Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Once she’d showered and changed into fresh clothes, Phoebe reluctantly checked her phone and read the long, pompous message from George, which included references not only to the entail she was currently trying to dismantle, but all the reasons he and her grandmother were using to justify not breaking it. At the end, he did try to suggest a compromise, but Phoebe wasn’t impressed.

After reading the message a dozen times to make sure she understood it she sent her reply.

Offering me a different property in Scotland isn’t going to work, George. I want what was left to me and I want it without any legal entanglements. Why is this so difficult to understand? I’ve fulfilled the conditions of Grandfather’s stupid will by marrying and that’s all there is to it. If you won’t accept this, I will be looking for legal advice of my own and I don’t care if I bring ‘shame on the family’ by exposing our dirty laundry. I deserve to be happy. If you keep this up, I certainly won’t be bringing Max over for the wedding to justify your unnecessary curiosity.

She pressed SEND and briefly closed her eyes. All she wanted was the opportunity to use her inheritance to do some good in the world. Neither George nor her grandmother would be happy with her refusing their offer, but they were far away, and she refused to let them ruin her time with Max.

She sighed. The freedom of being on the ranch, of not having to think about her every word, was intoxicating. And Max . . .

He was wonderful.

As if she’d conjured him in her thoughts, he came through the door. His black hair was damp from the shower, and he’d put on a clean, blue T-shirt that stretched nicely across his chest and matched his eyes.

“Hey, Annie Oakley.”

“Wasn’t she a sharpshooter?” Phoebe asked as he came to sit beside her on the bed and took her hand.

“Yeah, I guess that’s not really your thing, is it?”

She looked at him. “You think I don’t know how to shoot a gun?”

His slow smile was a thing of beauty. “You do?”

“My father taught us all how to shoot when we went up to Scotland for our holidays.”

“What kind of shooting?”

“Game mainly.” She shrugged. “Things we could eat. I refused to stalk any stags. Oh, and clay pigeons. I was quite good at that.”

“You’re a woman of hidden depths, Feebs.” He squeezed her fingers. “Why were you looking so thoughtful when I came in?”

“I had a text from my brother, George. He was being obnoxious again.”

“Makes sense,” he nodded. “I did say he was a dick.”

“He’s trying to fob me off.”

Max frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

“He wants to substitute what I want for something else.”

“Like a bait and switch?”

“I suppose so. I told him it wouldn’t be acceptable and that if he keeps me from having what is rightfully mine, I’ll seek legal advice.”

“Sounds expensive. But you’re right to stand up for yourself.” Max paused. “Are we still going back for this wedding, because it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be much fun?”

“I have to.” Phoebe sighed. “I’m Eugenie’s maid of honor.” She managed a smile. “But you don’t have to come.”

“If you’re going, so am I.” He met her gaze. “We’re in this together, right?”

“I hope we are, but I’d totally understand if you wanted to avoid all my family drama.”

“I live for drama,” Max reassured her. “Usually, I’m the one creating it, so it’s interesting to watch it play out as a bystander.”

“I don’t know why you think you’re such trouble, Max. You’ve been incredibly sweet to me.”

“Which is not how I am to most people.” He sighed. “I really am a pain in the ass, Feebs. I have a big mouth, poor impulse control, and a sack full of military trauma to process.”

“Luke said you were one of the most efficient team members he’d ever worked with.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been chatting to Luke about me?”

“I chat to everyone and they’re all dying to give me their opinion of you. It’s almost as if they’re warning me off.”

“Because they know what I’m like, and they don’t want you to get hurt.” Max looked grim. “I . . . lose it sometimes.”

Phoebe stared at him. “Okay.”

“And I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” She leaned in and kissed him gently on the mouth. “Shall we go and eat? I’m really looking forward to my dessert.”

* * *

Max looked around the table and then back at Phoebe who was chatting earnestly to Jen about flowers, or something else wedding related. She’d caught the sun today and her skin was glowing. He kept trying to tell her he wasn’t a good man, but she didn’t want to hear it. And if he was being honest—something he’d been working on recently—he didn’t want her to look at him with disgust when he inevitably did something to horrify her.

