Luke came home a little after midnight and saw his sister and Max sleeping on the sofa covered by a quilt. He released a sigh of relief. Max still had his shirt on but it was unbuttoned and his sister was curled against him and he could see that she still wore her nightgown. Then his eyes guided to the hand on Max's bare chest noticing the engagement ring back where it belonged and he smiled. Quietly he made his way by the sleeping couple to his room. He had to give it to his friend because under the circumstances, he showed a great deal of restraint. If it was someone Luke loved the way Max loved Lily, he would want to be with her in every way after hearing such news. Lily had never slept so well in her life. When she awoke the next morning she was ecstatic to see that Max didn't get up and leave this time. He was still with her and asleep. He looked peaceful and incredibly handsome. She lifted her head and moved her gaze over his face. His jaw had a day's worth of stubble and it made him look worn but sinfully appealing. Having her body pressed against his hard form was doing amazing things to her insides too. She didn't forget what he looked and felt like naked and those feelings of desire rose within her like a volcano.
-Quit staring. He murmured.
-Oh for gosh sakes!
-she flushed. He opened his eyes and grinned,
-Well, I can get used to this. He lifted his arm and looked at his watch,
-I've got to get going. Go get dressed Lily, you're coming with me. I have some things to finish up at the office, and then we have a ten o'clock appointment with Doctor Jenson.
-Oh. She couldn't stop the tremor.
-Hey, he said softly nudging her chin so she'd look at him,
-I'm with you every step of the way.
-I know. I'm terrified.
-I'm scared to honey, but we'll beat this together.
-Are you? she said raising her brows. She was sure Max hadn't been scared of anything in his life. He faced adversary head on with horns out.
-Of course I am. He said softly,
-Luke has finally let me near you and now that I've got you I certainly don't want anything to happen to you. You're my life. She could feel her eyes moisten,
-Do you really mean that?
-Come here honey. He said shifting his body and easily lifting her over him so he could kiss her. It was a kiss of complete tenderness and it was loaded with affection. Finally he lifted her off him and sat up.
-Let's get going before I drag you to your room. He said in a strained voice. Lily couldn't see anything wrong with that, but intimacy was still new to her and she didn't know how to tell him so she did as he said and made her way to her room to get dressed.
At the office Max made her sit in the waiting room across from Nancy,
-Keep an eye on her Nance, I'll try not to be too long.
-No problem. She said looking past him to Lily. The girl looked pale and exhausted.
-Lily, would you like some tea?
-I'd love that. She said. When Nancy got up to go and get it, he turned back to her,
-I'll try not to be too long, but stay here and wait for me, there's going to be a hundred people in and out of my office for the next hour as I try and clear my schedule. Luke can manage just fine, but he needs to be around you to.
-I'll wait. She said.
-That's my girl. He gave her a genuine smile before he left her alone. Shortly after Nancy returned with a cup of tea and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance telling her if she needed anything just to ask, before she returned back to her desk. As Max promised, he was less than an hour and soon they were on their way to Doctor Jensen's clinic. The whole time he kept her close to him in the car, with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Doctor Jensen was an older doctor in his mid-sixties and he was very polite and empathetic. He also had no problem agreeing to Max's request to take the whole lump.
-I've cleared my schedule tomorrow for the surgery, he told Max and Lily,
-It'll take me a few hours to have the results back to you about the tissue after that.
-We'll wait for them. Max said without hesitation.
-Certainly. He said with a reassuring smile,
-Then we'll go from there if there's any further treatment.
-Afraid button?
-Scared stiff. She said honestly.
-Well, we'll be with you every step of the way. He reassured.
-Miss Shayne, the doctor continued,
-You can't have anything to drink or eat after midnight and I want you back here by six thirty in the morning.
-I'll bring her. Max said,
-And what about recovery. Can I take her home tomorrow?
-I don't see a problem. We'll like to keep her until around dinner time just to see how she does then I'll release her. After the Doctor left Lily turned to Max,
-Take me home. She said gripping his arm. This was very terrifying. She had never had surgery before and never thought about the prospect of being put to sleep. What if she didn't wake up? What if something went terribly wrong? Max wrapped his arms around her,
-Don't worry honey, he's the best they have.
-Take me home. She repeated no longer wanting to discuss this. Thankfully he seemed to know.
-Okay.
-No, Max, I mean your home. He stilled,
-Lily, She looked up at him,
-Please, I just really need to be with you right now. She saw a pained expression cross his face.
-I know I didn't measure up in Greece but
-Stop saying that Lily, you have no idea how I felt because you wouldn't let me tell you.‖ She started to protest and he cut her off,
-But you will listen now. I've never had a woman feel as good as you do. It's like you were made specifically for me and I've missed you so much my heart hurts. She couldn't stop the tears from falling this time, but he continued.
-I always prided myself on my self-control, but I swear to God button, the day I laid eyes on you, I had none.
-but Cybil
-I never slept with Cybil, He said softly,
-I hadn't had a woman in over a year. I won't lie to you and tell you that I hadn't had anyone since I fell for you because there are just some things a man can't ignore. However, that night with you considerably blew my mind. I never knew that it would be like that when you actually love the woman that you make love to. If I had known I would have never touched another woman, but I also wasn't sure if you'd actually have me either.
-Max, she managed to choke out,
-You love me? He bent his head and brushed his mouth across hers,
-More than my own life honey. I'm so sorry I've hurt you.
-Luke told me what he asked of you.
-What a jerk. He managed with a smirk causing her to laugh despite her tears.
-I didn't know, I mean, I thought that I was invisible.
-No, you weren't. Far from it. I couldn't take my damn eyes off of you for a moment when you were around. I just wish I could have let you know sooner so you wouldn't have gotten hurt. It tore me apart knowing that you were hurting inside and there was nothing I could do about it.
-I'm tough.
-No you're not. Not where I'm concerned. He said,
-You're a marshmallow.
-You are so conceited. She laughed despite her tears.
-Only because you make me feel on top of the world when you flash those gorgeous green eyes at me. He answered,
-Now back to our moment in Greece. I wanted to make you mine in every way, but something held me back. I couldn't betray Luke or you. He cupped her face in his hands and searched her eyes with his,
-I want to be married to you first.
-It doesn't matter in this day and age Max. she surprised herself by saying that because she had pretty high morals, but she wanted him. She wanted to sleep next to him and waiting through a wedding was too long for her. Not only that she wasn't sure how long she had if the lump was cancerous. In view of it all, she didn't care anymore and wanted to live for the moment.
-It does to me and how I feel about you.‖ He paused studying her expression seriously.
-I could call my pilot and have the jet warmed up for a quick trip to Vegas if you don't want a big wedding with all the bells and whistles. Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
-You're serious. She whispered.
-Deadly. He answered as his hands went to her hips and pulled her against him,
-If you want to make yourself mine as much as I want you next to me for the rest of my life, I'll do it in a heartbeat. Lily felt more tears fall, but she managed a nod, and in an instant Max released her and pulled out his phone. If she thought he was just saying that to make her feel better she was wrong. He was giving commands over the phone like a Roman general and there was no mistaking the urgency in his
voice.