“That complex is why I focused so intently on growing my business when I was younger. At least there’s no heartbreak in business. The risks are purely financial, which I can stomach a lot easier than emotional. Especially when I already have something in my life that fulfills me in all the emotional ways I never imagined.”
“Everly,” I finish his thought, a knot forming in my throat over the image of this strong, virile man who has the success anyone would ever dream of, but in reality, he’s broken on a fundamental level, only allowing the love of his daughter into his life as a form of protection.
“She’s my world.” Max’s voice cracks at the end, and I think my heart stops at the pain in his eyes. He clears his throat and adds, “She chases all my clouds away. What more do I need in life?”
The faint sound of birds chirping rouse me from the hardest I’ve slept in months. My eyes pry open as sunlight pours in through the parted blinds in Max’s bedroom. I come to, my brow furrowed as I realize I spent the night here last night.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself and look down to find Max’s arm banded firmly around me. His hot body is pressed up behind me, and the steady rise and fall of his chest indicates he’s still asleep.
Jesus…apparently epic sex and a big heart-to-heart knocked us both out. I had every intention of going up to the guest bedroom. But Max’s warm chest felt so good under my cheek. And the way he played with my hair after I slung all those heavy questions at him made it impossible for me to leave.
God, this man has such power over me. I don’t even know how to understand it. The realization that he’s not just an uptight boss makes him so much hotter than he was twenty-four hours ago. Is it the broken man thing that’s turning me on? I don’t need a broken man. I’m broken enough my damn self.
Plus, I’m not sure Max is truly broken. He’s more just stubborn. He’s choosing to live a certain way because he thinks that’s all he will need in life. But Everly will reach an age when she doesn’t need him as much anymore, and he’ll want someone to share that vacancy in his life with.
He shifts behind me, and a soft gasp escapes my lips when I feel his rock-hard erection digging into my back. Like seriously, how do men sleep through this level of a boner? Surely, it’s painful.
Glancing at the clock, I see it’s still barely six, so we should have plenty of time to fool around before the girls wake up.
I slip my hand under the blanket and reach behind me. He stirs when my fingers wrap around his long shaft. His groin mindlessly rocks into my ass as he squeezes me tighter around the waist. His strong arm banded around my waist is fucking delightful, but I will not be distracted.
I turn over and slide myself under the covers to give Max a wake-up call he certainly earned after last night.
“Fuck.” His harsh morning voice croaks when I pull him into my mouth, tasting the salty pre-come and moaning around his silky hard flesh.
“Cassandra,” he groans my name as I fist his base and slide my lips over his cock, feeling electrified every time his hips jerk. “God, Cassandra.”
The sound of my name on his lips warms the blood in my veins. Before I came into this house, I never liked my first name. It always felt like it was meant for someone more elegant and mature than me.
But when Max says it like he just did, God, do I become a Cassandra.
I pull him into the back of my throat and hear a faint notification buzz on his phone. I pause my best work to listen and gasp literally around Max’s dick when I hear Everly’s faint voice chirp, “Let’s go see what my dad will make us for breakfast!”
“Is that the camera? Is Everly coming inside?” The pitter-patter of rapid footsteps in the house has me flinging back the blanket. “Did you lock the door?” I whisper-shout, my entire body tense with terror.
Max’s half hooded eyes pop open. “Shit.”
Hide…I need to hide!
The two pairs of feet close in on us at rapid speed as I throw myself off the far side of the bed, my kneecap making a really horrifying thump as it smashes into the hardwood floor along with the duvet that I took with me. Max scrambles for the sheet to cover himself as I bite my lip and grab my knee, screaming in silent agony. Are his floors really just wood? It felt like concrete or boulders! Or perhaps a bed of nails!
“Daddy, Claire and I are hungry,” Everly’s voice says as she enters the room sounding like she’s been up for hours. “We want pancakes.”
“Pancakes?” Max repeats, sounding far calmer than he deserves, considering his cock is probably still covered in my saliva. He coughs loudly, and I hear the rustling of sheets. “I can probably manage pancakes.”