He wasn’t good at relationships. His parents had handed him over to the authorities to deal with when he was a troubled teen. After that, he’d been on his own except for Maria who’d been the only one in the family to offer him a place to lay his head when he returned from deployments.

He turned to Noah. “Hey, would it be okay if I invited my sister to your wedding?”

Noah looked intrigued. “Fine by me. But check with Jen.”

“About what?” Jen asked.

“Whether I can invite my sister Maria to your wedding,” Max said. “I’ll take care of all the details, so you won’t have anything to worry about.”

“I’d love to meet her.” Jen smiled. “Go for it.”

“Thanks.” Max smiled back. “I’m not sure if she’ll be free, but I’ll ask.”

“She can stay in one of the new cabins if you’d like,” Luke suggested. “There are a couple that are ready to be occupied and she can give us some feedback.”

Luke had recently started converting some of the old ranch hand buildings and stables into smaller, self-contained apartments. His theory being—and Max didn’t disagree with him—was that it might encourage people to come to live and work out in the wilds where accommodations could be pricey or nonexistent. As a construction crew had already been on the ranch building Noah and Jen’s new house, it had proved a good use of their extra time. The cabins could also be used for holiday rentals if things really took off.

“I’ll talk to her,” Max said. “And let you know as soon as possible.”

“The nice thing about having a buffet-style wedding is that you’re not agonizing so much over the price of each plate of food,” Jen said. “And, after seeing Bernie’s menus, I think we’ll be able to feed the whole town.”

“Bernie sent you menus?” Noah looked up.

“Yes, because I’m in charge of that part of the wedding, remember?” Jen smiled brightly at Noah. “If you are very good, I might even share them with you, and get your opinion on the options she’s offering.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Noah said gruffly.

Luke winked at Jen as Noah’s fingers drummed on the kitchen table and he frowned into his coffee.

Max thought about saying something to rile Noah up but he couldn’t be bothered. His friend was suffering enough having to relinquish control over something he desperately wanted to micromanage the hell out of. It spoke volumes about how much he loved Jen that he was willing to even try and control his worst impulses.

Jen reached over and set her hand over Noah’s restless fingers.

“It’ll be all right, Noah. Bernie’s good at this.” She squeezed his hand. “I’ll show you the menus after Sky goes to bed, okay?”

“I can wait. There’s no rush.”

Max couldn’t help grinning at that pile of horseshit, and Noah, of course, noticed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Max stood up. “Anyone want more coffee?”

Phoebe yawned and hastily covered her mouth. “Please excuse me. I had a wonderful day, Luke. Thank you for including me.”

“You earned your keep,” Luke said. “You’re more than welcome to come out with us whenever you want.”

“I heard you saved Max’s bacon, Phoebe,” Sally said as she accepted her refilled coffee mug from Max.

“She did.” Max grinned at Sally. “And Luke’s beef.”

He turned to Phoebe. “I’m going to call my sister and then I’ll be out at the barn if you need me.”

Phoebe nodded. “I think I might turn in early, tonight. It’s been a long day and I’m not used to so much exercise.”

“You might be stiff tomorrow.” Sally was still a physician at heart. “Get Max to rub some emu cream over your joints before you go to sleep. It does wonders.”

“Oh!” Phoebe looked interested. “I’ve never heard of that.”

“Sally forgot to mention that it’s also known as the passion killer,” Max said as he put his mug in the dishwasher. “So maybe wait until the morning, Feebs, and when you’re out in the fresh air because it stinks to high heaven.”

“I think I’ll pass.” Phoebe chuckled and everyone around the table joined in as she stood up. “I’ll wish you all good night. I promise I’ll be up bright and early to help with the barn chores.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Max murmured in her ear as she went past him, which made her go pink. “You’re going to be sleeping like a baby because I’ve worn you out.”

He went outside and found the best cell reception spot behind the barn and called his sister’s number.

