Something Wonderful (28 page)

“You know I’m not with anyone right now,” she continued.

Oh God! Cringing from her words, I wanted to disappear. As heat flushed through my body with jealousy, I waited for Max’s response.

“You know I’m taken…I think.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“You really need to leave,” he ordered. “I have work to do. Crystal may have broken my spirit, but damn her to hell, she’s not taking anything else from me.”

“Like I said before, all the models will testify on your behalf. You’ve been nothing but kind to us, making sure we are always treated well. You’re always a gentleman. It’s the least we can do.”

“Thank you for stopping by, and for your support, Ella. Thomas will contact you if he feels it’s necessary.”

Hearing the smack sound of a kiss, I wanted to go in and let her know I was here before she tried anything else. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Max. I just didn’t want her hands on him any longer. Before I could make myself disappear and knowing she was about to leave, I was still caught up in eavesdropping as the door swung open.

Sucking in air, I was beyond embarrassed as both of their eyes set on mine in shock. Ella was beautiful, with long brown hair and a slim body; she looked exactly how a runway model should look.

“Jenna? What are you doing here?”

Max’s words stung me deeply, sounding as if I had no business being there.

“I came to talk to you.” My courage faltered. “I left you a message and texted to let you know I was coming.”

“I left the phone upstairs.” Max turned to Ella. “Ella, this is Jenna.”

“Ah, the ‘one.’ It’s a pleasure meeting you.” Ella was sweet, despite the fact she tried to jump into bed with Max. After shaking my hand, she walked out the door.

“Hope to see you both at the London Fashion Show.” With an air kiss to both of us, she made her way to the elevator.

Instead of welcoming me in, Max left the door open while he walked inside. Closing the door behind me, I placed my purse down on the kitchen counter and headed to the living room. The first thing I saw was Max’s shirt and the blue tie I bought him for Christmas, tossed on the sofa. This was not like him at all.

Max faced the grand window, where the beauty of the city shined below. Just looking down, he could get lost and forget about what was in front of him—me. He had his arms stretched out and his palms planted flat against the glass. I could see his chest rise and fall slowly. As his toned muscles straining under the sleeves of his T-shirt distracted me, I wondered what he was thinking.

Feeling my nerves wavering, I laced my fingers together to keep my hands from trembling as I gathered the courage to speak, but Max beat me to it.

“If you’re here to gather your things from upstairs, you’ve come at a bad time. You could’ve came when I was out. That way, I wouldn’t have to see you walk out of my life.” Max’s voice was soft, but I could feel the pain in it.

He really thought I was leaving him. Oh my God! How do I fix this? “Max, I didn’t come to take my things. I came to apologize. I was upset, hurt, confused, and I just needed time to catch my breath. You and I, well, it all happened so fast, and then all this stuff with Crystal. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me about your past, or the things you did with her. A part of me felt like I wasn’t good enough for you.”

Max slowly turned his head, furrowing his brows. “Have I ever made you feel worthless?” he asked softly, looking drained.

“No, Max. But what am I supposed to think knowing you and Crystal did things you and I have never even tried? I’ve been so insecure. I’m afraid that I don’t satisfy you, and one day you’ll leave me because I don’t fulfill your needs.”

“You give me no credit, Jenna. I’m not that kind of a man. I’m glad we’re communicating, but I’m beginning to think you don’t know me at all. It took every ounce of willpower not to break down your door and bring you back here myself. But I wanted you to come when you were ready, on your own terms.”

“It’s not you, Max. I know you’re a good man. It’s me.”

“Then what do you want?” He asked sternly.

And there was that question that could make or break us. I knew what I wanted, so what was I waiting for? “I want you, Max. I want us. I’m sorry for being immature and stubborn. I’m sorry I put you through hell while I worked things out. I always knew what I wanted, but—”

“But….” he repeated my word. “You didn’t come faster because you knew I would be waiting for you.” He sounded angry, and it made me shudder.

I could see this was heading in the wrong direction, but he was right. I took my time because I knew. Maybe I was too late. “No,” I stammered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know why, but I tortured myself too. But you have to understand that I was hurting. When I found out that Crystal had the same car, how do you think that made me feel? How do I know I’m not just another girl you’ll get tired of eventually? You told me that you kept things from me to protect me, but how do I know you weren’t hiding them instead?”

