Page 21 of Wrong Idea

She didn’t need to thank me for a damn thing. If anything, I was the one choked up with gratitude in that moment. So much I couldn’t get more than a grunt out. Her eyes sparkled, and I couldn’t help but lean forward and press our lips together. I’d meant it to be sweet and soft, but I was starting to realize very quickly that things easily got out of hand with Max.

Lips danced, teeth scraped, and hands roamed, but despite having nothing but good intentions of keeping things innocent, she had other ideas. Max’s naughty, little seductive hips started to roll against me. Stroking my length back and forth.

“Max,” I groaned, slightly tortured. “Not here,” I rasped, wanting to shut the fuck up all at the same time.

“Why?” she whimpered, pulling away.

Just looking at her made it hard for me to string words together. Her cheeks were rosy and lips plump and swollen from my mouth. She looked like she had been thoroughly kissed, and I fucking loved it. I wanted to mark her. My eyes dropped to her hand on my shoulder, and I could easily picture a ring on her finger.My ring.

If we did any more, my girl might end up losing her virginity right there on the wet grass in front of the sparkling lake where anyone could see.

“Baby, we don’t need to rush this.” I swallowed, my cock protesting with every syllable

“You’re not. I want to.”

“Jesus, you’re killing me, baby girl.” Her dark eyes twinkled with mischief. My innocent sweetness seemed to have a bit of a naughty side, and damn if that didn’t make me even harder. “Max, I can’t risk anyone seeing you.” I brushed the wavy strands that had fallen out of her bun behind her ears. “When,” I rasped, “not if.” Because we were inevitable. “But when I take that pretty little cherry you saved so sweetly for me, I won’t have anyone around us for miles,” I darkly shared, my voice scratchy in my own ears. “I would never risk anyone hearing one of your soft little moans, much less see you. You’re mine, Max. All mine.”

“Car—“

“I know I’m coming off strong,” I laid out, “but you have to know where I stand.” I needed her to know I meant every word.

“You don’t play games,” she whispered, and if I wasn’t wrong, I could almost see some relief in her eyes. “Or is it…” she hesitated, and I knew I wouldn’t like what she was about to say. “Is the real reason you don’t want to do anything more because you’re actually worried about someone seeing you with me?”

“What?” My brows immediately bunched, and eyes narrowed.

“I just… You don’t have a wife and kids at home, or a bunch of girlfriends all over town, or maybe the towns by Moonlit Pines?”

“Not even close. I’m forty-two, beautiful. I’m a grown man who knows himself and what he likes and, more importantly, what he wants.”

“And you want me?” she asked, the vulnerability clear in her voice.

“I do.” I swallowed. “In keeping with being honest even if this makes me a freaking red flag, that’s what you kids call it now, right?”

“You kids?” Her lips twitched, and her eyes shined with amusement.

“I haven’t been in a relationship for longer than I want to admit. I’ve been busy working and building my business, taking care of my brothers.”

“Your brothers?” Her lips twitched again. “Are they younger?”

“Yes, but not like you think. They don’t know how to act their age, just their shoe size.” I sighed. “It’s not an excuse. That being said,” I paused because now I worried I was being a littletoohonest. “I haven’t been a choir boy, Max.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to be,” she responded sweetly, making me fall harder and deeper. “We all have a past.” She shrugged. “And maybe in our case, it’s a good thing one of us knows what to do,” she teased lightly, but my dick didn’t get the joke. It yearned to get inside of her and show her exactly what could be done. To be her first and only.

“Max,” I growled. My hand tightened around the back of her head.

“It was a joke,” she whispered, stealing a kiss before pulling back. “And in case you were wondering, I like you, too,” she shared. My forehead pressed against hers, and I breathed deeply. Her scent mixed with the fresh water from the lake in a way I knew would be ingrained in my head for the rest of my life. A scent I would crave.

“I wish I could keep you here all night.” I sighed.

“I wish that, too.” Her smile was soft and shy, but it was in her eyes I could see how torn she was. She needed to get back to work but didn’t want to leave.

“Can I stop by and bring you breakfast in the morning tomorrow?” Her gaze brightened, and she nodded.

“I’d like that.”

“Okay,” I sighed. “Time to get you back to work, pretty girl,” I said even though I didn’t want to.

“Okay,” she whispered before pressing her lips against mine one more time.

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