Shira Read online

  “Wow, word travels fast.” She waved her hand. “Well, you all can relax. I’m not marrying Sam, but neither am I going to keep working for Max. I’m leaving.”

  “Whisper won’t be happy. It seemed like the two of your were getting close.”

  She clutched her purse so tight her fingers hurt. “Why is everyone so quick to tell me what they want?”

  He stared at her a second. “I wasn’t aware that was happening.” Alec pulled to the side of the road and came to a stop. He jumped out of the car, and she watched him march around to her side and open the door. Oh goodness, he’s so mad he’s going to leave me on the side of the road.

  “I sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean…”

  He tugged her from the car and slammed the door before the leopard could get out. “Walk with me a little.”

  Shira pressed her lips together. Both brothers were bossy. She gave in and fell into step beside him. They paced a short way from the car, and she looked back to see that the leopard was not pleased to be trapped in Alec’s vehicle.

  “My brother likes you. A lot,” Alec began.

  “I don’t think so.” She fidgeted with her dress, embarrassed.

  “He’s been hurt. The pain of his loss goes deeper than anything you could imagine. I’m only now getting it. If I imagine losing Whisper, I can see the despair he must have felt.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “I said I’m leaving, so I don’t have any false hopes in his direction.”

  “That’s the wrong move.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Excuse me?”

  He grumbled, giving a good impression of the gruff noises the leopard had made earlier. “My brother is a fool, but it’s clear to me if you leave, you’re doing the same thing Sarah did.”

  Shira blinked up at him. “What?”

  “Sarah left him. It might not have been her fault, but she left him alone. You’re doing the same.”

  “In case you didn’t know, your brother pushed me away. You heard him yourself say he doesn’t want me. Besides, we were only employer and employee, nothing more.”

  “Don’t lie to yourself.”

  She stomped her foot and started to walk back to the car. “Please take me home. I’ll find my own way to the bus station. And if you don’t want to do that, then I’ll walk!”

  “Two stubborn asses,” he muttered.

  She whirled around. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing,” he snapped. “Get in.”

  A short while later, they drew up to the apartment building. Shira hesitated in getting out. “What will you do with him?” She indicated the leopard.

  “I’ll take care of him. Don’t worry. And I’ll tell Whisper you’re okay.”

  She thanked him and got out. Now that she was home, she realized she was too tired to pack let alone get to the station. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind Sam would come by at some point, so she would set her alarm to wake her at five in the morning, then get moving.

  After a hot shower, she slipped into a nightie, ready to go to bed. The doorbell ringing stopped her in her tracks, and fear kept her where she was. Had Sam come straight over? He’d said he had known all along where she was staying. Whisper had said earlier that she was spending the night with Alec. She was alone.

  Shira searched the apartment for a weapon. If she knew Sam, he wouldn’t go away until she answered. He would stand out there knocking until she worried he would disturb the neighbors.

  Whisper had placed a bat in the hall closet, and Shira retrieved it, gripping the handle as she approached the door.

  “Go away, Sam. I’m not coming back.” She couldn’t make herself get close enough to the door to check the peephole.

  “Shira, it’s me.”

  Her heart fluttered. “Max?”

  She threw the locks back and wrenched the door open. There he was, looking oddly like he’d been desperate to see her. She decided she was fantasizing from all the stress of the evening.

  Max eyed the bat still in her hand. “Were you planning to bludgeon me to death?”

  She let the weapon drop to her side. “What do you want?”

  “Don’t go.”

  “What?” She didn’t just hear the words she’d longed for him to say. Her imagination had run into overtime.

  Max stepped into the apartment, forcing her to retreat a pace. He shut the door and locked it, then turned back to her. From the first touch of his hands on her upper arms, she was lost, but she forced herself to remain silent.

  “I don’t want you to go,” he said. “Stay here with me.”

