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Several troughs appear across his forehead. “Isthatthe real scratch on this record? You do know I rib Kell and Jaden because I like them so much, right? And if you have to question where I stand about Gio—”
“I’m not referring to any of them, and you know it.”
I fight to keep my emotions out of what his reaction will be, but his chest-deep chuckle is nowhere on my expectations list. When my stunned stare likely betrays as much, the maddeningly magnificent man just gives me a longer laugh and a more purposeful push of his groin. Before I can comprehend it’s there, a high sigh bursts out of me. My brain blanks.
What, exactly, were we talking about again?
“Sweetheart, your mother loves me.”
I groan. This time, not in pleasure. Oh, yeah.Thatwas the subject.
“All right, all right,” I mutter past a new smirk. “I mean, she hasn’t said so, in so many words, but…”
“She loves me.” It’s wrapped in a sultry snarl now, which he delivers down the column of my neck. The dip doesn’t stop him from another suggestive slide of other body parts. “And I’ll always love and take care of her too, as much as my own mom. I promise you, Kara.”
I squirm a little, his heartfelt pledge throwing me into emotions that I swore away when bringing up this subject. But now they’re squeezing in, melting my heart and moving my soul—but luckily, shifting my body too. My discomfort almost comes off as impatience. I seize that angle, nervously yanking at his beard.
“Are we really going to keep talking about our mothers?”
A sandpaper sound reverberates from him. A new wave of vibrations answers from every corner of my body. As soon as Maximus slides his hips down again, I shove up with answering passion.
And it’s all even better than before. Oh, dear God, so much better.
I lift my head enough to lock eyes with my lover—myfiancé—once more, embraced by the matching sentiment in his soul. And lust in his blood. And pledge in his heart, to pleasure me like this forever.
Suddenly, forever doesn’t seem like long enough.
* * *
An hour later, we’re back to being respectably dressed despite our wickedly satisfied grins. As we link hands after summoning the elevator, the area beneath my navel becomes an embarrassing and demanding rumble.
“Somebody’s hangry,” Maximus quips.
I fling my free hand up, palm out. “Hey. This twiglet is your offspring too, Mister Kane.”
“And how much did either of you eat at the fundraiser?”
His query is mostly rhetorical. I had as much to eat at the Pendry as he did, which was essentially two bitesize hors d’oeuvres and a swig of sparkling water.
“Sounds like somebody needs a trip to Cole’s French Dip,” I say with a bigger smirk.
“Sounds like you’re speaking my language.” Maximus smacks his lips to mine just before the elevator arrives. “Now let’s hope this lift does too.”
“Should we click our heels three times and make a wish?”
Whether Oread’s elevator really heard me or not, we’ll never know. But I deem the conveyance a friend when its doors reopen and we’re down to the mall’s valet parking stand again, with the car and driver waiting for us. Immediately, I’m unsure whether to wait on Kell. My conflicted frown becomes a warm smile once I get out my phone to text her, only to find her message already waiting.
Found a ride home. Fancy wheels are for you and Baby Daddy. Tell Maximus to take advantage of the super stretch!
I fight the urge to spurt a new laugh. Doing so will only alert Maximus, who’ll demand I read the message aloud. Instead, I plaster on a smile and dip a playful curtsy as my dashing date beats the driver in opening the vehicle’s door.
“Your carriage, beautiful.”
“It would be my honor to join you, Lord Kane.”
As he grasps my fingertips with his, he lifts a searching stare around the marbled porte cochere. “Is Kell still selling her soul at the Ferragamo shrine?”
“Not sure. But she’s checked in. She’ll be all right.”
