Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Maximillian
MaxMc: On my way to pick you up, are you ready?
Zoe: I have a lot of work.
MaxMc: You need to take a break.
Zoe: I need to . . . I don’t know what I need but it’s definitely not a crazy night with Max McAnnoying.
MaxMc: I thought we agreed you’d change that from your phone.
Zoe: You did, but that doesn’t take away how I feel about you.
MaxMc: Wow, I thought I was picking you up to remove your inhibitions. You have no filters.
Zoe: Leave my inhibitions alone.
MaxMc: What kind of friend would I be if I did that?
Zoe: Are you texting and driving?
MaxMc: Not necessarily. Voice command exists.
MaxMc: Zo, I’m almost there. I’ll pick you by the entrance.
Zoe: I have a car.
MaxMc: One of my guys can take care of it later, just like last night.
Zoe: Are we going to another game? What is it now?
MaxMc: You don’t like sports?
Zoe: Not live sports. I’m okay watching them from the comfort of my home—or a bar. We’ve already been through this.
MaxMc: It doesn’t matter, I’m not taking you to a sporting event.
Zoe: Where are we going?
MaxMc: My place.
I pull up to the curb outside Zoe’s office building, watching the revolving glass doors expectantly. After a few moments, she emerges, her high heels clicking rapidly on the concrete. Even from a distance, I can see the weariness on her face, her shoulders slumped under the weight of another long day.
As she approaches the car, I lean over and push open the passenger door. “Hey there, beautiful. Rough day? ”
Zoe slips into the seat with a sigh. “You could say that. Back-to-back client meetings all afternoon.” She pulls the door shut with more force than necessary.
I fish the thermic bag with food and a plastic cup from the backseat. “Well, I come bearing gifts. Turkey and avocado grinder on a gluten-free roll, and that fresh-squeezed lemonade you love.” I hand them over with a smile. “A little snack for the road.”
She accepts the offerings, her frown softening slightly. “You didn’t have to do that. But thank you.”
“I wouldn’t want to leave you hungry this evening. You might be burning a lot of energy,” I say suggestively as I watch her unwrap the sandwich and take a grateful bite. The urge to reach over and massage the tension from her neck is strong, but I restrain myself. All in good time.
“Tell me, what’s the plan for tonight, Max? I haven’t agreed to it just yet,” she mumbles between bites, a smear of avocado on her lip.
“The moment you accepted the sandwich, you agreed to it.” I put the car in drive and pull away from the curb, merging into the busy evening traffic.
“Your logic would never hold in a courtroom,” she scoffs, but I catch the playful glint in her eye.
“So, I was thinking,” I begin casually. “What do you say we have a quiet night in?”
Zoe takes a long sip of lemonade before responding. “Quiet night in? I like that.”
As we drive through the streets of Boston, a sleek, modern building looms ahead. When I glance at Zoe, I notice her nose wrinkles in distaste. “Ugh, what is that monstrosity? It looks like a giant glass paperweight someone dropped in the middle of the city.”
I chuckle. “That, my dear, is cutting-edge architecture.”
“It has no soul,” she protests. “Where are the brownstones? The cobblestone streets? This thing looks like it’s trying to pick a fight with history.”
“Come on, Zo. Embrace the future,” I tease. “Next thing you know, you’ll be complaining about flying cars ruining the skyline.”
She rolls her eyes, but I see the smile tugging at her lips. “Just promise me we’re not spending our quiet night in that glass behemoth.”
“I won’t tell you,” I say mysteriously, but steer the car toward the underground garage.
As we pull in, Zoe’s eyes widen. “You live here?” she says, unimpressed. “In this modern monstrosity?”
“The brownstones and old buildings don’t have the amenities I need,” I defend, keeping my tone light. “Sometimes function trumps form, Zo.”
Instead of heading to the penthouse, we stop at the floor below, where the gym and other amenities are located. Zoe’s eyes dart around, taking in the state-of-the-art equipment and the gleaming pool visible through glass walls.
“So you brought me to show off your building?” she says, still not impressed.
“Not exactly,” I reply, swiping my key card to lock the floor.
“What are you doing?” Zoe asks, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
I turn to her with a grin. “I told you, babe, we’re going to teach you how to live. Before I take you to the murky water of a lake, I’m letting you do this in a clean pool.”
She takes a step back, hesitating. “Do what, exactly?”
I grin. “Skinny dipping, of course. I want to make sure you know all your parts are safe when they’re in contact with water.”
“All my parts?” Her voice is a tad pitchy.
“Like your . . . cute little cunt, baby.” I wink at her, my lips curling into a smug smile as I watch her cheeks flush a deep crimson. Her eyes widen in surprise, and I can see the mixture of shock and something else flickering in her gaze. I savor the moment, enjoying the way my words unsettle her, a mischievous glint dancing in my eyes.
“You did not just bring me here to get naked,” she stammers, her eyes darting around nervously, though a hint of curiosity flashes in her expression.
“No. I brought you so you could swim naked,” I correct her with a grin. “There’s a huge difference.”
“Your neighbors are going to see me,” she protests, a mixture of horror and consideration playing across her face. “Naked.”
“Nope. I paid so that we could have privacy for the rest of the night,” I state, looking at my watch. “That gives us almost ten hours of fun.”
“What is the purpose of this exercise?” she asks, a mix of curiosity and apprehension causing her voice to rise slightly.
“You’ve never been naked in a public . . . well, anything. Lake, pool, swamp—” I pause, dramatically, putting a hand to my chin in mock contemplation before breaking into a playful smile. “I don’t recommend that last one, though. I also want to show you that you won’t pick up an infection from having water touching your?—”
“I know that—I mean, I shower and take baths like everyone else,” she interrupts, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. She’s flustered, but I can’t tell if it’s from embarrassment or something else. “Just, a lake or a pool are different.”
“How so?” I ask, genuinely curious, leaning a little closer to catch every nuance of her reaction.
“People have been there. I’m not . . . If you had told me, I would’ve brought my swimming suit—maybe.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” I tease, but I can see she’s genuinely uncomfortable. I soften my tone, wanting to reassure her. “Look, Zoe, I’m not trying to pressure you. I just thought it might be a fun, spontaneous thing to do.”
She hesitates, looking down at the water and then back at me. “I don’t know, Max. It’s just so… unexpected.”
“That’s the point,” I say gently, stepping a bit closer. “Sometimes it’s good to step out of your comfort zone. But only if you want to. No pressure.”
Zoe bites her lip, considering it. “Alright,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. “But turn around while I get in.”
I chuckle, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “Deal. I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
As I turn away, I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. This night is turning out even better than I’d hoped. If necessary, I’ll stay far away in one of the lounging chairs—hopefully, she’ll invite me to join her. Either way, I’m happy to know that she’s taking chances and if not this weekend, someday, she’ll agree to jump in a lake without thinking about it. It’s just a matter of patience.