“Hola, Maria.”

“Max!” There was a torrent of Spanish before she slowed down and remembered how badly he spoke it and resumed in English. “How are you? Did Phoebe find you okay?”

“You met Phoebe.” Max nodded even though she couldn’t see him. “Of course you did.”

“How do you think she knew how to contact you and get you to meet her in Reno? We had a very nice visit.”

Max frowned. “I guess because she wasn’t at your place when I arrived. She was at the hotel where we first met. And I was so surprised to see her that I didn’t get into the specifics about how she’d gotten there at all, which was stupid of me.”

“Well, she turned up on my doorstep. When she told me her name, I knew who she was, because I’d seen it on some of the paperwork the Marines sent me years ago.” Maria paused to take a breath. “You didn’t mention anything about her to me, Max.”

“I know . . . I should have told you.”

There was a long silence. “I know how hard it is for you to share things, but I’ve always been on your side.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.”

“Phoebe said she’d asked you to keep everything secret, but still it would’ve been nice if you’d told me yourself.”

“I messed up. It all happened so fast. I barely remembered to tell the Marines. I didn’t mention it to Luke and Noah, either, but that’s no excuse. They had a hell of a surprise when I turned up with Phoebe at the ranch this week.”

“I bet they did,” Maria said. “She seemed very nice. Not at all what I was expecting. She’s not as flashy as some of your other girlfriends.”

“She’s awesome.”

“I was so surprised that you were still married. Phoebe said she hadn’t been sure how to contact you. She came to my house since it was the only address she had. I felt awful about that because it was my fault. A few years ago, one of the government letters said they’d added a new name and address in England, which was a surprise, so I forwarded one of the letters on to that address with a nice note. When I didn’t hear back, I assumed there had been a mistake and I’d done something foolish. I didn’t want to be sending any more personal information about you to someone who didn’t need it, Max.”

Max shoved a hand through his hair and slowly exhaled. It certainly explained why Phoebe had only received the basic paperwork and hadn’t known how to reach him.

“You’re not to blame, Maria. I created this mess. If I’d been straight with you from the start, it could all have been avoided.”

She surprised him by laughing. “Max, isn’t that the story of your life? If you’d ever listened to anyone’s opinion apart from your own, you wouldn’t have ended up in so many scrapes.”

“Okay, you got me,” Max conceded. “Now, can we talk about something else?”

“Of course.”

“My buddy Noah is getting married at the end of the month. I wondered if you’d like to come to the ranch for the wedding?”

The silence went on for so long that he thought they’d lost the connection.

“Hey? You still there?”

“Yes, I am. “

“I’ll organize everything. All you have to do is put on your best dress and turn up.”

“You . . . want me to be there?”

He grimaced at her incredulous tone.

“Yeah, you’re my family.”

“Then I’d love to come.” Her voice was a little shaky. “If this is what marriage to Phoebe has done to you, Max, I’m all for it.”

“I’ll email you all the details, okay?” Max said. “And I’m really sorry, for everything.”

“Te amo, mi hermano.”

She sounded as if she was about to burst into tears.

“Love you, too, Maria.”

Max ended the call and just stood there staring out over the forest. He sucked at relationships. He’d taken his sister’s love for granted and she’d ended up apologizing when the fault was all his. He didn’t know how to deal with people who cared about him. Like a stray dog begging for scraps and affection, he was always anticipating the next kick and getting the nip in first.

And now he had Phoebe right there, in his bed, waiting for him to come to her so that they could make love for the first time, and he didn’t want to mess that up.

“Hey.” Luke came up alongside him. “You okay?”

Max put his cell away. “Just contemplating what a monumental screwup I am.”

“It’s good you realize that’s what you are.”

Max gave him the side eye. “Thanks?”

Luke shrugged. “Understanding who you are means you can start fixing what’s wrong. Ask me how I know.”

“Bernie’s been getting at you?”

Luke smiled. “Bernie told me to get my ass to a therapist months ago. I ignored her and everyone else until I had no choice.”

