Seductive Secrets (The Debonair Series Book 3) Read online

  I breathe a chuckle. “Close to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars’ worth to help with the expenses and marketing.”

  My baby sister’s eyes bug out. “Damn, Max. I’m truly amazing to you, huh?”

  I spread my arms out. “What can I say? I’m vying for the best brother award.”

  She giggles. “This Avery. You seem to like her a lot. Care to share?”

  “No. It’s none of your business,” I say reserved.

  Jade hums annoyed. “Just admit you’re getting serious about her. You never have women come here, ever. And she stops in a lot. How many times has she stayed at your place? Zach said she was there. Either you’re absolutely crazy about her or she’s got some juicy dirt on you. Which one is it?”

  “You’re an observant, nosy sister,” I grumble.

  She lifts a shoulder with a devilish smirk…my devilish smirk. “What can I say? I’m in tune with my award-winning brother,” she deadpans. “Does she reciprocate the same feelings?”

  I despise my sister being in my personal business. She can take a wet stick and turn it into a raging inferno. She’s persistent about me finding Mrs. Right and wants me to invest time in everyone who slightly catches my attention. Since she’s become a mother and is married, she has a newfound hope that I will soon follow suit. And she’s a pushy little devil.

  “Don’t you have anything else to be doing?” I ask.

  “Nope,” she chirps. “I’m all yours. So, spill it.”

  I tap the folder. “Well, I’m busy.”

  “You’re deflecting. Quit giving me the runaround, butthead. Fess up.”

  Leaning back in my chair, I rub my forehead trying to quiet my mental groan. I sure as hell don’t care to be strong-armed by my little sister, but I know she won’t leave it alone if I don’t give her something. Methodically, my mind races. “I don’t have much to tell you.” I drop my arms and look her square in the eyes. “We’ve been dating. Yes, I’m crazy about her and I’m certain she feels the same way. But before you go and plan a wedding, we’re nowhere close to it. We’re taking it slow, day by day. I’m in no rush.”

  Satisfaction dons in Jade’s expression. A small smile tugs the corners of her lips. Fuck. She’s already plotting…

  “If it makes any difference, I like her and more importantly, what she’s doing to you.”

  “I’m begging you to not get your hopes up yet. I don’t know where it’s going from here.”

  “Is she coming to the cookout?”

  “I hope so.”

  She gets to her feet and straightens her skirt. “I know you hate talking about your feelings, but at least keep it real with yourself. You deserve to be happy. You’re a really good guy.” She bobs her head side to side. “Of course my opinion is biased, but I love you.” She stops at the door and turns to me. “I’ll try not to be pushy, but I can’t help being excited for you.”

  I sigh into my empty office. No matter what she says, I have a feeling she’ll be as pushy as ever.

  Avery

  I’m such a mom. I hated to leave Maddi this evening after she told me how bad her day was. My poor baby spilled her lunch and then during recess, she tripped and fell, ripping a small hole in her favorite jeans. I was going to call and cancel with Max so I could spend time cheering her up, but Raven slapped me upside the head—literally—and told me everything was going to be fine. I was in serious doubt that “everything was going to be fine.” Maddi came home with tears in her eyes and her head hanging low. But all that doubt melted away when Raven won her heart over with only two words: ice cream.

  By the time I left, Maddi was back to her bubbly and energetic self.

  Since telling Max about my real career, nothing between us has changed. Except now I’ve been battling the guilt of not telling him about my daughter. I had all the intentions when I went to see him, but I panicked, scared I was going to lose him.

  I park and start to head into the entrance of Max’s building when a whistle snags my attention. Max is beaming, leaning against his car with his arms crossed over his chest, his ankles crossed, and looking damn good as always. He makes my stomach flip.

  “Hey.”

  He pulls open the car door. “Still too scared to ride with me?”

  I laugh and stretch to kiss his jaw. “Remember, I still have mace.”

  I slide in and he shuts the door before striding around the front of the car. Once in, he doesn’t start the car. Instead, he leans over, grasping the back of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. My pulse picks up as my heart slaps my chest, dodging the butterflies.

