Wicked Valentine (Sizzling Encounters) Read online

  “Max, please… I need…” She moaned.

  “I know what you need, baby.” He leaned over her, one hand leveraging his body weight on the tree. His cock, still gliding in and out of her fluttering cunt, slowly caressed her insides with his slick, wet hardness.

  He panted by her ear, his other hand still gripping her ass while he fucked her harder.

  “You need me to make you come, don’t you, baby?”

  She moaned.

  “Tell me, Sabrina.”

  “Yes! Please make me come, Max.”

  “You know what I want, baby?” He licked the back of her sweaty shoulder.

  She shook her head, focused only on each thrust and retreat of his cock into her sex and the squishy noises her pussy made.

  “I want to feel your pussy grip my cock and suck me tight when you come.” His voice deepened, lowered, and caressed her ear. His thrusts slowed. The hand gripping her hip moved around in between her thighs. “I want to hear you scream my name and know I’m the one making your body drip with heat.” He jerked behind her, propelled back, and thrust harshly back inside. Another deep dive and the coiling in her body tightened. “I want you to remember that I’m the man for you.”

  “Max—”

  “Me.” His voice turned into a gravel-soft whisper by her ear.

  She panted, only half-listening to him. “Oh, my!”

  He thrust hard and stroked her clit with a finger. The rough caress sent shivers down her back.

  “I’ve waited this long to have you, Sabrina.” He slammed into her again, ground his cock into her pussy as far as he could, and pinched her clit. “This is only the beginning.”

  Arousal unraveled in a frenzied brushfire that consumed her. “Max!” The orgasm rushed through her with the force of a tsunami.

  He groaned, a wholly male sound that made her nipples ache. “Yes, baby. Suck my cock with your pussy,” he urged just as the tension inside her snapped.

  Her pussy fluttered and tightened around his cock. Her back bowed until her head leaned back into his slick chest.

  His thrusts turned shallow, quick and desperate. Thrust after thrust, he slapped his cock into her pussy hard. He ground into her one final time and stiffened behind her. A second later he cursed and found his own release. His cock pulsed inside her at the same time she returned from riding the pleasure wave.

  Chapter Three

  Nina sighed, rubbing a hand over her temple. The permanent headache she’d had for the past two weeks made its presence known once again. Like she’d forget the damn pain that didn’t want to go away.

  “Nina, Are you OK?”

  She jerked her head up and smiled. Her cousin Alex was staring down at her with a worried frown.

  Jumping to her feet, she enveloped Alex in a tight hug. “I’m fine. Sit down before I feel guilty for making you stand.”

  Alex rolled her eyes and took the seat across from her at their favorite restaurant, near her office. “You know, I’m only three frickin’ months pregnant. You and Andrew need to remember that.”

  She giggled at Alex’s frown. “What’s Andrew done? I thought you liked being married?”

  Alex opened her eyes wide, as if Nina had said something shocking. “Of course I do! I love Andrew. And he loves me. But you’d think the man has never seen a pregnant woman before. He’s driving me nuts constantly telling me to sit down. The baby is not gonna pop out because I stand for a bit.” She picked up a breadstick and took a crunching bite.

  Nina laughed, imagining Alex’s super sexy husband catering to his wife. It was so cute. “You know he means well. He wants you to be careful.”

  Alex sighed, a soft smile slid across her lips. “I know. And he’s really great. I’ve never had a man so ready to do whatever I need to keep me happy. It makes me feel so…special.” She took another bite of the breadstick and blinked. “But that’s not why we’re here.”

  Crap. Why did she call Alex and say she was feeling down? Now their usual weekly lunch was going to revolve around Nina and whatever was troubling her.

  She grinned, hoping the smile appeared worry free. “Sweetie, whatever I said, olvÍdalo. Just forget it.”

  Alex lifted a perfectly arched brow. “I don’t think so.” She took a breath but the waiter appeared to take their orders before she got a chance to speak. Once he was gone, she leaned forward on the table, her arms resting on the pristine burgundy tablecloth. “What’s wrong?”

