The Boyfriend Sessions (16 page)

Eventually I crawled into bed and curled up with the quilt tucked firmly around me, even though the night was mild. It felt like a protective cocoon, shielding me from the world outside. It did little to shut out the throbbing desire that still pulsed through my veins from Max’s touch.

After a while I managed to fall asleep, the lingering vision of his dark, passionate eyes haunting me.

Friday morning arrived after a deep, dreamless sleep, and I was in a foul mood.

While everyone around me seemed buoyed by the arrival of the weekend, my mood was black and unsociable. The happy chatter surrounding me on the train made me feel even worse. The only thing that managed to cheer me up was the view of a long stretch of menacing rain clouds on approach. It was too early for summer storms, but it looked like we were in for a good downpour. I could already feel the dull blanket of humidity starting to lift as a fresh sea breeze brought cooler gusts of fresh air, blowing my curls haphazardly around my face.

With the Grounded Marketing office in sight, I increased my pace so I could catch the lift, which had just taken three or four people. I forced an insincere smile onto my face in an attempt to say thank you and stared sullenly at my sneakers during the journey to the 17th floor.

Any desire I had felt when Max had kissed me last night was now replaced with seething anger. I’d realized when I’d woken from what should have been a restful sleep that he had no right to challenge me that way. He knew I was sworn off men, knew I was going through the process of dredging up the lessons from my love life, and he’d still felt it necessary to kiss me.

The bastard.

The after effects of the kiss now felt like some sort of challenge. Like it was his way of saying,
Come on, I dare you to care
.

Well, I didn’t. There was no denying the serious hit of lust that surged through my body when his lips were on mine and his hands so expertly taunted me. There was chemistry. I wasn’t going to bury my head in the sand.

But that was all it was. Pure, unadulterated lust. Nothing more.

And I was desperately frustrated that he’d left me wanting more.

Bastard, bastard, bastard
.

The lift doors opened at my floor and I power-walked without really looking through the double doors into Grounded Marketing. I was almost at my desk before I registered a female voice calling my name.

“Christa!”

Maddy wore a sleek tan skirt suit and a deep green top that set off her olive skin and warm brown eyes, which currently looked alarmed at my state of non-response.

I shook my head in an attempt to clear it and uttered one word. “Coffee.”

Maddy nodded knowingly. “When you’ve had your hit, come and see me.”

I did as instructed and by the time I headed in the direction of her office, the first mouthful of coffee had already taken effect. Although I’d started to feel a hundred times better, Maddy’s questioning eyes studied me from behind her desk.

“Are you alright? Last night was pretty tough on you, wasn’t it?”

I stared into the crèma of my coffee before answering her. She was right. Reliving my failed stint as a fiancée was less than enjoyable, but little did she know that was only the half of it. And I wasn’t about to inform her that her big brother was one hell of a kisser. “It was confronting.”

“I think you need time to process, Christa. It’s easy to be black and white, but when it comes to relationships there are so many shades of grey.”

She was being very diplomatic. I knew she was talking from experience. Around the time Grounded Marketing had taken off, her long-term relationship had disintegrated and it was messy. Chris was an up and coming chef making ripples in the Sydney restaurant scene. He was reasonably well-known and people still asked Maddy how Chris was going.

“I appreciate what you’re saying, but right now I just feel like being involved with any man is going to screw me over. That’s why I said I was done.”

If anyone understood that sentiment, Maddy would. She hadn’t seen a man seriously since she and Chris broke up nearly three years ago. It was great for building Grounded Marketing, but I often worried about her.

“Taking a break for a while is very different to swearing off men completely.” She took a sip of her coffee before adding, “Frankly, I’m not sure you have it in you.”

My response was a twisted smile. Max’s eyes flashed into my mind momentarily, sending my pulse racing, and I bit down on my tongue painfully. I hoped to God she wasn’t right. I wanted to change the subject. “So what’s on the agenda?”

She paused briefly, before assenting to the redirection of the conversation. “Are you ready for the final internal review of the Oz Guardians artwork?”

