She bit her lip to hold back a cry of bliss with each wave cresting through her. Her heels dug into his butt as she angled harder into the sensation. His breathing was ragged, urgent. Max moved faster, launching aftershocks. His shout of completion spurred a final wash of pleasure through her. Goose bumps prickled along her flesh, sparks shimmering inside, as well. His forehead fell to rest on the door, his cheek against her hair.
Replete, her body went limp. She kept her arms locked around his neck as they stood together silently for more heartbeats than she could count.
Then he released her and her feet slid to the floor. She started to lose her balance, her body still too sated to hold her.
Smiling, Max scooped her into his arms as he had before. “I have you. Relax.”
Her body humming with approval, she kissed his chest just over his pounding heart. Later, they cou
ld talk.
As he lowered her to the petal-strewn bed, her senses lit at his thoughtfulness. The petals were satiny, but scented. He’d done such a lovely thing in preparing without assuming. She was taking one day at a time—and today was amazing and filled with passionate hope that for the moment edged out her concerns about protecting her children, her independence, her heart.
He smoothed stray locks back from her face, his eyes flaming over her. “You’re so beautiful. Touching you turns me inside out. Hell, just the feel of your silky hair gliding through my fingers makes my teeth ache from wanting you.”
Clearing her throat, she stretched out beside him, their legs tangled. “You don’t have to speak and convince me.” Her hands fell to rest on his broad shoulders, then she looped her arms around his neck. “I’m here and, yes, I can’t deny we’ve both had chemistry from the moment we first met. I don’t understand the why of it all. It just is.”
“Some things don’t need to be analyzed.” His thick thigh nudged higher between her legs, a delicious weight and pressure.
“That’s ironic coming from a techie.” She chuckled lightly against his kiss.
He combed his fingers through her hair again, light crackles of static snapping through the air. “Business, computers, codes are the last things I’m thinking about when I’m with you.”
“Hmm.” She savored the feel of his bare skin against her, his hard, muscled body pressing her into the mattress.
“You know what I want now?” She linked hands with him.
His body tensed, his fiery eyes full of determination. “Name it. I’ll make it happen.”
She lifted his hand and kissed the back of it, then nipped his thumb. “I want that chocolate over there—and more of you.”
* * *
Warm water streamed down Max’s face, steam filling the shower stall, and he gave a prayer of thanks for the tankless water heater that made it possible to stay in this shower with Natalie even longer still. He’d come a long way from the kid who’d waited in line for his turn in the bathroom, often behind a half-dozen other people. Yeah, he liked hot water. A lot.
And he liked being under that spray with Natalie even more.
It had been a natural progression, from bed to shower. All in the effort of cleaning up.
Sex had been great before. But after tonight...
A line in the sand had been drawn—their rhythms and chemistry syncing.
Heart pounding, he recalled when they’d eased into the stall in his private bathroom. He’d guided her in with a strong, stable arm, made sure she didn’t slip on the beige tile as her smile—demure, once upon a time—turned feral with that arching eyebrow. She’d immersed herself in the water, enjoying every moment.
No one had ever been sexier. He was convinced of that.
Max wanted this borrowed time to last longer. Especially when she kissed him thoroughly like that.
As she leaned into him in the shower, Max took in a deep breath, the sensation of steam filling his lungs. Chest expanding, he wrapped his arms around her, spun her around to meet his still hungry stare. She seemed just as eager, just as awake as he was. Thick spirals of red hair settled on her back once she stopped spinning. He felt the wild abandon in her green-eyed gaze and it damn near singed his hair.
He kissed her deeply, his tongue grazing hers. Her kiss was literally sweet—chocolate still present in her breath.
They’d moved to another level, one where he suspected a two-week affair wasn’t going to be long enough. Which presented a problem. He had to go home, back to work, while her home and work were clearly here.
Sure, he could return to Royal, Texas, every now and again, but that wasn’t sustainable. And she wasn’t a booty call. So he needed to start exploring other ways they could see each other. And if she wasn’t comfortable with those options outside her newly adopted hometown?
He refused to entertain the notion of defeat. He hadn’t built a multimillion-dollar corporation from pure sweat and grit by thinking negatively or admitting defeat easily.