  A loan groan rumbles his chest in protest as he pulls back. Adoration fills his gaze. Lust darkens it.

  “I’m becoming obsessed with your lips,” he says staring at my mouth.

  Slowly, I drag my tongue along my bottom lip. His eyes follow the moisture. “I think I’m becoming obsessed with your obsession with my lips.”

  Chocolate eyes lift to mine. “You’re spellbinding in many ways.”

  “Do you always lay it on sweetly?”

  “For you? I lay it on however I need to keep you coming around.”

  He cranks the car and pulls out of the parking lot while I’m in the passenger seat about to combust from desire.

  The second we stepped into Zach and Jade’s beautiful house, Caleb attached himself to Max’s hip and very shyly greeted me. It makes me think of Maddi. When she was three, my legs were where she stayed. She was only shy for the initial hello and then after that she was wide open. She used my legs as a confidence charging station. She’d be off doing something and then come back, wrap her arms around me and hide her face until she was sure of herself again and bounce away. The cycle repeated every twenty to thirty minutes, regardless of where we were, until she was five—when she found her own confidence.

  It broke my heart. My baby girl was growing up—fast.

  “Avery. Would you like something to drink?” Jade asks. “We have wine.”

  I smile politely. “No. Thank you.”

  Max leans over. “She doesn’t like wine.”

  “You’re kidding?” Jade’s view flits between Max and me. “Well, we have whisky and beer?”

  I promised Maddi I’d be home tonight. “I’ll take a beer, please,” I reply.

  Caleb tugs my pants and points up to Max. “Maasss.” His voice is precious.

  Before I can get him, Max scoops him up and buries his nose into Caleb’s neck. The sight causes me to swoon.

  “You’re good with kids,” I say.

  Max is lit up with a loving pride as he rustles Caleb’s hair. “I kinda like this little tyke.”

  Caleb immediate erupts into a smile, pushing away his hand, and then lays his head on Max’s shoulder. It makes me fight off a swoony sigh.

  As Jade hands me the beer, another couple enters her house. The man is tall with a brown crew cut, bright green eyes, and a striking smile holding the hand of a beautiful blonde. Everyone greets them with hugs and kisses while I’m the awkward one, unsure what the hell to do with my dangling arm not holding the beer.

  Max grins. “This is Easton and Zoey. Douchebag and his beautiful wife.”

  Easton ignores the jab and his right brow jumps high, pulling the corner of his lips too. “It’s nice to put a face with the name.”

  “Hopefully it’s been all good.”

  “Oh. It has.” His devilish tone drops low and he slides his view to Max.

  Zoey slaps Easton across the stomach. “You two stop that.” She folds me into a hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you. It’s been all good. I promise.” Her smile is warming, instantly making me feel like I’m part of their group.

  “Grab the burgers. I’ll fire up the grill,” Zach says in our direction. Max grabs the plate with the meat on it and Easton walks outside empty handed.

  “Come with me,” Zoey says. “We’ll get everything ready while the guys act like idiots outside.”

  After Jade and Zoey grabbed everything from t
he kitchen we needed, I helped carry it all outside to the large metal and glass table positioned under a pergola. We all make our plates and sit, all the couples beside one another with Caleb next to Jade as she helps him eat.

  I feel eyes on me and look up to Zach studying me. He doesn’t look away when I catch him. Instead, he’s homed in.

  The corner of his lips pull up, contorting into the smuggest smirk. “I know you.” The moment the words exit his mouth, the entire table silences and eyes bounce between us. “Your name was Aubrey.” My heart sinks. “Or at least that’s how you were introduced. I did some work at SnoWard training facility years back. You were there snowboarding.”

  “I used that training facility a lot back then.”

  He folds his hands on the table. “You’re professional level. You had a coach.”

  I can feel the heat on my cheeks rising as everyone looks between us. “Tim Keene. He’s coached me since I was fourteen.”

  Zach’s expression hardens, his eyes shifting cold. “Not trying to be the bastard here, but I knew I recognized you. You’re not sitting there lying to him, are you?”

  “I know,” Max bites, sounding annoyed.