  Nina opened her mouth to deny anything was wrong, but stopped when she glanced over Alex’s shoulder. She shut her mouth and frowned at the couple being seated.

  Alex turned to look at the couple as well. “Is that Max? Damn, he looks better than he did the time I saw him at your office. And who’s that with—Oh! He’s looking this way…”

  Nina’s gaze collided with Max’s. His previously smiling face took on an almost angry scowl. She lifted her chin when he left his lunch companion and marched toward them.

  “Sabrina.”

  “Maxwell.” She lifted her chin higher. They weren’t a couple, and she’d never promised him forever. What they had, had been a single night and wouldn’t be repeated. “You’ve met my cousin, Alex.”

  Max smiled at Alex and glanced back at her. “How are you feeling?” The way he voiced the question indicated he didn’t believe for a second she was sick. He made it sound like she’d been hiding from him.

  “Much better, thank you.”

  Alex’s eyes widened in alarm. “What’s wrong, Nina?”

  Nina glared at Max. The last thing she’d wanted was to worry Alex over a stupid headache. “Nothing, just a pesky migraine.” She continued to stare at Max. “It seems some headaches just don’t know when to go away.”

  He clenched his jaw, and his blue eyes took on a dangerous glint. Her body flared to life at the heated look he gave her.

  “Please.” She motioned toward the woman waiting for Max. “Don’t let us keep you from your companion.”

  He dipped his head in a sharp nod. “Enjoy your lunch, ladies.”

  “OK.” Alex smirked while watching Max walk back to his table. “What just happened?”

  Nina gulped. It would be a miracle if she could calm her body from the usual annoying desire that flooded her whenever Max was around. “Nothing. You know he loves getting on my last nerve.”

  “What could he have done that would upset you so much?” Alex waggled her brows. “Don’t think I forgot you let it slip he sent you flowers at home a few times in the past couple of weeks. What was that about?”

  Nina sighed, resigned to give Alex what she wanted. “I called in sick, and he was being nice.” She grinned when Alex made a kissy face. “Yes, he did send me flowers a few times at home, and from what my assistant said, I have some at the office as well. She said they didn’t have a name on them, but when she described them they were the same type from the same florist.”

  “So he sent you flowers? That can’t be so bad.”

  “He also sent me a get-well basket.”

  “Aw. He’s so sweet. What is wrong with you?” She glared at Nina. “He obviously likes you. Give him a chance.”

  Nina winced. Those had been the same words she’d said to Alex when Alex had doubts about Andrew. “Alex, you know he’s my boss. Eve is my manager, and he’s the owner of the business. It wouldn’t be right. Plus, Eve is so uptight she’d have kittens if she knew Max and I had something going.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to bring any kind of scandal into his business. And that’s not what’s bothering me anyway.”

  “If he’s not the problem, then what is?” Alex sipped her water.

  Nina sighed. “I’ve been getting these calls.”

  Alex straightened in her seat. “What kind of calls?”

  “Threatening type. Not the I’m-going-to-kill-you kind,” she rushed to add when Alex’s eyes widened. “You can’t really make out if the voice is male or female, but they keep telling me that I’ve messed with the wrong person.”<
br />
  “Is it Darryl?” Alex asked, naming Nina’s last boyfriend.

  “I don’t know.” She ran restless fingers through her hair, unsure what to do. “You know Darryl is the first man I broke up with that can’t seem to get the fact that I don’t want to see him again. But I never…” She frowned. “I never took him for a stalker.”

  Alex scrunched her nose while the waiter served their meal. “No, he really didn’t give me that kind of vibe either. But you know some men go completely loco when they can’t have their way.”

  That was true enough. They’d learned that lesson with Alex’s previous boyfriend before she’d met Andrew. He’d gone from nice guy to complete bastard in the blink of an eye.

  Max’s gaze strayed past Kelly’s shoulder to Sabrina and Alex.

  “Max!” Kelly rolled her eyes “You’re not even paying me any attention. Even after I got you what you wanted.” She sipped her glass of red wine. “I swear if you weren’t my brother I’d have Peter kick your ass for being so rude to me.” She tisked.

