He reached down helped her to her feet. “Fucking amazing.”
He picked up his jacket and slung it on.
“Oh no, you’re covered in stuff.” Julia brushed his shoulders with both hands, showering them in dirt and leaves.
“Worth it.”
She smiled. “You’re very chivalrous.”
“Yeah, I’m a real gentleman, letting my jacket get wet so a gorgeous girl can suck my dick.”
Julia flushed. “Even if you did kind of have an ulterior motive it was still nice. If I’d gone back to the party with dirty knees, it would have been a bit of a giveaway…”
Right, the party. Drinking increasingly warm beers next to people he hardly knew. Max frowned. “How about we don’t go back to the party?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’ve only had two beers. How about I take us back to my place, we get pizza, play Mortal Kombat until I get tired of losing…” He trailed a hand over the curve of her hip. “And then I eat your pussy until you’re a sobbing wreck.”
Heat flared in her eyes. “I don’t know…”
“Did I mention we can cuddle afterward?”
Julia smiled. “It’s tempting but what’s in it for me?”
He pulled her in for another kiss, slower and deeper than the lustful ones they’d exchanged before.
A strange spiraling sensation twisted down through his chest and in the absence of lust he had no idea what it was. It felt dangerous and yet he never wanted it to stop.
Julia stepped back, her breathing heavy. “You make a persuasive argument, Mr. Connor.”
Max resisted the urge to throw a fist in the air. “Say that again, but slower. And unbutton your dress while you’re saying it.”
Julia laughed. “How about we save that for your place?”
“Good idea. You okay with taking my bike? I’ve got a spare helmet and you can have my jacket.”
Julia’s eyes brightened. “That would be so cool. I’ve never been on a motorbike before.”
“You’re joking.”
They discussed motorbikes all the way back to the party, Julia’s small cool hand in his. When they reached the bonfire, she kissed him on his cheek. “I’m going to go say goodbye to my friend. Meet you in the carpark?”
“Sure thing. I’ll just grab my helmet.”
A few people gave him shifty looks as he walked toward the house, but most people were too sloppy drunk to so much as move out of his way. Not that he cared. He was going to take Julia Bennett home and put her straight into his shower. Then when they both were wet and clean he was going to lie her on his bed and use his tongue on her until she screamed. He ducked into the spare room, mercifully free of people hooking up, and grabbed his helmet. He’d ask Julia out tomorrow morning. If she said yes, and it looked pretty good, he’d take her somewhere fancy, maybe that Italian place on Lygon Street, buy her flowers, and offer to pick her up, the whole nine yards. This was something special, he could feel it in a way he’d never felt it before.
Max swerved into the kitchen and managed to find a glass clean enough to drink water from when he turned around he found himself face to face with Brett, the birthday boy.
From his bloodshot eyes, Max guessed he was minutes away from a blackout. “Connor. You did it.”
Max had no idea what he was talking about and no intention to stick around and find out. “I sure did and I’m gonna head off. Thanks for the party.”
Brett stared at him, seemingly unaware he’d just spoken. Max chuckled. “Okay, nice chatting to you.”
Brett blinked rapidly, as though seeing Max for the first time. “Hey, Connor.”
Max smirked. “Hey, Brett.”