Beyond Eighteen(102)

I served up two bowls of minestrone soup and carried them out to Max. We cuddled up on the couch, slurping our soup, and watched Ohio State Buckeyes play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

“Okay, you two, be good and Happy New Year,” Joanie said. She collected her suitcase, rolling behind her. She had changed into a cute scoop-neck, loose-knit gray sweater and black pants.

“Are you coming back in a couple of days?” I asked quickly.

“I…ah...I’ll call you. He wants to see the coast a little before heading back to the Bay Area.”

“Okay, well come here,” I said as I set my soup on the coffee table and hugged her.

“Avoid the construction up on Highway 1,” Max said.

“Thanks, Max, take care of our girl here,” Joanie answered as she tapped him on the chest.

“Here, I’ll take this for you.” Max grabbed her suitcase and carried it out to her SUV. He shoved it in the back before meeting me back on the porch.

I stood wrapped in his arms as we watched Joanie drive off to meet Nick. The cold ocean breeze swirled around my neck, causing me to shiver. Max noticed and pushed his lips to my neck.

“Well, it’s just you and me now…wonder what kind of trouble we can get into?” Max said as he pulled me back against his chest. I stumbled and he slipped his hands down around my waist.

“All kinds of trouble,” I said as I pushed back against him before slipping out of his arms and pulling him back into the house.

“I like the sound of that,” he growled as he pushed his body against my backside. “Maybe we’ll just stay in the entire time and make love wherever we feel like it. Like here,” he said as he pushed me against the wall at the foot of the stairs, kissing me, hungry to have me again.

I pushed back hard and shoved him back against the arm of the couch. The soup still on the coffee table, the Buckeyes still beating the Ducks, I pushed him down on the couch and straddled him.

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea…J just left, what if she forgot something and comes back in?” I asked as I pulled his shirt off over his head.

His smile mesmerized me, his eyes pierced my soul, his hands clung to the edges of my face, and I melted into his lap.

“She can’t…I locked the front door.” He smiled before pushing his mouth hard against mine. His lips were hot, wet, and tasty as his tongue tangled with mine. His hands slid firmly across my back as he pulled me closer.

“You ready to make love to me right here?” I asked as he dropped his mouth to my neck.

“God knows I’m ready,” he answered as his hands slipped under my shirt. His fingers dragged along the edge of my bra, his thumbs separating my straps from my skin. Goose bumps raged where his fingers explored my flesh. His palms dragged along my breasts, my nipples hard against his fingers, my lips owning his. I needed his kiss and craved his touch.

I pulled at his shirt, trying to free it from his chest. I wanted to feel his skin with my hands, drag my fingers along his shapely six-pack, and I longed to get lost in his touch.

“Hold on, babe…there’s something I want to show you,” he said as he leaned back, attempting to stop me from groping him. I pushed my hands into his hair, but he reached up to grab my wrists and kept me from trying to kiss him.

“What do you want to show me?” I sighed as I played with him a little more.

“Really, babe, it won’t take but a minute. I found it when I got here. I want to show it to you,” Max held my wrists and stared into my eyes. God, he gets whatever he wants from me when he gives me those sultry, puppy dog eyes …and he knows it.

“Okay, where are we going?” I asked as he helped me off his lap.

“Just wait and see.”

I was never really good at ‘wait and see.’ I was more of the ‘just give it to me now’ type of girl. I didn’t want to be surprised by something I had no control over. Max learned that when he got me into that death trap up in the sky.

“We already did that with the helicopter…remember? That didn’t go over too well. Besides, what if I refuse?” I countered.

“I promise you, I will not take you in any moving vehicles or machinery that takes you off the ground. Just give me one second,” Max stopped talking for a moment, hustled to his suitcase, and began to rummage through it.

“What are you looking for? Do you need me to help?” I asked, noticing his arm buried up to his bicep.

“No, I need my jacket. Wait, here, it is. Get yours, too.” He pulled out a light windbreaker, too thin for north coast weather in December. I collected my grandpa’s flannel jacket off the old, gnarly, driftwood coat rack by the front door. I could still smell his Old Spice cologne in its fibers.