Hide and Seek (22 page)

Talking about his brother's death hadn't been as difficult as he'd thought it would be. Maybe he even could've explored the subject more. Maybe he would open up to her again.

But right now he didn't want to be too much stress on Elisa. She needed to sleep and heal. Besides, after such a revelation, he needed to breathe a little.

Maxim strode down the hall to the kitchen, his mind spinning with the differences he felt in himself. He could never go back to the way he'd been. The parties and flings no longer appealed. He couldn't think about another female in a sexual way. Elisa was all he wanted.

Hell, the woman even had him cooking. For the first time in his life, he'd opened a cookbook and turned on a stove. And he didn't mind.

Grabbing the milk, he shoved it in the fridge and then looked at the huge mound of dishes he had to clean up. Afterward, he should probably bring in some firewood.

He smiled to himself. Funny, but he couldn't wait for tomorrow. No doubt it would bring hard work of some form, but it would also involve Elisa, and her presence in his life made everything blue turn rose-colored. If she didn't take him up on his offer to come to Egypt, he didn't know what he'd do. But he wasn't going back without her.

T
he
game just kept getting better.

A thrill shot through Elisa as she ducked into the kitchen pantry and pulled the door shut behind her. Shaking with excitement, her body hot with arousal, she listened to the sound of Maxim's footsteps on the back porch, stomping off snow.

Now recovered enough to want sex, but still not about to step foot outside, she was hiding in the house and happily getting in a few more intimate, playful days with Maxim before she had to leave.

Leave.

An uneasy feeling crawled through her at the thought. Damn it. She should want to go! But each time she considered it, she liked the idea less. She actually found herself loathing the prospect of joining the Peace Corps.

Despite herself, she was leaning more toward taking Maxim up on his offer. At least, her heart was. Her mind knew better, but was losing control rapidly. Besides, he
did
have a good idea.

Elisa pressed her eyes shut. Right now, she had better things to think of. Like orgasms and plenty of them. Trying out the rest of her toys. After all, he never did use those beads.

Maxim's footsteps pounded across the kitchen floor. He was coming directly at her! How did he know where to find her so quickly?

Denying the urge to sniffle, she slowed her breathing, forcing herself to stand still in the small, crammed cubbyhole. Through the slats of the door, she saw his shadow. He prowled about, making her heart pound. Blood pumped through her, filling her with sheer adrenaline. Lust.

Damn, she couldn't wait to spread her damp thighs and take him.

“Oh, Elisa?” he called. “I can smell you, angel. Loud and clear.”

Eek!

She smelled? He better mean good!

“Now where are you hiding?” He gave a turn, scanning the kitchen. “Huh. Guess there's only one place to look.”

He spun on his heels and yanked the pantry door open, exposing her. With a gleeful cry, Elisa let him toss her over his shoulder. Finally, some dick!

She laughed out loud, thoroughly loving the moment. Loving the woman she'd become. Maxim had turned her into a wanton—she might even be worse than him now—but it felt good to be comfortable in her skin sexually.

He carried her across the kitchen and placed her on her feet in front of the breakfast bar. What was he doing? She wanted to go to the bedroom, darn it…to her box of dildos.

“Maxim—”

“Shhh—” He cut her off, catching her by her shoulders and spinning her around. Pressing down on her upper back, he forced her to lean over the counter, so that her feet lifted from the ground and her bottom was high in the air.

The counter's edge cut into her lower abdomen, but she didn't care. Having her bottom so exposed to him felt glorious.

“Ready?” he asked, wrenching her legs apart. His hands molded her ass, pulling her cheeks wide open. “Or not?”

“I'm ready.” When he didn't immediately move, she whimpered. She was in no position for waiting. “Please, Maxim!”

“Good girl.” He planted a gentle kiss to her bottom. “I think I want to eat you first. You're such a delicious woman.
My
woman.”

The possessive insinuation sent a bolt straight to her heart.

Smoothing his tongue over her ass, he dipped between the crevice of her cheeks and found her pussy. His mouth suctioned her clit, nursing it powerfully, milking her desire for him.

Moaning, she clutched the counter. “My clit. Please, Maxim. My clit.”

Pulling back, he chuckled lightly. “I see I've taught you to beg sufficiently. Good girl.” His tongue flicked the nub, then swirled around it, torturing her. Finally, he gently claimed the sensitive bud between his teeth, gave it a little tug, then enveloped it. He sucked hard, so hard, the attention was almost too intense. She couldn't take it. “Maxim, please…”

Was that really her, sounding so desperate? Crying his name? Saying please?

Eagerly.

She wriggled against his expert lips. “Please, fuck me. Hurry.”

“Mmmm.” He released the bud and kissed his way up her buttocks. “Your wish, my queen, is my pleasure to fulfill.” Reaching her lower back, he grasped her rear end in powerful hands. “You want fucked. Is that all?”

“No,” she answered firmly. She wanted more. She wanted everything. She deserved it.

“No what?”

“I want you to touch my ass.” Confident, she thrust her rear in the air. “Please.”

Standing upright, he positioned himself between her legs. “That I can do.”

His cock danced against her pussy as he pressed his thumb to her anus. Not entering her, he rotated his hips, rubbing his head against her dripping wet, ready slit.

Damn…

Her clit pulsed in awareness, heat flooding her loins.

“And play with my pussy.” She ground out through her teeth. “Please.”

“I may have to spank you. You're getting a little pushy, aren't you?” He chuckled again, sounding all too happy.

“And you love me for it,” she blurted, realizing what she'd said too late.

Oh shit. Why would she make a comment like that? She knew how Maxim felt about love…not to mention how
she
felt about the dangerous emotion.

