Between Us

Chapter 31

Max

Crystal: I miss you, Max. How long are you going to ignore my messages? You said we could be friends, but now you won't even speak to me.

Crystal: I got the lead role in Stars That Shine. I know you had something to do with that. I know you still care, Max. I promise I'll respect your boundaries. I know how you feel about marriage - I know that better than anyone else. Is it so bad that I still want you in my life? Is it so bad for me to think that you want the same?

She's been texting me every day since we had dinner, but I have yet to respond. I'm feeling oddly conflicted. On the one hand, I'm mad at her for leaving me at the altar the way she did, yet on the other hand I'm relieved. I shouldn't be, but I am.

The door to my home office opens, and I lock my phone before putting it away, leaving Crystal's messages unanswered. Alianna walks in wearing a red nightgown that puts my wildest fantasies to shame, and I try my hardest to keep my eyes off her body, but it's a losing battle. The fabric might as well be sheer for all that it's Covering.

I can see a hint of her pinkish nipples, and I'm not sure she's wearing anything underneath at all. I bite down on my lip as I remember the way she looked at me when she told me that she doesn't like wearing panties, her bare pussy in my lap and hazel eyes on mine. What would have happened if I'd just given into my desire that night?

I try to tear my gaze off her and fail. Alianna has always been sinfully beautiful, but seeing her dressed in this way is a turn-on of a different kind. This is for my eyes only, and I fucking love it.

"Look at this," she tells me as she lifts herself on top of my desk, putting her breasts at eye level for me. She's so fucking close... what would she do if I spread her legs right on top of my desk?

I clear my throat and glance at the sofa she's showing me, "I like this darker one better," I tell her as I swipe through the options.

Alianna grins at me, "I was hoping you'd say that because it's my favorite too."

I look up at her in surprise, "You don't need to ask me for my opinion, you know? You can do whatever you want."

She shakes her head, "I don't want to do that. I already feel like I'm intruding in your space."

I grab her hand and hold it gently, "Don't, Ali. There's no need to feel that way. This is your home now."

"It's ours," she corrects me, "I'm asking for your opinion because I want you to love our home too."

I nod at her and entwine our fingers. Designing our home together has been much more fun than I expected it to be. It truly feels like we're making it ours, but it's bittersweet, because it also means I'm washing away everything related to Crystal. Alianna and I haven't spoken about her at all recently, and I'm hoping to keep it that way.

It's odd, the way she and I attempt to exist in this bubble where we pretend I wasn't engaged to her sister for years, yet it seems to work for us, for now.

"Are you done with work?" she asks, glancing at my laptop.

I nod and close it, "Yeah. I'm exhausted."

Alianna glances at my pajamas and nods, "Let's go to bed then."

She tightens her grip on my hand and pulls me along, both of us quiet as we make our way to our bedroom. Day by day, each memory with Crystal gets overwritten, until one day, I'll look around and find nothing but Alianna written onto my walls.

Alianna lets go of my hand and walks over to her side of the bed, her cheeks rosy. We've gone to bed together every night since the first night she fell asleep in my arms, but she still gets shy about it. It's odd, because we've always been so comfortable with each other.