Yield

7. Cole

I hate that she let JB be her first. He never deserved her. And she’s right...that was a long time ago. She was going through a lot. Besides, I can’t piss on her choices when I made mistakes of my own. Sidney...almost Amber—fucking thank the lord that never happened—and Sid again. It was always Max though. From the first time I met her in the first grade, I liked her. Mom loved Raela and Brian, Max’s parents, which said a lot. Where was it they met? The scouts or some club that Carly was involved in and Max’s mom was a leader.

I never wanted Max to move in with us. They wanted me to treat her like a sister — this thirteen-year-old girl that I barely knew and had a stupid crush on, while I was dating another girl. The summer she broke up with JB changed everything.

“Max,” I yell, looking up at the trunk of the Oak tree. “What are you doing out here by yourself? You’re not stuck are you?”

“I’m not JB.”

I shield my eyes from the sun, flattening my hand like a visor. “Then, what are you doing?”

“Hanging out.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes, Cole,” she sasses. “Am I not allowed to be alone?”

“Mom was looking for you.”

“Ugh,” she groans. “I don’t want to help her cook dinner.”

“Me either. I’m not going back there.” I reach for the lowest branch, digging the ball of my Nike Pigeons into the bark. Slipping as I near her, she reaches out.

She wants me to take her hand...to touch her...to touch lightning.

Breathe, idiot.

I take her hand and brace myself onto the thick branch next to hers, resting my back against the base.

“Where’s Sid?”

Why’s she asking?

“I broke up with her...like two weeks ago.”

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

If you didn’t disappear all the time, you’d know.

“You haven’t been around much lately.”

“I’ve been hanging out at Amber’s.” She brushes her shoulder-length hair behind her ear. Little curly strands fall forward again, hanging by her eyes. “How’s the bike running?”

“Better now. I’m racing Saturday. You should come.”

“I’ll be there,” she answers without hesitation.

“Sweet.”

“Amber said Timmy was racing and I was talking to Andy earlier today at Roy’s.” I forgot Mom sent her to the grocery store this morning. Andy is still part-timing there.

“So, you already planned on going.” I look away, pinching my lips together. “Here I thought I was special.”

Her gentle touch holds my arm. “You are special.” She holds my locked eyes for what seems like a year until I blink to her lips.

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re good peeps, like the best peeps.” Her hand turns into a fist and she lightly punches me.

“Prove it.” I punch back.

“Okay.”

She shimmies out a small pocket knife from the back pocket of her jeans.

“Where did you get that?”

She smirks, not saying a word, and stands up on the branch.

“If you fall, I’m not taking the blame.”

“I got this, cowboy.” She holds her hands out straight and turns around slowly, straddling the branch in the opposite direction to face the tree trunk. Her smile stretches bigger as she looks over at me and leans forward, carving away at the tree. She digs out a C, then a plus sign...and then an M. I silently pay attention, waiting for her to say something. Sculpting it out, she blows on the bark.

“Friends forever,” she finally says.

“Forever.”

“Do you think you could climb it now?” I knock my chin up.

“I’d fall out.”

“Do you remember when you carved our initials in the trunk?” Her eyes light up. I bet she’s thinking about how she used to fly up that tree. Spider monkey.

“I remember when you carved 4 EVA underneath our initials.“ She clenches my hand. “You drove us out here on your bike, running away from your mom. God, she was so fucking pissed.”

“And I told you I didn’t care if she grounded me for the rest of my life. She was never going to break us apart. I’m yours forever...4 EVA.“ I roll my eyes.

There’s my smile.

“We need some music.”

“What do you want?” I ask, standing and hopping over the side of the bed to the ground.

“Anything. Everything,” she calls.

Her playlist.

Opening my door, I grab the key from the vision and stick it in the ignition. My phone immediately connects to the adapter and I scroll my playlists for the one labeled Turn Max Madness Into My Lovebird.

“You look comfortable.”

“Could use a few more pillows.”

I climb into the bed, stretching out beside her. “You can use me.”

“You’re not very fluffy.” Her toes tap up and down in her peach sandals, ankle to ankle.

“Maybe I’ll get the fluff when I retire.” I rub my stomach.

“I like you the way you are.”

That means don’t get fat.

“I liked your tits more a few years ago.” She smacks me in the chest, gawking. “I’m fucking with you! Don’t release the madness. I won’t survive.” I hold my hands up and tumble over to my side.

