Chapter 79
Ten Years Ago
On Max’s last full day in West Oaks, Aurora moped all day. She didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. Lana tried to convince her that she was just wasting the remainder of her time with her brother. But Aurora didn’t want to listen. She shut herself in her room and went to bed early.
“Thanks for trying,” Max said when Lana returned to the living room. “She’s always like this when I’m about to go back.”
“I know. But tomorrow she’s going to be bummed that she didn’t spend more time with you today.”
After her brother went back to his unit, Aurora usually spent a full week depressed. Lana was used to that by now. But she didn’t want to make Max feel worse.
“At least you had the day at the beach yesterday. I know she loved that.”
Max shrugged. “I guess so.” He was looking away, as if something weighed on his mind.
Lana wasn’t sure if he wanted her to stay.
Last night with him had been incredible.
Different from their first night, but somehow even better.
She’d been getting a sense of the way Max liked to be touched.
It was all about observation and experimentation.
She’d been learning his body, and her own, and she was eager to get more data points tonight.
But although Max had been smiling at her and sneaking touches to her hand and back whenever Aurora wouldn’t notice, he’d seemed distracted. Probably worrying about his sister or the real-life responsibilities he was about to return to.
Lana couldn’t imagine that he regretted anything. But what if he’d already decided they were finished, and she just didn’t know it yet?
She went into the kitchen to tidy up, even though they’d already finished all the dishes. Then Max came in behind her and kissed her neck. She leaned back against him, closing her eyes with relief.
“We have one more night,” he murmured. “How do you want to spend it?”
“With you.”
She spun around and found him grinning, though it wasn’t the same lopsided grin he’d given her before. There was nothing teasing about it. Only sweetness.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Everything between them moved half as slow that night.
Every kiss was long and deep, like he was drinking her in.
They lay down on the blanket in her parents’ room, the door locked, and touched every inch of each other all over again.
She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of Max’s tongue, his hands, his absurdly gorgeous body.
Every time he groaned with pleasure, she couldn’t believe he was making that sound for her.
After they made love, they just lay on the blanket, still touching and kissing. She had no idea what time it was, and she didn’t feel tired. There were so many more things she wanted to try with him. How could he be leaving in the morning?
How, after she’d had Max Bennett, could she ever not want him?
Eventually, they both got quiet. Lana thought he was asleep. But then he turned to face her. Max slid his arm beneath her and rolled her onto him. He was hard again. Thank goodness Max had brought his own condoms in his travel bag, because they’d needed a lot more than one.
“You want me?”
She’d lost count of how many times he’d asked.
“Yes. Yes.”
This time, she sat on top of him and lowered herself onto his cock, relishing this new experience. He ran his hands over her hips and her legs as she rode him.
“I don’t want this night to end,” he said.
“Me, neither.”
Max lifted onto his elbows so he could kiss her. “Then let’s stay here, together, as long as we can.”