“You’re right. I didn’t realize I was hurting you until it was too late. I’m sorry for the things I should have done. I should have broken down the door and made you see how much you mean to me, instead of waiting for you to come to me. That was childish of me. For the record, I never leased a car for Crystal. She negotiated that in her contract.” Max exhaled a deep sigh. “I’ve missed you, Jenna. No one will ever love you as much as I love you. It’s not possible. I love you more than my own life. I would never hurt you.”

Just when I thought everything was going to be fine, his eyes darkened, filled with anger. He looked furious. “But you walked away from me. You walked away from us. There are times when you realize you’ve been defeated and sometimes you have to let go, so I’m letting you go.”

What?! Did I hear him correctly? He didn’t want me anymore? I was so stunned that it took a minute to register what he’d said. When the reality hit me, the voice in my head screamed…Noooooo! As tears stung my eyes, my heart dropped to the floor, and my body quivered inside from his words. Suddenly the air was too heavy and thick, and I could hardly breathe. His words sucked the air out of my lungs, as the shock shattered my world.

“You’re letting me go?” I whimpered, hoping I had heard him wrong, but when he spoke with the same angry tone, I knew he meant it.

“You fuckin’ left me when I needed you.” Trembling from his tone, his words cut so deep that it destroyed me, but again, he was right. I had pushed him away and slammed the door in his face. Oh God. What have I done? I’ve ruined us. Max had never used foul language at me before. Once again, that showed how upset and beyond angry he was.

“I know, Max,” I confirmed wearily. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for acting immature. I should have been there for you. You needed my support, my understanding, my forgiveness, and my love, but instead I turned away.”

Unable to handle the heart-wrenching wound, and knowing this was the end for us, I headed for the kitchen to grab my purse as tears dampened my cheeks. At that moment, overwhelming regret kicked in. I had waited too long. I let my pride and insecurity get in the way of a blooming relationship. I wanted to crawl into a hole and sob until I could forget this day, until I could feel nothing and forget Max and what I’d done to us. Before I walked out of his life, I needed to tell him how I truly felt.

“I know I haven’t said the word before, but I can say it without a doubt. I am in love with you, Maxwell Knight. I love you, and I want you to be mine. I want to belong to you, and only you. Do you hear me, Max? I love you. And I will say it a million times and shout it out to the world to make you hear me.”

As my words flew out of my mouth fast and loud, Max’s eyes sparkled and his blank expression turned into raw hunger. His stride was long and fast, with a purpose. Oh God! He was coming for me! My body was already pulsating, reacting to him.

Before I’d lost any more of my dignity, I wanted to run out the door. When I reached the doorknob, Max swung me around.

“Jenna, we are not done, nor are we broken. I had to see how you would react. I needed to know. Now I see you truly love me.”

Confused, I peered up at him as I wiped my tears.

“No matter how many times you tear us down, I will build us back up. I will be patient with your insecurities and lack of experience in relationships. I will continue to show you time and time again, how much you mean to me. I will wait for you. You are everything to me. That is the reason I can’t let you go.”

I felt as if I had breathed in the sweetest air. He awakened me, making me feel high. His words went straight to my heart. He had torn me apart, but then he put me back together with his love. Max continued speaking, as his hands weaved through my hair, pulling me closer to his lips.

“I’m going to enjoy punishing you for what you put me through, but not in the way you think. I would never hurt you. I’m going to punish you with my lips, my tongue, my hands, and my body. You’ll be begging me to stop. I’m going to make you feel every single bit of worth. I’m going to strip you down naked to your soul, so you’ll feel everything I’m feeling. Until you know how much you mean to me and how much you turn me on. Until you understand how much I love every part of you, your beautiful body, your heart, your mind, and your soul.”

“I still wonder why me, when you can have anyone?”

“Why not you, Jenna? Don’t you get it? I’m in love with you. Only you. No one can control who they fall in love with. Just the sight of you drives me wild. And God help me, because I can’t control myself around you.”

