Becoming His

My head tilts. “What sounds are greater?”

“The sounds you were making just a few minutes ago.” His hand drops to my backside and he squeezes once. This time his confession makes me blush slightly, though it fills me with a sense of pride.

“I have to get you to bed. You’re going to be up late tonight. Let’s go have some dessert.”

“Up late listening to more of your beautiful sounds?” His lips bury in my neck, caressing the skin with his lips as the short bristles along his jaw scratch my skin causing an erotic need to run through me.

“If you’re not too exhausted,” I say, releasing my legs from his waist and holding his arm with mine as we wade to the shallow end of the pool.

“I’ll never be too exhausted,” he promises as we climb out and wrap ourselves in towels before heading over to the blanket where we cuddle together as the cool November night air hits our bare skin.

We lie like this for several long moments, neither of us saying anything, and stare up into the sky, the faint scent of chlorine dancing off of our skin as we entwine our bodies.

“I don’t think this moment can ever be topped. I wish we could stop time right now or just slow it down so we could stay here longer.” Max’s quiet voice wraps around me in a hug as my hand traces slowly over his abdomen.

“You make me believe in soul mates,” I whisper.

“That’s because you were made for me to love. I’ll never get enough of you. I could be with you every moment of every day for the next thousand years and it wouldn’t be enough.”

We sit there a few moments basking in our love, allowing the emotion and sentiments to be properly savored.

“I have something for you,” I say, sitting up and grabbing the small wrapped box and handing it to him.

“I don’t want any wrapped gifts, unless you’re going to put a bow on yourself.”

I smile and shove it a little closer. “You already have me.”

He slowly takes the box from my hands and opens it, revealing a watch. He’d had a watch that he broke when we’d gone camping for Jameson’s birthday. When I saw this nearly a month ago it reminded me so much of him with the dark metal and the white face that was so masculine and cool, but had an edge of sexiness, it was undeniable even in a box.

“This is perfect.” His eyes look at my face, and I feel my insides flutter with happiness at his genuine excitement. Max quickly takes it out of the box and pulls the small tab out.

“What are you doing?” I ask as he slides it on his wrist.

“Stopping time,” he answers, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back down on the blanket where he holds me securely to him and kisses my lips and whispers thank yous and compliments as he strokes my hair and treats me like I’m fragile and sacred.

Eventually I pull away and sit up, knowing that it’s already way later than I expected to keep him up. “Come on, birthday boy,” I say, standing up, “you have to go to bed or you won’t enjoy the rest of your day.”

“It doesn’t matter what else happens today, not after this.” I smile and tug on his reluctant arm that I know could easily haul me back down but doesn’t. He stands up and accepts the small dish of crème brûlée that we didn’t get around to eating and walks me to my door where he kisses me once more before softly skimming the right side of my face with his thumb.

“I love you, Ace.”

“I love you, Max.” His eyes focus on mine for a second before I reach up to kiss him once more on his slightly swollen lips.

“I’m done with these home visits. I hate not having you in my bed.”

“Tomorrow!” I answer resolutely. “Now go have some sweet dreams of me!”

“Always,” he replies with a growl before kissing me once more and swatting my backside as I disappear inside.

As pla

I head back to San Diego early with Kendall, who helps me hang streamers and balloons, along with multiple happy birthday ba

I’m a bundle of nerves as we sit at the restaurant waiting for the boys. I’m realigning my silverware when Kendall grabs my hand within hers. “He’s going to love it. Everything is going to be fine. Just take a deep breath.”

My eyes dart to her piercing blue ones heavily shadowed with charcoal gray and force a nod as I take an audible breath that doesn’t seem to fulfill my need for air. Breathe is starting to become my life mantra since I met Max.

When the guys arrive, they’re all looking comfortable and relaxed, laughing over something as they follow the hostess to our table. Kendall squeezes my hand in a silent assurance as we stand up to greet them. Max wears a fitted long sleeve white shirt with thin gray stripes and a pair of jeans with some black dress shoes. It’s understated and casual, but he makes it look sexy and classy with his confident grin and posture.

His eyes light up as our gazes meet. I watch his eyes drink me in, trailing over the dark gray satin dress that goes over a single one of my shoulders and dips down on the other, ending tightly at my mid-thigh.

“Hey, beautiful.” Max cups the back of my exposed neck and leans forward kissing me.

Max’s phone rings as we crowd around the table.

“Hank,” he says quietly.

His face looks uncertain. I place my hand on his forearm and smile, nodding my head to the front of the restaurant. He grins at me before lifting the phone to his ear and heading back to the front. I offer him a giant smile before we continue outside.

“Alright, birthday boy, would you like to ride in their chariot or mine?” I ask, gesturing between Wes’s SUV and my car as we make it out to the parking lot after finishing di

“I’ll ride with you,” he answers wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll see you guys at the house.”

“Why don’t we go get ice cream?” Max suggests.

“Because that’s my favorite dessert, not yours and this is your day,” I reply, getting in the driver’s seat. “Plus I have a dozen more crème brûlées waiting for you at home.”

“The next one I eat is going to be poured over you,” Max says as he leans toward me. His hand runs up my thigh as his mouth goes to the spot beneath my ear that he knows drives me crazy.

I drive a little slower allowing Kendall and the guys a chance to ensure that everything’s in place. Max is plenty distracted with trying to distract me that if he notices, he doesn’t complain, or thinks it’s his own doing.

When we pull up to his house I’m thoroughly impressed that no one’s parked in front of the house or anywhere close by to make it obvious that a houseful of people are awaiting him. Only his Jeep and Wes’s SUV are in the driveway. My heart beats almost violently in my chest as the cool night air washes over me. Max meets me at the front of my car and takes my hand in his as we make our way the few steps to the front door.

“I say we make this a Bourne night,” he says, tucking me under his arm, “We’ll bring some crème brûlée upstairs and end this day like it began.”

“That sounds perfect,” I say, trying to contain my laugh from the fear bubbling inside of me. Oh please, oh please, oh please enjoy this, I pray as Max reaches for the door.

I take a deep breath as he pushes the door open and step into the dimly-lit house behind him. I instantly know that Kendall must have really put some threat behind this, because it is eerily silent.