“Absolutely. I need someone else to look at it. I’m starting to over polish.” It was true. I was genuinely happy with the series of images I’d created for our new client, but was so inspired by the project that now I was getting to point of overkill.

“Well stop. There’s some general layout work we need done this morning, you can do it in your sleep.” Which was her generous way of giving me a break, because she knew I wasn’t currently in top form.

“Sure.”

We chatted aimlessly for a few more minutes about Scarlett’s latest love interest—a charming man many years her senior who was a curator at a Sydney art gallery—and it was nice to have the focus off me for a change.

I spent the rest of the morning blissfully working on autopilot, my iPod pounding out the latest album by the Foals, the perfect accompaniment to my dark mood. It was only when one of the account managers walking past my desk around lunchtime gestured at me, that I realized my phone was ringing.

I quickly popped out an earphone and picked up the handset. “Hello, Christa speaking.”

“It’s Max. Have you got a minute?”

A minute for what exactly, I wondered. I removed the other earphone unwillingly.

My pause was enough for him to sense my mood. “It’s work related.”

I let out a long breath. Well this was getting complicated, wasn’t it? Maddy’s brother, potential client and a source of frustrated lust. “Sure.”

“My tech artists are available from four pm today. Any chance you can knock off work early and come around and spend an hour or so with them?”

I recalled my schedule in my mind. I had an internal review at two pm but that would finish in enough time for me to get down to The Rocks where his office was. “I’ll run it by Maddy, but it should be fine.”

“Great. Come up to the 19
^th
floor and when you get here, ask for me.”

“Alright, do I need to bring anything?”

“Just you. See you then.”

And that was it. Max in work mode. Very different to Max sweeping me off my feet mode. Clearly I’d have to refrain from biting his head off about last night until we were in a more suitable setting.

I recognized the foyer of Max’s building as I rounded the corner into The Rocks end of George Street. I’d almost turned around and given up. Not because I was having second thoughts about the meeting—although that was a factor now Max had gone and mixed business with pleasure—it had more to do with the torrential rain currently driving down on me in sheets. The cool change had come and it was now at least ten degrees colder. Despite my best efforts of arming myself against the wind by using my umbrella as a makeshift shield, I was very nearly soaked through.

I navigated the expanse of immaculate and very slippery marble foyer in my sodden heels while I attempted to brush some of the water off my jacket. Luckily I was the only one catching the lift, so I used the mirror to quickly remove my soaking jacket and rearrange my damp hair. There was a lot to be said for waterproof mascara.

Arriving in the reception of his office, I gave the young, friendly receptionist an apologetic smile as I dripped all over the carpet.

She stood up when she saw me and raced around to greet me with a genuine smile. “You must be Christa. I’m Carly. Here let me take that for you. I’ll call Max.”

She relocated my umbrella to a stainless bin for that very purpose and hung my jacket on a hanger around the corner of her desk.

“Thanks.” She was efficient and warm and made for a good first impression.

After she called Max, she set the phone down and looked at me. “Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? Tea?”

A hairdryer? “A herbal tea if you’ve got it.”

“Sure thing. Won’t be long.” She walked through an adjoining doorway into a small room which appeared to house a small kitchenette.

I sat down and took in the room around me in more detail. It looked like any professional services firm. Off-white walls, pleasant but inoffensive furniture. There was a glass-walled boardroom to my right featuring a seriously stunning view of The Quay and the harbor. Not that you could see much right now with the panels of glass being covered by the driving sheets of rain.

I observed the sign positioned above Carly’s desk. The company name, Speedstream, was in traditional lettering in a combination of navy and gold coloring. I would have to talk to Max about that. Their branding could definitely do with a face lift. If they were pulling in major clients like he’d alluded to the other week, they needed something more modern and striking to set them apart in the marketplace.

“Yes, I know, it needs work.”

I stood quickly at the sound of Max’s voice coming from a doorway beside me. I hadn’t heard him approach.

