I leaned back on the cool leather seat close to the glass wall, watching Mr. Sturm as he ordered cappuccinos at the metal counter. The blonde bartender taking his order was flushed, fluttering her lashes at him balefully as she jotted his words down. I placed a hand on my chest, directly where it was tight, and jealousy made smoke puff out my ears.Back off my man.This restaurant was located in a bay area I’d never been to before, and judging by the way Mr. Sturm and I were ignored and treated like completely normal people, I realized that he wasn’t popular here. No one knew about the chronic womanizer who always made the headlines with his sexcapades. No one cared about his money or reputation. He was just another one of the regulars who trooped by for coffee, along with a friend – me.I looked up now as he made his way over, setting a paper cup filled with steaming coffee in front of me. I thanked him as he settled back down on his seat, lifting the cup to my lips.“How do you like
It was almost five PM before the conference came to a close and I escorted Max to the airport. I missed him already and couldn't stop pinching myself at the recent turn of events this morning. If Alsina hadn't attacked me, would we have admitted our feelings for each other sooner and resolved everything that happened in Manhattan?I was dying for Saturday to arrive. He promised to even pick me up himself once he was back from in the evening, and I'd stood crying as he kissed my cheeks and disappeared into the belly of his private chopper. After everything that happened, he was still the same. The same Anselm I'd met and fallen in love with, and not a grumpy, stuck-up boss as I'd initially thought he was.I was glad that from now on henceforth, I was the only one who got to see the loving side of him he'd shown me in that restaurant bathroom.God. I couldn't wait to tell Cora all about it.Finn raced out the front door the minute I pushed open the gate, and I bent forward to scoop him
I pulled my jacket firm around me as I strode along the dark alleyways towards Dreams. The night was bustling and the atmosphere chilly – perfect for dancing and karaoke. I felt a stab of guilt about what I wanted to do; meet up with Sky while Max was in town. After our altercation over the phone two days ago, he’d ignored me afterward even after I tried reaching out to apologize. I only got to know that he was back in town through his Instagram.Cora had found a babysitter for Finn online at the last minute. The middle-aged lady who insisted we call her Ma had two grandchildren of her own and lived just a few blocks away so she was able to arrive in record time before Terry arrived to take Cora. Finn had hit it off with Ma’s grandkids and I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time I’d be needing her services.Tipping the hulking bouncer at the entrance, I took a deep breath and braced myself up before taking a step into the building. Sky had refused to send me his picture for eas
“Max?” He’d pulled up on the other side of the street opposite my house, his eyes ahead, still refusing to talk to me. I took a deep breath. “Please – “ “Get out of my car, Elaine.” I furrowed my brows, not believing my ears. “What?” “I said get the hell out of my car before I lose my shit with you!” he whipped his blue, furious eyes to me, his nose twitching in anger. “B-But,” I spluttered, chest aching, “I don’t understand. We just had a beautiful moment.” Had any of it been real? Oh my God, I thought he was only joking when he said the blowjob meant nothing. “Please don’t be mad at me. I’m sorry.” “You’re sorry?” he exploded. “You canceled our date, saying you’ve got manuscripts and friends to take care of and then I find you in a club with some weirdo? You lied to me! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I got back, and I didn’t want to come to your house in search of you because I know how much you love your space. But after what happened today, I don’t think
Elaine.Once I was done showing, I applied some lotion and got dressed in a summery blue gown. I planned to drop Finn off at school on our way to the airport. He'd woken up already and I could hear the tap running in his bathroom, Cora singing as she bathed him. Poor boy. He'd be gutted to see her leave.Padding down the stairs, I picked my phone back up and placed a dial across to Mom. She picked up on the first ring, much to my surprise.“Elaine?” she sounded somewhat shocked, which was understandable. “Oh my God. What's wrong? Did something happen to Finn?”I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Well, Good morning, Mom.”“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Good morning. Is my grandson okay?”I blew out a sigh, exasperated already. “Yes, he's fine. He's doing great. Sorry that I'm calling so early. There's an emergency.”“Oh, God, Elaine. Stop apologizing, you've done nothing wrong. And you know that you can call me whenever you like. It doesn't have to be whenever... you're in trouble.”I knew I was go
I spent most of the day cleaning up and doing the laundry, then I made lunch, showered, and went to bring Finn home from school. Max hadn’t called or texted yet to show that he’d received my message, and I wondered if Margaret delivered it at all.“Where’s Aunt Cora, Mummy?” Finn asked as we waved goodbye to Mr. Burns, his classroom tutor. I’d been dreading the question all day. Cora was his best friend and he’d be bored without her.“Sweetie, Aunt Cora’s traveled back to Manhattan for an emergency. She sends her greetings and promises to be back next week. Don’t worry, you’ll have Ma to look after you.”“Yippee!” he threw his hands up in glee, bubbling with excitement. “Will she bring Wren along too? And Chester?”I gaped at him, puzzled for a minute. Then I remembered Ma’s grandchildren. “Oh, yes! They’ll be coming along as well. Do you like having them over?”“Yes, Mommy.”After I’d helped him with his homework, we both had a nap. By five, I went down to make dinner while Finn was
