Maximum Witch: That Old Black Magic, Book 3 (22 page)

“Yes. And most likely, that’ll be the best way to get her nymph into the action. But if you don’t want me to, I’ll content myself with watching. Well, and beating the salami.” Boone’s eyes twinkled.

Max chose to ignore that comment and the resulting visual that popped into his head. “I guess I would be okay with you touching. But it’s strictly up to Willa. I won’t ask her to do anything she’s not comfortable with.”

“You realize she’s probably not even going to be comfortable with you broaching the idea, right? I mean, Shelby was a full-blood nymph and engaged in orgies on a regular basis. Somehow I don’t see Willa as being that hardcore.”

Damn. He hadn’t considered that. Still, there’d been no mistaking the signs of her arousal while listening to Boone’s confession. “Maybe we’ll have to approach this in a roundabout way. So she’s not expecting it. That way Willa won’t have the chance to overanalyze it or freak out.” Kind of like he was doing at the moment.

Boone’s smile was loaded with sin. “In that case? Tonight, forget my advice about shutting your bedroom door.”

What the heck is taking them so long?
Willa watched from her spot next to the Palladian window while Max and Boone continued yakking away in the Land Rover. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the subject of their chat. And it didn’t take much to figure out exactly what they were discussing—getting her damn memories back. It probably made no sense to Max why she was secretly terrified of that happening. Most folks would
want
to remember who they really were. But it was scary even contemplating giving up the person she’d always thought she was. Yes, it was an illusion. But a safe, comfortable one.

Okay, the truth was, she hated change. And this? Hell, it was the honkin’ mother of all changes. She slumped against the wall, the heaviness inside her staggering.

“How did everything go?”

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Justin’s voice. Mentally steadying her runaway heart rate, she turned to face the duke. Max and Boone hadn’t told Justin the real reason for their trip to the aquarium, only that they’d tracked down a possible lead to the whereabouts of the trident. “We didn’t have much luck, unfortunately.”

“I’m sure something will turn up. We can’t lose hope yet.”

She somehow managed to return Justin’s smile, even though she’d hazard a guess that hers was filled with far less confidence. The duke started to take a step back, only to halt and cock his head to the side. “It’s odd, but I haven’t been able to shake this feeling that we’ve met before.”

“Maybe another lifetime?”

He chuckled. “Now there’s a whimsical thought.”

Not so much
. Still, she couldn’t help wondering what life would have been like if Reva hadn’t gotten away with murder. Would she and Justin have been friends? Judging from the brief flash of memory she’d had yesterday, it seemed pretty likely. She glanced around the entry of the mansion, picturing what it would have been like growing up in such an environment. According to Max, the royal palace had been even more opulent.

Even so, it wasn’t unknown luxuries that she missed. Frankly, she didn’t give a crap about any of that stuff. The real treasures in life were those you loved. She’d had that with her parents, and later with Aurele.

She wanted it with Max. Yeah, there, she’d admitted it. He owned her heart. She harbored no doubts about it. Her past meant nothing if it didn’t include a future with him. She blinked and noticed that Justin was still watching her. Only now he wore a quizzical smile. She gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry, didn’t mean to daze off on you. I think I’m still just dazzled by your home.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, and it was less painful than fessing up about her heart being tied up in knots.

“It’s perfectly all right. I admit to sometimes looking around here and thinking to myself, bloody hell, I need to have a garage sale.”

His offhand quip earned her laugh. “Well, if you do? Invite me. I’ve got my eye on that mermaid fountain outside.” She tapped her chin. “Although, I bet it’d be a bugger fitting it in my car. Of course, Max is strong enough I could probably strap it to his back and have him haul it home for me.”

“He’s crazy about you, you know. Even a blind man would be able to see it.”

Her heart danced an ecstatic jig at Justin’s pronouncement. Still, her rational side refused to get too excited. “We haven’t known each other that long.”

“Does it matter? Sometimes one look is all it takes to know you’ve found your mate.” Despite the conviction in his words, a hint of sadness lurked in Justin’s eyes.

Before either of them could say anything more, the front door opened and Max and Boone stepped inside. They both glanced at her, but it was the red flush creeping along Max’s neck that made her suspicious.

