Page 8 of Tide and Seek (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #8)

I slowed my thrusts, lingering on the precipice of ecstasy for just a moment longer.

He grunted, his hole clenching around me, his body tightening, and then he was coming.

A hoarse cry spilled from his lips as his cock spurted hot stripes against the shower wall.

The sight of him falling apart pushed me over the edge, and I groaned, burying myself deep as I came, filling him with every heated drop of myself.

Breathing hard, I held him tight. Our bodies quivered and jerked as little jolts of pleasure sparked through our fatigued muscles. I stayed buried inside him, reticent to let go, as the gentle water cascaded over us. His head lolled back against my shoulder and he gave a gruff laugh.

“I needed that,” he said, sounding drained but happy.

“Me too.” He had no idea just how much I’d needed that intimacy with him. And I didn’t want him to know either. The last thing Max needed right now was to worry about my unfounded insecurities.

When I finally, slowly pulled out, Maxwell turned to face me, his eyes dark with satisfaction.

We rinsed away the evidence of sex, then he kissed me and gave my ass a playful slap on his way out of the shower.

I chuckled and followed him, drying off with the fluffy light-blue towels.

I wasn’t usually a blow-dryer type of guy, but since we were headed to bed and my hair was still damp, Max talked me into letting him dry it for me.

He grinned at me in the mirror as he finger-tousled my blond hair, letting the warm air work through it.

He looked more relaxed than I’d seen him in weeks, his face free of strain, his eyes clear and calm.

I sometimes forgot how hard life must be for him in Rainy Dale, how much effort it took to be accepted there.

When we got into bed, we held each other, listening to the sound of the waves on the beach outside.

Within minutes Max was out, softly snoring in my arms. I smiled, kissing his silky hair and inhaling the scent of him.

Naturally, at my age, I’d been in love before.

But I’d never loved anyone the way I did Max.

Despite how quirky and off-putting he could sometimes be, he was my person and I felt that in my soul.

I closed my eyes and listened to the ocean, savoring the quiet and the comfort of having Max all to myself.

Eventually, the long day won, and I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke, for a moment I wasn’t sure where I was.

Morning light filled the room, and the soft rush of waves was the first thing I noticed, distant and rhythmic, like the world breathing in and out.

Sunlight streamed through the sheers over the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the pale wood floors and painting faint gold stripes across the rumpled white-and-blue linen sheets.

I turned my head, noticing Max was gone from the bed.

I lay still for a moment, listening. The faint cry of gulls drifted in from the shoreline, mingling with the rhythmic slap of water against the beach.

A soft breeze teased the sheer curtains, making them dance lazily at the edges of the open sliding doors.

The faint scent of salt and eucalyptus lingered in the air, but I also smelled fresh coffee.

Throwing back the covers, I pulled on my jeans and went into the bathroom to wash up.

Once I was done grooming, I wandered downstairs.

I didn’t see Max anywhere, but there was indeed freshly brewed coffee, so I helped myself.

There was no cream in the fridge or any groceries of any kind, so I settled for drinking my coffee black.

Cupping my hands around my mug, I followed the sound of voices out onto the patio on the ocean side of the house.

As I stepped outside, I found Max sitting in a teak patio chair with a slender but toned woman probably in her thirties. She had a sleek platinum bob that framed her angular face, and alert eyes the color of the sky. She smiled the minute she saw me, and I smiled back.

Max looked pleased to see me and he gestured to a chair beside him. “Royce, this is C.J. She lives next door. I told you about her last night. She’s the one who used to be a ballerina but is now a yoga instructor.”

Laughing, C.J. held out her hand. “Oh, goodness, that ballerina thing was ages ago. You don’t have to mention that every time you introduce me to someone, Max.

” Her gaze was friendly but assessing. “It’s great to meet you, Royce.

Max has been telling me all about your life in Rainy Dale.

” She wore bright pink yoga pants and a matching sports bra.

Her face was devoid of makeup, and she had great skin.

Under her astute gaze, I was suddenly aware of my shirtless state. I sat quickly beside Max and was happy when he slung his arm along the back of my chair. “I slept later than I meant to,” I said, sipping my coffee.

“We’re on vacation. You’re supposed to sleep in.” Max smiled at me, looking boyish in the morning sun, with his dark hair ruffled by the cool sea breeze. He was definitely in his element.

“I know, but you should have woken me when you got up.”

