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A few minutes later, we pull up at the electronic gates, operated by a fob in his car. We drive through, the Porsche and an Audi Q7 in the drive.
“Is someone here?”
“Jeremy. You’ll finally get to meet him.”
Max retrieves my full-size suitcase out of the trunk. Unable to decide what to pack, I stuffed in three times as many clothes as I’ll need. Pretending to struggle with my bulky suitcase, he says, “My God, how much stuff have you got in here? I can barely lift it! Perhaps you should just move in—it’ll be easier.”
Assuming he’s joking, I laugh, but when I catch his eye, he’s looking at me so seriously that I end up pulling a dorky face where my mouth gapes open and I juststare.
“How about it?” he asks. “Don’t go to New York. Stay here with me.”
My heart leaps, a nervous laugh bubbling to the surface. “It doesn’t feel too soon?”
His shoulder lifts in a very casual shrug. “It doesn’t to me.”
That gives me pause. I want to sayHell yes!but I buy myself a few seconds by looking over his impressive house. “I’m not sure I can meet fifty percent of the rent.”
He gives me aReally?look. “It’s paid for. What other objections do you have?”
“I hardly know you.”
“Yes, you do,” he replies with utter conviction.
I fiddle with the buttons on my fashion coat, the one that doesn’t stop the wind or rain or anything coats should stop. “Um, you have two too many living rooms.” There are three; it’s just ridiculous.
His grin sets my heart aflutter. “I’ll convert two of them into one, then I’ve just got one too many.” I stifle a laugh. “What else?”
It’s a game now, our smiles breaking as I concoct valid reasons why this is not a great idea, even though I want to throw caution to the wind and jump right in. “I always thought I’d live somewhere a bit nicer.”
He takes a step closer, just a few inches separating us. His warm, expressive eyes look into mine, filling me with love and comfort and so many good promises. “When Tilly and Nate move to the States, move in with me. Let’s do this.”
There’s something about this man that allows me to embrace everything he sends my way. To accept this crazy fast path as if it was already mapped out for me. “Okay! I’d love to.”
His head dips, his mouth soft, his kisses life-affirming. I’m so deliriously happy that I can’t control the laughter rising from my tummy. Enveloping me in his arms, Max whispers, “Thank you. You won’t regret it. We’re gonna be so happy together, Ava, I know it.”
With our arms slung around each other’s waists, and my suitcase in Max’s free hand, we head up the low tread stairs to the front door. Max keys in the code on the security panel, a beep signalling access, and then he uses a key to open the door. This place is seriously high-tech. Every time we enter we’re locked in, secure. It makes me feel safe.
The house looks beautiful, white Christmas tree lights illuminating the entrance hallway. I cannot begin to comprehend how amazing living here will be. After greeting the adorable Logan, Max leads me upstairs, closing the bedroom door behind us. Within the frame of his arms his soft, coaxing lips find mine again. Warm hands slide under my top and along my back where he deftly unhooks my bra.
Suddenly, I’m lifted and thrown to the bed and I shriek in surprise.
“Let’s get down to business,” Max says in a low tone while unbuckling his belt.
Grinning, I wriggle out of my clothes, dismissing that sharp, whip-crack across my temples. The words felt familiar. And this situation—I’ve seen it before, I know I have. The déjà vu gets pushed away as I focus on the sunlight streaming in through the balcony windows, wide shafts of yellow light painting the bed and warming my body.
Naked, Max eases his six-foot-three frame over me, holding his weight on tensed forearms, his bronzed skin turning lustrous in the light.
“You gonna show me a good time?” he murmurs. His tongue licks a path from my belly button to my left breast. “Are you mine to play with?” Closing his mouth over my nipple, he sucks, hard. I gasp and he releases it, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak before he blows cool air against it.
“Y-yes.”
“Good,” he answers, his eyes dancing over my face. "I want you wrecked.”
There’s an intensity radiating off his tight frame, and I wonder if it’s related to the bargain we just made—the one about moving in one day. Because although he’s always taken charge in bed, there’s been a gentle, caring side to him. But now it feels likemore.It has me vibrating with trepidation and undeniable longing.
Stretched over me, his body fits against mine in all the best places. With my face secured between his large palms, his mouth on mine is unyielding.