  He frowned, knowing she was being more dramatic than she was insulted. Besides, Peter, Kelly’s husband, would probably take Max’s side anyway. “Just tell me if she’s going.” He glanced over at Sabrina, or Nina as her cousin referred to her, and stared. She was eating the seafood pasta and enjoying every bite. He wanted to get up and ask what was wrong. He couldn’t figure her out. They’d had an amazing night two weeks ago, and ever since she’d acted as though it had been no big deal. It was as if that night, which he couldn’t think of without getting hard, had not happened.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Kelly snapped.

  “Sorry, Kel. What was that?”

  She took a bite of her dessert and ate it slowly, just to annoy him. It was classic Kelly. For an older sister, she acted pretty childish at times.

  “You remember that nice house you like that I said I’d do whatever I could to get you news on it?” He watched her lift her brows in interest. “I have news.”

  “Fine. You big jerk.” She pouted. “Yes, she’s going.” Dropping the tiny fork with a clatter on the chocolate smeared plate, she grinned. “So, are you going to tell me what this woman has that’s so special? I mean, the Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball is not for the faint of heart. And you made us send her an invite through one of her clients.” She shook her head, still smiling. “You’re really lucky Peter knows so many people. Especially people that have dealt with your real estate company.” She turned to glance over her shoulder. “Which one is she?”

  “Beige suit, hair up in a twist.”

  “Oh, Max. She’s gorgeous. She’s got such a beautiful complexion, and look at the color of her eyes. Are they hazel? Or just light brown? She reminds me of an actress Peter represented during a divorce case. And check out those pouty lips.” She turned back to Max. “I’m jealous. Now I see why you wanted that invite.”

  Max nodded absently. Peter was a well-known lawyer who had a lot of clients in common with Max. “Don’t worry. I know this event is your baby.” He looked over her shoulder again. “I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong.”

  When Kelly placed a hand over his, he glanced back at her. A worried frown marred her brow.

  “It’s not so much the event I’m concerned with. You know Peter and I organize and run this, but we never attend. A lot of Peter’s clients are on the list of invitees and so it made it easier to ask one of the ones you had in common to invite her. But some big names will be there, Maxwell. Do you think your friend will be able to handle what goes on in those rooms?”

  He thought about their night back at the campsite, the way she’d shoved her hand into his jeans and ordered him to fuck her. “Yeah, she’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it. Besides, we’re not going to be using all the rooms, just a few.”

  Kelly bit her lip. “But why don’t you just ask her out the old-fashioned way. I mean, this is pretty extreme, even for you.”

  “Because,” he growled, “she’s been acting like I don’t exist. And I want to remind her that what we shared didn’t just go away.”

  “You sound a little insecure there. And you shouldn’t be.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re not the geeky teen those kids made fun of.”

  “Kelly—”

  “Listen to me, Max.” Her voice had an authoritative tone. “You’re a very handsome man. And I’m not just saying that because you’re my brother,” she rushed to add. “You are successful. Owner of a top one thousand company, and you are still so young. Don’t let this make you doubt yourself.” She groaned. “Just because you like nerdy stuff doesn’t make you a bad match.”

  He shushed her and glanced around to make sure nobody heard.

  “Oh, honey.” She smiled softly. “I bet it won’t make a difference to her—if she truly likes you—that you go to ComiCon and used to play Star Trek games on the computer like they were real life.”

  If she didn’t shut up soon he was going to kill her. He could only hope her voice hadn’t traveled to Sabrina’s table. “I want her, Kelly. I’ve wanted her for almost a year, but she’s always kept me at a distance. The whole ‘I’m the owner, and she works for me’ thing is frowned upon at the office. Not by me, but by Eve and other managers.”

  “Max, you enforced the policy, so that makes it yours,” Kelly reminded him.

  “I know that. Don’t you think I know that?” He took a drink from his wine glass. “She’s never done anything to call attention to herself. Until two weeks ago. When she let her body control her actions.” And he really wanted her to do it again. “But she is keeping me at such a distance I can’t even be in the same building with her, much less the same room. I want her to see how compatible we are in the bedroom. Maybe then she’ll be open to more.”