“I’m happy to look at it for you, just say the word.”

“For a price?”

I gave him a withering look. “For that sort of work, I’m not cheap.” My sketches were one thing, but when it came to my regular graphic design expertise, he’d have to get in line behind Maddy.

“I believe you.”

He indicated that I should enter through a door to the left of Carly’s desk, then stopped and stared at me. “Christa, you’re soaked. How did you get here?”

His concern disarmed and annoyed me at the same time. “Walked,” I replied a tad stubbornly.

“Why didn’t you get a taxi?”

“I prefer to walk.” It was true. When it wasn’t raining at least.

He opened his mouth like he was going to challenge me on it, but then he thought better of it. Smart man. The fact I was still pissed with him was obviously coming off me in waves and he had the good sense to be quiet. He had two sisters after all.

Carly gave me a quick wave from the adjoining kitchen. “I’ll bring this to you in a moment.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Carly.”

Max gave her a friendly nod and waited for me to go through the doorway. An open plan office area greeted me, a collection of cubicles spreading out around us housing various Speedstream staff.

Max led me around a corner and down a short hallway, where he disappeared through an office door. Expecting a small office, I faltered as I entered the room when I realized it was another large open plan area, this time with a series of desks spanning the stretch of floor to ceiling windows. It was currently home to four men in their twenties or thirties and they all looked up as we came in.

“This is where I keep the creatives. Can’t have them getting out and harassing the normal folk.”

My chilly demeanor warmed slightly. It was an awesome space which the guys obviously had free range over. They had printed off some of their designs and pasted them onto the windows or on their cubicles. I knew in an instant that this was a productive, yet seriously creative, group.

“Hey,” I offered in greeting.

Four pairs of eyes studied me curiously and Max pointed to each one in turn. “Pete, Steve, Matt and Jay, meet Christa.” They waved politely and grinned. Max looked at me. “You’ll be working with Jay.”

He was the spindly looking guy who appeared to be in his early thirties sitting at the far end of the room, with a mop of unruly brown hair and thick black glasses. Despite his disheveled appearance, his green eyes didn’t miss a beat.

He came over and shook my hand. “I love your work.”

Max smiled. “He’s already seen some of your sketches I took pictures of.”

“Thanks,” I replied a little embarrassed.

“Alright then, I’ll leave you for about the next hour. Jay is going to take you through the project and what we’re looking for. You’ll need to tell us after that if you can take a crack at creating some kick-ass avatars for us.”

I nodded my assent and waited while Jay pulled a spare chair over for me, while Max left the room.

My black mood still not completely gone, I asked, “Is he a pain-in-the-ass boss?”

Jay released a good-natured chuckle and patted the chair. “He’s actually pretty cool. He’s the only boss I’ve been able to play PlanetSide 2 with.”

At my disturbed expression, he laughed again. “It’s a computer game.”

I continued to look at him blankly.

“It’s a first person shooter action game we play remotely, hooking up online. You have much to learn, I see.”

I blinked and tried to digest this information. Max still played shoot ’em up computer games. I wondered if I should be disturbed by this revelation. “Is he any good?”

“He’s not bad, but not as good as me.”

I had a feeling Jay spent a lot of time online playing games.

“The one we’re working on is a combination of real-time strategy and shooter, but with more of a fantasy element. It’s actually kind of important that we show you the games, that way you can get a sense for what we’re trying to achieve in creating the characters.”

I stared at him blankly.

He grinned, at my innocence most likely. “Prepare yourself for Gaming 101. I’ve got a few to show you on my computer. Ready?”

I swallowed, not from fear so much as the sense of not quite knowing what I was getting myself into.

“How was it?“

It was six o’clock by the time I made my way down the hallway back to the reception area. I turned as I heard Max’s voice from one of the glassed offices on my left. I’d secretly hoped he’d already gone home for the day. I was still confused about how to reconcile the business Max with the Max who’d had my blood pumping wildly through my veins the night before.

You’re not done, Christa. Not by a long shot.

