the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(53)

her, ―Wow, what‘s this for?‖ he said looking over her head at

Luke.

―I‘m going to the office for a bit,‖ Luke said standing up,

―I‘ll get a head start for Tuesday.‖ He glanced at his watch, ―I‘ll be

home late, so don‘t wait up.‖ He turned and walked out of the

room leaving Max staring at him completely baffled. Then he felt

Lily‘s hands on either side of his face causing him to look down at

her.

132

The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire



―I want my ring back.‖

He stared down at her still confused about the sudden

affection not missing her tearstained eyes. Then he smiled

slowly and reached into his pocket withdrawing the ring, ‖All

right.‖

―You had it with you?‖ she said in awe as he slipped it

back on her finger.

―I‘ve had it with me for three years.‖ He confessed deeply.

―All the time?‖

―Every day.‖

―Is it really mine?‖ she looked up at him after admiring it.

―Luke‘s got a big mouth.‖ He said pursing his lips.

―I would have said yes at sixteen.‖

He reached up and brushed her long hair back over her

shoulders to cup her face in his hands and search her eyes for

some sort of apprehension, there was none. ―I would have

married you then button, but Luke was right in a lot of ways.‖

―I‘m not sixteen Max, I‘m twenty now.‖

―Yes you are.‖ He said huskily before he lowered his head

and kissed her.



Luke came home a little after midnight and saw his sister

and Max sleeping on the sofa covered by a quilt. He released a

sigh of relief. Max still had his shirt on but it was unbuttoned

and his sister was curled against him and he could see that she

still wore her nightgown. Then his eyes guided to the hand on

Max‘s bare chest noticing the engagement ring back where it

belonged and he smiled. Quietly he made his way by the sleeping

couple to his room. He had to give it to his friend because under

the circumstances, he showed a great deal of restraint. If it was

someone Luke loved the way Max loved Lily, he would want to be

with her in every way after hearing such news.

Lily had never slept so well in her life. When she awoke

133

Lietha Wards

the next morning she was ecstatic to see that Max didn‘t get up

and leave this time. He was still with her and asleep. He looked

peaceful and incredibly handsome. She lifted her head and

moved her gaze over his face. His jaw had a day‘s worth of

stubble and it made him look worn but sinfully appealing.

Having her body pressed against his hard form was doing

amazing things to her insides too. She didn‘t forget what he

looked and felt like naked and those feelings of desire rose within

her like a volcano.

―Quit staring.‖ He murmured.

―Oh for gosh sakes! ― she flushed.

He opened his eyes and grinned, ―Well, I can get used to

this.‖ He lifted his arm and looked at his watch, ―I‘ve got to get

going. Go get dressed Lily, you‘re coming with me. I have some

things to finish up at the office, and then we have a ten o‘clock

appointment with Doctor Jenson.‖

―Oh.‖ She couldn‘t stop the tremor.

―Hey,‖ he said softly nudging her chin so she‘d look at

him, ―I‘m with you every step of the way.‖

―I know. I‘m terrified.‖

―I‘m scared to honey, but we‘ll beat this together.‖

―Are you?‖ she said raising her brows. She was sure Max

hadn‘t been scared of anything in his life. He faced adversary

head on with horns out.

―Of course I am.‖ He said softly, ―Luke has finally let me

near you and now that I‘ve got you I certainly don‘t want

anything to happen to you. You‘re my life.‖

She could feel her eyes moisten, ―Do you really mean

that?‖

―Come here honey.‖ He said shifting his body and easily

lifting her over him so he could kiss her. It was a kiss of complete

tenderness and it was loaded with affection.

Finally he lifted her off him and sat up. ―Let‘s get going

134

The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire



before I drag you to your room.‖ He said in a strained voice.

Lily couldn‘t see anything wrong with that, but intimacy

was still new to her and she didn‘t know how to tell him so she

did as he said and made her way to her room to get dressed.



At the office Max made her sit in the waiting room across

from Nancy, ―Keep an eye on her Nance, I‘ll try not to be too

long.‖

―No problem.‖ She said looking past him to Lily. The girl

looked pale and exhausted. ―Lily, would you like some tea?‖

―I‘d love that.‖ She said.

When Nancy got up to go and get it, he turned back to

her, ―I‘ll try not to be too long, but stay here and wait for me,