Well, that answered that question. Obviously they
had
been talking about her in the car. “What have two been up to?”

“Nothing.” Max’s response came a little too fast, and it stood in sharp contrast to his guilty expression. She stared him down until he cleared his throat and looked away.

What the devil had he and Boone talked about that would make him turn red as a lobster? Before the night ended, she intended to find out.

She didn’t have much opportunity to grill either Max or Boone on their conversation as the evening progressed. But when dinner was announced and they all took their seats at the massive mahogany dining table and she took in the five millionth covert look that passed between Max and Boone, she knew something was definitely up. Chewing the tender sliver of lime-and-dill-glazed salmon the duke’s personal chef had prepared, she contemplated Max’s flushed features.

What the hell was going on with him?—she peeked at Boone and caught his loaded smile—damn it, with both of them?

Dinner seemed to drag on forever. By the time it wrapped up and Justin inquired if anyone cared for dessert, her eyes were drooping.

“No, thank you.” Her yawn slipped free. Mortified, she covered her mouth. “Sorry. These late nights are starting to get to me.”

Max lurched to his feet. “Maybe we should go to bed.”

She stared at him. “It’s barely eight.”

“You said you were tired.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to go to bed right
now
.”

Heavy disappointment fell across Max’s face, and Boone chuckled.

“I think our boy’s impatient to get the night rolling.”

“Why? Does he have a hot date planned?” she couldn’t help grousing as she rose from her seat.

For some reason, Max’s cheeks turned even ruddier.

“Well, whatever you do, I’m afraid you’ll have to count me out,” Justin said as they walked from the dining room. “The only hot date in my future is with some immensely boring investment reports.” After brushing a courtly kiss across her knuckles, he abandoned them for his office.

She glanced at Max and noticed the stony set of his jaw. Okay, now what was
that
about? He met her eyes and his fierceness softened.

Leaning down, he claimed her mouth in a kiss that was a thousand degrees hotter than the one Justin had offered. Easing back, he skated his fingers along the side of her breast. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into going to bed?”

Oh. So
that’s
why he’d been in a rush to get her upstairs. He was in the mood for a little mattress mamboing. She should have guessed. Licking her lips, she tasted his spiciness and the faint hint of the chardonnay they’d partaken in at dinner. “Tempting as that is, I think maybe I should take a shower first. I skipped one this morning, and I’m probably all sticky and gross.”

“Can I join you?”

“You want to take a shower with me?” Okay, wow, she’d said that pretty damn loud. Embarrassed, she peeked over Max’s shoulder. Fortunately, Boone was nowhere to be seen, and the door to Justin’s office was closed. Hopefully he hadn’t heard.

Max’s grin was an invitation to all kinds of wicked delights. “I like the idea of soaping all your fun parts. What do you say?”

She’d never taken a shower with anyone before, much less a man. Biting her lip, she peered at Max. Make that an incredibly gorgeous man who was fantastically good with his teeth. And every other part of him. “I think I could get on board with a group shower.”

For some reason, Max choked on a cough. Grabbing him by the hand, she headed toward the spiral stairway. Her gaze landed on the marble sculpture of a group of sirens, and a shiver coursed through her. There was no question the creatures were devastatingly beautiful, but she’d never be able to look at them without recalling the hateful evilness of Reva. “D-do you think Aurele…?” A thick lump of worry clogged her throat.

Max hugged her close, his nearness and his strength comforting. “She’s a smart woman. Aurele knows damn well that Reva has to keep her alive. I wouldn’t doubt it if she’s taunting Reva about that very fact.”

Some of the ache eased in her chest. “You’re right. That’s so something Aurele would do.”

Bending, Max tipped her into his arms. She gasped at the spontaneous action. “Uh, what are you doing?”

“Sweeping you off your feet.”

“Wow, that’s an incredibly cheesy line.” But it still filled her heart with giddiness.

Max took the rest of the stairs two at a time. When they reached their room, rather than set her down, he carried her all the way into the opulently appointed bathroom. One look at the enormous Jacuzzi tub and she changed her mind about the shower. Max moved behind her. Sliding his palms across her tummy, he nuzzled her neck. “We could put those jets to good use.”

