What Maxi Needs (Leave Your Shoes On 3)

No denying it.

“What’s changed?” he asked.

Maxi frowned. “About what?”

“You said that you used to believe in the need for an emotional connection in order to have a physical one. Used to…”

“Oh, right. It’s just that being emotionally invested in a man, as you call it, has gotten me, uh…nowhere. And yet…” Her voice trailed off as she grappled with the complicated subject matter. And how much she might truly want to divulge.

But Ryan gazed at her with easy patience and genuine curiosity. Not pushing her, just letting her process as he continued his fabulous massage.

Finally, Maxi said, “I don’t even know you and I responded instantly to you. Sexually.”

He grinned. “So my theory is shot to hell. And yours has been proven indisputably correct.”

She eyed him quizzically. “Which theory?”

“Sexual chemistry. There is no breaking it down on your office whiteboard, dissecting it, analyzing it, whatever. It either exists or it doesn’t. And when it’s insanely strong—it truly does claw at you.”

Maxi’s breath caught. Her pulse hitched several notches. On some levels, he totally got her. A first.

But she wasn’t quite ready to concede any points. Not just yet.

She introduced another speculative idea. “If love can grow over time between two people who are just friends, like with Lola and Alex, and attraction along with it, that disproves my theory.” She shook her head and let out a soft laugh. “Wait. You’re confusing me now.”

Between the incredible sensations evoked by his hands, and the way he so intensely stared at her, Maxi was getting a bit turned around.

He asked, “Why don’t we both agree that physical attraction can be immediate and spontaneous?”

“Spontaneously combustible,” she muttered under her breath.

He heard her and chuckled low and deep. The rich sound once again reverberating within her.

His thumb pressed into her arch, and Maxi let out a soft purr, completely unable to stop herself.

Einstein grinned. “Good spot?”

“The best.”

His dark brow crooked. “The best?”

“Well…naturally, there’s another spot.” She drained the rest of her scotch. Reached behind her to set the glass on the end table. Ryan’s hand shifted, moving up her ankle, along her calf.

Everything inside of Maxi went haywire, as it had when they’d kissed. His touch was so perfect—firm yet somehow still gentle. A caring caress mixed with an underlying dominance.

She was back to thinking of that volcano of passion she’d mentioned to Avril. Could it be true? Was Einstein really a mountain of magma, ready to erupt?

He said, “You have incredible skin. So satiny. So warm.”

Lust shot through her. Ryan was proving to be an enigma, and Maxi was completely wrapped up in the mystery of him. Not to mention in awe of all the zings he sent through her body.

She couldn’t help but ask, “That kiss wasn’t a fluke, was it?”

“Let me show you a little something about cause and effect. No charts required.”

His hand skimmed up to her thigh, his fingers grazing just under the hem of her skirt. He leaned in close—and she didn’t bother to stop him. His open mouth hovered over hers, so they shared a breath. He smelled of scotch and male heat.

Maxi’s chest heaved. Her clit tingled. Her pussy pulsated with an insistent need. For him.