Page 14 of Invisible String (The Underground #1)

Those words fueled the fire in me. I come so hard; I think it makes up for years of no type of pleasure. I pant heavily, trying to catch my breath.

“So, you’ve never done this with anyone?” I ask curiously, staring up at him, licking his lips like he’s savoring my taste, and damn.

“No,” he says dryly. Putting his walls back up. He sighs. “Come on, let’s get your clothes on. I think I hear people getting on the trail.” He helps me tie it all back up.

I squeal when he lifts me up, carrying me bridal style. “What are you doing?” I giggle.

“You don’t have shoes. I wouldn’t want the princess to stub her toe.” He smiles, which melts my heart.

When Max drives up the driveway, Dan and Peter are taking off in Dan’s truck. Let’s cross our fingers that they left. I didn’t like Dan and Peter. Well, we all know he’s a dumbass.

Lana runs to me when she sees us drive up. “Rainey, I was so worried.” She brushes a lock of hair from my cheek. “I had jumped off when I saw you struggling underwater.” She gives me a squeeze. “Max swam like a bullet toward you.”

“Lana, I’m fine. I’m good now. Max took good care of me.” I grin at her.

Her gaze goes from Max to me.

“Oh, I see. Huh, no wonder you guys took a while to get back. And here I thought you were in the hospital. I beat the shit out of Peter with my sandal while you were getting your freak on.”

I slap my hand on my forehead. That’s not what I was trying to hint to her. As in, he took care of me. Not my needs. I mean, she’s not wrong, but I wouldn’t say anything about it in front of Max.

“That’s not what I meant, Lana.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what you meant, sunshine,” Max teases with his chest puffed like he won the damn Olympics. An ego boost sure gets a man chaffing. He taps my ass. “I’m going to go shower. I’m sure I have seaweed wrapped around my balls.”

Wow, now he has jokes.

Lana throws her head back, cackling so hard she snorts.

“Umm, okay. I’ll see you later,” I say.

“Max, come over for dinner when you’re done. I’m making my mama’s favorite chimichangas recipe,” Lana yells as Max walks back to his place.

He turns and gives her a nod.

“What are you talking about? Your mom doesn’t make chimichangas.”

“I know, but I was trying to thank him for how he handled Peter and for being there for you. So I thought I’d make him something he would like. I don’t think he would like my tuna casserole.”

“You’re a horrible cook.”

“Hey, you meanie. I’m an okay cook.” She loops her hand in mine, pulling me up the stairs.

“Close to burning down the house is not okay.”

She huffs. “At least I know how to drive.” Okay, she got me there.

“So, do you plan on telling me what’s going on between you two?” She wiggles her brows with a smirk.

What is going on?

I lift a shoulder. “Nothing. I guess just messing around. He lives in Vegas.” I peel off my shirt and slip my shorts off.

“Messing around? That’s not your thing, girl. Especially with him.”

She knows me better than anyone. I’m not the kind of person who engages in one-night stands; they just don’t make sense to me.

No hate on those. Lana doesn’t mind, although it’s not really her thing, but for me, I get attached easily, and it would make me fall hard.

“So what if he lives in Vegas? There are long-distance relationships, and isn’t Vegas like seven hours away?

” Lana marches to the fridge, taking out a bag of flour tortillas.

“He told me he’s never had a girlfriend and doesn’t want one.” You can’t make a person want you.

Lana spins on her heels to the pantry. “Maybe you can change his mind. After all, it’s you, Rainey, not some random girl.

He’s hot as fuck, and what a damn coincidence that seven years later, you see him again.

His absence crushed you when he never came back to school.

That boy planted a seed in your soul, hun. Those roots have sprouted.”

Perhaps she’s right. He has planted a seed in my heart, but did I plant one in his? He did things to my body that he’s never done with another woman. That itself means something. Maybe my wise friend has a point. He could fall for me and want to take a chance on a relationship.

“I guess we’ll play it by ear, ya know? I’m going to shower. I’ll cook when I get out.” The last thing we need is a forest fire.

“Okay, sunshine.” She winks. “I’ll look for a recipe on Pinterest.”

As I let my bikini fall to the ground, I step into the comforting stream of the shower. The warm water flows over me, enveloping me in its gentle cascade. I groan at the thought that he was all over my body mere minutes ago. His touch was electrifying.

The tight green corduroy skirt hugs my hips like a second skin.

