Page 35 of Make Me Whole

I closed the door behind me and angrily sorted the clothes. My eyes stung with tears as I shoved the colored pieces into the washer, the lights into a bin, and the delicates into the sink, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t be frustrated, rejected, and pathetic all at the same time.

The door opened as I started the load in the washer. Without looking at Max, I walked to the sink to soak my delicates.

“Don’t,” Max warned, but it was too late.

As soon as I turned the faucet, water sprayed everywhere. I closed my eyes as cold water assaulted me and gasped for air as fat droplets filled my nose. I heard footsteps approach and a moment later, the gushing water stopped.

“Why would you turn on that faucet, Skylar? I told you it was faulty since the pipe broke.”

I couldn’t remember whether he had told me that or not. I was too busy looking down at my drenched pastel pink dress. It was stuck to my skin like Saran Wrap, making it obvious that the water was cold and I wasn’t wearing a bra.

When I failed to reply, he placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me so we were face to face. His touch made me hot—with lust or anger, I didn’t know.

“Because you make me too angry to think,” I finally said, then wiggled my shoulders to dislodge his hands. “And don’t touch me.”

His expression tensed as his hands fell from my wet skin. “Fuck you, Skylar. Do you think you’re the only one who’s frustrated and confused? I’m right there with you. I’m just trying to stay normal for the kids’ sake.”

“What do you have to be confused about?” My question was genuine. He had no reason or right to be confused. I had been open with him. Too open. Transparent, in fact, while he was a bucket of muddy water.

“That fucking kiss, for one.” His voice was loaded with emotions, and none of them were good. “Why did you have to kiss me? I was fine before that. I had my memories of Marge and bar women to fuck when nature demanded, and I never got emotionally involved. There was no need to care for or protect anyone other than Aiden since she died, and my life was fine.

“Then you showed up, with your broken heart and sexy body, and I’m not fine anymore. I don’t think of Marge when I go to sleep or when I jack off in the shower. It’s your face I see, your fucking curves that are engraved in my brain since Saturday. So I’m confused about that. About forgetting the only woman I’ve ever loved because I’m too caught up in this messed up fantasy with my best friend’s daughter.”

Finally, the muddy water cleared.

“Is that why you keep rejecting me?”

His brows shot up. “When did I reject you? I kissed you when you wanted, went half insane when you disappeared, held you while you cried, freaked the delivery guy out with my boner, and then acted normal around you so you wouldn’t get embarrassed. I also shut down the neighbor who seemed a bit too flirty.”

The air was heavy with the moment and our combined desire. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at me with weary eyes. “What else do you want from me?”

I parted my lips and sucked air into my burning lungs. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and I knew this was the point of no return and I had to make a choice. I could stop this for the sake of his love for his wife and for my father. Or I could escalate it the way he was clearly asking me to, the way I wanted to.

One option felt right. The other felt good.

“I want what you want,” I finally said, leaving the choice to him.

He stared at me for another second, then whispered, “Fuck it.”

His hands reached for my hips, fingers clutching the wet fabric of my dress, and he pulled me toward him. Our mouths connected, and he kissed me hard. The connection was tenser than our last kiss, but way hotter.

I brought my hands to his hair, pulling his head closer, his tongue deeper. It was an amazing kiss, but I wanted more. Like a mind reader, Max delivered.

He brought his hands to the wet straps on my shoulder and lowered the fabric. His tongue followed the fabric downward, searing a path of desire down my skin. He pulled his head back from my chest once the fabric went past my tits and stared at me. I felt vulnerable and utterly secure, all at once.

“Fuck!” he whispered and ran his tongue across his lips. “They’re even more perfect up close.”

I smiled at the compliment, as if having nice breasts was an actual accomplishment. But I quickly forgot my pride as he inched closer to my chest, stuck his tongue out, and licked my right nipple.

I bit my lips as he wrapped his lips around the rosy peak and sucked, elongating my flesh until I was panting. He released it and moved to the other side, giving my left nipple the same wonderful attention.

“Are you this tasty all over, Sky?”

My panties were soaked with arousal. “Taste me and find out.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” he said against the soft skin of my breasts.

Max’s hands returned to my dress. He dragged it down my body as his mouth delivered fiery kisses to each new uncovered patch of skin. As delicious as the sensation was, it wasn’t what I wanted from him. My body hummed with desire for this man, and I knew the only thing that would quench it was having him inside me.

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