Chapter 40

CHAPTER FORTY

Sunlight was creeping through the windows when I woke up. I knew Max was awake because he was tracing patterns on my naked back. Sometimeduring the night, I draped myself over him. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. This was the feeling I kept trying to chase the entire time I was away.

To feel at peace with myself.

My lips trembled, and I couldn’t help and ask myself if this was how it could have been had I not left. I guess it was another thing I would have to learn to live with. Second chances were rare, and Max was my one that got away, except he didn’t get away. He was back, and I would not waste our time together wondering about irrelevant scenarios.

I was Maximilian’s as long as he wanted me.

“Morning,” I mumbled into his chest, feeling shy all of a sudden. Was my hair okay? Oh God, I should have set the alarm so I could have brushed my teeth. Max had never seen me in all my morning glory. My hair looked like a bird’s nest. It was not pretty.

Max didn’t care for my morning freak-out; he was not having it. He tilted my chin up, and I wanted to hate him because he looked perfect. Sex hair on a guy always looked hot. His scruff was sexy. Still, he looked at me with softness and love.

Like I was perfect.

“Morning, beautiful.”

I didn’t have a chance toprotest when he kissed me. It was light, short, and sweet—mostly because I refused to open my mouth.

“Are you done freaking out?” he teased with a guarded look in his eyes. I wasn’t the only one who was scared, and that made me feel better.

“I can’t help but wonder if this is how things could have been if I hadn’t left, but at the same time,leaving was good for me. I’m not sure I could have achieved everything I did if I had stayed.” It wasn’t something I thought of when I was sad because I knew I would have followed Max to college and worked my ass off to help him, but then what? Would I have been a stay-at-home mom with nothing else to offer? “I’m sorry, I know it’s not what you wanted to hear,” I added.

Max sat up, bringing me with him.

“Your candor is one of the things I’ve always loved about you, Freya.” He grabbed a piece of my hair and put it behind my ear. “I’d rather know what’s going on in that pretty,little head.” His lips pressed against my forehead, and I burrowed into his touch. “There’s no point in wondering. All we can do now is move on and be grateful we have a second go at things.”

He was right.

After our morning quickie and finding out that showering together didn’t help when we were pressed for time, Max walked me into Emma’s. His hand was at my lower back, guiding me in. I tried to remove his hand because even though I said we could officially be together, we had to ease people into it. I was done hiding, but that didn’t mean we would parade our love around town after having hot, sweaty sex.

“Babe, you screamed my name so loud last night, I’m sure the whole town knows by now,” he said. For the record, I hadn’t screamed that loud.

“Aw hell no, youwassupposed to wait for me to turn eighteen,” Quincy yelled over the few customers.

“I was?” I turned to look at Max, who brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.

“I have to go to the office and warehouse today to check on a few things. Stay with me again?”

“Okay,” I replied breathlessly. Upon seeing Max’s cocky grin, I almost took back my yes and said no.

Almost.

“I feel betrayed, mamas. Youwassupposed to be my girl.” Q put his arm around me while he shook his head and we watched Max leave .

“Please, Q, everyone knew Freya was Max’s and vice versa,” Emma replied from where she was preparing an expresso.

“Not true,” I retorted.

“Oh, honey, the only one who didn’t know was you.”

My head snapped to Frank, who was seated in the coffee shop. I got out of Q’s hold and ran to my old boss. Now thatI wasn’t running away from his restaurant, I could give him a proper hello.

“I missed you,” I said to his shirt since he was hugging me so tight, I could smell cooking oil.

“Now thatyou and Max got your shit together, you can come and have dinner. Your table is always open.” There was a soft gleam in Frank’s eyes.

“Thank you, Frankie.” I kissed his cheek and gave him a coffee.

“I take it you and Max are done hiding?” Emma wiggled her eyebrows at me once the crowd had died down. Quincy was pretending not to listen, but I knew better.

“You knew?”

Emma grinned at me. “I figured you wanted some alone time with him before you guys shared with the rest of us. I’m just glad it worked out. You guys were the cutest. I remember staring at you two when we were younger, and I wished for a love like that.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “You know, now thatI know Dex is my brother, I will not stop until you two are together. Rusty went off andmarried Jana while I was away—not the sister I would have chosen but I’m glad Rusty picked her because she’s grown on me, and I love her now. But you, Emma, you are the sister I never thought I needed. I’m glad we’re going to be business partners.”

“I wish Jess was here. She doesn’t do mushy shit.” Both Emma and I cut Q with a glare for ruining our moment.

“Great, since you and Jess are such good friends, you guys can close together on Sunday,” I declared.

“What’s on Sunday?”

I grinned. “Dex is back.”

My shoulder tingled from where Max was kissing it. His lips left a wake of chills everywhere he went. I lay face down; Max was behind me, his dick thrusting leisurely.

This was heaven.

“Fuck, I love watching my dick disappear into your pussy.” His gruff tone made me whimper. Was it possible to cram seven years of sex in a week? Nope, but Max was sure as hell trying.

“I thought you said you like me on my knees,” I teased.

“I used to jerk off at night to the image of you and those tiny cotton shorts.” He spanked my right butt cheek, making it sting. “I love your ass.” Abruptly, he flipped me, and I felt the loss of him. He stood above me, and I noticed the ripples of his abs had a thin sheen of sweat. His usually mossy eyes were dark with lust.

“Ask me what I love the most, Freya. ”

Licking my lips, I asked, “What do you love the most?”

He gave me a feral smile then bent my legs and opened them for his viewing pleasure.

“I love—” Max’s thrusts in me were so hard my vision went white. “—watching you come apart for me.” He fucked me hard and fast, letting go of his control. My moans, his grunting, and the bed creaking where the only sounds in our room.

“Max.” I was almost there, but I needed more. He let go of one of my legs and brought his hand down to my pussy, his thumb caressing my clit slowly, tauntingly.

“Max.” I intended to yell, but it came out a tortured moan. When Max added the pressure I needed, my eyes rolled back.

“That’s it. Right there, baby. Come for me. Show me how much you fucking need me.”

I could barely keep my eyes open between his thumb on my clit and his fast-paced thrusts, but when he bent his head and sucked on my breast, I was done for.

“Baby,” I moaned as my pussy contracted against his dick.

“Fuck,” he groaned before he collapsed on top of me. We stayed like that for a few minutes—Max on top of me while I ran my fingers through his auburn hair. I loved his hair. I hoped that when we had children, they got his hair color instead of my dull brown.

Holy shit. Was I thinking about babies with Max already ?

“Freya, are you all right?” Upon noticing how still I went, Max sat up straight, watching me with regard.

“Yeah, I was just thinking about what I would say to Dex.” I knew Max loved my honesty, but this was a conversation we didn’t need to have right then.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He gave me a quick kiss before he got up to go get us food.

No one could live on orgasms alone, no matter how good they were.