I entered his office and stopped for a minute to take it all in. It wasn’t a fussy space and it certainly didn’t scream ‘I’m important.’ It had the same uninspiring furniture and minimalist off-white decoration, but it was the view that suggested Max was the real deal.

The rain had finally slowed to a light drizzle and the late afternoon sun had managed to peek through the clouds. The panorama of a weather-beaten Circular Quay and Opera House glowed varying hues of orange and red, and I wondered how he ever managed to get any work done. I returned my focus to Max reluctantly.

“Good. Amazing actually. I had no idea how cool all that gaming stuff was.”

“It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?” He leaned forward across his desk and it didn’t escape my notice that he’d loosened his tie and shirt collar.

I cursed myself for finding him just as attractive, if not more so, when he was wearing his work clothes. I did my best to rise above my traitorous hormones. “The animation is fantastic. I swear I could have been watching a movie.” I’d played a few computer games with my brother as kids, but that was a long time ago. After an hour with Jay though, his enthusiasm had rubbed off on me and I could see why it was such big business. “Are there many other companies in Australia involved in game development?”

“Some. There was a really successful game developed out of Queensland several years back. They ended up making a whole series and it sold very well. But most are developed overseas because the investment is considerable.”

“Considerable? Like how much are we talking?”

“Hundreds of thousands at least, but usually into the millions.”

I paled. “Holy crap! It
is
like a movie.”

“Spot on. You need all the same elements to make a successful role-playing game—story, art direction, soundtrack, animation—it’s immense.”

“It sounds like a lot to take on.” I wasn’t doubting Max’s ability but it had to be a pretty big gamble for such a serious investment.

Max shrugged. “It’s always been a dream of mine and now I’m more established in my career, I can spend some of my resources on more entrepreneurial ventures.”

“You’re sounding a lot like your dad,” I warned him with smile.

“I can think of worse compliments. Plus, if we get it right, we could make a name for ourselves in Australia. There are so many talented people in this country, why shouldn’t we give it a go?”

“Is that why you came home?” I was careful not to make any mention of his failed relationship.

He hesitated, but only for a second. “In part. There’s only so many British winters an Aussie guy can handle. So, what do you think? Can you help us?”

I didn’t dwell on his swift attempt to change the subject. “Absolutely. I’m actually really excited about it. For the first time in my career, I’ll have a hand in creating some characters that will come to life off the page. How do we move things along from here?” I still wasn’t sure about what we’d agreed on or for how much.

“Did Jay give you a clear idea of what he needs from you?”

“Very.” Jay had given me the complete list of characters they planned to develop, plus he would email across their detailed profiles to me. He’d even shown me some links to similar types of avatars on the web, so I had something to use as a basis.

“Then all you need to do is send me an estimate of how many hours you think it’s going to take. Be sure to allow some time for revisions as well—it will probably take a few rounds to get them right.”

That was easy. “I’ll have it to you on Monday.”

“Great.” Max pushed himself back from his desk and regarded me casually. “You’re still pissed at me, aren’t you?”

I flinched slightly at the change of subject. I began to realize his directness was both an advantage and a weapon. “Some,” I replied cagily.

“I raised a fair point though, didn’t I?”

I swallowed and decided to throw his honesty right back at him. “About my inability to have a committed relationship or about the fact that I have absolutely no self-control?”

His dark eyes glinted at me and I thought I could read a mixture of seriousness as well as humor. “The former. But the latter was a nice surprise.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m so pissed, Max.” The words came out harsher than I’d intended. “It’s one thing for you to challenge me. I’m a big girl, I can handle it. It’s another thing entirely for you to use my emotions against me.”

He sat back in his chair again, his expression sober. “That wasn’t my intention at all.”

“Then what was it?” I stood in front of him with both arms crossed defensively.

He closed his eyes and ran a hand roughly over his face. “I wanted to challenge you. I felt it was important you try to think about things rationally instead of just going on emotion. The last part … just kind of happened. I’m sorry, Christa.”

