17. Max
17
MAX
“ T his place is unbelievable .”
I knew Theo’s condo would be unlike anything I’d ever seen, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so … gigantic. We walked into a space that opened up to two-story floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the ocean, providing a view that almost didn’t look real. The walls facing the windows were covered with oversized modern art featuring dramatic black slashes that looked a little aggressive to me.
“It’s home,” he shrugged. “Between you and me, it’s a bit much, but I bought it during a hot market and had to move quickly. I didn’t have time to give it much thought.”
I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to buy something so insanely expensive basically on a whim.
“That view,” I breathed.
“My favorite part,” he agreed. “Let me show you around a little.”
Considering how pent up and horny we’d been on the dancefloor together, the night was taking a shockingly decorous turn. I’d half expected us to go at it in the back of the limo, but we’d maintained a safe distance from each other for the entire ride to Theo’s place. It was as if we were both prolonging the moment, enjoying the sweet torture of wanting something rather than the payoff of having it. But there was no doubt we knew what was about to happen. We were going to end up naked soon, finally getting out of our constricting party clothes, and finally allowing that chemistry between us to ignite. But for now, it was all longing glances and lingering touches.
And it was sexy as hell.
I tried not to gawk as Theo walked me through the airy space. It had a masculine vibe, even the steely grey kitchen had an industrial feeling, like it was a professional restaurant kitchen. As we walked through the place, in every direction, I saw windows. It was too late to be entirely certain what I was looking at specifically when I glimpsed the twinkly lights of the city, but I could tell the inky blackness beyond was the ocean. That fit with how much I knew Theo loved the water. If he couldn’t be out on it, at the very least he could watch it from his fortress.
We stopped in front of a dark glass-walled room where I could see us reflected back, and Theo tapped on his phone. The lights went on and illuminated a windowed room with a wall of lush vegetation.
“You have an indoor pool?” I gasped when I realized what I’d thought was a dark floor was actually water.
“ Lap pool,” he corrected. “Just for working out. But yeah, I’m in here every morning.”
“I would be too,” I answered, staring at the welcoming water.
It was hard not to be envious, but Theo had earned every penny of the luxury. He wasn’t a trust fund baby—the man had worked up from humble beginnings to get where he was. I respected his hustle.
We kept walking and I tried not to gawk at the imposing lighting features hanging above us. They looked like works of art, swooping tubes of light circling together into a glowing mass that resembled scribbles.
“Finally, my favorite spot. The balcony,” Theo said as he pulled open a door camouflaged in the windows.
We walked outside, and I was struck by the beauty of our surroundings. The sliver of a moon in the sky above us, the glittery lights that stretched out in front.
“I could get used to this view,” I sighed, leaning my elbows on the railing.
“You should see it in the daylight.”
His words hung in the air. Would I, tomorrow morning? Or would this fairy tale end the second we were done making love?
Theo seemed to catch the implication of what he’d said too and cleared his throat. “What can I get you to drink?” he asked.
I tucked my head against my shoulder and gave him a smile, playing the coquette. It was time to amp up the flirting, because I was getting tired of the polite strangers act. “Surprise me.”
“Got it,” he said, turning on his heel.
I stared at the horizon and considered my options. One, I could wait for Theo to return and hope we’d get to the reason for us being here soon. Or two, I could take matters into my own hands.
I’d never been good at waiting.
I reached up to unsnap the halter button behind my neck and peeled my dress down to my waist. As soon as I did it, I froze, realizing that anyone with a telescope would have a prime view of my half-naked body. Then it hit me that the positioning of Theo’s building made it basically impossible for anyone to see his balcony. With that reassurance, I continued stripping down.
I wound up in just my black thong then pulled the pins from my hair so it fell to my shoulders. I leaned over to untie the delicate black ribbon wrapped around my ankles from my shoes, then realized they completed the look. I was ready. I slid the balcony door open slowly then tiptoed inside. I could hear Theo bustling around in the kitchen as I made my way down the hallway, trying to keep my heels from tapping the marble floor.
The pool room was dark, but my eyes had adjusted to the dimness. I walked over to the swooping chaise lounge and eased onto it, pulling my arms up over my head and twisting my body so my ass looked incredible.
I heard Theo’s footsteps echo down the hallway, out to the balcony, then back inside at a quicker pace.
“Max? Where are you?”
I let him worry for a few seconds before calling out. “Down here, by the pool.”
My heart thumped as I waited for him to find me. Was I being too blatant? He walked in, two glasses of champagne in hand, then froze.
“Oh my God …”
I stretched out my body. “I thought it might be fun to go for a swim, but I forgot my suit.” I arched my back and pouted at him. “Oops. I hope you don’t mind.”
Theo was still frozen in place, his mouth hanging open.
I calmed my nerves, stood up, walked to the edge of the pool, then dipped my stiletto-clad foot in the water. “I guess I should take my heels off, but I just can’t wait.”
