I Run to You (43 page)

Now, now, she knew what she would feel, what
they could, and Max knew instinctively —what she wanted.

He eased out a bit, back in, staying shallow
until her whispers were as tight as his breathing. He pulled back,
and went in hard, then slow and steady, but deep. Thighs trembling,
he felt like shouting when she pushed back against him, taking him,
urging him.

“Jordan…”

He rode her that way, his fingers tightening
on her hips, his heart slamming in his chest.

“Max…. Yes.” She gasped.

Her passion undid his control.

Max increased his speed, unleashed, so he was
slamming repeatedly, until her cries filled the house. Sweat rolled
down his tanned spine. At the edge of his climax, he closed his
eyes and arched his neck. The flow of it, the blood burning through
his veins, he let it consume him, carry him, submerge him.

An hour later, Max opened his eyes, not
remembering when he had fallen asleep.

He eased up and grabbed his trousers, putting
them on. He looked for Jordan and found her freshly bathed and
sitting in shorts and T-shirt, on the back deck, the sunshade over
most her of her.

She stared out at the lake, an iced soda sat
near her elbow.

He turned and went inside. Max took a shower
and slipped on pair of comfortable drawstring pants. He combed his
wet hair and got himself a cold drink, then went out to find her
still sitting as she had been before.

Going over to the railing, he turned and
looked at her, hips against the wood while he took long drinks from
the bottle. Her gaze was going up him, from his feet to his head,
before she met his.

He was amazed he could still be aroused. But
the way she looked at him certainly did that.

Eyes locked, she said, “What am I supposed to
do? I am getting my heart’s desire, having Leigh in my
life—hopefully. And there’s a possibility—if that guy is
serious—that my whole life may be headed for a roller coaster ride,
one that would take me away from here…”

She swallowed and wet her lips. “And then,
there’s you—”

Max returned softly, “You live your life,
your dreams, and you take those possibilities when they come to
you. You become who you were meant to be. Like we all do. Like all
the parts of us, that are, who we are.”

He let his gaze skim her face then come back
to meet hers. “I’ve been doing that since I was young. I’ve already
been, and had, many things, some will never achieve. Yet, here I
am, experiencing something new again…”

She nodded and looked away, still pensive. “I
struggled, having nothing, no one but myself. Not even a good
education—just my talent, my wits. I learned. Because I could not
survive without it. And— I dreamed—everything. Without knowing the
reality of it. I wanted —and I am getting much of that. And yet, I
want….”

“What?”

Jordan looked back at him. “You.”

Max pushed away from the rail and came to
her.

“I’m not a choice you have to take, instead
of a career.”

“I’m in love with you.”

He almost drowned in her eyes as she said
that.

When he could breathe, he confessed, “I love
you. I have longer than you would believe.”

Max reached and took her hand. “I’m here for
you. I will walk every step you want me to, right here. I will go
with you, see your dreams with you. And Leigh will too. It is not a
choice, Jordan. I have been all over the world. I will go again.
With you. It’s possible to have our lives, our careers, and be a
family.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think you’re
real.”

He laughed and came to sit beside her. “I am.
And yes, life may change in a year. There will be bad times. We
will misunderstand each other. No doubt about it. The way we feel,
will not change. Therefore, whatever else does, we will know, that.
That’s, what matters.”

She reached up and touched his face.

Max took her hand, kissed it. “So. Do you
want to get married sooner or later?”

She looked startled. “Married—”

“Yes. That’s what the engagement ring was
about.” He chuckled and took that hand too, kissing the ring.

“I don’t know—”

“Later, then.” He gathered her against him,
their legs out, and his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll do it when
you’re ready.”

She nodded and rubbed her head against his
shoulder. “I’m already yours, you know?”

He smiled above her head, leaned down, and
let his lips brush her hair.

Her hand lazily rubbed his thigh, “Are you
mine? Are you really?”

“Body and soul.” he drawled honestly.

Jordan got up and turned, swinging her leg
over. She was astride him, like she rode her Harley.

“Does it dissipate?” Her fingers caressed his
brow, down his nose, then across his lips.

