Falling for the Bully (Falling in Love 3)

“I’m not going to bite.”

They hadn’t ironed out all of the ramifications of her coming here or what they were going to do about it.

“You okay?”

“I don’t know what the hell is going on right now.” She took a step back, and it broke his heart to see her so undecided. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been the cause of this for her.

“If you don’t want to do this, you can leave.”

“You need to understand I’ve never done anything like this. I’ve never had sex with a stranger. I’ve never gone out drinking or partying until the other night. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Tears were in her eyes, but she wasn’t running away from him. He didn’t know what to do or say to her. Words were not his thing, and right now, he was really struggling to keep his sanity. Her auburn hair was pulled up on top of her head in a messy bun. She looked so fresh, so innocent and pure.

“I’m going to go back inside. I’ll leave the door unlocked. We can talk more in the room. I’m not going to do this out here in case anyone comes. They don’t need to know our business. This is our business, and no one else needs to know anything else.” He slowly closed the door and stepped back, sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting.

This was all in her hands. He wouldn’t force her.

She could do and be anything she wanted, and none of that included anything with him. Running a hand down his face, he waited, unsure of what to do next.

He’d never been with a virgin. In truth, he expected her to run away, to leave him alone, to never give him a chance to explain anything or anyone.

Aria shocked him as she opened the door. Her head was bowed, and she closed the door, flicking the lock into place.

He stayed on the bed, watching her. Waiting.

“I’ve never done this.”

“I know.”

“Don’t be like that. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and it scares me. This scares me. All of it. I’m not the kind of person to do this crazy stuff.” She leaned against the door, finally looking at him.

He stayed on the bed. “I hate to break this to you, Aria. I’ve never bedded a virgin. You’d be my first.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“You don’t like me.”

This time he did laugh. “Actually, I do like you. I happen to like you a lot. I wouldn’t be here for anyone else.”

“You’re offering me your body, Max. You’re not selling your soul.”

“True, but that doesn’t make this any easier. It’s still hard for me. I know this is your first time. You’re probably worried, and you’re going to hurt. I’m not small, and I’m not boasting to make you feel good. I’m a well-endowed man. I’ve fucked my way through a lot of women.”

“I don’t need to hear this.”

“All of those women meant nothing. All they had in common was they were after the same thing I was. Light relief. Pleasure. Nothing of any real meaning to either of us. You’re different, Aria. You’re a virgin. Do you have any idea the kind of stress that places on a guy? If I fuck this up and get this completely wrong, you could hate sex.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“It just goes to show you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“I know my body. If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to do this.” Both of her hands were spread out, and she looked ready to run.

Max got to his feet. He didn’t step close to her or even try to invade any part of her space. Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, he tugged it up over his head and threw it onto the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m proving to you that this matters. That I’m not here to just get my rocks off. I have feelings. I care about this moment. To you, it may not mean anything, but it means a great deal to me.” He unbuckled his belt and pushed his jeans down. He’d decided to go without boxer briefs, as they often left him feeling a little too trapped for his own comfort.

With his pants around his ankles, he kicked them aside, along with his boots.

Within a matter of minutes, he was completely naked while Aria was still dressed. His cock was long, hard, and thick. He was aroused, but then, thinking about having Aria beneath him was all it took to set him off.

“This is all me here, Aria. Bare, before you now.” He held his arms out for her to see every part of him. He did a circle so she could see every inch of his inked body. When Trey first started his tattoo parlor, Max had agreed to be a practice dummy. His best friend was one of the best artists out there, and he loved getting ink done. Also, he always got a discount. “This is not a joke to me. I’m not getting paid to be here. I’m here because I want to be with you. No one else.”

Her face was bright red, and she wouldn’t look at his dick.

She cleared her throat. “No one has seen me naked before.” She was fidgeting on the spot. “I don’t think I’m the kind of girl you usually go for.”

“You’re scared that if I see you naked, I won’t want you.”

She nodded.

“Not going to happen.”

“You’ve never seen me naked.”

“Then let me prove it to you. Strip. Get naked, and I’ll show you I’m not going to be upset with how you look.” He put his hands on his hips, waiting. He didn’t want to scare her off.

She nodded. “You’re right. The sooner we do this, the better.”

She clearly didn’t remember how much he saw of her the other night. Her underwear stayed on, but it didn’t exactly hide a whole lot. He got to see a great deal of her, and he wanted to see her again.

He didn’t say anything though. Aria was already skittish.

She removed her bag, and he noticed straight away her hands were shaking with nerves. He wanted to try to relieve them, but he didn’t have the first fucking clue what he was going to say.

Always with the wrong kind of words.

All he could do was stand there and wait.

****

This has got to be the craziest, stupidest thing you’ve ever done in the entire world of doing anything. How could you even think to talk yourself into doing something this fucking crazy?

Putting her bag on the nearest chair, she breathed a sigh of relief. One bag, safely in place. She had her cell phone, money in case this went really wrong and she had no choice but to run. She also had condoms.

No matter what Max said, she’d brought her own condoms. Marriage and kids were something she planned for a little later in life. Not now.

Staring down at the floor, she worked each button of her shirt open, taking as much time as was humanly possible.

Of course, that wasn’t a whole lot, and she gritted her teeth, hating herself for her own nerves.

This was Max Carter. He had a lot more experience than she did with everything. She shouldn’t be nervous but basking in how easy it was for him to do these things.

With her shirt open, she quickly removed it, but she had on a thin-strapped shirt underneath. She paused at her jeans. The moment she took these off, she would only be in panties.

Just do it, Aria. Stop being a baby.

If he couldn’t stand her, then they were done here. She’d move to another town if she had to.

Pushing her jeans to the floor with her panties, she quickly tugged off her vest shirt and bra.

Completely naked. Just like Max.

Hands clasped together, she waited for him to say or do something.

Finally, when she couldn’t stand the suspense anymore, she allowed herself the chance to look up.

Max stared at her. His cock was still rock-hard as he watched her.

She stayed perfectly still, hoping she could disappear. Of course, it wasn’t possible for her to do so, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to. Nibbling her lip, she waited.

“You’re stunning,” he said.

“I’m not

.”

“I won’t have you saying bad shit about yourself in this room. In fact, the moment you entered this room and locked that door, you became mine.”

“Max?”

“No, whatever happens here is between you and me. I’m not going to make you uncomfortable or hurt you. This is what you want, and I’m more than willing to give it to you.” He took a step toward her, and she stayed still.

Max didn’t scare her.