretty, Emma. I really wish Max would marry you for real. Can I spend the night?”
“Of course you can, but why don’t you tell me what happened?”
“Carol and Bradshaw Hamilton. That’s what happened. I’m sick of them trying to control my life and pretending we’re the perfect little happy family while my father is out fucking women who are barely out of high school. I hate them, Emma. They’re such hypocrites.”
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her as she cried.
“I’m going to be sick. Where’s the bathroom?”
“Around the corner. First door on your right.” I jumped up as she leaped off the couch with her hand over her mouth.
I heard my phone beep, and there was a text message from Max.
“Fiona left home, and I can’t find her anywhere. My parents are worried sick. You haven’t, by chance, heard from her, have you?”
“She’s at my place.”
“I’m on my way.”
“No, Max. I don’t think she wants to see anyone.”
“She’s my sister, Emma.”
I sighed and walked into the bathroom. “Max is on his way over.”
“You called him?” she cried.
“No. He just texted me and asked if I heard from you because you left home, and your parents are worried about you. Just talk to him. If anyone understands, he does. I promise you don’t have to leave with him. You can still stay here.”
Not too long after his text message, there was a knock on the door. I opened it, and Max walked in.
“Where is she?”
“In the bathroom, throwing up. She’s drunk.”
“Fuck!” He started to walk towards the bathroom.
I grabbed his arm, and he looked at me in shock. “Don’t yell at her. She’s hurting right now and needs your support. I mean it, Max.”
He shook his head and went into the bathroom. I followed. He bent down and rubbed her back while I ran a washcloth under warm water and then headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. A few moments later, Max led his sister over to the couch and put his arm around her while they talked.
“I told Fiona that she could stay here tonight.”
“Thanks, Emma, but I’ll bring her home with me.”
“But I want to stay with Emma.”
I handed her a cup of coffee. “It’s fine, Max. Let her stay.”
“I’ll call my parents and let her know she’s safe here with you.”
“I’ll leave the two of you alone to talk. I’ll be in my room.”
About an hour later, Max walked into my room and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Thanks for helping her out and letting her stay here.”
“No problem. How is she?”
“Passed out on the couch. I told her that I don’t condone her drinking like that at her age and she told me to fuck off.” He chuckled.
“We were seventeen once.”
He sighed. “We sure were. Did Molly and Kara get off okay?”
“Yep.”
“Is that all you can say?” His lips were dangerously close to mine.
“Uh-huh.” His scent lured me in. As much as I tried to fight it, I couldn’t.
Our lips softly touched as he brought his hand up to my cheek. “I can’t stop thinking about last night.”
“Yep.”
He smiled as he brushed his lips against mine and gently took my bottom lip between his teeth. His hand latched onto my breast as our kiss became more passionate.
“I want to bury my cock deep inside you right now.”
I struggled for air because that was what he did to me. He somehow had a way of taking my breath away when he was near.
“I want to press my naked body against yours and feel the softness of your skin. All day, I’ve been thinking about how good it feels when your pussy is wrapped around my cock.”
He stood up, kicked off his shoes, and removed his shirt and pants. I lifted my t-shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor as he hooked his thumbs into the sides of my yoga pants and panties and pulled them off. Climbing under the covers, Max joined me in bed and turned on his side, running his hand down my body and latching onto my breast with his mouth as his fingers dipped inside me. I took in a sharp breath while my hands ran through his hair. I threw my head back as his tongue slid up the flesh of my neck, and his fingers manipulated my insides, hitting all the right spots that geared my body up for the ultimate orgasm. My breathing was shallow, and my body was on fire. He placed his thumb on my clit and mastered the small circular motion that drove me insane.
“God, I can’t wait to be inside of you and feel the warmth. Come for me, baby. I won’t stop until you come.”
I moaned softly and pressed my lips against his as my body seized with the fiery orgasm that took over my entire body, making my toes curl.
“I love it when you come so fierce like that. You have no idea how much it turns me on.” He removed his fingers and flipped me over, spreading my legs as he thrust in and out of me while grabbing my ass and squeezing with such a grip that I was about to have another orgasm. His hands grasped my hips and pulled me up so I was on my hands and knees, taking me with long, deep strokes. He groaned as one hand reached around and firmly took hold of my breast, tugging at my hardened nipple, enhancing the sexual pleasure and sending me overboard as the wave was at its peak. I let out a low moan while saying his name as my legs tightened. His movements slowed as he pushed in deeper and moaned as he released himself inside of me. Once he finished, he brought his lips to my back and softly planted small, erotic kisses up and down it. I lowered my head in exhaustion as he pulled out of me and rolled on his back, trying to catch his breath.
“Come here.” He held out his arm, motioning for me to snuggle against his warm, muscular chest.
I lay there, wrapped in his arms, thinking about how soon this would all be over, the feeling of security and the feeling of being wanted and needed.
“Will you stay the night?” I asked.
“I really can’t, Emma. I have to be up and out early for a meeting tomorrow.” He kissed the side of my head as if that would make me feel better.
I wiggled out of this grip and climbed out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to take a shower. You can let yourself out.” I walked into the bathroom and locked the door from behind. Having sex with him was getting to be too much, and being a woman, my emotions were taking over. I turned on the shower. Once I finished, I stepped out, wrapped a towel around me, opened the bathroom door, and he was gone. The only thing I saw were the rumpled sheets from where I just had the most incredible sex with a man that I was falling in love with—a man who couldn’t love me in return.