Startled by having Matthew next to me, my heart leapt out of my chest and embarrassed warmth shot to my face.

Max, hearing Matthew’s words, peered up and caught my eyes. Flashing a satisfied grin, he slightly blushed and winked at me. “I’ll be right there, Jenna. Go fill your plate,” Max ordered.

Returning a shy smile, I took the plate Matthew offered and followed behind him.

Before we ate, we all stood around the table as Matthew said a prayer. “Thank you for our family and friends, and for this wonderful meal we are about to receive. Let us not forget how precious life is, and how every day should be lived to the fullest. And as families around the world gather around their tables to celebrate the meaning of this special day, let us not forgot the ones we loved that passed away; Grandma and Grandpa Knight, and others that meant….” He paused and got choked up.

Max looped his arm around his brother, and I wondered what that was about as he finished the prayer. Afterward, we all sat and started to eat. I had thought it may have been awkward for Matthew after that, but he played it cool as if nothing had happened and got back to being himself.

As dinner progressed, I thought Max’s relatives would ask me bunch of questions, but they mostly kept to themselves. With a smile here and there, they were friendly, but not overbearing, which I appreciated. We sat at a long table, perhaps the reason the conversations were limited.

“Do you have any plans for Christmas?” Matthew asked me after wiping his lips with a napkin.

“My parents live in San Francisco, so I’ll be visiting them for Christmas.” Max and I hadn’t spoken about what our Christmas schedule was like, so this was the first time he was notified that I would be gone.

“You’ll be gone for Christmas?” Max sounded surprised and disappointed.

My body stiffened when Max placed his hand on my right thigh, creating warmth as it spread when he slowly moved upward. Thank goodness the tablecloth was long enough to hide what he was doing. Even Matthew, who was very observant, couldn’t tell.

Placing my hand underneath the table on top of his, trying not to make it obvious, I tried to push it off me, but of course, as always, he was too strong. And if I budged a little bit more, I knew Matthew would know for sure that something was going on underneath the table. That would make me blush even more.

Sheepishly I shrugged my shoulders. “Sorry, I know we didn’t talk about this. Maybe…you can come with me?” I wasn’t sure what he would say or if he would even consider it, but I thought I’d ask anyway. After all, this would be a great opportunity to have Max meet my parents, since I didn’t know when I would see them afterward.

“Let’s talk about this later,” Max said as his eyes lit up brighter than the surrounding candlelight. His hand already on my thigh started to gingerly caress the area between my legs. I guessed he was really happy I’d asked him. The material of the sweater dress I was wearing wasn’t thick enough to protect me from Max’s pinky. It purposely stroked the sensitive area that flared the urge and heat. I had to make him stop. I was having a difficult time answering Matthew’s questions. Standing up abruptly, I excused myself to the restroom.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I didn’t think much of it, but when they followed me to the bathroom, I turned. With my back against the door, I peered up to see Max. His arms were flexed on both side of the doorframe as he pierced his eyes on me in hunger and want. I didn’t know why, but every time I was in the bubble of his arms like that, I withered from the strength of him, the dominant male side of him.

“I believe this is my stop,” he said softly, weakening me from just the sound of his voice that slid off his tongue like ice. Thankfully, the restroom was down the hallway, away from everyone else.

Quivering from recalling the words he had said to me before, I remembered how he had made me feel, and was making me feel at that moment. Back then I couldn’t do anything about it, but today was a different story.

“I think you should go in there with me,” I said playfully, gliding my hands up his dark grey sweater, feeling every curve and toned muscle.

Max leaned in to my right ear while placing his hand by the side of my breast. In a circular movement, his thumb rubbed against it, making me moan. “I’ve been wanting to do something with you all night.” His whispering hot breath sent erotic tingles to every inch of me, making my knees weak.

“To…do…what?” I asked, closing my eyes, enjoying his soft teasing nipping on the side of my neck.

“Invite me in and I’ll show you,” he dared, sucking my bottom lip, then biting it with his teeth, producing both pleasure and pain.

Somehow my hands found their way to his waist. With one hand behind me, I managed to find the doorknob and clicked it open, and with the other hand, I hooked his jeans belt loop with my finger and pulled him in.

Once inside, Max didn’t wait after he locked the door. He lightly slammed me against the wall and crushed my lips into his. His hand lifted my dress and sensually ran up my thigh to my G string behind, where he gripped my bu**ocks tightly. Then his hand shot up to my breast as he continued to devour my mouth as if I were his dinner.

With a yank, the right side of my bra was exposed. The cowlneck design of the dress made it easy access for him. Tugging my bra to the side, his tongue taunted my nipple, blazing more heat between my legs. When he sucked harder, I could not stand on my own two feet. Max pressed me against the wall with his hardness, and I could feel he was ready for me.