Love had no part of what they were doing.

Maxim stilled, not responding. Not saying anything.

Every one of Elisa's muscles tensed. What now?
Shit, shit, shit…
She hadn't meant what she'd said seriously, she'd just thrown the words out…but did they really affect him so powerfully?

She didn't have time to think on it further. All at once, he drove into her, thrusting his cock and thumb to the hilt. Crying out, she braced herself against his invasion. He took her in abrupt, demanding plunges, rocking her body to the steady beat of his fucking.

There was nothing sweet, nothing
loving
, about the way he drove into her. He was reminding her. They were about sex. Orgasms. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Her fingers clenched the counter's edge as she met his demands, pushed to the brink of ecstasy by his rapid, forceful thrusts into her body. This wasn't about anything endearing. But she needed him like this, she wanted him…

Too much.

Screaming, she welcomed the orgasm that vibrated through her, not slowing her thrusts even as her climax peaked. She sucked up every tingle of pleasure she could, because deep in her mind, she knew this had to be the last time.

She was losing herself to Maxim and that she couldn't allow to happen. Tomorrow, she left.

M
axim
rammed into her, possessed by passion, possessed by her.
Love
. He was overcome by the word. Overcome by the feeling. All he wanted was to erase the way she'd hesitated after using the word.

To make Elisa his.

He took her as hard as he could, angry that she didn't love him, angry that he was afraid to love her, angry that she still wanted to join the Peace Corps.

He needed her. And no amount of fucking could fulfill him.

All at once, his cock jerked, spewing his seed into her, and he melted. His anger, his drive disappeared. He yanked free of her, bracing his hands on the counter. After several deep breaths, he stepped back.

What had just happened to him? He hadn't even remembered to use a condom.

Drawing a deep breath, he looked at her bared, beautiful ass, tempted to kiss her, to
make love
to her, but unable to move in her direction. He couldn't bring himself to touch her again right now. He'd lose his mind. His heart was already hers.

Emotion lodged in his throat, choking him. He needed to clear his head. Jerking upright, he fastened his pants and stormed from the cabin.

W
ith
all his might, Maxim swung the axe through the air, slamming it into the log that sat on the block in front of him. The wood shattered into two pieces, falling to the ground. Split.

Just like him.

Logic told him he was crazy. He could never be with Elisa. There were his old ways, his habits, his self-promises to consider. How could either of them ever get past such hindrances?

But then, they were
old
issues.

The way he felt, what he wanted; it wouldn't be tamped down. The stupid cupid that had taken up residence in his head was screaming like a raging madman bent on love.

He was divided. His feelings and thoughts clashed like ice in hot water, melting together to form one confused man.

What was this power Elisa had over him? If anything, her demands should make him want to flee. Over the past week or two, he'd chopped wood for her, fished, cleared brush, shoveled snow, cooked, hell, he'd even cleaned. The list went on. Never had he
worked
to be with a woman. Before, he wouldn't have considered it, but with Elisa…

Being with Elisa changed everything. His life felt fuller, meaningful; the sex, more poignant.

He couldn't lose her. He had to convince her to come to Cairo.
Had
to.

Maxim set up more wood and swung the axe.
Wham!

He was no idiot. Her resistance had nothing to do with her career. It was him. She was afraid he'd go back to his old ways. That they'd never last and she'd be stuck in a sticky situation.

If he wanted her to come to Cairo, he had to commit to her.

Wham!

And he would. Tonight. This evening, he'd tell Elisa he was serious about her. That he wanted a relationship with her. That he loved her.

Love?
Love?

Wham! Wham! Wham!

Admitting the deep feeling even to himself sent a charge of emotion straight to his chest, his ribs suddenly tight around his racing heart. Excitement infused his blood, heat rising to his face.

This was it. It was real. He loved her. Cared about her. More than just physically or in a way to get his cock off. He cared about what happened to her. If she was happy, satisfied in her life. He wanted—no needed—for her to care about him in the same way. Did she? Did it even matter?

He
loved
her.

He needed flowers and wine and a gourmet dinner. Jewelry. Chocolate. Music. Everything and anything romantic.

Tossing down the axe, he looked at the sky. Yeah, it was time; high time he fell in love, high time he lived his life. Quietly, he walked inside, straight to the bedroom. Standing in the doorway, Maxim peered in. Elisa was fast asleep, her hair billowing around her naked body like a silken blanket.

Damn, she was incredible. She looked like an angel…his angel.

Walking to her, Maxim covered her with a blanket so she wouldn't get a chill. There was no sense in waking her. He was getting pretty damn good on skis. Surely he could make it to Aspen and back in a couple of hours. With any luck, she'd never know the difference. That was, until he poured his heart out.

F
ootsteps
in the kitchen jolted her awake. With a moan, Elisa rolled over, forcing her eyes open. She couldn't believe she'd fallen asleep so easily in the middle of the afternoon, but their intense lovema—
sex
—had knocked her out.

She really had to stop that shit.

Sitting up, she swung her feet over the side of the bed. “Maxim?”

The back door clicked shut.

Standing on wobbly legs, she walked to the window, expecting to find him chopping wood like he said he'd be. Instead, Maxim was on skis, headed toward the trail that led to Aspen.

“Where are you going?” Elisa wondered under her breath. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she watched him disappear into the woods.

Her heart ceased to beat. What could he be doing?

Leaving her?

No. That couldn't be.

Could it?

He
had
brought up the need to return to Egypt several times. Not to mention she'd all but terrified him with her use of the word “love.”

But surely Maxim wouldn't just leave. He'd tell her. Kiss her good-bye. Fuck her senseless one last time.