Chapter 17
Eve
I peekedmy eyes open and looked around the room. If the masculine decor didn’t tell me where I’m waking up today, the hot man spooning me from behind would. As planned, I’ve been splitting the past week between Max’s place and Aunt Winnie’s. So far it’s working well.
“Good morning.”
His gravelly voice vibrated against my ear.
“Good morning.”
I wiggled against the erection that’s poking at my ass. He slid his hand up and cupped my breast.
“Keep doing that and you’ll be in trouble.”
“Mmm, seems I like trouble these days.”
I’ve never slept naked, but when I’m with Max, it seems natural. Besides, it makes morning sex a lot easier.
Max dragged his hand down to slip between my thighs. I pressed my leg back and draped it over his hip offering better access. He didn’t need another invitation.
It’s amazing how well this man knows my body after just a couple months. His fingers circled and plucked, stroked and plunged, bringing me to the edge of orgasm in a short amount of time. He thrust his hips forward, pressing against me from behind and creating a mind-blowing rhythm as he stroked my clit.
“Max.” He always makes sure I come at least once before plunging into me, but today I don’t want to wait. “I want to come with you. Now.”
He rolled onto his back and pulled me with him. We’d stopped using condoms a few weeks ago so I straddled his hips and sat, impaling myself on his hard cock. Our matching groans echoed through the room when I was fully seated and started to move.
Normally I’d take it slow and tease him, but that’s when I’ve already had the edge taken off. Right now, I have one goal in mind and that’s to ride us hard and fast to orgasm.
Sitting back, I pressed him even deeper inside me. He moved his hands up to pluck at my nipples. That did it. I felt the ripples start deep inside and I moved faster then faster still, urging them on until the sensation engulfed my entire body. Max dug his fingers into my ass and held me tight as he thrust up twice then groaned his completion.
I rested my head against his chest and listened as his heartbeat returned to normal. My stomach growled and I bounced up and down with his chuckle.
“I guess it’s time to feed you,” he said.
“I’ll cook breakfast.” Sitting back to look him in the eye, I added, “I owe you a meal or two.”
I shifted off him and stood. He turned onto his back with his hands resting behind his head.
“And I’ll be a man of leisure, lying here until breakfast is served.”
After giving him a quick kiss, I headed to the bathroom to clean up and slip into his robe. I never thought I’d be so comfortable with another man after my divorce, but things are just natural between Max and me. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I felt like I knew him. Maybe we met in a past life.
I walked into the kitchen and perused the cupboards and refrigerator.
“Eggs, pancakes, or French toast?” I yelled.
“Eggs sound good. Over easy. And lots of toast.”
I’d just cracked the eggs into the pan when I heard a pounding on the front door. The one leading from the workshop that I’ve never used.
“Max!” More pounding. “Open the door. I know you’re in there.”
He ran out of the bedroom, slipping his legs into shorts along the way. It would have been comical if I didn’t have a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.
Max opened the door and a woman marched through. Even in four-inch stilettos, she’s not as tall as me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been blowing up your phone and you haven’t answered,” she said. “Obviously I need to talk to you. That’s what I’m doing here.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you and I definitely don’t want to hear what you have to say.”
I stood frozen in place, wearing Max’s robe, my hair in a messy bun, and holding the spatula in front of me. In contrast, the mystery woman’s bleach blonde hair is styled into a chin-length bob that falls right back into place after every head shake. Her flawless red lipstick matches her nail polish perfectly. She can’t be more than five-feet-four in heels, but exudes power, giving her a larger-than-life presence.
“This is a great opportunity.”
“I don’t care.”
“They’re offering a lot of money.”
“Again. I. Don’t. Care.”
Max walked over and took the spatula from my hand, removed the eggs from the burner, and turned off the stove.
“It’s been twelve years, don’t you think you’re being ridiculous?”
He turned to face her, holding onto the countertop behind him with a death grip.