I caught sight of Max's Aston Martini parked underneath the same tree it'd been the day before the minute I alighted from my cab. Tipping the driver generously due to how great of a company and extremely chatty he'd been, I slung my white duffel bag over my left shoulder and sauntered across, pulling the side door open. As soon as I slammed the door close, Max leaned in, capturing the side of my lips in a kiss and sucking on it aggressively. I placed a hand on his biceps and leaned back with an exhale. “You look beautiful,” he holds my gaze, running his fingers through my hair. I nuzzled my face closer, craving the warmth of his hand. Electricity and an insanely high sexual tension lapped up around us. I tilted my head, moaning as his lips attacked my neck next, trailing light, feathery kisses at first before they became urgent — more demanding. Dipping a hand into my dress, he cupped my left tit softly, the fullness filling his large hand. My nails dug into the leather headrest as
I sucked in a deep breath, my heart hammering when he smirked and rose from his seat, stepping forward to push my legs apart and position himself in between them. He held my hair behind my back and traced the outline of my lips with his long fingers, his facial expression wistful before he bent and kissed me softly. His lips were firm and soft, and he was well experienced in suction. Tilting my head to the side and parting my lips, I gave him access to the wine-tasting land in my mouth. Shit, I gripped his wrists when his tongue became urgent, doing insane things and making my pussy lips tighten and moisten. When he pulled back suddenly, his blue eyes wild and frantic, he whispered. “Welcome home, Elaine.”I beamed, pulling his face down to mine once more, and quivering as his tongue swept over my bottom lip. Ugh. “Thanks for having me, Mr. Sturm. I'm glad we came here.”He trapped my bottom lip in between his teeth, tugging lightly. I exhaled in delight, locking my arms around his ne
Elaine“Hey, Cherry.”Two words. Two fucking words whispered sexily in my ears and I was close to exploding. It felt as though my body was on automated response to anything that had to do with him. I sat still, rigid as he pecked my left cheek, before turning to scoot a chair back to sit, his knees touching mine, his eyes lingering. Samson hugged Jess and waved at Ryan, before sitting down as well.What the hell was happening?“Hi,” I blurted out at last, swallowing hard. He clasped my hands in his, the heat from his hands calming my goosebumps while making my pulse race. He stared at me intently, a mischievous smirk on his lips. The last time he looked at me this way was that night, right before I told him all about Finn. My eyes darted to Jess who seemed equally confused. Samson sat, all laid back, with his usual cold, domineering aura.Oh, fudge.“Why are you boys back early?” Jess finally asked, her face scrunched up in confusion. “Has the party ended? Ryan?”Ryan shrugged. “I don
Elaine“I'm warning you, Elaine. One of these days, you'll have no choice but to give that young man a chance. Look at how much he's texted you... it'll be sad to leave him in the lurch,” Jess said, glancing over the rim of her wine glass at Ryan, who nodded in approval. “You're twenty-seven and you have the entire world on the heel of your palm. Make the best use of it.”We were seated on the outdoor patio upstairs, adjacent to the children's living room. Jess stood up from time to time to go check up on the baby who was fast asleep in his crib. Ryan was having a bit of a sour time with Jake bailing out from the whole party thing, but didn't want to call it off. I could've gone, if Jess was strong, but she hadn't completely recovered yet and it wasn't wise to take a new baby to a party so we all decided to hang out here. Besides, the last person I wanted to keep bumping into was Max, who was undoubtedly in attendance.Rolling my eyes, I waved her advice off. “I told you guys, remembe
MaxThe reflection of the hanging strobe lights flickered across the pool. It was a little before sunset, and the waiters were dressed in bright white starched shirts and red glittering pants, circling with trays balanced on their curt fingertips. It was a pretty chill Saturday night and Ryan was having a party to celebrate his one year anniversary with his boyfriend, Jake.I was seated with Samson and the rest of the boys. Jess was home, taking care of the newest member of the Sturm family — Ashton, with Ryan helping her out, despite being needed here. Samson was agitated, and I knew he wanted nothing but to bolt out of this place and go home to her. I didn't blame him though, Jess was one in a million, and there were times I was forced to concede that their love for each other was better than the best fairytale out there.Before he met Jess, Samson was a party whore. He fucked around, with multiple girls, stayed at clubs till dawn, yet still managed to turn up for work in the mornin