  She lowered her gaze to his shirtfront. He hadn’t changed, but his suit jacket was gone, and his shirt had wrinkles that weren’t there earlier. “I’m sure you can find another housekeeper.”

  Okay, so she was pushing it, but the man wasn’t spouting words of love. The least he could do was be plain about what he wanted. All she knew was that her heart had gone haywire, and it was taking a lot of willpower not to bury her face at the base of his neck and plead for him not to let go. She had more pride than that.

  Max cupped her face between his palms and made her look him in the eyes. The intensity in his gaze took her breath away. She had to part her lips and draw in air just to keep from falling to the floor. He’s a rebound relationship. Not more than that. I can’t afford to love him so deeply.

  “Please… Shira…”

  Blood pulsed in her ears making it hard to hear, but she read his lips. They were so close. He didn’t speak words of love, but she saw the longing and what she hadn’t expected to see, although it echoed in her own heart.

  “I can’t be alone,” he said. “Not again. I don’t know what’s right or what’s wrong. I can’t let you go. Stay.”

  She nodded, swallowing before she could say anything. “I won’t leave you.”

  Her feet left the floor when he scooped her into a crushing embrace. He didn’t hurt her, but he devoured her lips and moaned in her mouth like she was a lifeline. He kissed her long and hard, until she felt lightheaded. Her body ignited, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her down the hall as he continued to drop soft caresses to her cheeks, her eyes, her temples.

  He loves me. He must love me.

  He laid her on the bed and rested a big palm on her mound. Shira trembled. Her nightie had risen, revealing her panties. The flimsy pink thing was a barrier she needed gone now. She reached down to slide them over her hips, but he stopped her.

  “Wait.”

  She paused, eying him. “Don’t you want to?”

  “Woman, are you mad?” He chuckled. “Let me look at you for a minute. Let me feast on your slender curves, the soft, chocolate skin, so smooth and tastes so good.” He demonstrated his meaning by leaning down and brushing her nightie higher to reveal her belly. A gentle kiss there sent shivers down her spine. He helped her get the nightie over her head and stopped to stare once again.

  “You don’t think I’m too thin?” Getting his ex’s well-endowed figure out of her head was difficult. To fill a B cup bra was a challenge for her, and when she’d lost so much weight being with Sam, she’d gone down to an A. She had never heard the end of it.

  Max flicked a thumb over one of her nipples and licked his lips. She didn’t miss the lust in his eyes. “Your breasts fit in my hand perfectly, and I don’t think I’ve met a woman with such large nipples. Is that normal for black women?”

  He seemed genuinely curious, and Shira rolled her eyes. “Are you going to try to find out?”

  He lowered his head and kissed her pussy through her panties. Shira caught her bottom lip between her teeth and raised her hips a little. Max drew away to her disappointment. “Do you want to be the only black woman I ever have? The only woman period?”

  She gasped. Was he asking he to marry him? He couldn’t be. Not like this.

  Max didn’t seem to expect an answer. He at last removed her panties, the whole
of his attention focused between her legs. All of Shira’s doubts about her body melted away, and she raised a knee and spread her thighs. She knew he liked what he saw. She could please him and bring him to a strong release if nothing else. Knowing whether he loved her was a mystery, but for now, this was enough. This pleasure between the two of them, however long it lasted.

  She played with her nipples for him, twisting the peaks and massaging them while she moaned. A low growl started in Max’s throat, and he went still watching her. She squeezed her breasts and arched her back, then ran her hands down her belly. At her mound, she used one hand to play with her pussy. She parted her folds and fingered her clit. All the while a light danced in his eyes. Shira could have sworn they changed color, but she wasn’t sure.

  Max licked his lips once again. “Put your finger inside. Let me see it covered in your come.”

  She did as she was told, not minding the command at all. “Like this?”

  “Yes, just like that.” If possible, his voice had gone deeper if a bit craggy. She liked it. “Now two fingers, baby. Oh, yeah, deeper.”

