“Max?” I barely hear my voice over the pounding of my heart. From my almost orgasm or from being scared half to death, I’m not sure.
I shoot up out of my bed and drag my blanket with me to cover my scantily clad body. Peering over the railing, I see my boss. The grip on my blanket tightens as I take in his completely soaked white T-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants.
I sway heavily against the railing feeling my center throb at the real-life fantasy standing in my living room.
He shines his light toward me, and I lift my hand against the brightness. “What are you doing here?”
“The power went out,” he answers, pushing back his wet hair as he lowers the light. A security light down by the creek casts a bluish glow through the windows enough for me to make out the features of his face. He looks stressed when he adds, “I was coming to bring you a flashlight. I heard you scream, and I thought something bad was happening.”
I swallow nervously, thinking about what was about to happen, and shift the blanket to cover my hardening nipples nearly falling out of my nightie. “Sorry, I was just—”
A loud thunk down by my feet has my eyes moving from Max to the floor where my pale pink vibrator has come loose out of my blanket. Eyes wide, I pray his light didn’t catch it before it hit the floor. Hastily, I bend over to grab it so I can stash it safely back in the folds of the blanket.
As I bend, the blanket falls over it, making it hard to see with only the light from below as my guide. I kick my foot out to move the blanket aside when it connects with the vibrator.
To my great horror, I watch in slow motion as it falls through the railing right toward where Max is standing below me.
With a loud thud that echoes through my tiny home, it hits the floor.
“I got it,” Max says, moving toward the device that now resides on the main floor.
“Just leave it,” I nearly scream as I drop the blanket and scamper my ass down this stupid fucking ladder that I thought was charming until this very moment. Now I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns. “Please…don’t touch it!” I gasp loudly out of breath as I fumble for the next rung on the ladder.
“It’s no problem,” Max offers, walking over to the kitchen area that’s under the ladder.
“Please, for the love of God!” My feet thump on the hardwood floor as I jump off the ladder with three rungs to go.
A tingle shoots up my feet as I make a dive for the vibrator just as Max bends over. Our heads instantly collide, causing him to drop the flashlight onto my bare foot.
“Ouch!” I squeal, bending over to grab my tingling foot as I hop awkwardly and grip the ladder for balance.
“Shit, Cassandra, are you okay?” Max’s eyes find mine in the darkness, his gaze shifting to my chest.
I glance down, and my heart rate skyrockets because my right breast is completely exposed. Nipples and all. “Holy fuck,” I cry, dropping my foot to yank my nightgown over my chest. “Oh, my God, this is so embarrassing,” I groan, feeling more horrified than I have ever felt in my entire life.
Scratch that.
There’s more.
A faint noise permeates the air, breaking through the mortified ringing in my ears.
The distinct, unmistakable tremor of…
…vibrating.
Max’s brow furrows at the noise, and without pause, he bends over and picks the device up off the floor. His lips part with an audible pop as he holds it in front of his face, staring at it like it’s an alien life-form.
With a frustrated growl, I snatch it out of his hand, quickly pressing the off button to stop the soundtrack of my complete and utter demise. I slam it down on the counter and push my tousled hair out of my face before releasing a groan of agony.
“Cassandra, are you okay?” Max’s deep voice asks, his scent invading my senses that are already at a hair-trigger level.
“Obviously not.” I turn to face him and struggle to fight back the knot forming in my throat. The emotion causes my skin to tighten as my nipples pebble beneath the satin. I close my eyes because his handsome, confused face is just too much for me to bear. Why do I keep finding myself in awkward situations with this man? What have I done to deserve this level of torture from the gods?
Max’s voice is hoarse when he inquires, “Were you—？”
“Max.” I inhale deeply before opening my eyes to look at his devastatingly sexy face. The lines on his forehead are creased in such concern, I feel mortified all over again. “Please don’t speak.”
“Why not?” His gaze darkens as drips of rain fall down his face.