“Mm, yes, we could.” She toed off her sandals while Max relieved her of her top. He flung it aside and rasped down the zipper on her capris. She shimmied from the garment and removed her bra and panties before leaning over the tub and cranking on the faucet. Satisfied the temperature of the water was absolutely perfect, she pivoted.

Max was still fully dressed.

She plunked her hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you naked?”

“I was too busy ogling your delectable ass.” His eyes glowed with the heat of his desire. Seeing the evidence of how much he wanted her filled her with a seductive wantonness. Without thinking twice about her actions, she cupped her breasts, her fingertips brushing her nipples. Max watched her, his eyelids growing heavy. “You getting those pretty nipples ready for me, baby?”

“Mm-hmm.” She plucked the pebbled tips and moaned.

His motions swift and impatient, Max kicked off his shoes and made short work of the rest of his clothing. She took her time admiring his muscular, yummilicious body, her pussy growing damp as she noticed the thickening of his shaft. A clear bead of precome pearled from the tiny slit. She dropped to her knees in front of him and gathered that glistening teardrop with her tongue. Max groaned, his chiseled abdomen quivering. It was heady, knowing she had such an effect on him.

She stretched her hand around his girth, her fingers unable to meet. It was a miracle he was able to fit inside her. But it felt oh so wonderful when he did fill her full with his hard cock. Taking him into her mouth, she sucked down his length, working him toward the back of her throat. His fingers stroked through her hair, and she looked up at him through her eyelashes.

His glittery eyes were locked on the movement of her mouth. “Yes, baby.
Fuck
. That feels good.”

She hummed in response and he jerked. Sliding his hand beneath her chin, he quickly eased her off him. Worried she’d done something he didn’t care for, she offered him an uncertain look.

“Too much more of that and I would have come,” he said, apparently reading her mind and wanting to reassure her. He hugged her tight and kissed her slowly, temptingly, before he lifted her and climbed into the tub. They settled into the steaming water. It was like being cocooned in a warm, seductive oasis. She sat in his lap and he cupped her breasts, the pads of his thumbs grazing her nipples. He seemed fascinated by the way they puckered beneath his touch. The bath water continued filling around them, its silky glide adding its own brand of friction. She scooped up a handful and splashed it down Max’s chest, watching the rivulets stream into his bellybutton.

He kissed her, his tongue a teasing flicker. “You have no idea what this is doing to me. The heat. The water. You.”

She had to admit it was all getting to her too. Max and the water were proving to be a potent blend of the ideal aphrodisiac.

The swirling steam was leaving beads of condensation on her skin. Max lowered his head and sucked the droplets from her flesh, paying particular attention to her nipples. His big hands kneading her breasts, he looked at her with a hot intensity. “I want to go down on you. Feel you come on my tongue before you do the same around my cock.”

She whimpered. Both at the request and the huskiness of Max’s voice.

“Lay back. But whatever you do, don’t turn on the jets.”

“Why?”

“Just trust me.”

Angling her legs better, she rested her head on the padded vinyl pillow that’d been thoughtfully suctioned to the lip of the tub. Max reached behind him and dialed off the faucet. He stretched over her, his mouth inches away from hers. Their breath mingled for a moment before he scooted backward. Max’s smoky gaze held her in place. His body morphed into the same watery substance he’d utilized at the aquarium, and an instant later he disappeared.

Confused, she started to sit up, only to stop and gasp when a caressing ripple eddied over her. The sensation wasn’t localized to only one area of her skin. No, it was everywhere. A funneling pressure pushed onto her inner thighs, almost like the imprint of hands. She automatically spread her legs wider. Max’s essence enveloped her in a lush, erotic heat wave. It floated over her,
through
her, and she opened her senses fully to its presence.

A series of tiny bubbles bobbed her clit, their tingle like a seductive tease. She arched her hips, and Max’s mouth came into full play, closing around her pussy. A cry ripped from her, and she flattened her palm on the side of the tub, trying not to pass out from the overwhelming pleasure Max was giving her. His tongue toggled her clit, something thicker burrowing into her channel. His fingers? Yes, unless he possessed mad contortionist skills when he was in water form. The notion would have made her laugh, but she was moaning, on the brink of a powerful orgasm. Without the benefit of words, she felt Max’s determination to push her past the pinnacle.