“Love?”

“No—this.” She leaned in and kissed him.

Max tasted her desire.

When she pulled back, he figured she could
feel the hardness of his sex. “With me and you, I doubt it.”

Her hands smoothed over his bare shoulders,
her eyes looking deep in his violet ones. “I want to do everything,
with you. To you. I want to taste your beautiful body—and I want
to—”

He cupped her hips, hard and full and
challenged her, “Do it. Yes. Make love to me.”

Whatever he thought she would do, it was not
what she did.

She stood and whipped off the shirt, dropped
her denim shorts, there on the deck—until stood necked before him.
Reaching over, leaning, so that he watched her beautiful breasts
sway, she made him lift his hips while she peeled his pants
off.

Laying there nude, fully aroused, under a
sleepy sun, Max visually devoured her body. However, the moment she
began kissing him, starting at his feet, he groaned in
surrender.

The next hours, were erotic, sensual, heart
slamming, head dizzying—mind blowing. His words, whispers, groans,
floated over the lake as the sun sank on the horizon. In the height
of exquisite passion, her lips caressing his sex, tongue teasing
the crown, he let himself free fall, though orgasmic bliss

After a bubble bath in the spare bathroom
that still had only dry wall up, and boxes of tile sitting
everywhere, they dried, and Max carried her to their bed. Snuggling
under a blanket, wrapped in each other’s arms, her hand covered his
on her breast.

He heard her delicate sigh.

Lashes closed, he whispered, “I love
you.”

“I love you.”

Max sighed too, even deeper in love—and
wanting her again.

Chapter 20

Brook worked the early shift on the 4th of
July. They had an easy crowd during the parade, but once the Old
Mill’s festivities began, there were only a few customers.

Sunny was going to tend bar, Nick had already
left for the lake, and the new hires had everything covered, since
there were only a dozen of the usual’s hanging round the sports
area, watching TV.

Brook received a teasing from Sunny, over
her, lost tequila night, at the Tavern.

She teased in return “Did you hold Renee’s
head over the toilet for her?”

He laughed. “She woke up sometime in the car.
And no, she didn’t get sick.”

“Oh.”

Dark eyes twinkling, he raised his brow. “You
mean the Clan didn’t notice she wasn’t home the next day?”

“They were too busy torturing and teasing
me,” she supplied.

He laughed hard at that.

“Have you found a house yet?”

“Yes. With property.”

It was where Rafe had mentioned he had been
looking.

Brook viewed his handsome face. “Does Renee
like it?”

“I don’t know. She wasn’t interested in
anything but the bed.”

Snickering, Brook asked? “Y’all making up for
lost time?”

“Let me put it this way,” he offered,
deadpan, “She had to drive herself home the next day.

That really, really made Brook happy. Before
leaving, she kissed his cheek and told him, “You two are perfect
for each other. She will keep you exited.

He muttered under his breath, “She did that
before.”

It was five in the evening before she dashed
in the house to shower and change into a sport two-piece, her cut
offs, and sneakers. She filled a bag with sunscreen, a change of
clothing, and grabbed her darker sunglasses.

Headed to the Lake, to the Coburn gathering,
she called Madeline.

“Everyone is here. All hundred and fifty of
them.” Her Mom told her.

Brook could hear the noise. “I’m on my
way.”

“I’ll bet you’re tired already.”

“Hungry, mostly.”

“You know the Coburns and food,” Madeline
laughed. “They’ll be plenty.”

“K. See you.”

She clicked off and cranked up the AC. It was
a warm 95 degrees and she’d sweat buckets while there.

Reaching the turn off, she groaned at how far
cars, trucks, campers were parked. Figuring her little bug would
fit somewhere another may not; she took a chance and drove close to
the main area.

First arrivers had parked in two U shapes on
either side. As she cruised for a spot, Brook glanced over seeing
boats, water skis, jet skis, and people in the lake. The acres of
clearing and spotty shade trees had awnings and tents, volley ball
and bad mitten going on, as well as horseshoes and every other
sport.