ElaineIt was a few months till Autumn, and the air was becoming chilly. Max was letting me have the car for a day while he stayed home with Finn at his place. I pulled into the driveway, turning off the ignition. Finn hooted and clapped in delight.“We're home!”He'd begged to stay with Max for the weekend, as well, and while they hanged out, I planned to get my shit together and try a blind date out. I wasn't getting any younger, and tying myself down by what had happened wasn't doing me any good.Looking up at Max through the rear view mirror, I caught his eyes, his lips parted as though he wanted to say something. It had become a habit for him to do this each time I was about to take the car back home with me — lingering as though he had more to say. He twirled the keys in his hands idly, not taking his eyes off me even for a second. At last he whipped his gaze to Finn. “Hey, soldier. Mind going in while I talk with Mamma for a bit?”“Okay, Daddy,” Finn giggled, snatching the keys
ElaineIt had been two months since Max Sturm attempted to take my son away from me.Two months of not seeing or speaking to each other. Two months of pain that refused to go away.My mother once taught me that time was the greatest healer. Wounds heal with time, same with misunderstandings. But the gap between Max and I only deepened as the day progressed. I couldn't get over my hate for him, even with the fact that unity was strength and Finn needed us both at this crucial point of time in his life. I didn't know how to forgive him, and since he wasn't making any conscious effort to make amends for all the pain he caused, I figured that, perhaps he felt the same way. He hated me as well.I stopped searching for a job and just plunged deep into an abyss of emptiness, sadness and reflectiveness. Ivy and the other girls tried to get my spirits up, and I even received a response for an important interview I signed months ago, but there was no motivation to work. The fear of having Finn
MaxAfter the court proceedings, I didn't go home immediately. Instead, I took a detour to Samson's place, to tell him the news. I still couldn't get over my guilt. Elaine was beyond distraught. I hated the way she looked at me. Like I was the most disgusting human she'd ever been cursed to encounter, and maybe she was right. I was taking things too far. I wasn't in my right senses — I was letting my paternal instinct ruin everything.Riding up the elevator to the top floor, I ran a hand through my hair, feeling like shit. The judge had instructed that I sort things out with Elaine. That the least thing Finn needed right now was his parents fighting. I'd never want a situation where I would be one to ruin my boy's childhood, so I had to be the bigger person and try to make a conscious effort at reconciliation. But the deal was, I had no idea how to face Elaine. She hated me. And rightly so. I was a fucking dickhead.The elevator bell clinked, and the doors drew apart. Walking into the
Elaine I rushed up the stairs that led to the entrance of the mansion, hardly seeing anything, thanks to my rage. Max must've been expecting me, for he drew the door shut behind me the second I whizzed in.I whirled around to face him, thrusting the papers into his face. “Do you mind explaining what the fucking hell this is?”“Calm down, Elaine. Deep breaths,” he stated calmly.“Don't tell me to calm down!” I howled. “How long have you known him, Max? Four damn seconds and suddenly you think you've got what it takes to look after him for the rest of his life?”He scoffed in irritation. “He's safer with me, Elaine. You're the one going to club, meeting strange men and doing drugs.”“I'm not doing drugs. I was drugged! It could happen to anyone.”“That's not a valid excuse either. Why on earth will you leave Finn at home to go spend time with spoilt random people at a club? You're not in highschool anymore, Elaine. You're a mother. And you've got to act like one.”I glared at him, my t
ElaineI laid haphazardly on the parlour couch, half-dozing off. My joints were aching and it felt as though bricks were in my head. The room was silent with Cora sitting on the sette opposite, her brows knitted together worriedly. It was a half past one, so it wasn't yet time for her to pick Finn up from preschool.“So, you honestly don't remember any of the other boys except Sky?” she frowned, adjusting herself to peer at me closely. “What are the chances that they were the ones responsible for drugging you? And why would they do that? You weren't alone with them. They didn't drug Ivy or one of the other girls.”“I'm lost, Cora,” I muttered, shaking my head gently while yawning. “It could have been anyone who slipped something in the drink, but the boys are the prime suspect. Things went downhill the minute they approached us. I'm not sure it was Sky...” I trailed off, rubbing my temples softly.“Well, thank heavens you're getting better now. The doctor said that the drugs, coupled
MaxIt was a few minutes past ten in the night when my phone trilled on the table, disrupting the otherwise quiet solitude of my study. I looked up from the manuscript I was working on, pushing the tortoise-shell glasses I'd recently gotten back over the bridge of my nose as I peered at the strange number on the screen.I'd never seen that number before, and a part of me felt irritated. Perhaps it was Ivy, or one of the girls in the proofreading department. Sighing, I picked it up at last.“Hello?”“M-Mr Sturm?” Ivy's frightened voice set off my hackles. I rose from my chair quickly. Something was wrong.“Ivy? What's wrong? You don't sound so good.”“I'm so sorry,” she blurted out tearfully. “It's all my fault. She wanted to leave when the boys approached but I stopped her...now she's...” she rambled on.“Calm down, Ivy. Deep breaths,” I stated calmly. “Breathe in...breathe out. Now, tell me what's wrong. Who did you stop from leaving?”“It's Elaine, Sir. She was found, knocked out co