I gave him an emotionless stare as he looked at me sheepishly. Then I grinned. “You just apologized for kissing me.”

At his injured expression, I laughed. God, being with Max could be so maddening yet fun at the same time. I shook my head and went to stand in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. Everything had started to dry off and everyone’s Friday night plans wouldn’t be ruined after all.

Max came to stand quietly next to me and we watched the view in silence for a while. As we stood and watched the ferries in the Quay come and go, I could sense the mood between us had shifted and we weren’t contemplating work anymore.

After a while, Max spoke softly. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I upset you. But I’m not sorry I kissed you.”

I felt my heart leap into my throat. I still couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes. “What are you saying?”

“Uh uh. I’ve just been honest with you, now you need to be honest with me. Are you sorry I kissed you?”

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the cool glass. “No.”

“You don’t seem particularly happy about it.”

I whirled on him, my pulse racing. “I’m supposed to be man-free right now, Max, not falling into bed with you!”

His eyes widened at the venom in my voice, but his tone remained calm. “Is that what you’re doing? Falling into bed with me?”

“Is that what you want?”

“No way. You first.”

We stared at each other stubbornly for a long time. I realized how easily I could lose myself in those eyes, which currently challenged me with serious amusement. There was no denying the kick to my gut at the sight of him and the thought of falling into bed with him had my mouth going dry. Eventually I shook my head and offered him a wry grin. “You’re killing me. I’m not in a great place right now. You of all people should know that.”

“I know that,” he acknowledged quietly. “Neither am I, as it turns out.”

“I hope you’ll tell me about it sometime.”

That barely noticeable flicker of pain again, then it was gone. “Not yet.”

Curiosity aside, I understood he wasn’t ready. Goodness knows I’d only been able to reflect on my relationship with Nick with fresh eyes three years on. I took a deep breath and made an attempt to clear the air. “So, we’re both not ready for this, then?” I’d meant it as a statement but it had come out as a question.

Before I could step back, Max leaned in and whispered in my ear, his words barely audible. “Still doesn’t change the fact that I want to kiss you again.”

I closed my eyes. What little control I had left vanished quickly. “Max … ”

He found my hand and wove his fingers through mine. “Let me drive you home.”

It wasn’t an offer, it was a promise.

Home, as it turned out, was his small apartment overlooking a peaceful stretch of water at Rose Bay.

We spoke little during the journey, but somehow came to a silent agreement. We’d exchanged enough words to establish that if we went to my place Cate would most likely be home, and company wasn’t what we wanted.

I felt a stab of guilt as Max dropped the purring Porsche down a gear, and entered an underground garage below a cream and blue apartment complex. If my friends knew what I was doing right now, they would be so pissed. I’d promised them six months man-free and what was it? Barely four weeks? I was a complete and utter failure.

Maddy’s brother, Maddy’s brother
, my subconscious screeched traitorously. For the first time ever, I wondered if I was about to do something that would seriously put my best and longest friendship at risk.

Glancing over at Max, all long legs and olive forearms—he’d rolled up his shirt sleeves after leaving the office—I knew I couldn’t turn back. I didn’t want to. I wanted more of what he’d offered me last night, rational thought be damned.

After pulling into a car space marked with a number eight, Max came around to meet me as I climbed out of the car. Taking my hand, he guided me to a set of lifts. We waited in silence, fingers intertwined, and listened to the dull echo of dripping water from the after effects of the storm.

Finally, we were at the landing to his apartment and he opened the door. Once inside, he closed it with a gentle click. It was surprisingly dark in the apartment even though it was still dusk and his balcony blinds were open. Not taking his eyes from mine, he reached over and flicked a switch to his right. Soft light lit up the lounge room and it cast a warm shadow on the two of us standing in the hall.

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey.”

“You sure about this?”

I gave him a tight grin. “Having second thoughts?”

His eyes left my face and traveled down my body, and I could almost feel the heat in them. “God, no.”

“Kiss me again, Max.”

