As we sat there and ate, Max wrapped his long legs around mine underneath the table as if his legs were arms, wrapping me inside his hold and keeping me there. It was the sweetest thing, like he couldn’t get enough of me, or a part of him had to touch me. I was falling…falling too fast and too hard. Max raised his glass. “Sorry…no wine for you.”

Blushing with embarrassment, I recalled the night when I got really buzzed. “Don’t you want to take advantage of me?” I teased.

“Babe, I don’t need to get you buzzed. You’re high with my presence right now. And if I could close that door and put up a ‘Do not disturb’ sign, I would have you on this table, stripped naked, and eat sushi off your body.”

He was right. Heat exploded, and his words made my clit explode like fireworks.

“You’re turning red as my wine,” he teased, and changed the subject. “Let’s toast.” He held up his glass again and I did the same. “To being lunch, cuddle, sleeping, breakfast, and finally dinner buddies, and to our first date…and more to come.”

With a clink, I gulped practically the whole glass of water. Not only was I thirsty, I was still hot from his flirting.

“So which one did you enjoy the most, or do you have a favorite?” Max asked, taking a bite of the tuna.

“I like the ikura one.” I held it up and carefully placed it in my mouth to look ladylike.

“Why? Do you like the taste or the texture? Each fish has its own unique taste and texture.”

“I like the taste…and…it’s kind of silly…but I like how they squirt in your mouth.” That did not come out well. Max had the most amused grin on his face. I sank into my chair.

“Do you now?” His eyes were glistening, reflected by the candlelight. “Would you like for me to squirt in your mouth sometime?”

I wanted to hide under the tablecloth. “Max,” I whispered, feeling too hot.

Max only chuckled. He knew how I would react, and he enjoyed seeing me all tense and yearning. “Sorry…it just slipped. I didn’t mean to make you blush and get hot and…it’s so sweet how you look so innocent like that.”

I took another sip of my cold water and shoved another salmon piece into my mouth so I couldn’t talk anymore. I wished he would do the same.

“Oh, by the way, referring back to your question about taking advantage of you. Yes, I do. Not here though,” he winked.

I almost choked…not because I thought his words were inappropriate, but because of how he made me feel.

During the rest of the dinner, we talked about our families. Max told me that he practically grew up with a nanny, and that his parents were always busy traveling. Getting deeper into the conversation, he told me he didn’t really have a choice of profession. His dad wanted him and his brother to take over his pride and joy, his company. Seeing no choice and not wanting to disappoint, he had followed in his father’s footsteps. Matthew, on the other hand, did so only for a short period of time, then stopped.

Though at times he’d wished he had a choice, he said that finding me was the best part of his experience with the company. He partially blamed Matthew’s irresponsibility on his mother. Since she was hardly around, and since Matthew was the youngest, he was spoiled and got everything he wanted, when he wanted. Max, on the other hand, wanted more in life, and didn’t want to be like his brother.

As for my family, I told him we were just an ordinary family. My dad worked all his life as a dentist, working six days a week, and Mom was always a stay at home mom. Max said he envied me in the sense that my mom was around instead of a nanny, and I felt for him. This only proved that love and being there for someone was more important than having all the riches in the world. Though I had friends, being the only child got lonely at times, I told him, so he understood from our conversation how much Becky, Nicole, and Kate meant to me. They were my family.

After dinner, we had dessert…green tea ice cream. While we ate, the phone buzzed several times, but after he checked to see who it was, he ignored it. Though I shouldn’t read into it, I couldn’t help wondering who it was. He had that same disturbed look he had produced earlier. Since he’d turned back to me with a smile, I didn’t pursue the questions I wanted ask.

After dessert, Max took me home. He wanted me to spend the night with him, but I told him perhaps another night. I had done it once, but I wanted to wait, and the fact that I was going to see him the next day made it easier to say no. The plan was for him to come pick me up by ten in the morning to head to his parents’ house for lunch.

**

Thumbing through the hangers in my closet, I decided I had nothing to wear. How was it possible I couldn’t find one decent sweater that was presentable to wear in front of Max’s parents? Of course I had plenty, but everything looked so plain. Then all sorts of thoughts circulated in my mind. Would they know we’d slept together? Did they even know I was one of their employees?

The sound of something broke me out of my thoughts. It sounded like our doorbell, but was very faint, so I wasn’t sure. Becky was blasting the music in the living room, and with the sound of the heater running, it was hard to tell. Ignoring the sound, I continued to rummage through my closet as I shook my behind to the beat of the music and sang along. When I heard my name, I froze. Mortified that Max had seen me shake my behind, I dared not turn.

Inhaling a deep breath, I buried my face in the palms of my hands as I tried to build courage to face him. Covering my front with my arms crossed, since I was only wearing a bra and a pair of skinny jeans, I turned slightly to my left, but not all the way. “Max. You’re early. Like…one hour early.” I tried to sound casual, but I was burning hot with embarrassment.