She finally found a place between Jason and a
four-wheeler, with Coy stamped on the license plate. Brook parked
and got her bag, headed down even as she scanned running kids and
teens, grownups in lawn chairs, and at tables.

The smell of the river mingled with grilling
and insect spray, somewhere in there, suntan oil and sunscreen.
Going down a dirt path, she saw Madeline and Mitch, standing by a
long loaded table. They were slicing melon and filling ice
cups.

“Hey, Brook!”

She glanced left, waving at Levi, who was
sopping wet. Since he was pulling off a life jacket, she assumed he
had been out skiing or on a boat.

“Hi Levi.”

He dropped the life jacket, gave a wave, and
bounded off toward two dozen kids playing various games.

Music came from several quarters, the older
crowd listening to bluegrass in the shade, teens with a mixture of
pop and rock, Rapp down closer to the water, and country, up near
the tables.

“Hi, Baby girl.” Mitch greeted her. “Toss
your bag over there.” He nodded toward a space he and Madeline
marked out. Camp chairs, a standing hammock under an awning, all
sorts of coolers and clutter.

She dropped the bag there, putting her
sunglasses down over her eyes while she walked to the food table.
Brook greeted a dozen people she hardly knew, and met Doug and
Lee’s girlfriends for the first time. They were filling plates as
she did.

During the getting back to a seat, under the
awning, she greeted Renee, who pointed out Jordan—brave enough to
be in a volleyball death match with the Coburns. Rafe was there,
playing soccer with a group of teens; Max was taking pictures for
now.

Finally getting in the shade to eat, Brook
kicked back in a lawn lounger and balanced her plate on her lap,
digging in the cooler for icy water.

While she ate, she scanned and watched,
amused at the horseplay even the older ones were engaged in, seeing
the teens flirt. Down on the water, there were whoops, yells, and
splashes.

She finished eating. Ruby came by, in wide
brim hat, Hollywood glasses, and a sarong, over her bathing
suit.

“Coming by for my hug.”

Brook hugged her, and asked, “How do you guys
pull all this together with everything else going on?”

Ruby shrugged and laughed, “You know the
Coburns. Me, I am still a greenhorn newbie in the family. I just
bring plenty of food and water, first aid kits. I swear, they
should wear nametags though.” She threw an arm around Brook’s’
shoulders. They looked around.

“They do have photo albums down on the tables
But. Good lord, they’re four foot high.”

Brook chuckled and pointed to where Jett and
Remy were running around. “They’re brown as peanuts.”

“They live on or in the water 24-7.” She
kissed Brook’s cheek, “On my way to find more wieners, for G.W. to
burn….”

Brook spied G.W. manning a huge grill. He had
his “Sexy Chef” hat on, and a pair of camouflage shorts, a T-shirt
with fish on the back. Alvin, she could hear over by the horseshoe
pit, between the shade trees. He was ragging someone
unmercifully.

“You look lost.”

Brook turned her gaze.

Coy stood there, hair soaked and shaggy,
hands on his hips, body wet—and cut offs that should be outlawed—
hanging too low on his hipbones, and worn in indecent places.

Dragging her gaze up from his water sprayed
abs, she supplied, “No. I just got here. It’s hot as hell
today.”

He agreed, his eyes doing their own checking
out, going from ankles up to her denim shorts, pausing at the bare
midriff between those, and the swim top. Finally meeting her gaze
through her sunglasses, he suggested in sexy tones, “You need to
get wet.”

Her face flushed. “Asshole.”

He grinned unrepentantly. “But until then,
I’ll take you out on the boat.”

“No, thanks.”

He stepped under the awning coming close to
steal water from Mitch’s cooler, bringing the scent of baked skin,
coconut, and other stirring things she could do without breathing
with him near.

Standing close enough so his arm brushed
hers, while he opened it, Coy murmured, “I haven’t been here but an
hour, was at the Mill most of the day.”

Brook glanced over the crowds to keep from
looking at him. “Lot of family here.”

He drank half the water. She could feel him
regarding her. The tension sizzled hotter than the sun.

“Rafe brought Ashley.”

“Did he?”