He didn’t need to be asked twice. In a rush of movement he brought me to him and I stumbled back awkwardly until I was pinned against the wall.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“Don’t be.”

I sighed when his lips touched mine and melted into his firm body, responding to all the long lines and hard ridges. I deepened the kiss. My pulse spiked as I was rewarded with a deep, quiet groan in return.

This time I let my hands roam and explore his body. The rough stubble of his face and the muscular length of his neck, down to a pair of broad shoulders and an expanse of back I knew with distant certainty I’d never get tired of exploring. Down, down further to a pair of narrow, toned hips and a firm stomach with a light dusting of hair that arched back when I caressed it.

I stepped back to undo the buttons of his shirt and he watched me, entranced. I knew my fair skin must be flushed, his olive skin by comparison appeared to glow from heat pulsing below the surface. I pushed the shirt from his shoulders and stopped for a beat, the sight of him naked from the waist up humbling me. He looked vulnerable and strong at the same time and I wanted nothing more than to be pressed up against his solid expanse of chest.

I went to move forward, but he pushed me back gently. “Wait.”

His long, adept fingers worked themselves under my bright yellow t-shirt and effortlessly lifted it over my head. I stood there, heart pounding and chest rising up and down as he trailed a soft hand reverently down my shoulder then across my breast, so a lone thumb gently worked its way underneath my bra until it found my nipple and teased it in a slow dance.

I groaned or whimpered, I wasn’t sure which. It was like I was on the tip of an iceberg, just waiting to slide down, and the anticipation was painful.

He leaned over my shoulder and unhooked my bra, then his lips were at my ear. “Beautiful girl.”

An involuntary shudder rippled through my body before we were skin on skin and mouth to mouth, drinking each other in like our lives depended on it. Still locked in a tight embrace, my aching breasts pressed to his chest, he gradually led me down the hallway, inch by inch until we were standing intertwined in front of an open doorway.

He nuzzled my ear and I felt his hands unzipping my skirt, then they were underneath and we shuddered again in a mutual kind of release. I stepped back and eyes locked on his, slowly slipped off my skirt and underwear until I was standing there naked in front of him in nothing but my bright blue strappy heels.

“Damn it, Christa.” His voice was pained.

I smiled, thoroughly enjoying the way his eyes burned with heat as they drank me in. I turned and walked into what appeared to be his bedroom while he watched my every movement from the doorway. I went over to a window overlooking the street and closed the blinds, then switched on a small black bedside lamp, which sent a warm glow across his bed. I sat down on the edge of a soft, downy quilt in masculine grey and black tones and bent over to take off my heels.

“Don’t.”

I looked up to see Max shaking his head at me.

“Leave them on.”

I raised my eyebrows and indicated he come around to where I sat. He walked over, the quiet click of his shoes on the hard wood floor the only noise audible above our breathing. When he stood in front of me, I sat looking at his waist and the suggestive slope of his hips as they disappeared beneath his trousers.

I reached over and slowly undid his belt buckle and button and felt the muscles in his body go taut. Slowly, ever so slowly, I undid the zip of his trousers before letting them and his boxers drop to the floor.

The full, magnificent length of him greeted me and I gently reached out and stroked, my thumb kneading the tip. A low growl escaped his throat and I smiled before I leaned forward to take him in my mouth.

The palm of his hand gently caught my cheek before I could reach him and he said softly, “Lie down.”

Looking up at him with wide blue eyes, I gave him a questioning look before skirting back on the bed and doing as I was told. He crouched over me and leaned in for a slow, lingering kiss that left my senses swimming. I sighed as he traced a trail down my neck with the light pressure of his tongue. He continued his exploration, down to shoulders, chest, aching breasts… feather light kisses and nips that set my body alight with nothing but the whisper of his breath and the tip of his tongue. Down across the expanse of my stomach, and I couldn’t help arching up under him, inviting him to taste more. Down further to peaks of my hips, he savored me in slow, delicious circles until his mouth found me and I was lost.