Page 41 of The Long and Winding Road

This was perfection,Max thought as he kissed her and held her. It felt like no time had gone by as all the turmoil inside him settled. On any other day, Chloe’s reappearance would have sent him into a tailspin. With Lexi there to give him much better things to think about, the concern was still present, but it wasn’t all-consuming the way it would’ve been otherwise.

He’d figure out the best way forward for Caden, the way he always did. But tonight, he didn’t have to think about any of that. Not when he had Lexi back in his arms for the first time in years, and in his bed for the first time ever.

Max was determined to make this amazing for her. He wanted her to leave here on Monday with no doubt about where she belonged and who she belonged with. He kissed her face and neck and down to her chest, where he encountered a bump under her skin.

“That’s my chemo port. They want me to keep it for another year. Just in case.”

He couldn’t bear to think about her being sick again, so he didn’t dwell on that, not now when everything felt better than it had since he was last with her.

“Max…”

“What, honey?”

“I’m different than I was. Thinner. Bonier. Just different. And I have scars.”

“You’re as beautiful as I remember. Don’t worry about anything. Just relax and let me love you.” He reached behind her to release her bra and eased it down, revealing the breasts that had been the source of his youthful fantasies. Hers were the first ones he’d ever seen or touched. He’d been obsessed with her and would be again before this weekend was over.

The thought of her leaving on Monday made him sadder than he’d been in a long time, and it was still only Saturday. Maybe he could talk her into staying. That possibility sent his spirits soaring as he kissed her abdomen and down to the waistband of her panties. Hooking his fingers into the elastic, he eased them down her legs and tossed them aside.

“Are you warm enough?”

“I’m very warm,” she said with a suggestive smile.

“Let’s see if we can make you even warmer.” He settled between her legs and opened her to his tongue and fingers.

“Max… What… Wait…”

“Shhh. It’s okay.” They hadn’t done this in the past, so it was probably new to her, which was even more reason to make it as good as it could be. He set out to bring her nothing but pleasure with his tongue and fingers. He’d learned a few things in the years since they’d been together, and he put them all into practice, curling his fingers to hit the spot inside that would set her off.

“Relax,” he whispered. “Let it happen.”

He doubled down and had her straining toward release in a matter of seconds.

Lexi cried out when she came, her inner muscles tightening around his fingers.

Max withdrew from her. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Her laughter made him smile. “Couldn’t move if I had to.”

He went into the bathroom and found a box of condoms he’d bought a while ago but had never opened. Colton’s commentary from earlier ran through his mind. As much as Max hated to admit his brother was right about anything, he’d been right to push him toward Lexi.

He washed his face and hands quickly and returned to her.

She was snuggled under the comforter where he joined her after rolling on the condom.

Her arms and legs wrapped around him felt like a homecoming of sorts, and the feeling of rightness that came with being with her was just as he remembered.

“This feels so good,” he whispered against her lips. “So right.”

“Yes, it does.”

“You ready for more?”

“Mmm, so ready.”

He rolled them so he was on top of her, gazing down at her sweet face.

She looked up at him with love and trust and so much affection.

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