Page 43 of About That One Night
I feel my nerves tingling, a mix of excitement and fear. “And how do you propose I do that?”
His hand brushes my arm, sending a warm thrill through me. “We could start with a dance,” he murmurs, leaning in closer.
The tension between us shifts, charged with something new and thrilling. I find myself caught between the desire to give in and the fear of complicating things further. But as I look into Max’s eyes, I wonder if maybe, just maybe, it might be worth the risk.
“A dance?”
He nods, his eyes locked on mine. “Or maybe something more.”
Before I can second-guess myself, I close the distance between us, our lips meeting in a kiss that is both tentative and electric. His hand moves to the small of my back, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss. My heart races as I lose myself in the moment, forgetting all the reasons why this might be a bad idea.
As the kiss ends, we pull back slightly, our foreheads touching. The world around us fades, and for a brief, perfect moment, it’s just the two of us.
“I think I’m starting to get the hang of this ‘living a little’ thing,” I whisper, my voice shaky but filled with a newfound confidence.
Max’s hand comes up to cup my face, his thumbgrazing my cheekbone. “Good. Because this is just the beginning.”
His mouth is on mine, hungry and insistent, and every coherent thought flees my mind. I’m lost in the heat of him, the taste of whiskey on his tongue, the press of his body against mine.
Nothing else matters but this moment, this connection. As Max backs me against the balcony railing, his hands skimming my waist, I surrender to the inevitable. Tonight, I’m exactly where I belong.
Max’s lips trail down my neck, his breath hot against my skin. I tilt my head back, giving him better access, my fingers tangling in his hair. Every touch, every kiss, sets my nerve endings ablaze, desire coiling tight in my belly.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I manage, even as I arch into him. “Your sister’s wedding . . .”
“This is about us, not my sister or whatever is happening around us.” Max’s voice is rough, his hands sliding under the hem of my dress.
He has a point. Tonight, I’m just Zoe—a woman aching to be touched, to be wanted. And Max seems determined to satisfy that ache.
His fingers skim higher, teasing the sensitive skin of my inner thighs. I bite back a moan, my hips rocking instinctively against his.
“Tell me to stop,” Max murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. “Tell me you don’t want this.”
But I can’t. Because I do want it—want him—with an intensity that frightens me.
Instead of answering, I capture his mouth in another searing kiss, pouring all my longing, all myneed, into the contact. Max groans, his grip on me tightening, and I know he’s just as lost as I am.
With a shared urgency, we break the kiss and head toward my cabana. The path is a blur of shadows and moonlight, our hands and lips exploring whenever we pause for breath. By the time we reach the door, my pulse is racing, my mind a whirl of anticipation.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maximillian
As we walk togethertoward the cabana, my mind races with a mix of anticipation and doubt.
Are we really doing this?
The thought of Zoe consumes me, making it hard to think straight. I’ve never felt this need for anyone before. I want to touch her in ways I’ve never touched anyone. I want to ravage her with little to no mercy, to break the rules and let go of everyinhibition.
The desire building inside me is impossible to ignore. Kiss her senseless, maybe even possess her, if only for tonight—for the week. The thought sends a thrill through me, an exhilaration that’s both exciting and terrifying.
We reach the cabana, and I stop, turning to face her. My heart pounds as I search her eyes for any sign of hesitation. “Are we really doing this?” I whisper, my voice low and gravelly, filled with the weight of my emotions.
Zoe looks at me, her breath hitching slightly. This is uncharted territory, a line we are about to cross, but I feel an irresistible pull toward her.
“Yes,” she breathes, her voice barely audible.
I cup her cheek, my thumb gently caressing her skin. “I’ve never wanted anyone like this before,” I confess, my eyes locked onto hers. “The way I need you . . . it’s hard to explain, but I want to do so much to you. Everything. But only if you allow it.”