Max frowned. “Why would I do that? You work really hard and almost never sleep in. I was happy you did for once.” He sighed. “My plan was to go grab us some breakfast in town, since there’s nothing in the fridge, but then I remembered I don’t have a car. We’ll have to rent one this afternoon.”

“Oh, that’s right. You sold your car when you moved to Texas.” C.J. rubbed her chin and then brightened. “Oh, you know what? If you’re going to rent a car I know just the place you should use. I used to use them all the time when I traveled for work more.”

“Sure, I’ll take a recommendation,” Max said.

C.J. scrolled through her phone. “This place is so damn convenient. They bring the car to your home or office. Let’s see, what were they called again? Oh, here it is. They’re called Tippity Top Car Rentals.”

“Tippity Top Car Rentals?” Max echoed, appearing taken aback.

C.J. glanced up and laughed at Max’s expression. “I know, the name is atrocious. But they’re reasonably priced and they’re very dependable. What more can you ask for, right?”

“I suppose,” murmured Max. “They sound like they rent out clown cars.”

I laughed. “Now, Max, clowns need reliable transportation too.”

C.J. grinned. “They don’t rent clown cars. They’re a very respectable company. Don’t be a snob, Max. I thought you were more down to earth now that you live in Texas.”

“Nah,” I said. “He’s the same old Max, just slightly more polite if I kick him in the shins.”

Max frowned at me. “Why do I feel like you two are ganging up on me?”

“Maybe because we are?” C.J. chuckled.

Before Max could respond, his cell buzzed. He picked it up and answered. “Hello?” He met my gaze, nodding as he listened to the person on the other end of the phone. “Sounds perfect. We’ll meet you there at 11:00 a.m.” He hung up. “That was Deputy Gonzalez. He wants to meet us at the station.”

“That’s great,” I said. “Maybe we can finally get some details about the break-in.”

C.J.’s face fell. “Oh, that’s right. You’re not back in LA just for pleasure.” She sighed softly. “Max, I’m really sorry I didn’t notice the break-in. I was listening to a meditation tape and completely zoned out. I didn’t even realize anything had happened until I saw the police lights outside.”

“It’s okay.” Max shrugged. “The alarm company called the cops. As far as I can tell, they didn’t take anything, and they didn’t vandalize the place, thankfully.”

As I watched Max reassuring C.J., I was impressed and proud of how tactful he was being. The Max I’d first met in Rainy Dale wouldn’t have taken the time to put C.J., or anyone, at ease.

“Still.” She sighed. “Neighbors are supposed to look out for each other. I failed miserably.”

Max waved her off. “Don’t be silly. It all worked out.”

“I guess.”

We were distracted when a tall man in khaki work pants and a red Coastal Pest Solutions polo appeared at the edge of the deck, a clipboard tucked under one arm.

He wore a red ball cap over sandy-brown hair that was streaked with silver at his temples.

He had the wiry build of someone who spent his days climbing ladders and hauling gear, his face sun-bronzed and lined at the corners of his blue-green eyes.

“Morning, folks,” he said easily, offering a quick smile as he tugged off his ball cap.

“Hey, Ethan,” C.J. said brightly. “You’re here earlier in the month than usual.”

He laughed gruffly. “Yep. Mr. Westbrook called me about his ant problem. I figured I’d just do my thing at all the homes while I’m here and save myself a trip.”

“That seems very sensible.” She nodded. “Max, you’ve probably never met Ethan. He replaced Carlos about six months ago. You’d already left for Rainy Dale.”

Ethan glanced at Max and then stepped forward, offering his hand.

“Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Thornton. Are you back to stay? If so, just let me know if you have any special pest concerns you’d like me to tend to.

” He tipped his chin toward the house. “Ant season’s been brutal this year.

I’ve had call after call about how the darn ants are marching in like they own the place.

Damp summer’s got the colonies stirred up. ”

Max grimaced. “I did see a few in the kitchen this morning, but nothing too terrible.”

“I’ll take care of it. I think I know where they’re coming in on the outside of the house,” Ethan said cheerfully, shifting his clipboard from one calloused hand to the other.

C.J. sighed. “I had a few ants in my kitchen this morning too.”

Ethan’s expression was sympathetic. “Whole colony’s got ’em bad. Spiders too—big ones, sneaky little bastards. Guess they’re after the ants same as us. Anyway, I’ll just hit the baseboards and the crawl space, keep ’em out of your hair.”

Max shuddered. “Yes, please.”