“Are you okay?” Max’s face was in my view. His hands were on the counter on either side of me, examining me with an amused grin on his face.

Thank God it was Max…what was I thinking? Not good at all. But better him than a stranger, I supposed. “Hot Max,” I slurred.

“Yeah…you can call me that any time, babe.” His lips curled up, brushing his hand against my cheek.

His hand felt so cool on my face, I welcomed it by letting out a soft moan. Did he just call me babe? That was the only thing that I understood.

“Yes…I understand,” he continued. “You feel very hot. Are you okay? Do you need something? I should have gotten you some water, but I didn’t want to leave you here by yourself, and I certainly didn’t want to bring you down there.”

Taking in his cool hand on my cheek, I grabbed it and placed it on the space between the necklace and my cle**age. That felt so good, but Max stiffened. I had never seen him stiffen like that before…or maybe I was wrong.

“Jenna…what are you doing? I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Now you’re making me feel hot,” he sighed, pulling back, creating a wider space between us.

I managed to let go, only to refocus on his tie. “Pretty,” I giggled. “I…like…ved.” Then I yanked him closer to me and rubbed his tie on my face.

“I like red too,” he chuckled. “But I like red on you. And you are way too buzzed.”

“Soffft,” I mumbled, ignoring what he had said.

“Jenna,” he pulled me back again. “How many drinks did you have?”

“No dinner…so hungry....” I waved up three fingers and pointed to each one as I spoke. “Two…one…two.”

Max chuckled out loud. “You’re holding up three fingers.” He closed one down. “There…two.”

“Thanks…Max!” I said out loud, and pulled him in for a hug. “I…like…touch…you.”

“Yeah…I’d like to touch you too, babe, but you need to agree to go out to dinner with me first.”

My head had made its way to his shoulder, and it rested there. “Dinner…hungry…yes.”

“Okay…you said it. So only two drinks, and this is how you are? Such a lightweight. And seeing how you look as if you were badly sunburned, you must be allergic to alcohol, too.”

“Aller…ic,” I sighed deeply.

“If you knew what would happen, and knowing you, with all that ‘gotta be professional talk,’ why did you drink?”

Only hearing some of what he said, I didn’t answer.

“Jenna, answer me. I know you can hear me.” His tone startled me so much that I twitched. “Sorry…I didn’t mean to scare you.”

It was mostly the alcohol talking and a part of me was screaming to hold back, to get a grip on myself. I didn’t know if it was the quiet or that just the two of us were there alone in a small space, but I opened up. Though slurring my words, I opened up way too much.

“You….” I poked him on his chest. My finger bounced back from his hard abs. “Bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“You…and…girl…ssss.”

His eyes enlarged and his face lit up with an amused smile, seemingly liking what I was saying. “So…you were jealous?”

“No…yes…no….” I shook my head, desperately trying to compose myself, running my hand down my face. What was I jabbering about? Then Megan’s words invaded my mind, making me upset. “You eat app….les…sh…ine…spiiit.” Trying to make a spitting gesture, I bit my tongue and blew.

Max chuckled. “You make no sense.”

Sliding the palm of my hand from my face, down to my neck, over my breast, I moaned as I tried to pull down the dress. “Hot.”

Max’s eyes got wider, then leaned closer. “Don’t do that.” He sighed against my ear. The puff of air from his mouth felt soothing and cool.

“More,” I stuttered, running my hands on his face.

Max pulled back and started to blow softly…on my face…on my shoulders…and a little lower, shooting tingles through me. When he stopped, my bottom lips puckered to pout.

“Jenna, don’t do that. You are just too adorable when you do that. Okay…I need to cool off.” Max took sidesteps and splashed water on his face.

“Tired…hot,” I groaned.

“I know, but I need to cool you down first.” His eyes lit up with an idea. Reaching over, he pulled out several paper towels, folded them into squares, and ran them under the sink. After squeezing them somewhat, he placed them over my forehead, and a soft moan escaped my mouth.

“Don’t make that sound, Jenna. You’re turning me on,” he squirmed.

“Hot.”

“Yes…I know you’re hot, but you’re not as hot as I am right now, babe.” He sounded agitated, and a deep growl parted his lips. Reaching over, he ran the paper towel under water again. Instead of placing it back on my forehead, he placed it on my cheek, gliding it slowly down my neck, my shoulder, to my collarbone, and what he did next awakened my sex drive. He squeezed the water, letting it pour down the middle of my cle**age, which sent all sorts of crazy shivers through every part of me.

“Ma….” I moaned, reaching for him, but he caught my arm.