  She ran her fingers in and out of her pussy, getting off on the sounds her cream made. She raised her hips and gasped her pleasure. “I wish it was you in me.”

  “What part of me?”

  She turned her head away. He tsked, and turned her head back before focusing on her pussy again.

  “Tell me what part of my body you want down here, Shira.”

  Nervous and a little embarrassed, she didn’t say anything. Max leaned down and kissed her lips. She ached to be filled, but dirty talk wasn’t something she’d done before. The mere thought got her hotter, but saying it out loud. Using the P word seemed too clinical and was a turnoff.

  She shut her eyes tight and blurted, “Your dick.”

  She expected his laugh, but his lips touched hers a brief second and then were gone. “Can you say cock?”

  “Cock.” She threw her arm over her face. “You must think I’m an idiot. I promise I’m not so virginal.”

  This time he did chuckle. “I have first hand knowledge that you’re not. Open your eyes for me, Shira. I want us to look at each other when we come.”

  She peered up at him, and the embarrassment ebbed.

  “Does it bother you to say it?”

  She shook her head. “It turns me on. I want you to talk dirty to me, Max.”

  “In that case…” He sat up and began dragging his clothes off and tossing them over his shoulder. “The sooner I get my hard cock inside your tight, little pussy, the better. I’m about to explode, and I want to do it buried as deep as I can get. Now”—he positioned himself over her—“would you like me to fuck you in the ass as well?”

  Shira’s pussy gushed anew. “Hell, yes!”

  Max stroked a hand over her mound and squeezed. “So wet, baby. You’re all ready for me, aren’t you?”

  She raised her legs higher, causing her pussy lips to open more. “I need it now, Max.”

  “Mm, do you know what you do to me?” He ran a hand from the base of his cock to the tip, and her mouth watered just seeing how stiff he was. She knew even though they’d had sex for hours the last time, it had been too long. He would stretch her, and she’d welcome it.

  Max caressed her cheek and leaned down over her. The tip of his cock touched her entrance. She moaned, and when her lids lowered, he tapped her cheek. Shira focused on him. She tried to hide it, but something told her all the love she felt for him was plain in her face. An expression of surprise came over him, but then he smiled. He pushed into her, and she cried out his name.

  “Take it all, baby,” he whispered. “Every inch belongs to you now. I won’t be with another woman, Shira. Only you.”

  Tears filled her eyes. She shook all over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His skin was hot and moist. His muscles contracted with each thrust, and she couldn’t get enough. Not of touching him or of feeling him invade her body. He claimed her in the basest of ways, and she offered herself up to him. When her orgasm came, she screamed and threw her head back. Max captured her chin, forcing her to face him. She’d always closed her eyes, so it was hard to focus on him. Something told her he needed it. He needed her, and knowing that was scary and exciting all at the same time. He needs me.

  “Max.”

  “Shira.” He thrust harder and faster. His breath came in short, harsh bursts. When he tensed in his jaw, she knew he was ready to come. He let go, but his gaze never wavered from hers. She melted into him as if his soul opened up and took her in. A sense of wildness came over her, and for a moment, terror welled, but Max’s gentle voice cut through. They were together, and it was okay. He was stronger than any man she’d ever met, and vulnerable too. Max hadn’t wanted to let go of his pain because facing a future alone was more than he thought he could bear. She didn’t know everything about him, but she knew that. She would do whatever it took to help him heal, and maybe one day he would come to love her as she loved him.

  Chapter Ten

  Max had to admit he felt better having accepted his desire for Shira. She meant a lot to him. He knew that. Pushing her away had been hard. He’d thought it was for the best and found out real quick, it wouldn’t work. He needed her. So, he could admit that too. Now that she had decided to stay, he had greater peace, even happiness. They had spent the entire night in bed together, and then he had insisted they transfer her stuff to his house. He had no intention of letting her move out again. In fact, he had brought her clothes to his bedroom where they belonged.

  “Are you sure about this?” she asked, coming into the room behind him.