“Mom, I don’t want to act anymore. I like my life here and don’t want that messed up.”
Mom?
At least it’s not a long-lost girlfriend or wife.
A slow smirk crossed the woman’s face and I knew whatever was going to come out of her mouth would not be good.
“One phone call from me and your so-called life will be turned upside down.”
“You’re threatening me? Seriously?”
She shrugged.
“Call it incentivizing.”
“Why? Don’t you have enough active clients to keep your bank account full?”
“Why?” She snorted. “Max, Chase and Corbin is one of the most successful, not to mention profitable, shows the network has ever aired. And a whole new audience has fallen in love with it through syndication.”
They continued spitting words at each other, but I have no idea what was being said. Chase and Corbin kept spinning through my mind like the reruns Max’s mother just mentioned. I looked at the man I’ve been involved with for the past few months, seeing him with new eyes.
That’s when I saw it. Sucking a sharp breath, I placed my hand over my mouth.
“Oh my God, you’re Corbin Kendrick.”
They stopped talking and looked over at me.
“Eve.”
Max reached out to touch me but I dodged out of the way and headed toward the door. He started to follow me but I held up my hand, stopping his steps.
“Please don’t.”
Max
“Are you happy now?”
I turned to face my mother and she didn’t really seem to care. I’m not sure why I thought she would. The woman has ice in her veins.
“Oh please, there’s no way she didn’t know.”
“Not everyone has ulterior motives like you.”
“Yeah, just like that girl you dated when you were eighteen.”
“Eve is different.” She snorted and I shook my head. “I’m not talking about her with you, and I’m not discussing a reunion show. It’s not happening or if it does, I won’t be in it.”
“Max, who’s car is in the driveway?”
Pop’s voice carried up the stairs a second before I heard his footsteps. The man rarely loses his game face, but he couldn’t hide his shock at seeing my mother.
“Hi dad,” she said.
“Tally.” His eyes shifted between us. “What are you doing here?”
“Max and I had something to discuss and he wasn’t answering his phone.”
“Must be pretty important. You haven’t stepped foot in Seaside in more than three decades.”
“Just offering him an opportunity he can’t refuse.”
“But let me guess, he did refuse.”
“He did, but I’m confident I can convince him.”
The two were talking as if I wasn’t here, like they used to do when I was a child. Before Pop could answer, I spoke.
“You won’t convince me. I haven’t wanted to be a part of that world since I was fifteen.”
“Max, it’s one show.”
“It’s a limited series. For now.”
She didn’t deny that so I’m guessing that if this limited series they’re planning does well, they’ll want another one. Or God forbid, plan a whole reboot like so many shows are doing nowadays.
“I can’t talk to you when you’re being so unreasonable,” she said. “I’m staying at The Seaside Hotel. Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
I was about to tell her that will never happen, but there’s nothing my mother likes more than a challenge. So I kept quiet just so she’d leave. She disappeared down the stairs and a few seconds later, I heard her pull out of the driveway.
“I told you ya should’ve answered the phone.”
Rubbing my hand against the back of my neck, I fought to get my temper under control. I don’t want to lash out at Pop. He’s not the source of my aggravation.
“She would have just showed up anyway when I didn’t agree to do what she wants.”
His answering grunt told me he agreed.
“So what are you gonna do now?”
“I don’t know.” I looked around my apartment. “If she tells everyone where I am, it’s gonna get crazy here for a while.”
“What about with Eve?”
“I don’t know about that either.” I looked over at him. “What can I do?”
He shook his head.
“I’m not an expert with women, but it seems to me you need to give her some time to cool off,” he said. “Then go tell her everything you should have said at the beginning of the summer.”
As far as an I told you so, that’s pretty mild.
“I’m gonna take a shower, then I’ll head over to Winnie’s to see if Eve will talk to me.”
“I think you should give the girl more time. How about we go out to breakfast and then you go to Winnie’s?”