The Perception (The Exception #2)

He slammed himself into me again. “Who was it, Kari?”


“A doctor from the hospital,” I moaned, trying to get some friction going again. I could feel the wetness dripping down my ass. “It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a big deal when I’m sitting at a restaurant and you walk by the window with another man.” He slammed into the back of me with more force than I had ever felt. “His only saving grace was that I could see you through the window and I was in a business meeting that I couldn’t walk out of. Otherwise, I’d have been in there quicker than shit.”

“Damn it, Max!” I yelled through clenched teeth, locking my heels behind his back and tilting my pelvis up. “He was just offering me a job! Calm down!”

His eyes blazed. “It takes every bit of effort I can find to keep calm about a lot of shit. I let you fight me tooth and nail but I won’t watch you with another man.” He pushed himself into me and swirled his hips, making it hard to think coherently again. “I draw the line there, sweetheart.” He stilled.

“I wasn’t with another man like that,” I moaned, wanting him to shut the hell up and move.

“I can’t tell you how lucky that makes him.”

I worked my hips in a circle, closing my eyes and feeling my body light up. When I opened them, two pools of green were staring back at me.

“Did Max Quinn just get jealous?” I pressed my lips together, teasing him.

He didn’t respond for a minute, just worked his cock in and out, inch by inch. “Maybe.”

“That kind of turns me on.”

“You make sure I’m the only one turning you on.”

I pressed my head into the pillows, feeling him increase his pace.

“You’re mine, sweetheart, whether you admit it or not.” He reached up and undid the apron strings, my arms falling to the pillows above my head. “This,” he said, reaching down and pressing on my clit, “is mine. Are we clear?”

“Yes,” I said, breathing out as my body began inching its way towards relief.

“These,” he said, touching my lips and then the spot over my heart, “are mine, too. Got it?”

I moaned as he swirled his hips deep inside me.

He chuckled. “I’m going to make sure you remember that.” He kissed me on the lips and then drove his point home.





KARI


“Whose idea was karaoke night?” Cane took a swig of his beer and looked pointedly at Isa, a hint of a grin on his lips. “This sounds like something you’d come up with.”

“Don’t start with me,” she warned him playfully. “I’ll have your ass up there singing before you know it.”

“Not happening,” he muttered, taking another drink.

We were all sitting in Casaar’s Bar, a local place that Jada and I had been to a few times. It was fun and laid back most nights. Isa had called me earlier in the day and wanted to get everyone together. She’d met Cane a few times before and wanted to meet Jada, so I suggested Casaar’s. It was smoke-free and pretty tame, perfect for all of us.

I laughed. “Cane singing karaoke? Now that sounds entertaining.”

Cane tipped his bottle towards Max. “How about your boy getting up there? I want a replay of Friends in Low Places, man. They probably have Garth Brooks.”

Pierce roared with laughter, elbowing Max in the ribs. Isa just giggled while Cane watched him for a reaction? a smirk lodged on his face.

“What are we missing?” my sister asked me; I shrugged.

“Cane and Max came to visit us in Austin a couple of years ago. Max here had a little too much Crown and did a little rendition of Garth’s classic,” Pierce said, not bothering to hide his grin.

“You did?” I turned to Max, my jaw dropping open. “Come on! Sing for me tonight!”

“There’s nothing that will get me on stage again,” he said, holding his hands up in defense. “Just let it be.”

We all laughed as Max blushed, something he didn’t do very often. I could only imagine how much he would’ve had to have drank to sing karaoke in front of a bunch of strangers. Max was pretty reserved and karaoke wasn’t something I could imagine him doing.

“Maybe if we switch out that Corona for Crown,” Pierce winked.

“Oh, stop it,” Isa said, shoving on Pierce’s shoulder. “Leave Max alone.” She took a sip of her wine. “But it is a shame I didn’t get that on video.”

Max groaned, tugging the brim of his hat over his eyes. I squeezed his thigh under the table and he peeked up, rewarding me with a shy smile.

Trying to turn the attention away from my man, I looked across the table. Jada was leaning against Cane, looking adorable in a pair of black pants and a white top. Her hair was so thick and shiny, the light from overhead reflecting off the strands. “How are you feeling, Jada?”

She shrugged. “Alright. I’ve been too tired to do much lately. Just getting dressed felt like climbing Mt. Everest.”