“I thought this was supposed to be a first date. You had me until that comment.”

“At least it wasn’t a fart joke.”

Her head tips to the side in agreement, and then she looks around. “Where’s the music?”

“Maybe I didn’t hit play?” I reach through the window, pick up my phone from the seat, and hit the button. Must’ve hit it twice, I paused it.

Thirty seconds of sound and she bursts out. “REO Speedwagon!“ She nods her head and sings the lyrics to Keep On Loving You. Max straddles me, rolling her hips side to side, and flinging her long hair with each move. She leans into me, pressing her finger to the center of my lips as she mouths the words to me. Her laugh is contagious, setting mine off, and then she kisses me.

The taste that will survive a hundred arguments and a thousand apologies. It will never get old or boring. Every day for the rest of my life, I’ll crave her wrapping around me.

“I love you.” Her brown eyes match her smile.

“I love you...cowboy.”

“You haven’t called me that in years.”

“Because it’s the worst flirty insult ever,” she laughs and kisses me again. I thread my fingers in her hair, grabbing a close handful, and tugging her to the side. Nibbling and sucking down her neck, I stop at her chest, letting her have one kiss.

“We’re not eating first, are we?”

“You tell me,” I smirk. “The sun is setting.”

“It’s not dark enough yet. We can’t go to jail, Cole.”

“Alright.” I push her back gently and grab the side of the truck, standing. “Let’s go. In the cab, lovebird.” Max takes my hand and I yank her up, jumping off the tailgate with her. She runs away, swinging open the driver’s door and hopping in. Her giggles meet my ears before I get to the door. Climbing in, I grab her foot, pulling her strappy sandal off. I run my hand up her leg, holding onto her thigh before I toss the second sandal to the floor.

“You had to wear jeans.” Raising my brows, her teeth press to her bottom lip.

That’s it. The lip bite. It, oh, it fucking drives me wild.

I snap the button open and pull the zipper. It takes less than five seconds for me to dig my hands into the pockets and rip her jeans to her ankles. She kicks, trying to get them off. I throw them to the passenger floor mat and stare down her powder blue cheeksters.

A wide smile takes my mouth as I glance up at her like a vulture spotting fresh meat. I crave her moans. Her body pulsing beneath my grip. My fingers dance over her skin, slipping between her legs. I can feel how wet she is through the fabric.

“You’re killing me and I’m going to make you pay for it.”

Running my finger under the gusset, I glide over her smooth, wet skin. Then twist the fabric around my finger, tugging it down. She lifts, kicking them off as they hit her ankle. Her knees fall apart. My smile tugs at the side of my mouth, shivering in satisfaction.

Too many times have we had to rush through all of this to get a quickie in while Ri napped or because one of us was too tired to explore. I’m taking my time with her tonight. Relishing every minute of this — “Perfect pussy.”

She glances down and her toes trace my cock, running over my jeans.

“Slow down, lovebird.” Looping my arms under her leg, I hoist them up, deepening into her chest, inches from her mouth. “Slow, the fuck, down.” Placing a kiss on her lips, I take the rim of my hat, tossing it to the floor. I dip down and kiss her thigh. Her legs flex and moans roll through the cab.

“You want this bad, don’t you?”

“Please,” she exhales. “I need it.”

We both want the relief. The twenty-seconds of soul freeing ecstasy. I’m rock solid. It would be easy to get it in right now, but I love to watch her squirm. I love to make her reach that place slowly and again, even when it’s rare that I find myself there multiple times.

I lap the flat of my tongue over her, circling the tip around her clit, but never touching it. Her body bucks the closer I edge. She stiffens and falls back over and over again, coming undone and overwhelmed the more I tease and drift away, squeezing her thighs in my hands.

Her fingers massage my head and scratch the back of my neck. “You’re dripping for more.”

“I can’t,” she pants.

“You can.”

I put my tongue exactly where she wants it and take it away as quickly. She smacks my shoulder, arching her pelvis forward becoming frustrated by the edging. Fine, Max.

“You want it?”

“Yes!”

“You want me to make you cum?”

“Yes. Yes.” She pushes my head down. “It feels so good. I—I.” Her voice becomes a cloud of air that gets stuck. A short breath finds its way out, only to get stuck once more. I tug her clit between my teeth and draw my tongue over it again and again. She pinches her knees around me, locking her ankles together. “Cole, mm. Oh, my Go-ah-ah.” She loses control of her moans and cries. Arching with the wave, she crashes, but I don’t stop. “Cole,” she pants.