  Kelly smiled sympathetically. “I know, Max. But if she’s not open-minded, you might end up in a worse position than you are now.”

  “You don’t seem to understand. I feel like a lovesick fool. All I can think about is her. I’m willing to try anything at this point. Besides, if she agreed to the invite, she knows someone is going to be her partner for the night. So it shouldn’t matter that it’s me.”

  “Max—”

  “No. Listen to me. I know partners aren’t supposed to make things sexual unless the other person takes it there, but what if she does? I think she will and I want to be the person she spends the night with. I want another chance with her.”

  “Max, we sent her a list of rules with the invite. If she does show up, which I believe she will, she’ll know what you can and can’t do with and without her permission,” Kelly said. “Don’t put yourself in a compromising position.”

  He grinned and tugged at his tie.

  Sabrina and her cousin stood to leave. Sabrina glanced at his table, her gaze straying to Kelly. She lifted her brows and pursed her lips. He watched her stroll to the entrance of the restaurant without sparing him a second glance. What the hell was wrong with him? By now he should know better than to pursue a woman that didn’t want anything to do with him. But the truth was he had a feeling that she was lying to herself about him. The way she’d responded to him during the retreat made him more determined than ever to get her to open up.

  “Max?” Kelly glared at him again. “You know this whole going-into-another-world-while-I-speak thing is getting old. Pay attention!”

  He chuckled. Kelly looked like she did when one of her kids ignored her- completely put out and aggravated.

  “Sorry, big sister. Please go on. I’m paying attention this time.”

  “Don’t play with me, Maxwell. Unlike mom, who dotes on you like you’re a newborn, I will kick your ass if I have to. Now, I was asking you what happened after you guys had the night of hot sex in the woods. So far that’s all you’ve mentioned. But what exactly did she do after?”

  “That was the last night of the colleague-reconnect trip. She called in sick the minute we got back and has been working from home the past few days.” He pointed to the table
she’d been sitting at. “This is the first time I’ve seen her without a client.”

  “Oh.” Kelly tapped her fingers on the table and cupped her cheek with her other hand. Short blonde hair covered half her face when she cocked her head to the side. “Well, maybe she regrets it. You know it’s known to happen.”

  It was a possibility, but he didn’t think so. “Sabrina isn’t a timid little thing. She dates and enjoys going out. She knows what she likes. And for that night she wanted me. And I want to expand on that. See where this can go.” He groaned. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe I have to jump through all these hoops just to get some intimate time with her.” He glanced down at his dessert and opted for another sip of his wine. “Instead of being like most women, Sabrina isn’t open to dating and all that. So I end up being the one that’s getting turned away for even suggesting it.”

  “Oh my god, Max.” She patted his hand on the table.

  “What?” What the heck did he miss? He glanced down at his empty wine glass.

  “You were a one night stand, honey. I’d call you a booty call, but well…I don’t think she called you.”

  Max would have found it amusing if it wasn’t for the fact that he’d felt damn used after Sabrina didn’t answer his calls. It didn’t matter. He’d get his turn with her at the Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball.

  “Don’t worry about me, Kelly.” He motioned the waiter for the check. “I’m more than capable of handling Sabrina.”

  Chapter Four

  Nina stared at the red invite on her bed as if it were a snake ready to strike. Why did she bring it home? She’d RSVP’d she’d attend, but she still had doubts about the entire thing. She hadn’t even bothered to read the invitation thoroughly, just a quick cursory glance and she’d decided on the spot to attend. The Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball. And she was a guest of honor thanks to her client. She snorted. All she’d done was sell the guy a house. Granted, it had been a mansion, but she wasn’t even that friendly with him.

  The pretty, red-embossed paper caught her attention the minute she’d received it. It was thick and heavy and made from some expensive card stock, which made her wonder what this whole Wicked Valentine’s Day Ball was all about. Groaning, she crawled on her bed, dropped her head, her cheek resting on her folded arms, and lay there for a moment staring at the invite next to her head.