“Don’t be shy. I’ve seen everything. You’re beautiful, Jenna. And I can’t take my eyes off you.”

I blushed even more. Max’s words were so sweet, making me feel comfortable, sexy, alive, and at home.

Chapter 27

Silk bathed my naked body, soothing, calming. Where was I? Perhaps I was dreaming. When I managed to peel my eyes open, I realized I was in Max’s room in his extra large king size bed. Twisting my head, he was nowhere to be found. He must have gotten up. What day was it? Oh yeah…Monday. What time was it? I couldn’t tell since the curtains were drawn, but it was still dark inside.

Sitting up, I reached for my cell phone as I blinked my sleepy eyes to clear. There were several texts, one from Lisa and from Becky. Instead of calling Lisa to let her know I would be staying home for one more day, I decided to text her, being afraid that she could hear my lie over the phone. Yup…I was that paranoid. Her return text read that she was out sick, and for me to rest up at home. This terrible flu must be going around.

Clicking off the text messages, I noted it was close to noon. Oh my God! He let me sleep in that late? But then again, we were at it all night. Those naughty thoughts not only shot tingles in my stomach, but hunger pangs as well. I hadn’t eaten well the past week, and now that I was feeling better, my stomach was aching for food.

Wondering where Max was, I got up to find my clothes, but they were nowhere to be found. Finding only Max’s white T-shirt, I slipped it on and headed for the double doors. Hearing Max’s voice, I found him just outside the door talking on the phone. Upon opening one of them, Max turned around and stared at me with a sparkle in his beautiful eyes, and smiling like I’d never seen him smile before.

His gaze kept me standing still, making me turn hot in all the right places, making my lips curl to give him the warmest smile I could give him. “Sure,” he said to the person on the other line. “Maybe next weekend. Yeah…I’m loving the view right in front of me too.” Max winked at me, and knowing his view was me made me blush even more. “Listen,” he continued. “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you after I ask her, okay? Bye.”

Ask her? Who is her? Then my heart tugged a little, and not in a good way.

“Good morning,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine as he came for me and gave me a tender kiss on my forehead. It warmed my heart.

“Good morning.” My voice sounded hoarse. “You let me sleep in so late.”

His fingers were playing with mine, tingling and tickling at the same time. “You needed that sleep. And you also must be starving.”

“I am,” I smiled. “And I can’t find my clothes.”

“I want you in my T-shirt all day, or maybe naked. You can decide, but I’m not giving your clothes back until you’re ready to go home. I prefer to keep you here forever.” He held me tightly, slightly rocking me back and forth in his hold, then let go.

What could I say after that? I peered up. “I like your T-shirt. It’s so soft on my skin.”

“You can have it.” He bit his bottom lip, seemingly wondering if I would take it.

“But I already stole one from you,” I said shyly, and stuck my finger in my mouth. When I saw that funny look in his eyes, I gasped and pulled it out as fast as my reflexes allowed.

“No, no, no,” he shook his head, grinning playfully. Then he paused, seemingly thinking. “You stole one?”

“I kept the one you gave me when we were in New York.”

“Uh…I see…thus the T-shirt when I was in your apartment. But I already knew that.”

“How?” My tone demanded an answer.

“I had a feeling, and I also looked at the tag…which there was none. It also has my initial on it, MK. I had it especially made that way.” Max must have seen a questioning look in my eyes. Before I could ask, he spoke. “Don’t worry, I’m not a pervert. I didn’t look anywhere else, except…your beautiful face that looked like an angel when you were sleeping. And I did want to climb into bed with you, but I didn’t think you would approve.”

I smiled warmly, not knowing what to say as I stood there feeling grateful for his care.

“Let’s go feed that stomach of yours before you eat your finger.” Next thing I knew, my hand was in his as he led me down to the dining table.

Pulling out a chair, he gestured for me to sit down. Plates of bagels, bacon, muffins, and all sorts of fruits were in my line of vision. As Max poured me some juice, there was another glass filled with water in front of me. As parched as I was, I waited until Max sat down. Instead of sitting across the table, he sat beside me. “Hi,” he said, grinning like a schoolboy. Then he placed a napkin over my lap and a plate in front of me.

I giggled. “Hello.”

“What would you like to eat?” he asked.

“Everything.” But I didn’t mean it.

“Everything it is.” He started to fill my plate with food, and no matter how many times I told him to stop he wouldn’t listen. “You need to eat. You lost so much weight when you were sick.”

“Okay,” I said, and gulped half the water down my throat. Oh…that felt so good. Then I picked up the fork and went straight for the blueberries. “Did you sleep well last night?” I asked, trying not to be shy about this whole situation. This wasn’t something I’d done before.

Max swallowed a bite of his bagel as he nodded. “How about you?” he grinned.