I keep lapping, harder and harder.

“C-c-fuck, oh.” I don’t stop. “C-Cole.” She fights to breathe, riding my face like she can’t control what her body is doing. Her hips lift and she moans louder and louder, falling to the bench seat again. “Cole. I can’t.”

“You fucking can.” I suck on her, pressing two fingers inside of her. She calls out the whimpers that have been in my head for a week. I run the flat of my tongue over her clit, slowly moving in and out of her. She buckles and I hold the fingers inside, curling and rubbing without stopping my tongue.

“C—”

That’s all she can get out. She’s gasping, out of breath, bucking and grinding, moaning and whining, whimpering, and desperately trying to call out my name through another orgasm.

I come up for air, letting her rest for a moment. She can’t even lift her head to look at me. Her eyes stay closed, her chest heaves up and down.

Stretching across her, I pull the latch to the glove compartment.

“No. Cole, no.” She looks between me and the compartment as it falls open, knowing exactly what I’m reaching for.

“Yes.” I tilt his head to the side, unaffected, and take the slim black UV sterilizer case out. Her eyes are closed and she shakes her head, but I know the sound of the zipper coming undone excites her. She sucks her stomach in, tightening her core with anticipation.

The smooth pink buttery silicone, dual-armed vibe is her favorite toy. I told her keeping the second one in the truck would be useful. Clicking on the first setting on the longer arm, I press it to the inside of her leg.

“Mm,” she moans, wiggling around. “Just once. One more—” Her hips jerk up and as she lowers them back down, she slides toward me, trying to meet the toy humming against her thigh.

I love her.

Working her breathless, I changed the speed on both ends and let it do its thing, softly buzzing in and out from one end and vibrating against her clit on the other with little effort. Max claws at the air, searching for something to dig her nails into. How many times can I make her do this before she’s using the safe word?

I admire her. This gorgeous woman is such a mess in every desperate and sexy way.

Hair pasted to her face.

Tossing and riding.

I need to have her.

“I think it’s dark enough now.” I look out the window at the darkening sky and kick the door open. Putting the toy back in the case, I flip it closed, sit it on the dash, and wrap my hands around Max’s ankles. I pull her to me, lift her, and look her over. “Max?”

“I knew what I was getting into,” she exhales.

“You can walk? You’re not going to fall?” She nods. “Are you sure?” I lift her chin, bringing her eyes to mine.

“Yeah.” She turns around. “Undo my top.”

I push the little ball through the loop and take a step back, looking at her in this position unable to get past how good she would look completely bent over with her ass hanging out the door. She tugs her shirt over her head and tosses it to the floor with her jeans.

“No bra.”

“That shirt had pads built-in. How would I wear a bra with the exposed back?” I’m still afraid she’s going to fall over. Taking her waist, I hold her close to my side.

“I’m a man, baby. I’m not thinking about that.”

We walk to the back of the truck and I lift her by the waist, hoisting her ass up. She holds out her hand and I take it. I don’t need it. I want it.

I kick off my shoes and unbutton my jeans. I push them off with my black boxers. Max never takes her eyes off of me, intently watching me pull my shirt over my head and drop it. It’s like she’s feeling me up with an invisible touch.

“Is it chilly out?”

“It’s okay, wh—you ass. I should slap you in the face with it for that.” She laughs. There it is...again. The bite.

Tug that pretty peach lip with your teeth, baby.

“Fuck me...please,” she shrugs with a pout. God, she knows me.

“Gladly.”

Crawling over to her, I grab a pillow and fold it under her hips. She reaches between her legs, rubbing her palm up and down. Then she takes my cock, stroking it up the curve and smoothing her thumb over the tip. Her breasts fit my hands like they always have as I trace her little pink hardened nipples. She pulls me to her, wetting the head of my cock between her pussy lips.

“It’s always begging for more. So fucking wet.”

“I can’t help it.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.”

Pushing into her, I shudder, losing control of my breath for a second. Squeezing her thighs, I slide in and out, slowly. With each deep stroke I take, the sight of her unfolding does the same to me. Tension builds. Her mouth parts. My skin warms and shines. I’m not going to last very long. The grip her pussy has on me clenches with every pump as if she’s trying to pull me in even farther. I circle my thumb on her clit. I can’t thurst and circle anymore. It overwhelms me and I end up applying pressure. Her walls death grips around me, keeping me from sliding out. The shorter my movements become, the more pressure I place on her.

