Page 78 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends
Max takes it from me before I can even reach the sink. He rinses off the glass and places it in my dishwasher, moving like he’s some sort of automated machine.
“Okay, that’s enough tidying up,” I say as I grab his arms, turning him to face me. “I can’t relax if you’re cleaning up my entire apartment.”
“I just want to help out,” Max replies. “I feel bad about how I acted last night. Josh was on top of everything, and I was… useless.”
“No, you weren’t. I dropped a bomb on you, and you were processing,” I tell him as I slide my hands down to his to squeeze them. “I want you to be honest with me. Even if you’re freaking out.”
A small smile appears on his face. “I’m kind of freaking out, but it’s not a bad freaking out. I just want everything to go well.”
I can accept some freaking out because that’s still me on the inside. Everything is about to change for us, and I think a little bit of panic is expected for something like that. As long as we’re mostly happy, we’ll make it through.
With them by my side, I’mreallyhappy.
“Me too,” I say with a gentle sigh before rubbing the back of my neck. “I don’t think I can sit on the couch and relax right now.”
Max thinks for a moment before his eyes light up. “How about a bath?”
Now, that sounds really nice. I nod eagerly and let him lead me to the bathroom by the hand, hoping that the hot water will melt away the rest of my stress. At least for a little while.
Being around the guys and not being all by myself has already helped me a lot. As long as I don’t lose them, I think I can brave the bumpy, winding road that’s ahead of us and whatever surprises it holds.
Max pulls back the shower curtain and liner and turns on the hot water, letting it steadily fill up the bathtub. He turns to me and gives me a warm look. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Before he can leave, I grab his arm and shake my head. “Stay. Please.”
Max nods, his eyes lingering on me as I start to undress. His eyes steadily darken as his gaze roams up my bare body, taking in every inch of me and my smooth skin.
Warmth pools low in my stomach as I walk to the bathtub, feeling his gaze on me. I don’t want to be alone, but I also can’t help but crave his attention.
And his affection.
I step into the tub and sink down into the hot water, my muscles immediately relaxing as I lean my back against the inside wall. “That’s really nice.”
Max grabs a washcloth from my bathroom cabinet and dips it into the water before soaping it up. “Relax. I’ve got you.”
I close my eyes and tilt my head back as he gently drags the rag up my arms and over my shoulders, the steam from the hot water filling the bathroom. I don’t think that I’ve ever been pampered before like this, but it feelssogood.
Max slides the washcloth over my chest, and even the slightest graze of the cloth against my nipples makes them harden. His breath hitches, but he continues, moving his hand lower over my stomach.
Feeling him lean so close to me and hearing his breath next to my ear almost drives me as crazy as his hand does as it ventures all over my body. I press my thighs together under the water, feeling a light pulse of desire between them.
Max kneels a little behind my right shoulder and leans close to my ear. “This is what I want to do. I want to take care of you.”
A faint moan sounds in my throat as his lips press against the side of my neck. “Max…”
Max abandons the washcloth and slips his hand between my thighs instead, his fingers pushing through my folds before gliding over my clit beneath the water.
I buck up against his hand as I reach out to thread my fingers through his hair, my chest rising and falling heavily. Every stroke of his fingers feels like ecstasy, making me feel hotter as he kisses and touches me just right.
Max sucks a mark into the top of my shoulder where no one else will see it. Besides maybe the other guys.
“I want you inside of me,” I breathe out as I arch my back off the tub wall, needing more to fall off the edge.
Max pushes a finger inside of me and thrusts it in and out. “Like this?”
What a tease. He knows exactly what I want, but what’s the fun in rushing to the finish line so quickly?
“More,” I plead him as I tighten my fingers in his hair. “Give me more.”
