her hair soaked from her shower, she’d let him pull her close then shook herself like a dog after a swim. He’d retaliated by dumping her onto the mattress and making her all sweaty again. Then, he’d joined her for her second shower of the morning.
Desire seared him, hot and consuming. He laid his arm across the back of her chair and leaned close. When she glanced his way, he captured her gaze and gave her a glimpse of his hunger. To his intense satisfaction, her lips parted and her cheeks flushed.
With the amount of time they’d spent together in the last week, his body shouldn’t be clamoring to ditch the party and take her home, but her touch set off a chain reaction inside him. Two things kept him in place. His mom would kill him if he left, and he was eager to take Rachel in his arms on the dance floor.
He covered her hand with his. Their fingers meshed. His emotions settled. The temperature of his desire dipped from raging boil to slow simmer.
On the opposite side of the table Jason watched him through narrowed eyes. Max knew what his friend was thinking, but he was dead wrong. As Sebastian stood to deliver the first toast, Max let his gaze roam around the tent. All the usual suspects had been invited. Immediate family, extended family and friends. About two hundred people in all. Including his illegitimate half brother, Nathan, who sat two tables over with his very pregnant wife, Emma.
For a moment, Max fought irritation. Nathan’s presence shone a spotlight on Brandon’s infidelity and made a mockery out of celebrating thirty-five years of marriage. Max had never understood how his mother had allowed her husband to bring Nathan into her home after his mother died. Sure, it was the decent thing to do and his mother was kind and generous, but it had to have killed her to explain to all her friends about the twelve-year-old boy with Brandon’s gray eyes. Yet to the best of Max’s recollection, he’d never heard a cross word between his parents on the subject. He’d never know if his mother had forgiven her husband, or if she’d just decided to bear the humiliation for the sake of her marriage.
He and Sebastian hadn’t followed her example of tolerance toward Brandon and their half brother. Even now, twenty years later, Max couldn’t come to peace with his father or Nathan. The anger and resentment bubbled far below the surface like a dormant volcano.
And caught up in all those negative emotions were his feelings for Rachel. He couldn’t completely let go of the way she’d deceived him all those years ago. Nor could he turn a blind eye to the secrets he knew she kept from him now.
The secrets that were bound to tear them apart.
“What are you doing out here?”
Max looked up from the steering wheel of the ‘71 Cuda and spied Rachel standing in the doorway that led from the garage into his back hallway. They’d returned from the party fifteen minutes ago and while she’d disappeared into the bathroom to change clothes and brush her teeth, he’d retreated to the one place in the house that had the most soothing effect on him.
“I’m enjoying my latest purchase.”
Rachel stepped into the garage, her three-inch heels giving her long legs a positively sinful appearance. She wore the red and black baby-doll nightie Hailey had packed for the trip to Gulf Shores. That weekend, his appetite hadn’t afforded her the chance to wear it. He recalled her opinion about the futility of wearing the thing. That he would have it off her in ten seconds.
“Wouldn’t you enjoy it more if you took it for a drive?” She stopped near the front of the car and bent down to slide her palms up the hood. The black lace edging her neckline gaped, baring her round breasts. Beneath his intent regard, her nipples puckered against the gown’s thin fabric.
The combination of muscle car and half-dressed Rachel was irresistible. He was instantly hard.
“Feel like going for a ride?” He got out of the car and prowled toward her.
She plucked a condom from inside her bodice and held it up. “Maybe later.”
He put his arms around her, hands riding the sexy curve of her butt to the nightgown’s hem. “How about now?”
He loved the flow of the material over her warm curves and the contrast between the scratchy lace and her silky skin. But he adored the heat between her thighs even more. And the low moan of longing that rumbled through her as he dipped his fingers into the moisture awaiting him there.
She pressed hot kisses to his neck as her fingers dipped inside the elastic waistband of his underwear and slid them down his thighs. He kicked free of the material, groaning his appreciation as her hands rolled the condom on his hot shaft.
Her mouth was open and awaiting his kiss as he lifted her off her feet, savoring the damp slide of her hot, sweet center against his belly. Gently, he placed her on the car’s hood, past caring what damage he might do to the very expensive collectible. He only gave himself a second to enjoy the sight of Rachel splayed across the yellow hood, but the mental snapshot was unforgettable.
The elastic band kept the bodice snug against her chest and allowed the rest of the material to billow around the top of her thighs. However, the nightie was so short that when he’d set her on the car, the fabric rode up, exposing her concave belly and the thatch of dark blond curls at the juncture of her thighs. Nothing looked as gorgeous as she did at the moment.
He stepped between her legs and gathered her butt in his hands. Fastening his mouth on her, barely hearing her gasp past the roar in his ears, he feasted on her. She tasted incredible. Mewling sounds erupted from her parted lips as her fingers clutched his shoulders. He laved her with his tongue, penetrating deep while she writhed within his grasp. He drove her toward orgasm without mercy, ignoring her incomprehensible protests. Maybe later he would give her a turn at him. Right now, he wanted to put his mark on her body and soul.
When she was close to the edge, he slipped two fingers inside her and watched her explode. She screamed his name. Her nails bit into his shoulders as her back arched and her heels found purchase on the bumper. Shudder after shudder pummeled her body, wringing every single sensation possible out of her. Only when she went completely limp did he cease his erotic assault and kiss his way up her body.
Sliding his hands under the elastic beneath her breasts, he rode the material up over her head. She blinked and stared at him, dazzled.
“No fair,” she complained. “I was going to do that for you.”
“Later,” he promised, riding the curve of her breast with his lips.
“It’ll have to be much later,” she agreed, sifting her fingers though his hair. “Because I can’t move at the moment.”
“That’s okay. You just lie back and let me do all the work.” He opened his mouth over her nipple, swirling his tongue around and flicking it over the sensitive tip. Her body jerked as he grazed his teeth against her flesh.
“Whatever you say.” She closed her eyes. A half smile curved her lips. She looked the picture of utter contentment.
His heart turned over. It was happening to him all over again. He was falling beneath her spell. Her palms glided along his biceps as he nudged against her entrance. She was so slick, he almost drove straight in. But a week of intense lovemaking had taken the sharp edge off his driving need. He intended to savor every inch of their joining. To take his time enjoying the tight sheath that seemed made just for him.
And to watch her expression as he did so.
For it seemed the only time she truly dropped her guard and let him in was when he was buried inside her. That’s when she couldn’t fight what she needed or hide her thoughts.
He eased forward, delighting in the play of happy emotions across her features. When he was fully embedded, she surrendered a smile of sheer delight and opened her eyes. Plummeting into their blue depth, Max sank past her doubts and fears to her true heart. Jewel bright, her joy welcomed him. Pure and fierce it connected him to her.
“Again,” she coaxed, cradling his face between her hands. “I love the feel of you sliding inside me.”
He