Reluctantly Royal(78)

“I could help with that too.” His fingers wrapped around my wrist and tugged me after him.

Once inside my room, he turned me loose and closed the door. As he walked toward me, his eyes ran over my body, and my heart started to beat faster. He began to undo the buttons of his shirt as he walked toward me, and I didn’t waste any time pulling my dress off. If I was only going to have Max for a little while, then I wasn’t going to let any moment with him escape. His eyes stayed fixated on mine and he brushed my hair over my shoulders.

Tilting my head back, he kissed me. His lips were soft but hungry as he explored my mouth. His hands traced the lines of my body with just his fingertips. The feel of his hands on my skin elicited goose bumps, and I shivered. He chuckled, a deep masculine sound that sent my body into overdrive. When his lips left mine to trail down my neck I let my eyes close.

Pulling me closer, he swept me up into his arms and I squeaked in surprise.

“You’re a tiny thing.” He looked down into my eyes as he crossed the floor to the bed.

“Maybe you’re just unnaturally large.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Now, that’s what every man wants to hear.” His smile made me giggle.

He set me on the bed so that my legs were hanging over the edge. Kneeling in front of me, he slid my legs apart so that he could move close enough to kiss me. His hands grazed my breasts and moved down to grasp my hips, his thumbs tracing circles just inside my thighs.

Leaving my mouth, he trailed kisses over my body until his warm breath spread over my warm center. He looked up at me with a small smile before pressing his warm mouth to my skin. I sucked in a deep breath of air when his tongue darted out to trace along me. Long, slow strokes sent bursts of pleasure over my body.

Falling back on the bed, I closed my eyes and reached down to tangle my fingers in his hair. He shifted my legs so that they were thrown over his shoulders, giving him better access. My body bucked under his delicate attention, and his hands gripped my hips to keep me in place.

When the end came it hit me like lightning. I cried out before biting my lip as pleasure exploded over my body in wave after wave. Kissing my throbbing center delicately, he untangled himself from my legs and crawled onto the bed, pulling me up to the pillows.

I turned to him, ready to repay the favor, but he stopped me.

“Tonight was about you.” He kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep.”

He pulled the blanket out from underneath us, lay back and held his arm out to me.

I looked at him for a minute before doing as he suggested. His arm wrapped around my shoulders and he kissed my head. I’d never slept with a man before. Not even Marty’s father. That had been all quick tumbles in a car or hasty, quiet meetings in dark places. I wasn’t sure what had prompted me to ask him to take a nap with me earlier. My heart had been heavy and sore; I’d just wanted someone to hold me. No, not just someone. I’d wanted Max to hold me.

And now here we were again. Curled up against each other as our breathing seemed to match. He reached out and ran his hand along my hip before pulling my leg up over his. His hand stayed on my knee while his thumb rubbed small circles against my skin.

I’m not sure when it happened, but I fell asleep. I had been prepared to spend the night stressing over what would happen at the reading of the will. Instead I spent the night in the arms of the man I loved. Too bad he didn’t know it and I was too scared to tell him.

When I woke up, Max was snoring gently in my ear, and I didn’t try to hide my satisfied smile. A girl could get used to waking up next to a man who looked like Max. I sat up on my elbow and looked around the room. The alarm clock blinking next to the bed said I didn’t have long before I had to leave.

“Good morning.” His voice rumbled beside me and I turned to look at him.

“Good morning.” I leaned back so that I was propped up on one elbow.

“How’d you sleep?” He reached up and tucked some of my hair behind my ear.

“Good.” Leaning down, I kissed him softly. “How about you?”

“Like a log.” His eyes ran over the bits of me that were exposed by the blanket. “I especially like waking up next to a gorgeous, naked redhead.”

“Down, boy.” I put my hand on his chest and lowered my eyelashes. “I’ve got to get ready.”

“Go take a shower. I’ll get Marty dressed.” He looked up at me with warm eyes.

“Are you looking for brownie points?” I smiled at him. “Because you’re definitely on the right road.”

“Mission accomplished.” He leaned up and kissed my nose before yanking the blanket away from me. “Now go get clean.”