“Usually I don’t have sex until a little further into a relationship. I’d hate for you to think that was all I was after.”
“I already knew you were only after my money, so I guess sex is a step up from that.”
“You are never going to let me forget that are you,” he said, coming to her and pulling her into his arms. His lips pressed against hers, and he felt a stirring in his pants again. “Come on,” he said pulling away, “Let’s get out of here.”
Max grabbed her purse, looking around to check there was nothing else she needed. The files she had planned to work on tonight were going to stay on her desk. The only reason she had planned on taking them was to keep her mind off Dan. Now she wanted her mind firmly on him, and if her body was on him too, even better.
Secretly smiling to herself, she switched off her computer, and checked her clothing was straight. There probably wasn’t anyone else still at work, but just in case she didn’t want to look all dishevelled. Picking up the flowers he had bought for her, she hooked her purse over her arm and headed for the door.
“Ready?” she asked Dan.
“Always,” he replied, giving her a hint of a sexy smile, and a quick wink, making her heart race.
“Then let’s go.” She unlocked the office door, and was tempted to peer around it to check out if they had company. But she resisted that temptation, trying to look suitably business like.
He followed behind her, slipping his hand into hers, after she had closed the door to her office, and her old life. They headed for the elevator, and Max was grateful the floor seemed empty, no one would have heard them having sex.
While they stood silently waiting, she wondered what he was thinking. She had no idea where they were going, or if they were going to spend the night together. If he planned to take her home again, she had to remember to phone Robin and tell her where she was. Robin had been concerned this morning, offering to walk her into work if Max wanted her to. Max had thanked Robin but told her it wasn’t like her first day at school, and even if it was, she had done that alone too. Her parents had already left the country by the time the school bell rang.
Thinking of Robin, she decided to run something past Dan. “I could really do with a shower and a change of clothes, do you mind if we go back to my place?”
“No. Not at all. Whatever you want Max. We can go for dinner after, or get take out if you’re too tired.”
She glanced at her reflection in the side of the elevator. It was just shiny enough for her to make out her face, and she wondered how tired she looked.
He laughed at her. “You look great, but does it make me a bad person to actually enjoy the fact you look as if you need a good night’s sleep.”
“Do I look that bad?”
He slipped his hands around her waist and pinned her back against the side of the elevator. “You look good, very good. And I guess I should feel bad about causing you such trouble. But I like that you had sleepless nights over me.”
“Would it puncture your ego if you knew it was because I was worried you were going to blackmail me or something.” She figured she might as well tell him her worst fears, honesty being the best way forward, and anyway Robin would no doubt hound him about it when she met him.
He pulled back from her, his face full of concern. Brushing a loose length of her hair back from her face, he kissed her lips. “I am so sorry, Max. I had no idea.”
“When you put the money back in my purse, I figured there must have been some other reason you slept with me.”
“You couldn’t simply accept it was because I wanted you?”
She lowered her gaze, and shook her head.
“We are going to have to work on your self esteem, Max.”
“You might have to work on your own once you meet Robin. She’s probably going to have some strong words to say to you.”
“I can take it. I can’t wait to meet her, it sounds as though you’ve been very lucky to have her by your side.”
“I have. I only hope she likes you, and you like her of course. There would be nothing worse than the two most important people in my life not getting on.”
They were heading for her car now, Max getting the keys out her purse as they walked. she opened the car, and went around to the driver’s side.
“Max,” he said, leaning on the roof, looking across the car to her. “I am honoured that you count me as important to you already.”
“Oh, I never thought, sorry, that was a bit forward of me.”
“Max, we’ve had sex. Saying I’m important is a good thing. I’m a firm believer you should only ever sleep with people you want to get to know better. I have never had a one night stand.”
She flinched as the word sex echoed around. “Does that mean I’m important to you too?”
“Oh yes, Max, very important.” He pulled the car door open. “Let’s go and get this over with. I haven’t been roasted over the coals for a long time.”