His passionate words, hungry eyes and body so close to mine, made me lose all control. I slammed my lips to his so hard that it hurt. It felt as though we were kissing for the first time and we couldn’t get enough of each other. God, he tasted so good. I had missed kissing him, devouring him. I needed him NOW!

Max responded with the same intensity and passion. His stubble pricked and scratched my lips, but I didn’t care. When his arms tangled in the strap of my purse, he slid it off my shoulder. “You’re not going anywhere.”

As he was sucking my lip, he yanked my sweater off. “Sorry, babe, I’ll buy you a new one.” We both watched in amusement as several buttons bounced as they hit the ground. With a short chuckle from Max, I was lost in his endless kisses to my face and neck, all the while undressing both of us.

Scooping me up, my legs dangled over his forearm. Along the way, he grabbed his tie. Midway up the stairs, he stopped and placed me down. Piercing his eyes into mine, they were heated, domineering, and possessive. “Say it again. Tell me you love me.” His tone was gentle, yet demanding.

I took a step up so we could be eye to eye. Taking pleasure in brushing my hands across the incredibly sexy stubble covering his face, I lovingly looked into his eyes. “I love you, Maxwell Knight. I will never love another man as much as I love you.”

Max radiated a smile I hadn’t seen in a while. Then his eyes laid on me tenderly, but with desire. “Sit,” he ordered. “I said I would punish you and you know I don’t back down on my word.”

Seeing Max stroke his tie enticed me, leaving me to wonder what he was going to do with it. Sitting down in the middle of the stairs, I tilted my head back, but Max had already kneeled down to me. Moving swiftly, he not only tied my hands together, he tied them to the poles on the stairway too. I had never been tied up before but holy shit! This was beyond anything I’d ever experienced before.

Max gave me a sexy wink while he spread my legs apart. “Enjoy your punishment.” Then with one long stroke of his tongue on my clit, I exploded. Arching my back as I took in the pleasure of being consumed by him, I wanted to touch him. I wanted to run my hands over his back and through his hair. I wanted to touch any part of him, but I couldn’t.

The throbbing, aching need got worse when he leisurely glided up to my breast with his tongue as he nipped and sucked on my nipple, producing both pleasure and pain. Every caress and every kiss from Max scorched through my veins like a blazing fire, igniting again and again. I was smoldering between my legs from missing him. I ached with the realization of almost losing him. I was soaking wet. I needed him like I needed air, and I was both hungry and thirsty for him.

“Max, I want to touch you,” I breathed, unable to focus as he sucked and nipped at my nipples, while his fingers teased the hell out of my clit.

“You like this, don’t you?” He licked my ears as he spoke and gently stroked his dick on my clit. “I didn’t know you wanted to play rough. I’ve got more to show you, but I’m going to expose you to things one at a time, so you can dream about it and anticipate what I’m going to do to you next.”

His words were driving me insane and I wanted him inside me desperately. “Please, Max. Let me go. I NEED to touch you.”

“How do you think I felt when you didn’t call me? You denied me what I wanted and needed most. I’m going to enjoy torturing you like this. I hope you are ready, babe, because I am going to feast on every part of you.”

He was not joking. He slid his fingers inside me slowly, in and out, while his lips and tongue tasted me from head to toe. Not a single spot had been missed. “Max,” I cried. I needed to touch or grab a hold of something as I was climaxing, as his hand vibrated faster. I couldn’t handle it any more. “Please…Max,” I begged, flinging my head back in ecstasy.

“You want me inside?” Taking his fingers out, he lightly straddled me, teasing me beyond the point of endurance. As he caressed the side of my neck with his lips, his hands roamed over my breast.

“Yes,” I whimpered. “I want you inside me.”

Max pressed his body harder and snarled his words in my ear. “Sorry, this is where I say no. You have no idea how much I want to be inside you right now, but not yet. I’ve only just begun with your punishment.”

“Please, Max,” I begged, pressing my body forward to his. “I can’t take it anymore.”

Max heaved a heavy sigh, looking at me with longing, hungry eyes. “Shit, Jenna. Stop squirming and stop looking at me like that. I’m so turned on right now, I can’t hold it any longer.” Then Max thrust inside me and I burst like fireworks.