  He swiped the bags she held from her hands and tossed them on the bed. Then he turned her toward the door and swatted her ass. “I’m hungry. Go fix me breakfast.”

  She frowned over her shoulder at him.

  “Hurry, or I’m not taking you shopping later.”

  Her face brightened like the sun, and he ignored the flutter in his chest. Just what would he be willing to do for this woman? Everything! I would kill for her.

  The sentiments embarrassed and annoyed him. He swung away from her and began unpacking her clothes. He hung the dresses in the closet and wondered what she would like to buy when they went shopping. Panties definitely. Could he get her into one of those shops that sold raunchier items? He hoped so. The dirty talking they’d done was blistering, and he intended to take it further. Shira was a fireball and hot as hell. He got a hard-on just thinking about her naked.

  While he thought of bedroom antics they could get up to, his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and saw that it was his brother calling. He stabbed the connect button. “Alec, this better be important. There’s a beautiful woman in my kitchen who I’ve decided to take on the counter next to the eggs and bacon.”

  “Wow, all kinds of detail I don’t care to know,” Alec said. “You sound disgustingly happy.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I’m sorry I have to call with the news I have.”

  Max stiffened. “What news?”

  “Not only is Corbin not doing business with us, he’s saying there’s a rumor going around that we strong-armed Wilson into his deal, and Wilson is backing that up. I got a call from the DPOR who are investigating it.”

  “Are you shitting me?” Max ran a hand through his hair and began pacing.

  “No, I think someone’s behind it. I’m about to go over there and talk to Wilson myself.”

  Max thought he heard an exclamation from Shira like something upset her. “No, you can’t go to him now that the DPOR is in it. We can talk to Mancini together to find out where he heard the rumor. If someone’s gunning for us, they will be taken down. I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”

  He ended the call and went to check on Shira. She stood by the refrigerator with her back to him, but it was clear that she was shaking. Max hurried to her and drew her against him. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  She jumped and tried pulling away,
but he held on. “N-Nothing.” She smiled, but it was forced.

  “What’s going on, Shira? Tell me now.”

  She spun out of his hold, but he caught her wrist. When he tugged her to him, she lost the grip on her cell phone, and it began to fall. He moved with the easy speed that came to his kind and caught it. The horror and fear in her gaze as she looked at the phone told him volumes.

  Max held Shira at his side while he flipped the phone open.

  “Max, stop. Give it to me. I said nothing’s going on,” she insisted. “I just burned my finger. That’s all.”

  He didn’t smell any food cooking. She was lying to him. Anger welled in him, but not at the woman he’d chosen as his new mate, at whatever had caused her to be afraid to tell him the truth. The person who took away the happiness that had shown on Shira’s sweet face would pay dearly.

  He pressed the call button, and the number that came up wasn’t one he recognized. Shira made a sound of alarm, but he ignored it. He pressed the call button again to connect. A familiar voice came on the line. “Have you decided to come to me, Shira? You made the right choice. Now I won’t have to ruin your lover. Not entirely anyway.”

  Max had his answer of who was behind the sabotage of his and his brother’s business. He gripped the phone in his hand so tightly he heard it crack. “I’m coming for you, Ellerby. Wait for me.”

  He tossed the phone on the floor and turned to Shira. She wrung her hands together, and tears collected in the corners of her eyes. “I have to go,” she said.

  He gripped her arms tighter. “No! Didn’t you tell me you wouldn’t leave me?”

  She sniffed and shook her head. “I’m not leaving you.” Anger sparked in her gaze. “He’s not going to break us up. No, I have to leave and go to his house so I can get him straight. We’re together now, and no amount of threats is going to change that.”

  Max smiled. He was proud of her, and she was cute with her determination and grit. Still, Max wasn’t crazy enough to let her go anywhere near Ellerby. “I’m glad you feel that way, baby, but you’re not going anywhere. I’m going to handle this, and you’re going to wait here until I get back.”