Slowly, like he didn’t believe what he was hearing, a smile crept its way across his gorgeous face. “Are ya serious?”
I nodded tentatively. “Why wait? I don’t want a big wedding and I have no desire to plan one, although Isa called again today and has a color scheme picked out!” I laughed. “I just wanna be Mrs. Maxwell Quinn.”
“Say that again,” he demanded, his eyes burning.
“Mrs. Maxwell. Quinn.”
He leaned his head back, closing his eyes. I reached up on my tip-toes and kissed his throat, the skin begging me to lick it.
He bent his head down to face me again, his eyes soft, loving. “I’d marry you today but my mama isn’t gonna have that. She’s gonna demand it be in a church.”
“Really?” I said, twisting my face in disgust.
“Look,” he said, the wheels in his head turning a mile a minute. “I wanna do what you want, but it is important to me in a lot of ways to do right by my parents when it comes to this. If the church they attend will let us use their sanctuary comin’ up, will you be alright with doing it there?”
My heart melted, not just because he looked more handsome that I’d ever seen him, but because he was a good man. The best man I’d ever known.
“That works for me,” I whispered, resting my forehead against his. “I love you so much.”
“Ah, sweetheart,” he said, “you have no damn idea.” He kissed me gently on the lips.
I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch. He stood and faced me, an amused grin on his face.
“Sit,” I commanded, pushing his shoulders until he fell back onto the couch. I reached down and took off his hat and tossed it next to him. “Shirt off.”
He raised his eyebrows and hemline at the same time, baring his solid chest inch by delicious inch. “Now yours, darlin.’”
I lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it at Max’s face. He swiped it off to the side.
“Now your pants.”
“Hey, I’m in control here,” I said, shooting him a stern look. “Your pants. Off.”
He shrugged and undid his belt, lifting his hips. He popped the button and undid the zipper, kicking his jeans off onto the floor. Looking at me expectantly, he leaned back against the cushions and smiled at my realization that he was commando.
“Nice,” I smiled as I pushed my pants and panties passed my hips and to the floor.
Max’s gaze was hot, searing into my skin. He looked at my bra and then back up to my eyes, telling me without speaking to remove it. I obliged.
“So damn beautiful,” he said, a hint of roughness to his tone.
I stood before him, surprised at my lack of embarrassment. I was completely naked, my hair spilling across my shoulders, completely exposed, physically and emotionally, to the man sitting in front of me.
“Come here, sweetheart.” He reached for me, his eyes soft.
A shuddered breath racked through my chest as I contemplated what to do. For the first time, I didn’t feel the need to make the impending situation a mere sexual transaction. Even though with Max it had always been more, I still always felt such a need to keep a distance. To distance myself from the emotional connection that Max tried to parlay into the actions. But this time, his gaze heavy on me, his eyes full of love, I was okay with it. I liked it.
I needed it.
I took his hand in mine and took a step towards him, climbing up on the couch and straddling him. I took his face in my hands, my fingertips running across the coarse stubble, and just appreciated what I had.
“I love you,” he whispered.
I kissed him softly, letting my lips and tongue tell him my reply. I reached beneath me and grabbed his cock, stroking it once, its thickness increasing in my hand. I positioned myself over it and slid smoothly down.
Max growled into my mouth, nipping at my bottom lip. “Shit, Kar,” he moaned, gripping my ass with both hands. He rocked himself forcefully as I pressed down, his length buried deep inside me. I felt his body quiver, his eyes squeeze shut, as the same sensations I felt racked through him as well.
His gaze locked onto mine as our bodies found a rhythm and he captured every part of me—mind, body, and soul. I was his in every way.
“I love you,” I said, the words falling out of my mouth with such ease it surprised me.
His eyes widened, a smirk dancing across his lips. “Say it again.”
“I love you,” I whispered, my eyes batting closed as the impending explosion built.
He leaned forward, his fingertips pressing hotly into my waist, and pressed kisses into my neck. Our bodies moved together in perfect harmony, nothing between us. Not a damn thing.
My legs began to shake as I moved up and down against his cock, a shiver tearing through me. My core was boiling, my body craving the orgasm that was on the cusp of rocking my world.