  “So you’re a professional snowboarder?” Zoey asks, sincerely interested, and it breaks up some of the tension.

  I glance to Max for reassurance. I’m not ashamed of what I do, but I don’t normally talk about it outside of the group of people who know. My tribe will keep my cover safe and protect me no matter what. Openly admitting it makes me feel as if I’m losing my footing. Not many people know my names. If you know Avery, you wouldn’t know about Aubrey and vice versa. It’s been like this for years. I don’t mind speaking about my profession within my profession, but talking about it in my personal life…I’m in uncharted territory and it’s smothering me with nerves.

  Max bestows a prideful smile on me and it grounds me, even though my pulse is out of control.

  “Yeah,” I admit, keeping my view latched to Max’s for the mental support he doesn’t know he’s offering.

  “Then who are you? Avery or Aubrey?” Zach asks and anger storms into Max’s eyes.

  I swallow before looking to Zach. “Aubrey is a stage name, per say. It was my father’s idea. To protect my private life.”

  “Do you get to travel the world? What kind of competitions do you compete in?” Jade asks as she wipes Caleb’s mouth.

  “I went to Europe once, but I don’t travel outside of the states as much anymore. I prefer—”

  “Wait!” Jade interrupts with a squeak. “Kid’s Bazaar. Aubrey Neal. Is that you?”

  My brows furrow. “You follow snowboarding?” I’m confused.

  “No, but Max is sponsoring the event and I remember seeing the name.”

  What? I snap my head to him.

  “I was going to tell you tonight,” he says.

  “I’m excited to see you. I’ve never had a reason to like snowboarding, but you’ve just gained a new fan. I’ll be there cheering you on even if I don’t know anything about it,” Jade babbles.

  But I’m too busy staring at Max in disbelief…in fear. It’s been almost eight years since I’ve competed in front of someone I was dating and that asshole tried killing me and my daughter. The memory chills my spine. Overcoming that fear and not fumbling will be a huge test for me.

  “A winery sponsoring a children’s event?” I ask bemused.

  Jade barks a loud laugh as Max chuckles. “It’s for a good cause,” he says.

  “I think it’s cool as hell you’re that fearless,” Zoey says. “I would scream the entire way down.”

  “With your eyes closed,” Easton adds. “You freak out when I do ten over the speed limit. I can’t imagine you flying straight down a mountain.”

  Zoey visibly shudders. “Yeah. That’s why she’s the snowboarder and I’m the person on the sidelines watching.”

  “Potty,” Caleb interrupts.

  “You have to potty?” Jade asks, and he nods. She’s quick to get on her feet, jerks him out of his seat, and rushes him inside.

  Zach sits back in his chair and exhales a chuckle. “I got him to piss on that tree.” He tips his chin behind me. “He thought that was the coolest thing ever and now he’s showing more interest in getting out of those damn diapers. But he doesn’t understand why we can’t shit outside.”

  I titter, remembering how I bribed Maddi into being potty trained with M&Ms. Yes, I trained my daughter like you would a dog. But it worked.

  Max

  Avery told me earlier she couldn’t stay with me tonight. I am a man on a mission to change her mind. I park beside her car, kill the ignition, and twist, pulling her in for a kiss. It’s full of eagerness. I’m desperate for her to feel my silent plea. I plunge my tongue, forcing her to open up and take me.

  I want her.

  I ache for her.

  “Come inside with me,” I pant against her lips. “Please.”

  I’m begging her to change her mind. To be against me all night. To let me wake up with her in my arms.

  “I can’t stay long,” she breathes with my lip between her teeth.

  I waste no damn time. I pop out of the car, meeting her on the other side, and clutch her hand, moving us toward the entrance. Flashing a ghost of a smile, I peer at her, keeping my private desire between us. I press the button for the elevator and tap my foot waiting for it to show. We step in and as the doors shut behind us, I yank her into me, taking back to her lips. She runs her hand up my chest and into my hair, tugging gently. It causes a moan to escape me as a pulse of lascivious desire twitches my cock.