“What made you change your mind?” Max asked.

“Because I couldn’t fake it anymore,” Luke said simply.

“I don’t need therapy. I know who and what I am, and it ain’t pretty.” Max let out a breath.

“You’re not that bad, Max.”

“You have no idea what I did before I joined up.”

“Actually, I have some idea.” Luke held his gaze. “I did get access to your records when I was recruiting our specialist team.”

“And you still picked me?”

“Yeah, because you’re a badass. And every team needs one of those to make it tick.”

“You had Noah.”

“He’s a different kind of ass entirely. He’s an intimidating control freak.”

“Whereas I’m just a freak.”

“You saved all of us on several occasions by thinking outside the box and daring to be different, so don’t ever think you’re not valuable.” Luke punched him gently on the arm. “I’m proud to have served with you. You drive me nuts, but you still make me think and do stuff I don’t necessarily want to do.”

“Like tell Bernie you love her?”

Luke grinned. “I owe you big time for that, bro.”

“Nah. Sometimes things are just obvious to everyone except the people involved.” Max sighed. “I’d better go in before I start sobbing on your shoulder, boss. Sorry for the pity party.”

He started to walk away, and Luke kept talking.

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

Max looked over his shoulder. “What?”

“That this is a safe place for you. That whatever you do you’ll always find a home here.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Max said.

Luke half-smiled. “Hell. I suppose that’s a start. Maybe one day you’ll actually believe it.”

* * *

Phoebe sat up in bed and looked at her watch. Max was taking an awfully long time to come to bed. Had she misread his intentions and scared him off with her too-obvious enthusiasm? Eugenie always said she was like an over-eager puppy too desperate for affection and George called her naive. Maybe Max had believed her when she said she was worn out from the days excursion and was waiting until she dropped off before he came to bed.

Should she text him? Even as she glanced uncertainly at her phone, which was charging on the dresser, the door opened, and Max came in.

“Hey.” He smiled at her. “Not asleep, yet?”

“I—” Phoebe looked at him carefully. “Is everything all right? Did you speak to Maria?”

He took off his jacket and sat down on the side of the bed. “I didn’t realize you two had met.”

“It was the only address I had for you. I don’t know which of us was more surprised when I rang the doorbell expecting to see you.”

“I lived with her when I wasn’t away with my unit.” Max bent to take off his socks. “She’s the only person in my family who still talks to me.”

“That must be difficult,” Phoebe said. “My family are incredibly exasperating, but I can’t imagine life without them.”

“I wasn’t an easy kid to have around. I got into trouble at school and on the streets, and my parents didn’t know how to stop me going down the wrong path.”

“Did they try?”

“Oh, yeah. My poor mama . . .” Max shook his head. “I made her cry so many times and I pretended I didn’t care. My dad hated that.”

Phoebe reached for his hand, and he let her take it.

“I ended up in a gang, and then I ended up in juvenile court, and eventually I got sent to one of those military schools to teach me some manners. It kind of worked and at least it gave my parents a break.”

“How old were you when that happened?”

“Thirteen or fourteen, maybe?” Max shrugged. “Old enough to know better and to understand what I was putting my folks through.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. The school straightened me out and gave me a way to channel all that anger into something useful by joining the military.”

“I bet your parents were proud when you did that,” Phoebe said.

“They sent me a card with a hundred bucks in it, so I guess so.” He started to unbutton his shirt. “They didn’t come to see me graduate from boot camp, although I made sure they were invited. I wrote a couple of times when I was deployed, but I didn’t hear back. Maria was the only person who bothered to keep in touch.” He smiled. “She’s my half sister, but she lived with us and practically brought me up.”

“She was very kind to me,” Phoebe said. “Once we got over the whole surprise part. She felt bad about not forwarding all the correspondence, and I felt bad because I didn’t respond to her original letter.”

“Why didn’t you do that?”

Phoebe sighed. “Because I was too busy arguing with my family, and the whole marriage thing felt like a dream, and subconsciously I suppose I was trying not to deal with it.”

