Page 53 of Hate To Want You
Max
“I have to go away this weekend,” I say casually as Heidi finishes brushing her hair. I’m leaning against my bathroom counter wearing nothing but my boxer briefs. It should be weird watching her go through her nighttime routine, but I’m so enthralled by this woman, even the mundane tasks are addictive to me.
“Oh.”
The pretty frown that mars her face makes me grin. And she sees it, which only makes her frown even deeper.
“Sweetheart, you’re coming with me.”
Heidi whirls around, her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. “What?” she mumbles around it.
“I planned a little weekend escape for us. We leave tomorrow morning.” I give her my most satisfied smirk, and I’m rewarded by a little squeak of excitement. She rushes through the rest of brushing her teeth before throwing her arms around me. My hands instantly go to her delicious ass, lifting her up to sit on the bathroom counter.
“Where are we going?”
“Ah, that’s a surprise,” I tease, running my hands up her thighs.
“Max,” she wheedles, but I just shake my head with a grin. Lifting her off the counter, her legs wrap around me as I carry her into the bedroom and set her down on the bed.
“You’ll find out tomorrow. Now, we better get some sleep, it’s an early departure.”
“That’s mean, Max,” she pouts as I pull her into my arms.
“Let me do this, sweetheart. Please.” I can’t explain why it’s important to me that this be a surprise, but it is. Thankfully, Heidi seems to see that etched across my features. Because she eventually nods, and with a sweet kiss to my lips, she lets it go,
I should have known she gave in too easily. All morning she has continued to try and to get me to crack, but I’ve stayed strong.
“Just one hint, Max? Please?”
I run my thumb over her pouting lips. “Where’s the fun in that? Hurry up, sweetheart, we need to leave.”
An hour later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of Harbour Air, a small charter company that flies seaplanes back and forth to the mainland. I turn off the car and look over at Heidi. Those eyes I’m rapidly becoming obsessed with are sparkling as they look everywhere, taking in the plane that’s taking off and the other that’s parked at the dock.
“Are we going in one of those?”
I nod.
She grabs my hand, squeezing it in excitement. “I’ve always wanted to take a seaplane. Always.”
I can’t help it; her joy is infectious. Leaning over, I kiss her cheek, inhaling the uniquely feminine and alluring scent of her. “Perfect.”
We get out, go to the small office located on the dock, and check in. Then, in what feels like no time at all, we’re seated in the small cockpit of the plane, listening to our pilot. He introduces himself as Rourke and has a faint accent as he goes over the safety protocols. Heidi’s hand is clutching mine tightly, and I can hear her gasps of amazement as we taxi out over the water and lift into the air.
Her reaction is everything I hoped for. We both need this — a chance to be together farther away from home, away from anyone who might see us and question what we’re doing. Even if we never leave the hotel room, which if I have my way, we won’t, except maybe to eat. We need a break from real life and a chance to justbe.
The flight to the mainland is over far too soon, and I can tell from Heidi’s wistful glances at the plane she feels the same way.
“We’re flying home the same way,” I whisper in her ear as we walk up the dock.
“Really?” she breathes. “Thank you, Max.” Her head drops to my shoulder, and it’s effortless for me to turn and kiss the top of her silky hair.
There’s no denying, I’m at the point where I’ll do just about anything to make her happy.
By the time we get checked into our hotel in downtown Vancouver, neither one of us seems capable of holding back much longer. The second the door to our suite closes, I’ve got Heidi tossed over my shoulder and I’m walking us into the large bathroom. Then slowly, I lower her, relishing the feel of her body sliding against mine, setting alight all my nerve endings.
“I need you.”
Those three words echo around my head and my heart. My need for her is just as strong and just as deep. I cup her face in my hands and steal her breath with my kiss until she sags against me, her hands placed on my chest, gripping my shirt tightly.
