Chapter 1
Max was exhausted. After seeing too many patients today, he hadn't had a break or lunch and he just wanted to have something to eat and go to sleep. Pulling into the driveway, he saw Alison's car. He'd forgotten she was stopping by tonight for dinner. He'd just tell her she couldn't stay late because he needed to get some sleep. They were good friends, she'd understand.
"Hey!" he yelled out as he came up the stairs from the garage. "Hey back. You look terrible!" she responded as he walked in the kitchen. He stopped where he was, looking dumbfounded but too tired to be offended. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean it that way. But you DO look terrible, Max. Sit down, dinner's almost ready." Wiping her hands on his favorite apron, she poured him a glass of wine and he sat at the table. "YOU made dinner?" he asked, noting the condition of his beloved kitchen. It was a mess! There were pots and pans everywhere, but it wasn't smoky, thank goodness!
"Of course I made dinner. You just relax." Max sat down at the table and Alison began rubbing his shoulders. And he did start to relax. Her hands were working magic on the knots in his neck and shoulders. He started to doze off right there, when the buzzer sounded and he jumped in his seat. "Let me get that." she said, placing a gentle kiss on the top of his head. She served dinner, and three quarters of an hour later they had eaten and laughed and talked, and he really did feel much better.
"I have a special dessert for you, but you look so tired. Maybe you should go to sleep and we'll do dessert another time." she said. Did he imagine she looked disappointed? "No, I feel a lot better actually. Dinner was great – thank you – and you know I'm enjoying your company. Stay and we'll have dessert." Alison smiled as she cleared the dishes. When Max tried to help her she insisted he go into the living room and rest.
This time, he actually did doze off sitting on the couch, waking to see her standing in front of him smiling. "So, what's for dessert?" he asked. She got down on her knees between his legs, her hands on the back of the couch on either side of him, and leaning forward, she breathed gently in his ear, "Me".
He didn't move. Neither did she. Did he hear her right? They'd been friends for so long. They held each other's confidence, spent time together, even flirted. There was an unspoken attraction. "You?" he asked. "Me…" she said, pausing for a moment, "…IF that's ok with you." He felt his groin tighten. He had certainly thought of her "that way" before. After all, Alison was pretty. Blonde, green eyes, nice figure. She dressed confidently, even sexy. Yeah, she definitely turned his head; what guy wouldn't look twice? And she was also a great friend, a good listener, and a lot of fun. She could be serious when he needed her to be, but also knew when he needed to lighten up. And he knew she thought he was attractive. In fact, Alison was free – and always sincere - with her compliments about how handsome and sexy he was, and how well he dressed. Her comments were more than sisterly but neither of them had ever made a move. He wondered why, but supposed they'd just become so comfortable with each other as friends…until now.
His arms came up around her, pulling her into his embrace. He whispered in her ear, "Ok with me," as he kissed her earlobe, then trailed kisses along her jaw and throat. He pulled back, really looking at her and seeing just how beautiful her eyes were, how inviting her lips looked. She looked back at him with those soft, green eyes, filled with curiosity and wonder, and perhaps a little bit of the fear he, too, felt inside. "Are YOU sure?" he asked. "I am if you are" she said, almost as a challenge. That was just like her. Hesitating just long enough to look into her eyes again, he lowered his lips to hers.
At first, his kiss was gentle as his hands found the front of her shirt and brushed against her breasts. She shivered and moaned softly. He responded with more intensity. He pressed up against her, his lips on hers, and she allowed his tongue inside. Their mouths locked in a warm, wet passionate kiss. She lay back on the couch and pulled him on top of her. He felt weightless as his body molded against hers, as if he were made to fit there. He kissed her for some time, wanting nothing more at that moment than to taste the sweetness of her lips.
After some time Max pulled away from her mouth, placing delicate kisses on her forehead, eyelids, cheeks. He nuzzled at her ears and her neck. His trail of kisses led to the buttons of her silk blouse and he continued to kiss her as he undid them down to her waist where the blouse tucked in to her jeans. Her lace-covered breasts were moving up and down with every breath, inviting him to play. He opened the clasp on her bra and kissed her right breast. He gently took the nipple in his mouth, licking and sucking it, teasing it with wet kisses. He caressed the other breast with his hand. Wanting to taste every inch of her, he switched. Alison thought he must realize how sensitive her breasts were, how much she enjoyed having them touched as he continued to prove that he was skilled with both his mouth and his hands. This was a man who knew how to make love to a woman.