  The doors open and I walk her backward, keeping my gaze on hers. I shove her purse strap off her shoulder and it hits the floor beside the couch. Her hands are on me. My eyes are on her. I pull her shirt over her head and cup her tits on top of her bra, kneading gently. She bites her bottom lip and then her mouth falls open, releasing a small moan as she drops her head back.

  I unzip her pants and shove them down to her thighs before dipping my hand below her panties. She exhales a small moan as I press into her, dragging in and out. I rip the cup of her bra down and suck on her hard nipple. She gasps, rocking her hips against my hand.

  Dragging my tongue up her chest and to her shoulder, I bite on the skin of her neck. She cries out as goosebumps splatter her skin.

  “You make me so fucking hard for you,” I rasp beside her ear.

  Something in her snaps. She grabs my hand out of her panties and moves me in front of the couch. I watch as she squats, lowering my pants. On the way back up, she laps a heavy tongue from the bottom of my nuts to the tip of my cock, never releasing her stare.

  Fuck. Yes.

  She shoves me and I drop to the couch. Her grin is wicked as she positions herself between my legs, presses her lips to the tip of my dick, and sucks, drawing me in. I choke for air at the pleasure.

  Her tongue flattens against the bottom of my shaft as she twists her grip. Her head bobs. The pressure is incredible. I close my eyes briefly, relishing how amazing this feels. She moans, long and deep, vibrating my dick, and it pulls my gaze back to her. The knot in my stomach starts to unravel. I thread my fingers through her hair and hold her still as I pump into her mouth. The sight of my dick disappearing and reemerging glistening with saliva…

  “Fuck…” My groan funnels into a growling moan.

  She tightens her grip as her tongue dances all over my dick. My nuts constrict. I’m not going to blow my load when I can be buried inside of her, hearing that sexy as fuck mewl.

  By her hair, I pull her swollen lips off my cock and guide her to my face. “Fuck, Avery.”

  She smirks seductively and then stands. In a sexy strip tease, I watch as she unsnaps her bra, removing the straps on her shoulder one by one and allowing them to fall from her arms. Her hips sway as she hooks her panties and ever so damn teasingly lowers them down her legs. She bends, dragging her hands over my thighs, squeezing and massaging as she creeps up my body.r />
  I jerk up and kiss her, blindly fumbling to grab my pants and get a damn condom. She watches as I grip my dick and roll it down before giving me another reminder of why she’s a dream come true.

  Straddling me, she sinks down, engulfing me with the sweetest fucking pleasure. Up and down, she moves and adjusts with each stroke until she’s comfortable and begins riding me with confidence.

  Her body rolls as her hips gyrate. My fingers dig into the smooth skin of her ass—pushing, pulling, lifting. She grabs a handful of hair, jerks my head to the side and goes to fucking town on my neck with heavy kisses.

  Her manhandling me—I’m gladly at her fucking mercy.

  Her pussy starts to tighten and her moans become more urgent. I buck upward, slamming into her to elicit her orgasm. Her head falls back, her chin toward the ceiling and her mouth parted as she moans. Her grip on my hair is so hard it’s intoxicating.

  Suddenly, her body contracts and she loses control. She cries out—a desperate mewl morphing into all the pleasure she’s experiencing. She leans back, shoving a hand into her hair and pulls, releasing an unrestrained moan.

  I’m gone.

  So fucking gone.

  “Fuck,” I chant, barreling into my orgasm and pumping fiercely into her.

  Together we come, our moans meshing. Euphoria embraces our mind-blowing orgasm.

  Her head falls forward resting on my shoulder. Her body is in a sated coma resting against my chest as my heart thunders against hers. My limbs are numb, but somehow I manage to find the strength to splay one over the small of her back. I hold her while our breaths are ragged. I drop my head to the back of the couch and close my eyes with her conformed flawlessly against me.

  “Max.” Her voice brings me back to reality and I open my eyes, blinking into the sweetest grays. I don’t know how long we’ve been here, fused together, but one thing’s for sure—I want to stay buried in her pussy. “I have to go,” she whispers with a frown.

  She moves off me and begins to get dressed. I find the strength to get up and head to the bathroom to clean up—a feat I almost lose. Grabbing a pair of shorts, I shove into them before making my way back out to the living room.