AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A big smile spread across his face.
I could throw a wrench in his offer. I could name my own activity. One that required a bed. Or at least, the only sex I’ve ever known required a bed. Max probably had sex in cars or his office. I wanted to have sex with Max. A lot. More than I’d ever wanted to be with anyone else. I knew that agreeing to his propositions was going to increase that want a hundred-fold.
Finally, I felt normal. My breath steady. My body warm and less achy, but I was cold. I tried to convince myself it had nothing to do with Max’s hands no longer being on me.
He stood, his body towering over me. Like the gentleman he was the first night we met, he held out his hand. With surprising strength, he pulled me up. I was numb and weak from the exercise and his muscle work. I stumbled into him, but I could have sworn he pulled me closer. With one hand resting on his hard chest and the other still twined with his, I looked up, loving the feel of his warm breath as it caressed my neck. He was hard and sweaty. The lingering scent of his cologne was now overpowered by the natural, musky scent of his body. I wanted to press my nose against his skin and get lost in him. Instead, I backed away, claiming some much-needed space to clear my head.
We walked side by side toward the parking lot. “So I have an idea for another item. If you’re up for it?”
His commitment to finishing this bucket list was baffling. Although I wasn’t going to question it. I liked spending time with him. I liked the way he made me feel. I especially liked that for the few short hours I was with him, I didn’t have to think about my future. But that didn’t mean the future was on hold.
“How about the weekend?” he asked.
I had some major catching up to do with my schoolwork.
“You know there’s such a thing as too much studying.”
“But I didn’t…” How did he even know I would be studying? I could just be busy with…other things. “Fine. I’m studying.”
“I was thinking more like tonight.” He cocked his head. “Well, early tomorrow morning. I’ll swing by your place at four.”
“In the morning?” This guy was nuts. What could we possibly do before sunrise? “I told you, I have to study.”
“So you’ll already be up. See you then.”
With a wink, he left me, anticipation for our next date dancing in my stomach.
I’d go home and hit the books. Buckle down, focus. Then at four the next morning, I’d meet Max, and I’d be ready for my next adventure.
Chapter 7
Max
I pulled up to Everly’s door at two minutes before four o’clock in the morning. I was early, for fuck’s sake. I couldn’t wait to see her. The hours between when I’d left her in the parking lot and now were torture.
To my surprise, I didn’t even have to go to the door. She snuck out of the house, closing and locking the door behind her. With a skip in her step, she made her way to my car.
She was moving like my stomach was feeling. It flipped and flopped, no other explanation other than a pack of butterflies had taken up residence in my gut and had decided to have a party.
I didn’t do butterflies.
Although she was only using me to get closer to completing the list, I wondered if she was just as excited to see me.
I jumped when the car door opened and she poked her head inside. Immediately the citrus scent of her shampoo infiltrated the small space and I inhaled deeply just to infuse myself with her scent.
“For the record…” She slid into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. “I didn’t sleep. I’ve been trying all night to figure out what we’re doing.”
There was something different in her voice this morning. Something…light. Playful. I hoped that the wrench I had thrown into her plans was doing its intended purposes. Loosening her up.
I glanced at the time on the dash. “You have about forty-five minutes worth of wondering, but I will say…we’re going to see something amazing.”
I stepped on the clutch and put the car in gear, easing us onto the road.
“You’re a tease.” She crossed her arms over her chest and pushed back against the seat in a mock tantrum.
When I turned my head slightly, she was giving me an easy smile. “So they tell me.”
I’d forgotten there would be no traffic at four in the morning; it took less than half an hour to get to the marina. After our run, I met Ben and picked up the keys to his boat. A thirty-two-foot cabin boat, perfect for watching the sunrise, and it was going to be amazing.