“Understandable.”

“Not really.” She met his blue gaze. “But there are a million reasons why people don’t reply properly to someone, and communications break down.”

He flicked her nose. “Are you trying to make me feel better about my parents, Feebs?”

“I’m trying to remind you that we all make mistakes and have regrets.” She hesitated. “Have you ever tried to get in contact with them again?”

“Nope. I figured that their lives were probably way better without me.”

“You don’t know that.”

He put two fingers under her chin and held her gaze. “If they wanted to talk to me face to face, they could always ask Maria, and they have never done so. I respect that because I don’t believe in happy endings for everyone.”

“You’re basically telling me to keep out of it, yes?”

“Got it in one, Feebs.” He leaned in to kiss her.

“Okay.”

His smile returned. “I don’t for one moment believe that.”

“I can’t help myself,” Phoebe confessed. “I always want the people around me to be happy.”

“I am happy.” He kissed her again. “I’m right here with you.”

“That’s a really sweet thing to say, but have you ever thought about, maybe . . .”

He reached across, scooped her up, settled her in his lap, and kissed her until she forgot what words were, and only wanted more of him. When she managed to pull back, she was breathing hard.

“That’s not fair.”

“Like I care?” He ran his fingers down her spine. “I like this game much better.”

“Only because you always win,” Phoebe complained. “And I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“For someone who says that you sure drive me wild.”

“I do?”

He rolled his eyes. “You know you do, and stop wriggling on my lap.”

Phoebe gave another experimental wiggle. “Oh.”

“Now, seeing as you’re in the driver’s seat tonight, do you want to fool around a little or do you want to take a rain check and go to sleep?”

“A rain check?”

“Like a promissory note.”

“Ah, an IOU.” Phoebe nodded. “No, I’m quite awake now, thank you, and I’d like to proceed.”

“Okay, how do you want me?” Max looked at her expectantly.

“I’m not sure.” She nibbled her lip. “Maybe with less clothes on?”

“I can do that.”

He finished taking off his shirt and stood up to unbutton his jeans. His boxers were navy blue and tight. He glanced inquiringly at Phoebe.

“On or off?”

“On for the moment?” Phoebe was fairly sure her voice had gone up an octave. “There’s a lot of you to take in.”

He opened his mouth and then closed it again.

“What?”

His dimples emerged. “I was about to make a joke that you might not understand until tomorrow morning.”

Phoebe mentally reviewed their conversation. “Oh. That.”

“Yeah.” His smile was wicked. “I definitely want to see you do that.”

She reached out her hand and ran a finger over the prominent bump in his boxers.

“I am not entirely ignorant of the male anatomy, Max.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He rolled his hips, which made her fingers dig into his hardening flesh.

“When I’ve gone out with men in the past, I’ve generally found that they have expectations of what I should do for them but aren’t quite as willing to reciprocate.”

“I’ve no idea why. Going down on a woman is the best thing ever.”

Phoebe cupped his balls and his breath hitched.

“Would you lie down on the bed for me, Max?”

“Sure thing, sweet pea. On my back or my front?”

“On your back, sitting up against the headboard.”

He did as she asked and grinned expectantly up at her. “Are you going to hogtie me to the bed?”

“Maybe next time,” Phoebe said, her gaze on his abs and the visible muscles in his arms. “Riding a horse is very good for the physique.”

“So I’ve been told. Are you joining me or are you just lollygagging?”

She sat on the side of the bed. “I’m just appreciating you, like a fine piece of art.”

“I know you’re the boss, but I’d appreciate a more hands-on approach.”

“I’ll get there.” Phoebe let her gaze linger on the breadth of his shoulders and the dark hair on his chest. “You’re just so pretty to look at.”

He flexed his arm muscles and placed his hands on the headboard behind him. “How about I promise not to touch you without permission?”

“I’d like that.” She crawled toward him, her nightie catching on her knees. She straddled his lap and met his suddenly attentive gaze.

“You’re naked under there.”

“Yes.” She settled against the hard bulge in his boxers. “I am.”

