what he needed. Maybe he needed to talk. Maybe they’d end up back at nothing—where neither felt able to give any more. But she’d spent a lifetime doing things for other people, rightly or wrongly—now she felt a tug of responsibility for him too.
It wasn’t a bad thing, though, far from it. She liked it. She wanted to wipe that sadness from his voice, knew they’d have a fun time. That if anyone could make him feel better tonight, it was her. There was no point denying it: she’d lost a piece of her heart to him. And maybe, just maybe, he’d done the same with her.
But if she went over now, there’d be no going back. The commitment would be there, blatant in her actions. He’d know it. And so would she. ‘I’d love to, Max. But I have an early shift tomorrow then the kayak trip straight after. I need to get some good sleep. I’m bushed.’
There was another long pause while he weighed up her answer. He breathed out a sigh, ‘Okay, sure. I understand. No worries. See you tomorrow, then.’ Then he hung up.
Just like that. Max Maitland had hung up with no sexual innuendo. No cheeky repartee.
The man had hung up without a fight.
Damn.
★ ★ ★
Ten minutes later she leaned against his apartment doorbell, letting it ring until he answered it. ‘Surprised?’
He didn’t speak. He was wearing the faded T-shirt from before and tight washed-out jeans. He looked like something from an advert, surly and sullen. But relieved.
His blue, blue eyes stared at her with a kind of need and tenderness that she’d never experienced before. Like she’d saved his world. Like there was nothing else he wanted more in his life.
Pulling her into his arms, his lips hit hers with a force that snatched her breath away. He hauled her against the door as his mouth traced rough, greedy kisses over her cheeks, her neck, her throat. His passion ignited a desire in her that overrode her intentions, overrode her sensibilities. All the holding back and the frustrations and the fear of letting herself go entirely with him were shot. He needed her and she needed him right back.
‘I want you. My God, Gabby, I want you so much.’ His hands clawed at her blouse, ripped it from her, dragged her skirt to the floor. ‘I want to be inside you. Now.’
‘Yes. Yes.’ She couldn’t, wouldn’t deny him this. She reached for his T-shirt, threw it to the floor. Tugged at his belt, her fingers brushing against his hardness. She needed him now as much as he needed her. Once she’d freed his erection from the constraints of his jeans she took him in her hand, felt the heat, the strength of him.
‘God. Don’t...’ He groaned into her ear. ‘Wait. Please.’
His fingers parted her legs, slipped into her, sending jolts of pleasure spiralling through her body. His mouth met hers again and he kissed her long and hard, stoking the want. If she didn’t have him, if she didn’t...she’d die. Pure and simple.
A huge pressure built inside her and all she could see, feel, hear was him. Max. His smell. His touch. And her whole body craved him.
‘Now. I want you now.’ Her voice was cracked and desperate, her words coming between each tight thrust of his fingers.
All too soon he withdrew them, cupped her bottom with both hands and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his thighs and positioned herself over him. Then he was sliding into her. Pounding her against the wall, hard and fast.
He gazed at her as he entered her, a different Max now from any she’d ever seen before— emboldened and savage. Glorious and powerful. And he wanted her. Wanted to bury himself inside her. Wanted to lose himself and his crazy mixed-up feelings in her.
She squeezed tightly around him, gripped his back. Felt ripped apart with emotion—the intensity of his need meshing with her own. The ache in her stomach waned, then intensified with every stroke.
Those cool Maitland eyes bored into her, making a million promises. That connection she never believed she’d have. That fusion of souls.
Harder. Faster. He pounded.
Just when she thought she couldn’t handle any more he tensed then moaned into her hair. Long and loud. She bucked against him, reaching the same high. Higher. Higher. Until the world splintered and burst into tiny stars.
He held her against the wall, rocking with her, slowly, slowly, his forehead against hers as their erratic breathing steadied.