“Robin won’t be that bad.” Although she wasn’t a hundred percent sure about that.
***
“Perhaps I should go in first and warn her to be on her best behaviour,” Max said. They were sat outside her apartment, she had parked the car, but couldn’t bring herself to go in.
“No. It’s fine, I’m a big boy, I can take it.”
Max blew the air out through her lips. “OK. Just remember whatever she says, she doesn’t mean it.”
“It’ll be OK. Come on.”
He got out of the car, and Max followed. Hesitantly putting her key in the lock and turning it. Immediately Robin was there.
“There you are Max. I was expecting you over half an hour ago. I’ve made dinner.”
“Enough for three?” Max asked.
“Three?” Robin repeated and then peered around Max to stare at Dan. “Oh. Now I see why you’re late.”
“Dan came to see me at work.”
“I bet he did.”
“We’ve talked it over, and I made a mistake.”
“He isn’t married then?”
“No.”
“What did I tell you, Max?” She stood back for Max to walk in, and then stood, arms folded in front of her chest to assess Dan. “OK. I get why you moped around for the whole weekend.”
Dan grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment, and hope I’m forgiven.”
“Not so quick. Just because you look hot, does not let you off the hook.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Max has told me how much you mean to her, and look out for her, so I would expect a lengthy interrogation into my suitability to date Max.”
“Wow, that was quite a speech. So you’re dating Max? About time.”
“I am stood here,” Max said, embarrassed but also elated that Dan intended to date her, it sounded so official.
“Well, I guess I can make dinner go three ways. Come in, Dan. Let’s eat.”
They headed to the kitchen, and sat down at the table while Robin put the food onto plates.
“Mmm, this smells delicious,” said Dan.
“Hopefully it’ll taste good too. I’m afraid Max might be smart, and everything, but cooking is not one of her things.”
“Thank you for that insight, Robin.” Although Max would be the first to admit it.
“It’s true, there’s no point going for the whole, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, with your cooking.”
“I think Max has plenty of other qualities.” Dan said defending Max.
“I bet you do buddy.”
Max went scarlet, something Robin caught onto straight away. “Oh my god, is that why you were so late? You had sex.”
“Robin!”
“At work?” Robin asked. Max hid her face in her hands, finding her appetite had disappeared. “I never thought you had it in you to do something so... risky.”
“Everyone had left,” Max said, trying to play it down.
“It doesn’t matter, you could have been caught.” She turned to Dan. “I never thought she would meet a man who would get her to take risks. My opinion of you just went up, Dan.”
Dan looked from Robin to Max, not sure what was going on. “Thanks Robin. I think. But I would never ask Max to do something too risky. I’m all for safety.”
“Really? Why’s that Dan?”
“I’m a firefighter. You don’t take risks in my job, not if you want to live.”
“A firefighter. Wow, that explains a lot.”
“It does?” he asked raising his eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Like...?”
Robin burst out laughing. “Shall I tell him?”
“OK, now I’m worried.” He searched Max’s face, she looked at her plate.
“It’s nothing bad. The opposite in fact,” Max said quietly, lifting her head to give Robin a harsh look.
“Sorry. I can’t believe Max snagged a man in uniform.”
“She hasn’t seen it yet.”
“Oh, I’ll bet she’ll want to. Don’t you Max?”
“OK, Robin, we’ve finished eating, I’ll do the dishes later. When you’ve calmed down.” She got up from the table, and motioned for Dan to follow.
“Sorry, Max. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“I know, but I want to talk to Dan, get a few things straightened out.”
Robin kept her comments to herself. Instead she stood up, kissed Max on the cheek, and said, “I’m sorry, you know how childish I can be. It’s great that you’re happy. Now have fun, I’ll do the dishes.”
“No. You cooked, I’ll do them later.”
“No, you won’t. Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to bring a man home? You are officially excused chores for the day.” She turned to Dan, and offered him her hand. “It was nice to meet you Dan. May I just say that if you break her heart, I’ll break your hose. Apart from that, I’ll be going out in half an hour, you can have the place to yourselves. OK.”