“Nice.”

“May I kiss you?” Phoebe asked.

He nodded.

She cupped his chin, gently set her mouth over his, and kissed him. He let her take her time exploring his mouth and she adored him for that. He murmured her name as she drew back and kissed her way down his throat, pausing to nip his ear, and trace her tongue along the line of his collarbone. She used her hands as well, learning the shape of him, working out what made him shiver and murmur her name under his breath like a curse. She wanted to rip off her nightie and rub herself shamelessly against him, but if she did, she wasn’t sure whose control would snap first.

She looked up at him, one hand on his shoulder.

“There was one man I went out with, who . . .”

Max’s whole body went rigid. “What did he do?”

“He mistook my amateur enthusiasm for experience, and tried to go too fast, and scared the bejeebers out of me.”

“Is he coming to your sister’s wedding?”

She frowned. “I don’t think so.”

“Does he live nearby because I’m more than happy to go and teach him how to respect a woman.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you fighting my battles, Max, it was years ago.” She hesitated. “And I think I was slightly to blame because I did respond to him at first and, as you know, I’m quite enthusiastic about this, and maybe he misinterpreted that.”

“Stop right there. You were not to blame.” He held her gaze. “He was an inconsiderate ass.”

She stroked his stubbled cheek. “I know that, but what I’m trying to say is that ever since then I’ve worried that I’m too much of a contradiction for any man to understand.”

“I understand you.”

She smiled. “You don’t think it’s weird that someone can be so turned on that they climax before they’ve even had proper sex?”

“I think you just needed to meet the right man.” He kissed her hard, deep, and dirty. “And, in case you’ve got any doubts, that’s me.”

She kissed him back, one hand in his hair the other roaming freely down his back, her breasts squashed against his chest. She rolled her hips, and he groaned as she moved on his cotton-covered shaft.

“You drive me wild, Mrs. Creighton-Smith-Romano. You know that, right?”

She clambered off his lap and pushed his thighs wide, her color high, and her heart thumping like a drum. She yanked at his boxers making him yelp and slowed down so she could peel them off him to reveal the hard length of his cock.

“Oh . . .” Phoebe sighed. “You weren’t joking. There really is a lot of you to take in.”

Holding his gaze, she leaned forward and licked his crown tasting the salty wetness and feeling the pulse of his heartbeat in his heated flesh.

“Feebs . . .”

“Hmm?”

“Please keep going.”

She settled between his thighs, grasped the base of his shaft, and gently squeezed. “How beautiful you are, Max.”

She took her time testing him with her tongue and her fingers, working out what he loved by the hitch in his breathing and his muttered curses. As her confidence grew, she gradually sucked more of him into her mouth. And it was so easy, and natural, and deeply gratifying to get those reactions from him that she forgot about being nervous and just enjoyed him.

“Let me touch you, sweetheart,” Max said. “Let me make you feel good.”

Phoebe shook her head making him groan.

“At least take that damn flowery nightdress off.”

Phoebe ignored him, her interest entirely on the fascinating feeling of his stiff flesh between her lips and how every suck made her smooth-talking cowboy lose the ability to speak at all. She loved being in control, which was exactly what Max had given her.

“Sweetheart . . . if you keep that up, I’m going to come.”

She already sensed that in the way he was desperately trying not to push more of himself down her throat. He grabbed her hand and wrapped it around the base of his shaft, his fingers covering hers.

“I’m gonna . . .” He growled her name and his hand tightened around hers stopping all movement, his body rigid, his heart pounding.

“That’s—” He breathed out hard and suddenly relaxed, his gaze up at the ceiling as the first tremors rippled through him.

Phoebe waited until he released her hand and flexed her fingers as she eased back.

He made a face. “Did I crush your hand?”

“It’s okay. I didn’t notice at the time.” She pushed the hair out of her eyes and grinned at him. “That was lovely!”

“Yeah, well, not as great as this is going to be.” He reached for her and rolled her onto her back, one thigh between her legs.

