“Smart,” I nod, gaze sliding up her sweater to the dyed tips of her shiny, bobbed hair.. “You have great style.”
“Focus, Max.”
“I’m listening.”
“I verified that your crew is fine not working union, and I got the contracts for the actors from SAG-AFTRA.” Glancing to where my fingers are absently caressing her thigh she struggles to stay focused, too. “I asked some friends about a location for Marnie’s apartment and I have two selections for you to choose from. Did you tell me why you went with the name Marnie?”
“The real girl’s name was Bernie. It’s close without being damning.” Taking the folder I check out the photos she printed and pasted onto the pages. “This the exterior for her place?”
“Yes, that apartment belongs to Mary. Close name, huh? But Mary has it together, believe me. I thought her place was a good fit because it’s very modern, stylish, something a model might own. But not as big as Eric’s. More of a one-person place, even though Mary is married now. Wow, that’s a tongue twister. Alan, her husband, moved in with her and ditched his place.”
I picture the camera angles I could shoot here. “Looks good. I like this a lot. Who’s Mary?”
“My closest friend.”
Her hand falls to rest on my leg as if that’s perfectly normal. My cock would argue that it’s extraordinary. Clearing my throat I ask, “Best friend?”
She frowns, “I guess so. I don’t get to see her much since she got engaged over a year ago, married last fall.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Mmhmm, but she’s still my closest friend. I think he took the best-friend slot for her.”
Covering Natalie’s warm hand with my own I set the notebook down. “Tell me more about your life.”
Her gaze drops to my lips. “What do you want to know?”
Oddly?
Everything.
CHAPTER 19
M AX
“What’s your family like?”
She blinks at me, leaning back on the couch to say, “My parents are still together.”
“Mine too!”
“Are yours happy?”
“They claw each other’s eyes out on a daily basis.”
Natalie laughs, “Really?”
“Totally, but it’s all in fun. They hated each other when they first met. Turns out that chemistry was just focused in the wrong direction. He gives her shit all the time just to watch her reactions. And she volleys back every time.”
“Mine are more peaceful than that. My mom is very independent, very intelligent, quiet. Dad always says she’s smarter than he is and he likes it.”
Adjusting myself I chuckle, “Excuse me for doing this in front of you, but this hand-massage you’re giving me is driving me insane.”
She pulls away. “Oh, sorry.”
“No no no.” Placing her hand on my thigh where it belongs, I trace her knuckles. “Feels good just touching you.” We’re silent for a while, watching our hands slowly dance. My body is awake, but so is my mind. I meet her gaze and see fire staring back at me. She shuts it down and glances to the notebook.
Not willing to lose her just yet, I ask, “Have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have a stepbrother,” she pauses, leaving the notebook where it lies. “My dad was married briefly before he met my mom. My stepbrother’s a lot older than me. What about you?”
“There are five of us, three boys, two girls.”
She gasps, “Five? Where are you in all of that?”
“The oldest, of course.”
“Oh of course,” she laughs, eyes crinkling in the cutest way as she reaches up and plays with my hair. “Where do you get your curls from, Max?”
“My mom.”
“I always wanted curly hair. When I get my hair dyed at the salon and they rub my head, I’m like a cat, leaning into it like you’re doing.”
“You’re not rubbing so much as stroking.”
“Semantics.”
“Correct use of the English language,” I argue on a smirk, closing my eyes again as she caresses my head with her nails. “I could stay here all day.” A rustling of fabric later and she’s gliding onto my lap, straddling me as I gaze into her smile. “Well, hello there, Natalie.”
“It was difficult to play with your hair in that position.” Gentle fingers stroke the sides of my head, the back, tracing light paths down my neck that send goosebumps sliding everywhere. My hips move up involuntarily and I moan as she buries her lips in my neck and starts kissing me.
“This is amazing,” I rasp, caressing her arms.
“We should stop,” she whispers, her breath hot.
“Yeah, totally. Let’s stop.” Lightly fisting her hair I guide her lips to mine, brush them and hover.
She lets out this soft moan that undoes me completely, increasing the heat in my groin all over again. I press my ache into her as our tongues seek each other out no matter which way we turn our heads. Natalie moans a little higher as we start to grind. After I can’t take the teasing anymore I lie on top of her, hands exploring over the sweater. “Still want to stop?”
“No,” she breathes, arms sliding around my neck as we slowly kiss. With each passing second her legs spread a little more.
I unbutton her jeans, slowly take them off, kissing my way down. It’s not rough and angry like it was in her bedroom. Everything moves like molasses in the fall.
Her fingers unsnap my jeans, slowly slide the zipper down. “I can’t believe we’re doing this again when we should be working.”
“We should be spanked,” I smirk as my cock bounces free.
She gives it a smack. Laughing I grab her hands and pull them over her head, leaning down to tell her, “Now now, play nice with him. He gets very angry.”
Biting my bottom lip she gives me a naughty smile. “I like him angry.”
“Well, that will have to wait. Because I want to fuck you nice now.” I unlock her jaw and kiss her as I reach down, stroke her folds and guide my tip against the sweet entry point. She’s very slippery and I’m throbbing. Natalie moans as we begin to slow-fuck, bodies undulating in perfect
