Chapter Eight
The next few days were much the same, and Quinn relaxed more and more in Max’s home.
An ease existed between them, a comradeship she had never felt with any boyfriend from her past, not even Bryan.
Max talked to her on his level, as his equal, and it brought her a little more under his spell.
The only weird thing was he would leave at odd hours in the night.
At first, she thought he was going to meet women, but nothing stayed consistent.
The swelling around her eye had gone down and the discoloration grew lighter.
Even the small cut on her cheek was nothing but a thin line that would eventually disappear.
It was time for her to go back to work, so that Sunday night, she cooked a nice dinner for her and Max.
Once more, he had to go out but he texted her saying he was on his way back.
It did make her curious, because what type of art business couldn’t wait until Monday?
She had just finished setting the table when the front door opened.
Waiting, she thought he’d come straight to the dining room, but when he didn’t, she walked to the den.
Figuring he wanted to wash up, she returned to the table.
Roasted chicken, asparagus, potatoes au gratin and poached pears for dessert.
Finally, Max showed up, his wet hair indicating he showered.
“This looks delicious,” he praised.
“Thank you.”
They ate, and she thought about asking him where he’d gone, but decided it wasn’t important.
Besides, it wasn’t her place to be curious about his private life.
If he was picking women up, he had amazing stamina.
Once they were finished, he helped her load up the dishwasher and then they headed into the den.
“Would you like some wine?”
“Yes,” she replied.
He walked over to the bar and pulled out a bottle from his wine rack.
“Well, I do have an exceptionally magnificent vintage of German Riesling.”
He grabbed two wine glasses, opened the bottle, and filled each up.
“Trying to get me drunk?” she asked dryly as she eyed the rim of her glass.
“Not at all. I just thought you could use a bit of relaxing.”
They toasted carefully and she took a sip, impressed with the flavor.
She wasn’t much of a wine drinker, but she had a need to get a little tipsy.
Her love life was a mess, and getting the hots for her boss wasn’t a smart thing to do.
Max was smart. Gorgeous. Muscular. With big .
.. muscles. Lots and lots of muscles. How do I get his shirt off without him realizing I’m trying to get his shirt off?
“What are you thinking?”
She jolted out of her thoughts. “What?”
“I asked what you were thinking about because you’re blushing.”
“Uh.” That’s as far as she got because to hide her embarrassment, she took a very large swig of wine. He raised an eyebrow, waiting. “Um.”
“So eloquent,” he teased.
Quinn sighed. “Fine. I was thinking of you.”
“Why?”
“I was thinking you’re the type of man who breaks hearts, not the type of person who gets one broken.”
“Now that’s just plain silly.”
She sighed and took another deep sip of wine. “Is it? Just look at you. I bet you’ve never been hurt.”
“Not true.”
She narrowed her eyes as she judged him. “You’ve been in love?”
“No. I don’t think it exists.”
“You don’t think love exists?”
“Not the kind that romance novels write about. Name me one couple still in love after the honeymoon phase ends.”
She cycled through everyone she knew but couldn’t come up with one. Even her own parents divorced years ago.
“Well?”
“Captain America and Agent Carter.”
“You used two fictious people as proof?”
“Okay,” she admitted. “I don’t know anyone who’s in love, but I know it has to exist. Even if it does fade in time.”
“Love is for fairytales.”
This was a side of Max she had never seen before in the year she had worked with him, and she had thought she’d seen every mood he had—funny, serious, angry, disgusted, even sick and whiny. Cynical wasn’t one of them, until now.
Something about his declaration rang hollow. “Who was she?”
“Who was what?”
“I bet you were in love once.”
He took a sip of wine as he studied her. “You found me out. I was ten. She was fifteen. I’ve never been the same.”
Quinn laughed and wine jostled over the rim and onto her fingers.
“Oops,” he said, reaching for the glass. “Better drink up or give it to me.”
“Nope.” She held it away from his outstretched hand. "I’m not done."
Then she proceeded to drink half the glass in one go.
“Impressive. You’ve had more wine in the past few minutes than I’ve ever seen you drink in the past year. I think it would be wise if you gave me the glass.”
“No.” In defiance she took another large swallow.
“Quinn,” he warned. He reached over her and then stopped suddenly. Their lips were mere inches apart.
She froze as her gaze locked with his. His warm breath mingled with hers, and she could almost taste the intoxicating scent of sweet wine as it washed over her.
It sent her heart pounding and the blood rushing through her veins.
The intensity of his eyes sharpened and they dropped down to her lips.
She licked her lips and his cobalt blue eyes sharpened as they fixated upon them.
The air between them arrested. Her heart pounded as she leaned closer.
Then with a groan he covered her lips with his own.
Quinn barely thought as she managed to set her wine glass down.
Didn’t even hesitate as she encircled his neck with her arms, pulling him closer.
It was madness. Shear utter madness as all her thoughts blanked.
She existed on pure pleasure. Max deepened the kiss, sweeping aside any doubt that this was exactly where she needed to be at this moment.
She was on fire from his kiss alone. He cupped the back of her neck, holding her in place.
Ravishing her mouth. She had no conscious thought to go anywhere as the wine swimming through her head heated the fire in her blood. Her hands moved up to capture his face.
“Quinn,” he groaned as they broke for air. “I want you.”
“Then take me.”