She held him off, her palms flat on his chest and laughed up at him.

“Back off, cowboy. Remember who’s in charge? This was all for you tonight.”

He raised his eyebrows, one hand stealing up inside her nightie to caress her bottom. “I can’t let you go unsatisfied, sweet pea, that wouldn’t be right.”

“Watching you was very satisfying, I assure you.”

His hand wandered between her thighs, and she tried not to moan.

“I guess, I mean here you are, all worked up, and wet for nothing?” His thumb grazed her clit and she jumped. “When you have a man right here who wants to make you scream in ecstasy?”

She regarded him seriously. “But it isn’t fair.”

“You’re the boss tonight. You decide what’s fair.” Max bent his head to kiss her mound. “It just seems like such a waste not to give you what you need.”

“As long as you don’t think I’m taking advantage of you,” Phoebe said demurely.

He looked up and frowned. “I never feel like that.”

“Then, maybe just a quick one? I must confess that it won’t take long for me to . . . climax.”

“That’s because you’re a very sexy woman, Feebs.” Max grinned at her and then returned his attention between her thighs. His tongue flicked over her needy bud, and she bucked her hips and grabbed his head.

His laughter vibrated against her skin setting off a wave of sensations that made her cling to him like a vine as he licked and fingered her to another roaring climax. He briefly looked up as she regained her senses and met her gaze.

“You can stop now if you like,” Phoebe croaked. “We’re definitely even.”

“Nah.” He slid another finger inside her. “You’re not done yet.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I promised you’d scream and that hasn’t happened yet, so lie back and enjoy.”

Phoebe covered her eyes and pretended to sigh even as her body readied itself for even more excitement. “If I must.”

“Oh, you must. Because next time we do this I’m going to be inside you for real, so we need to practice.”

He pushed her left knee wide and tugged at the skirt of her nightie. “Can we get rid of this, now?”

“And be naked together?”

“We’re married.”

It was her turn to grin at him. “That’s right. We can do anything we want to each other.”

She undid the two buttons and pulled the garment over her head. The sensation of her bare skin touching Max’s was so intense she shivered. She wanted to rub herself all over him like a cat.

“Are you cold?” Max asked.

“Can you just hold me a moment?” Phoebe asked. “All of me?”

“I can do that.” He stretched out over her, his hands braced on either side of her head, his knees outside hers and gently rolled them both onto their sides. His arms came around her and she tucked her head under his chin.

“This okay, Feebs?”

She nodded, caught up in the delight of finally being naked with him, and how she didn’t care whether she wasn’t as perfect as she thought she should be. She drew her right leg over his hip, and felt his cock harden against her stomach.

“Max . . .”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve been on birth control for years to control my periods. I have an implant thing.”

“Yeah?”

“Which means that I won’t get pregnant when, I mean, if we make love.”

“We’ll be making love.” He kissed the top of her head. “And I’ll be using protection as well.”

“That’s very sweet of you.” Her eyes were already half-closed as he smoothed one hand up and down her back.

“Not sweet.” There was a hint of steel in his voice. “When I was young and stupid, I nearly married a woman I’d met at a bar who said I’d gotten her pregnant.”

“And had you?” Phoebe opened her eyes.

“No, but it taught me a valuable lesson.”

“Which was?”

“Always use protection unless you are one hundred percent committed to being a father.”

“Okay”

He paused. “What did you think I was going to say I learned?”

“Not to pick up strange women in bars?”

“Hey.” He eased back so that she could see his face. “You picked me up, remember?”

“So I did.” She smiled at him, and he kissed her forehead.

“Just so we’re clear.”

“Absolutely.” She yawned, snuggled back under his chin, and closed her eyes. “Good night, Max.”

“Night, Mrs. CSR.”

She chuckled. “I like that. Sounds like a crime show. Much easier to say.”

“You know the military. We love an acronym.”

“Is that what it’s called?”

“According to Luke it is. You can ask him in the morning if I got it right.”

She nodded and let herself fall asleep, safe in Max’s arms.