Baddest Bad Boys(85)

Then he gently bit her, just barely catching her clit between his teeth. She screamed his name as a climax shattered her.

The ringing of a cell phone startled Ellie. She lifted her head and watched as Max pushed up and stalked toward the golf cart.

The thought of taking his cell phone and tossing it in the water was tempting. And judging by the look on his face, she’d guess he might let her. Maybe she’d even suggest it.

She pushed up on her elbows, debating about getting dressed. She studied Max, her eyes drifting lower, to his cock. His erection looked painful, straining straight out from his body. Damn. He’d been so focused on her that he hadn’t come yet.

She narrowed her eyes, thinking about turning the tables on him for a change. About being more assertive. More aggressive.

She climbed to her feet slowly and walked up to him. He motioned her closer. He spoke in clipped monosyllables, then mouthed the word sorry and held up one finger, indicating she should wait.

Oh, I’ll wait, she thought. On you.

He was distracted again. Until she dropped to her knees. That got his attention. She paused to see if he discouraged her.

He did the opposite, turning slightly toward her and spreading his legs slightly. She took advantage of the moment and cupped his testicles, massaging them gently. They felt heavy. Full. And as she caressed his sac, his cock grew longer.

She glanced up, saw that he watched her through hooded eyes. If you’re going to do it, do it. Opening her mouth, she closed it over the head, easing in the first two inches. The heat of it surprised her. His body jerked as he drew a sharp breath.

“I’ve got to go,” he said, voice strained.

His reaction emboldened her. She swirled her tongue on the underside of his shaft, tracing the ridge of the head. She tightened her lips, took in another inch. The width of him stretched her mouth. He was so hard, yet the skin so deliciously soft. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the clean taste of him.

His hand slid into her hair, moving the wet mass back off her shoulders. To better see?

“That feels good, sweetheart,” he praised.

Encouraged, she pulled back, then pressed forward again, taking in more of him. His wet shaft glided easily over her lips. She quickly found a rhythm that mimicked the in-out of lovemaking. Then she remembered something he did that had driven her crazy.

When Ellie started sucking, Max’s knees locked. His fingers tightened in her hair. Then abruptly he pulled away, completely.

She glanced up. “Did I do something wrong?”

He pulled her to her feet. They stood, both panting. “Hell, no! You’re doing everything right. Too right.”

“Are you afraid you’ll come, then?”

“I know I’ll come. I’m afraid I’ll be too rough, El.”

She smiled, pleased to know she had that effect on him. She touched his penis, felt it lurch in her hand. “We can’t leave you like this.”

“We’re not.”

Grasping her waist, Max lifted her straight up. “Wrap your legs around my hips.”

As she did, she felt Max press up inside, filling her with a suddenness that stole her breath.

“Hold on. We’re going to storm the beach together.”

Max woke up on the fourth morning with a hard-on. Ellie was curled into a ball beside him on the bed, exhausted from making love on and off during the night.

The recriminations came out of nowhere, pounding him.

You shouldn’t have walked away seven years ago. You should have told her you loved her on her wedding day. You shouldn’t have avoided her all these years since Stefan’s death.

All true. Damn it, he and Ellie needed to talk. About everything—their feelings, their past, their present. It was their only hope for a future together.

Which meant he needed to come clean about his real reasons for bringing her to the island. The police had made a grisly discovery that night, when Max had stayed behind at the beach house. A rape kit, they’d called it. Her attacker had brought everything he’d needed to subdue and terrorize. And that very same night, the bastard had the balls to send her another e-mail, promising to wait her out, to finish the job. Max had intercepted that message before Ellie saw it, but so far police had little luck tracing it. Her stalker was a pro, and seemed determined to get to her.

In the end, Ellie’s proposed deal had turned out to be a convenient means to keep her out of sight, and more importantly, out of harm’s way while a trap was set for her attacker. That Max hadn’t told Ellie any of this made sense at one time. He hadn’t wanted to upset her, hadn’t wanted to risk her refusal. Hadn’t wanted to pass up the chance of seven days in her arms.

But how would she react when he told her the truth today? The good news was, they were on an island. She couldn’t run far. He debated briefly about waking her, coming clean right now. Except that would ruin some of his other plans.

He had to go to Charleston this morning, for what he hoped was the last renegotiation with Haru Mizuno. Damn it, if anything else came up with this merger, he’d consider pulling the plug. He didn’t expect things to be easy, but when this many problems occurred, there was a reason—beyond Murphy’s Law.

While in Charleston, Max would also sign off on a new shareholder agreement. Effective today, he was relinquishing his control of her shares. He had resisted before, because he’d wanted to keep her in his life. Now…