Page 71 of A Lifetime of Afters
The tension built, my body fighting the almost intolerable pleasure until the tension suddenly dissipated, and my ribs hit the mattress. Back arching deeply, hips tilting up in offering, I accepted the fire as it lazily rolled through me.
“Good girl,” he grunted, dragging his hands up to my hips to hold me in place, his movements becoming purposeful in seeking his own release. “One orgasm is a gift. Four orgasms are a consequence.”
The last word escaped on a gasp as he emptied inside me, making my thighs slick with our combined release.
Rolling me to my side, he pulled the end of the scarf to free my wrists and brushed my hair back from my face.
I licked my dry lips. “So,” I croaked, “the consequence to shopping too long is fucking me to death?”
Laughing, he pulled me into his arms. “It’s not a bad way to go,” he teased.
Chapter Twenty-six - Sanctimonious
Max’s house did not look like the quintessential bachelor’s pad. Classy and comfortable. A warm hug but a slap upside the head if you tried to put your feet up on the coffee table.
Even his Christmas decorations consisted of only the most tasteful of greenery with a touch of tulle.
From the moment you stepped through the door, the whole house welcomed you. No unnecessary clutter. Soft, muted walls, vibrant rugs and throw pillows.
Max inherited all the interior decorating genes leaving exactly none for me. The one time I bought a throw pillow, it turned out to be a dog bed.
Unsurprisingly considering our afternoon activities, we were the last ones to arrive. Harley and Daire sat on either end of one of the couches while Max sat across from them, his expression carefully blank.
I laughed at the sight. “You look like you’re in couples’ counseling and things aren’t going well,” I joked.
Harley narrowed her eyes at Daire who cocked his head and smiled politely back at her. “Well, this half of the couple has had enough for now.”
Daire briefly dipped his chin. “For now,” he agreed, which only seemed to rile Harley further.
Standing up, she flounced from the room.
Hawk’s jaw tightened. He glared at Daire. “What’s going on?”
Max stood and intercepted his death glare. “We were talking about Paul. Harley brought up the subject. Daire gave his opinion. Which I share,” he added. “Harley didn’t take it too well.”
“What did he say?” I breathed.
Daire leaned back against the couch as Max moved out of the way. “I said she needed to find someone who appreciated her instead of hanging onto a loser who didn’t know his ass from his elbow.”
Hawkley grinned. “I imagine she didn’t take that too well.”
Daire ran his hand over the top of his head and huffed out a laugh. “She told me where I could shove my elbow. Which is not anatomically possible, by the way.”
I laughed and disengaged myself from under Hawkley’s possessive arm. “I’m going to go check on her.”
I found her in Max’s bedroom, curled up on his bed.
“Hello, shrimp,” I called softly.
“Argh,” she grunted. “Why can I not keep my mouth shut with anyone other than Paul?”
I lay down facing her. “I don’t know. Why can’t you open your mouth with Paul?”
She sighed. Uncharacteristically, a tear slipped past her defenses. “Because I’ve become accustomed to gritting my teeth. If I ever let loose on that man, he might never recover.”
“Why are you with him?” I ventured softly.
Harley’s eyes flashed.