With that I lowered myself to the pool’s edge and slid into the water, slipping below the surface so my ass crested the water. When I came up for air, I saw that Theo was racing to tear off his clothing, moving so fast that the buttons popped off his shirt.
I watched hungrily as each part of his body was revealed. First, a chiseled chest with an impressive amount of dark hair dusted across the pecs. The muscles in his back flexed as he bent over to kick off his shoes, and I couldn’t wait to rake my nails across the smooth surface. His eyes were locked onto me as he wrestled with his belt and pants, and I held my breath while he pulled them off to reveal a pair of grey boxer briefs. Even from a distance I could see what he was packing, and I fought off a shiver of anticipation as he pulled the briefs off.
“Water’s great,” I said to fill the silence as I stared at his hard cock.
He didn’t answer as he slowly lowered himself into the water, the muscles in his shoulders working to support his weight. How could he be so perfect ?
I planted my heels on the bottom of the pool. For an idle second, I wondered if I was somehow scratching up the floor of it, but based on Theo’s expression it didn’t seem to matter. I hovered in the water so my nipples were barely covered. Theo’s gaze dipped to take me in. He paused, closed his eyes and let his head fall back.
“Holy fuck,” he said before he refocused on me.
Theo reached out and pulled me to him, the water swirling around us like the beginning of a tidal wave. Our bodies had barely connected when his mouth found mine, hungry, demanding. His hands smoothed down my back and stopped when he hit my thong, a last attempt at modesty when none was needed. He didn’t stop kissing me as he hooked his finger under the waistband and ripped them off of me.
Everything felt triple-timed as we explored in the water. A speed round of investigation before we began making love. I ran my hands along his chest, teasing my way down until I circled my fingers around his length. Theo groaned against my mouth as I started stroking him with a gentle rhythm.
It seemed like I short circuited him for a few seconds. I loved the feeling of power as I worked him, making the man weak from my touch. I was so focused on his pleasure that I didn’t expect the jolt that raced throughout my body as his hand slid between my legs.
Now it was my turn to pause and surrender to the sensations. He teased me back with featherlight caresses, so soft that I wanted to grind against his hand.
“Come on,” he said in a husky voice.
Theo pulled me to the edge of the pool and watched as I got out first. I looked down at my shoes. “I ruined them.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He followed me out then walked to a hidden shelf to grab a towel. “I’ll buy you a hundred pairs of new shoes.”
Theo walked over to me, opening the towel then wrapping me in it. A shiver rolled through me as he opened it and rewrapped it around the two of us, pressing his naked body to mine.
“Cold?” he asked as he rubbed my back.
“Not for long,” I said, pulling him toward the chaise.
I was shameless. I wanted Theo and I couldn’t wait any longer. I dropped down to sit and spread my legs, staring up at him in an invitation. Theo took a deep breath then kneeled in front of me. He gently untied the straps of my left shoe, tracing kisses along my calf, then my right shoe, kissing higher. I was about to reach down and pull him on top of me when he dipped closer to me and kissed my soft folds, letting his tongue dart inside of me. I shuddered with pleasure.
I’d wanted Theo for so long that I felt like I was about to come the moment he began, and I couldn’t believe how quickly the rolling pressure began mounting between my legs. His mouth was relentless, like he wanted to taste every inch of me. I tried to hold off, to keep feeling the incredible sensations, but the orgasm ripped through me. I cried out and the sound echoed around us.
When I finally came to my senses Theo was on top of me, smiling down at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I couldn’t find my voice, so I nodded.
“I wasn’t expecting this to happen here,” he said in a low voice. “I need to go get protection …”
I shook my head. “I’m clean, and I’m on the pill,” I managed. “And I trust you if you say that you’re clean, too.”
The words were barely out of my mouth before he lifted me off the chaise, cradling me in his arms then dropping back down so that I was on top of him. He was seated, his cock warm and throbbing between us. Theo put his hands on my hips and raised me to my knees, then paused.
“One more second,” he said in a gruff voice. His fingertips found their way to my heat, teasing me for a few seconds and checking my readiness before pulling me down on top of his girth.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I adjusted to the sensation of him filling me. As much as I wanted it—and I wanted it a lot —it had still been a while, and Theo had more than one justification for his cockiness.
“Max …” he whispered. It sounded like a prayer. “Oh Max.”
Theo leaned his forehead against my chest, kissing me gently before starting to move against me. I grasped the back of his neck with one hand and tried to hold on with the other as he built from slow, grinding undulations to bucking harder.
How was it possible that I was about to come again? It never happened. I was lucky if a guy made me come once, yet Theo seemed to bring out the animal in me. His eyes were half-shut as he moved against me, and even as he got closer to coming, he still paid attention to my need. His thumb slipped between us and within a half second I was gone again, head back and crying out.
My noises seemed to push Theo over the edge too, and he let out a low roar. He pulled me tighter against his chest, breathing hard.
“I could get used to that,” he panted.
Same , I thought.
Too bad we had an expiration date.