I push in and I’m fucking baked, painting her pussy white. Groaning and panting with sweat covering my chest, I fall deeper inside of her as the release takes over. It sets her off, either hearing my moans, or seeing my body like this, or how she made me cum inside her. Pushing in as deep as I can go, I hold it. Letting her ride it out, I hope I’m hitting the right spot.

She pants and I pull out, dropping to my back beside her.

I pull a fuzzy tan blanket from the corner, draping it over our sweaty, sticky bodies as we melt together. Looping my arm under her leg, her thigh sandwiches between my forearm and upper arm in my attempt to bring her closer to me. I fumble, doing nothing except give her a magic carpet ride on my forearm.

Her brows furrow, looking over her shoulder. “What are you trying to do?”

“Still not making fart jokes,” I mutter against her ear and try to recover, taking the flat of my hand to her stomach. It works, bringing her back to my chest and ass to my groin.

“You should buy me a star.”

“Buy you a fucking star?” I scoff.

Her chin knocks up with half a smirk. “It’s one of those cute things they always do in romance movies and books.”

“If it’s in movies and books, how original is it, Max?”

“Fine, original series right here.” She clears her throat. “Max Cole; The Love Story.”

“Pitch it.” I wave one-handed of give-me fingers in front of my chest.

“Hmm...Well, call me, don’t text me, just to say you miss me...leave me notes on the fridge, even if I’m in the next room...um, and...you know what? This.“ She looks up. Her eyes shine brighter than any star in this sky. “Nights under the moon in your truck bed are pretty romantic.”

“I’m not good at these things. You know that...I hoped you’d like it.”

“It’s perfect...except I have to go to the bathroom in the brush.” She gets up and sits on the side of the panel. “I’ll be back,” she says in her best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. Then, she hops over, running bare-ass in the moonlight.

I fucked up so badly. She’s not going to let that dancer thing go easily. A few days from now I’ll piss her off and she’ll bring it up. It was stupid, but I can’t believe she would go to another man’s house. Even if it was Andy’s house I’d be angry. It’s a fucking stab in the back. I’m not giving up on us. …I don’t want to lose her. She’s my best friend. Without her I’d be a corpse with a beating heart, praying for a death that never comes. Shouldn’t have said anything to Mom either. She had no clue we had been fighting for a while. I threw Max under the bus. Fuck. How am I going to fix this?

I drop the blanket, climb to the ground, and lift the latch on my door. Pulling it open, I grab a bottle of water from the cup holder, twisting the cap. Buzzing and a ping come from the passenger floor mat before I get a chance to replenish my thirst.

Taking a swig, I tighten the cap, and sit it down. Then I reach across the bench. She’s going to need these, anyway. I pick up the small pile of clothes, laying them on my seat. I pick up her phone and unlock the screen.

What the fuck? Muse?

Locking the screen, I toss it on top of her clothes and shut the door.

I don’t like it.

I don’t like him.

A stone wall breaks over my face as I walk around to the tailgate and climb up, finding my jeans and boxers. My teeth clench together, fighting off the anger from pouring through my eyes.

Max comes running with her hands over her tits. I push all the air out of my lungs and slip my shirt over my head.

“Your clothes are on my seat,” I tell her, zipping my fly.

After she’s dressed, she joins me.

I don’t know what to say.

“You’re quiet.” She bumps me, shoulder to shoulder.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

I stare into the night, feeling her eyes search my face.

“Things I fear.”

“Spiders and Chihuahuas.”

Closing my eyes, I can’t fight the smile.

“Yeah, exactly.” I rub my face over and wrap my arm around her.

She looks up. “I’m hungry.”

We eat, drink her favorite wine from that vineyard in Hague, and talk. She tells me about her current project and then brings Ryke up. This guy offered her a job, three and a half hours away, and that’s not supposed to be weird. The guy she called her muse. I pretend like it doesn’t bother me without much of a response, shoving my anger as deep down as I can. She’s excited about her work. I want to support her. I wonder if I asked her to remake my website would she be annoyed I’m adding to her tasks or excited to give it a refresher? Would I be her muse then?

“Want to go home and build a fort with Ri? I’m—” She yawns. “Getting tired.”

“It’s after nine. You think she’s still awake?”

“The night owl? Nooo.“ Her smile radiates.

Of course, she’s awake.