The white tank top fits perfectly, showing off my curved breasts.

Then, I throw my hair up into a messy bun.

I’m not big on makeup, mainly because I’m not good at putting it on.

I pucker my lips and apply red lipstick.

Then, I make my way downstairs, the wooden steps creaking beneath each step of my saunter.

“Dang, Rainey.” Lana fans herself. “Looking smokin’, girl. Impressing anyone?”

“Nope,” I lie, scrolling through the tablet in the kitchen, looking at the recipe.

“Sure.”

“Are the guys coming back?”

“You mean Peter and Dan? Then no. I dropped him like a fly. The guy is still hooked on his ex, and while he is good in bed, I didn’t enjoy him moaning his ex’s name. Major turn off.” Lana flicks Cheeto dust off her nails.

My mouth gapes. “He moaned her name?” Unbelievable. I would have kneed him in the balls.

She goes through the junk drawer, probably searching for a nail file.

“Yes, good thing I was already squirting my load when he said her name. He was like, ‘Oh, sorry, babe. I didn’t mean to say her name.’” She rolls her eyes.

“Of course he did. Good thing I’m not attached to him.

I just wanted to screw him. Got what I wanted, and he can go his merry way. ”

I wish I had her enthusiasm. Although Lana has never been the type to have a one-night stand.

A knock at the door has my heart pumping, and it’s ridiculous because we just saw each other.

The fabric of Max’s T-shirt molds to each defined muscle of his chiseled chest, accentuating his broad shoulders.

The sight of his large biceps straining against the fabric sends a thrill through me.

His beautiful green eyes dance over my body like he wants to rip my clothes off.

I have the urge to throw my beautiful best friend out the door.

My body hums like a symphony. “Come in,” I breathe out. I wipe my hands with a cloth, getting rid of particles of cheese on the palms of my hands. “I was grating cheese,” I blurt nervously.

Max’s large frame looms over me. The whiff of fresh soap lingers in the air when he leans in. “ Preciosa .” His finger strokes my cheek.

I don’t know what that means, but I like it.

“Who’s doing the cooking?” Those emerald eyes have me hypnotized. They sparkle like a star, and his lashes are long and sexy.

“Oh, I am. Lana can’t cook for the life of her.”

“I heard that!” Lana yells from the kitchen.

Lana and I study the recipe on Pinterest while Max watches us. Every time I glance his way, his gaze is on me. As I pull out ingredients, Lana’s phone buzzes. She sighs, and I give her a curious look. She shakes her head.

“You got this?” she asks.

“Sure.” I nod. It’s a lot simpler than the recipe calls for.

“Good, I gotta—” She shakes her phone and leaves the kitchen.

Shrugging, I get back to following the recipe. I put everything together and put it in the pan. Once I’m done frying it and adding a topping for garnish, I hand it to Max.

“I hope you like it. I’ve never made it before. I’ve eaten it once at restaurants?—”

“I’ll like it, I promise,” he assures me with a sweet, drop-dead sexy smile.

God, I love his smile more than anything, and that it’s only reserved for me, it always has been.

“I’m heading out, you two. It was nice seeing you, Max, and I hope I get to see you when I get back. We can all hang out, get drinks or something.” She lays her hand on his shoulder. He doesn’t push it away or flinch, but he does glance at it.

“Yeah, see you, Lana,” Max says to her.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” I set her plate on the long vase table. She shakes her head and walks to the living room, where she takes her luggage.

“Mom texted me to get my ass home. She said we’re leaving in the morning. Like three in the morning.” She hisses, wrestling with her bags.

“Do you want me to wrap one in foil for you?”

She waves a hand in the air. “You two enjoy.” She turns to Max with a teasing expression on her pretty face.

“Max, take care of my girl while I’m gone.

I need her in one piece for next semester.

Rainey, my lady, gets us good grades when she flashes her tits to our professor.

” She grins like a fool while I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Max cuts into his chimichanga, his expression unreadable.

“You do have a perfect pair of tits, but…” The knife slices through the food, squeaking on the ceramic plate.

“I suggest you keep them covered if you don’t want to see me smash his head into a wall.

I’m no damn saint, but I can be brutal when I need to be. ”

The gruff tone of his words causes a chill to run up my spine. I’m by no means supporting brutal violence, but it turns me on. He continues eating, and Lana winks at me with a wicked smile.