“Baby, you’ve been drinking.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, your judgement is impaired.”
She pulled back and looked at him. “I just drank the wine. It hasn’t even metabolized in my system yet.”
“You have a point. However, you might not believe you aren’t, but I want you with a clear head.”
With a wicked little grin? she reached down to place her hand over his zipper where his cock was hard enough to hammer nails.
“This head?” she asked.
His eyes glittered. “You’re playing with fire.”
“Yes, please.” She gave a sexy little pout, at least, she hoped it was sexy.
“Last chance, you little vixen,” he growled, eyes glittering with lust.
Her body heated, throbbing with need. “Maybe I needed the wine to finally tell the truth.”
He pushed some of her hair behind her ears. “And what truth would that be?”
“That I want you, too,” she admitted. “I’ve wanted you since the first day I met you. And it made me feel so guilty because I had a boyfriend.”
He sank his fingers through her hair, grabbing a chunk to tilt her head back. He laid his lips near her ear. “Never think about him again.” He kissed his way to her neck. “You had your chance to run, Quinn. I’m not giving you a second one.”
She shivered. Not in fear but with desire. “Why would I run?”
“Because I’m going to make you addicted to me. I’m going to possess you, body and soul. So, think about it before saying anything, because once you agree, you’re mine.”
One thing that swept across her mind was what happens when he’s done with me, because she wasn’t stupid.
Maybe it was the wine making everything crystal clear, but she knew this was a limited time proposition.
She’d risk her job by sleeping with the boss.
If she said no, she knew he’d never ask again.
Would she regret it the rest of her life?
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m not strong enough to turn you away again, so be absolutely sure.”
“I. Want. You.”
Then she licked his ear.
He groaned deep in his throat, pulling her with him until she knelt in between his open thighs.
He swept in to kiss her deeper, hotter, wetter.
She used the opportunity to run her hand down his chest and around his waist. Holding him and molding herself against his body.
Max pulled his lips from hers to run them down her neck.
Nipping little love bites, using tongue and teeth in ways that drove her deeper under his spell.
The world disappeared around them. Max quickly unbuttoned her shirt, working his way down her chest with each inch revealed.
Quinn leaned back and let him feast upon her flesh as he pulled the material aside and her bra melted off.
He took one darkened nipple into his mouth, causing her to arch her back with a moan as he teased it with gentle flicks.
He slowly slid his hand down her backside, over her butt.
Pulling her thigh up over his leg. All her inhibitions, if she had any remaining, simply vanished.
She fell back, he with her, and her hands started tearing at his clothing.
Every inch of skin revealed she delighted in exploring.
Hard muscles, toned abs, sinfully beautiful.
So many tattoos. Bright ones, shaded abstract ones.
Runes. She smirked when she discovered Captain America’s shield.
Her fingers undid the button of his pants and pulled the zipper down wide enough to slip her hand inside.
His rock-hard cock was smooth to the touch, with a small bead of fluid forming at the top.
He captured her mouth again as he unbuttoned her own jeans. He slipped his fingers inside, finding her core. With alternating sweeps of pressure, he rubbed her clit, making her gasp and clench as desire pulsed through her.
“You’re so wet,” he muttered in between kisses. “Gotta get our clothes off.”
“Mm,” she agreed.
They finished undressing, tossing garments aside in haste.
Max settled between her thighs, rocking, banging his cock against her slit.
His hands moved down her body, caressing her leg, until he grabbed her knee and brought her leg up to grip him around his hip.
He moved his hand inward, grasping her thighs.
“Open for me,” he ordered, pushing her legs open wide.
As she lay there, staring at him through half closed eyes, Max lightly trailed his fingers down her stomach.
The ticklish sensation had her squirming.
He grinned, then down lower he went, until he reached her pussy and pushed in.
Quinn arched her back from the floor with a gasp, her eyes flying open to meet his.
“Ah,” he murmured, using her slickness to coat his finger. Feather light caresses, faster, harder, over and over. Her body coiled, wound tight, all she could do was balance for a moment on the precipice and then fall.
“You’re going to make me come,” she moaned, quickly free-falling to the pinnacle.
“That’s the idea.”
No more words as her orgasm crashed over her.
Nirvana that kept her riding high. Max moved up as she rode the crest, lifting her head with one hand to kiss her.
His other hand still teased her sex as he settled in between her open thighs.
His fingers held open her lips as he guided himself right up to her, his cock giving one nudge as if it had found its home.
He thrust forward, burying himself completely.
He moaned and paused, dropping his head and resting it on her shoulder. “Ah,” he rasped. “Viens m’enculer, Quinn. Sacrebleu.”
There was something about hearing him speak French that she loved.
Quinn curved her body up, lifting her legs to hug around him as she crushed herself fully against him.
She squeezed him with her walls, gently, letting him know she felt him deep inside.
He moaned again and gave a fluid jerk with his hips.
Her body began shivering in pure lust. “Fuck me, Max,” she urged. “Faster.”
At her command, he picked up speed. Thrusting deep, pounding into her body. His hips jerked once, twice, and his breath came in a hiss as the crest broke over him. He stiffened as his release pulsed, the hot core of him pushing her over the edge seconds later.
He collapsed on her, panting and sweaty. She relished it, hugging him even as her own heart beat out of control from the tiny shocks of electricity that still soared deep within her.
Then the phone rang, shattering the afterglow.