"I am so sorry about Robin." Max led him into her bedroom, and shut the door behind them.
"Don't worry about it. I like that she's so defensive about you."
"Still, break your hose, a little much even for her."
He chuckled. "I can't give her any points for originality I'm afraid."
Max turned to face him, and he guessed she suddenly became aware of their surroundings, and her bed. She launched into a tidying frenzy, picking things up, and then moving them around, only to move them again a couple of seconds later.
"Hey, Max. Relax." He went to her, and pulled her into his arms, liking the feel of her there. "Go and have your shower, and then we can talk, or go out. Up to you."
"You're sure."
"Yes. What did you think I expected sex again?"
She looked guilty. "I’ve never had a man in my bedroom before."
"Max, look at me. I am not just interested in sex. It's great, don't get me wrong. But maybe we should abstain until we get to know each other. You know what I said earlier about waiting until further into our relationship, maybe that's a good idea."
She pulled a face. "If that's what you want," she said, unable to hide the disappointment from her voice.
"No. I didn't say that was what I wanted. I want you to feel secure though, Max, and if that means waiting, then we'll wait."
"Does it make me sound like a loose woman if I say I don't want to wait."
"No. Max it makes you sound like a woman after my own heart. I will need lots of cold showers if sex is put on hold. But I'd willingly do it for you."
"You know, Dan, we've done things the most unconventional way possible. And it's worked, so I think that's how we should carry on."
"Great." He kissed the top of her head. "Now go shower and change, and I'll wait here for you. Although I haven't showered since work, so I could always join you."
"In the shower?"
He nodded, it sounded like the perfect plan to him. "All that slippery soap."
"Oh, Robin is right, you are leading me astray."
"Oh, I forgot, no more protection. We'll have to fool around instead."
"Wait." She went to her purse, and pulled out a condom. "I have one. Robin gave it me the first night you took me to dinner. I swore I'd never use it."
"How wrong you were, Max. "
She smiled coyly, and he went to her, slowly undoing her jacket, and then her prim and proper shirt, finding her breasts encased in a lacy bra, which was soon discarded. In return she unbuttoned his shirt, and he cursed not having had a shower before he had gone to her office. But she didn't seem to care, and when she kissed his nipple, exploring him with her tongue, he pushed his worries aside.
"So what was all that about it being obvious I was a firefighter?" He murmured, his mouth kissing her ear lobe, sucking on it before planting feather light kisses down her neck.
She craned her neck back, making her breasts lift, and he decided that he needed to undo her bra next so he could free her fabulous breasts.
"Oh, you know. You're so well muscled."
"You like that? A strong man to take care of you?" His fingers found their goal, her breasts popping out of her bra. Slowly he trailed his finger tip over the taut bud of her nipple, feeling her take a sharp breath. Lowering his head he kissed the tip very lightly before sucking it into his mouth, hard. At this rate they were never going to make the shower.
"I've never needed anyone to take care of me," she said absently.
"We all need someone to rely on, Max. I hope I can be that person. I can't match your income, but I can look after you in so many other ways."
"Oh, I know," she said, and then he lifted her up and took her through to the bathroom. He was about to show her just how many other ways he could look after her needs.
With her lips firmly pressed against his she groped around in the shower to turn on the water. It came on, freezing cold, making her jump forward against him. She could feel the hard press of him against her, and now she needed to get naked with him. Wriggling out of his arms she began to undo her skirt.
"My, aren't we eager."
"That obvious."
"Oh, yes. In a good way. Always in a good way, Max."
She paused, her skirt on the floor, but her panties still on. "I've never been like this before, Dan. So I don't know how I'm supposed to behave."
"There is no right way, only your way. I won't judge you, Max. But I have to admit, you make it so easy to want you, every second I'm with you." He unbuckled his belt, and pushed his pants to the floor. Standing before her in all his erect glory.