When Max returned, I was back in the living room enjoying the view. The dogs ran right to their water bowls while he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, dropping a kiss on my shoulder. “Did you check out my nightstand to make sure there weren’t any whips?”
I turned around in his arms and ran my fingers through his hair. “Who says I’m not into that? Maybe I’m disappointed I didn’t find any.”
Max’s eyes sparkled. “Then I guess you didn’t look in my closet.”
My eyes widened, and he chuckled. “I’m kidding.”
Four and Fred finished their drinks and came to sit at our feet. Four nuzzled his wet face against my bare leg, like a cat.
“They weren’t interested in me when we walked in, so I didn’t get to say hello.” I bent down and lifted Four, scratching the top of his head with my nails while using my other hand to pet Fred. “Hi, Fred. I’m Georgia. It’s nice to meet you.”
Fred leaned in and licked my cheek. I laughed. “Ah, I see you take after your father with the ladies.”
Max smiled. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll take a glass of wine, if you’re having one.”
While Max opened a bottle, I spent a little time with the dogs. After he poured two glasses, he tossed a ball down the hall, and Fred took off running.
I stood with Four in my arms. “Boy, and here I thought I was winning him over. All it takes is a ball and he loses interest.”
I walked into the kitchen, and Max held out his arms. “Come on, puffball, you too. It’s my turn.” He set Four on the floor and bribed him with a biscuit before passing me wine.
“I’m glad I didn’t walk them with you.” I lifted my foot into a flamingo stance and rubbed at my toes. “The strap on this shoe has a sharp edge and feels like it’s trying to cut into my toe.”
Max set down his wine and took mine from my hand, placing it on the counter. “Let me take them off for you.” He gripped my waist and lifted me up onto the kitchen counter, then raised my foot and unbuckled the strap to my sandal. “These are sexy as shit. But I’d rather you be comfortable here.”
I really loved watching him take my shoes off for some reason. It was a sweet gesture, but perhaps also a prelude to him removing other articles of clothing sometime in the near future.
I took a deep breath to focus. “Your apartment is nothing like I thought it would be.”
“No? What did you expect?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure. You’re an athlete, so I guess a big-screen TV and maybe a room with a workbench and exercise equipment. I think I was expecting more of a bachelor pad.”
Max lifted the foot he’d freed from the angry buckle and kissed the red welt running across the top before going to work on the other. “Two years ago you would’ve been right. I had an apartment in Chelsea that was basically a nicer version of a frat house. Two other players lived in the building, and if I didn’t answer my door, they would knock it down. I had to replace the front door four times.”
I laughed. “What made you make the change?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I grew up. I wanted to be able to come home and relax. I play hard all day long. Coming home to a place that was peaceful became important. Though…I do still have the big-screen TV. Stay put. I’ll show you.”
He finished taking off my other shoe and walked into the living room to grab the remote. As he pressed a button, the wall of windows started to disappear as a large shade slid down. Once it finished, Max pushed another button, and a panel I hadn’t noticed in the living room ceiling opened, and a projector dropped down.
“It’s a blackout shade and projection screen in one,” he said. “It’s eighteen feet long. It feels like you’re in the game when I watch on this thing.”
“Wow.” I laughed. “Now that’s more like I thought.”
Max walked back over to where I was still sitting on the counter. He nudged open my knees and stood between them. “There’s a gym in the building, so I got rid of my spare room full of weights, and I have a cleaning lady who stocks the fridge and keeps the place from looking like a bachelor pad. So you weren’t wrong; I just hide it better in my old age.”
With the blackout shades down, the room had gotten dark. The only light came from the entryway, making the moment feel more intimate. Max swept hair from my shoulder and leaned in to kiss my neck.