Break My Fall •j.b•

5.

Maxine

I was never drinking again.
An out of tune marching band was banging around in my head all day long and I honestly didn't know how I wasn't fired, because I had vomited-loudly-in two of the bathrooms I was supposed to clean.
I had been close to a panic attack when I got dressed for work this morning. My uniform was so tight around my chest that I was in fear of bursting the seams. The length wasn't much better, falling a good two inches above my knees. However, I was covered in the important areas, so I focused on that slightly positive piece of information.

*****

It was after ten before I got home from the hotel. I went straight to my room and changed into my pajamas before heading downstairs to the kitchen. The sound of voices coming from inside the living room made my heart flutter. I rushed past the closed door in my bid to get a coffee.
The kitchen was spotless. Cam must have cleaned up most of the post-party mess and I was grateful. I didn't think I could deal with the smell of stale beer. My stomach still felt raw from the amount I drank last night. I boiled the kettle and leaned over the counter while I waited. Instant coffee was going to have to do. I didn't have the energy to prepare anything more lavish. The living room door opened and I heard voices.
I groaned, hoping they weren't going to have another party tonight. I wasn't used to the party lifestyle, wasn't used to these kinds of people. Cam's voice called from the living room. "You back, Max?"
I debated whether to answer before deciding not to. I had gone to bed quickly last night after the whole 'Justin incident,' and when I left for work this morning she was still asleep. I couldn't answer her questions any more than I could answer my own.
I was appalled at myself.
Cam had been right about one thing. I needed to stay away from Justin. He had a very weird thing indeed going on with Rachel and I didn't want to get in the middle of it. They were so strange. They didn't behave like boyfriend and girlfriend...
Louder shuffling from the doorway made me realize I had no luck.
I kept my back to her and prepared my coffee. So, she was waiting for me to bring it up. Great. I took a deep breath and with my coffee cup in my hand I turned to face her. My heart dropped when I realized it wasn't Cam who had walked into the kitchen.
It was Justin.
He leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest, his face set in a deep frown. I jumped and my cup slipped from my hand, shattering against the kitchen tiles.
"Jesus," he muttered as he strode towards me. He slipped his hands around my waist and literally lifted me off the ground, moving me away from the broken glass. His touch warmed me and I shuddered. He moved his hands away from me quickly. "You burned?" he asked as he stepped back from me.
I shook my head.
He nodded and let out a sigh. Walking across the kitchen, he grabbed a broom and dustpan from beside the back door. "What are you doing here?" I managed to squeeze out as I watched Justin sweep up the broken glass. He was dressed much more casually tonight. His black t-shirt rode up his back while he bent, and the small strip of tanned skin peeking out from his shirt made my face flame.
Justin did dangerous things to a pair of jeans.
I didn't know if I was turned on or embarrassed. I guessed both. To be honest, he blew me away.
He tossed the glass in the waste bin and turned to face me. "I live here," he said simply. "Besides, I never miss Thursday night poker with Cam." He smiled fondly when he said Cam's name. They must be friends.
Close friends.
Jealousy swirled inside me.
Had they done stuff together, other than poker? Cam had a reputation and so did Justin by the sounds of it. I frowned at the thought. Maybe he was more Derek's friend? Cam had said he and Derek were best friends...
I didn't care.
I shouldn't care.
Justin smiled and leaned against the counter-the same counter as last night. "I was away for a few days, didn't know we had a new roommate. You know Cam well? I'm Justin, by the way." His smile was friendly, but his eyes were guarded. I wasn't sure what to make of him. He was behaving as if he hadn't kissed me last night...maybe he didn't remember? He could have been drunk.
I eyed him nervously. "Uh, yeah. I just moved here from Louisiana. I've known Cam my whole life. We used to live next door to each other. She moved away when I was twelve, but we kept in touch. I'm Maxine, but you can call me Max." I held out my hand, but he made no move to shake it. Instead, he studied my outstretched hand and burst out laughing. He was laughing at me and worse his laugh was making me blush. My cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
What was so funny?
"It's a little late for formalities, princess, considering I was closely acquainted with your mouth last night."
Princess?
What a jerk.
"My name is Max. I would appreciate it if you addressed me by my name," I growled through gritted teeth. My anger only made Justin laugh more.
"Princess it is then." He ran his hand carelessly through his golden hair. It looked amazing, tousled in such a sexy way. Good grief, what was happening to me? I was drooling over a man who obviously seemed to enjoy tormenting me.
"How well do you know Cam?" I snapped, partially because I wanted to change the subject, but mostly because I was desperate to know if he had been one of Cam's flings.
His mood changed quickly, from mischievous to cool. "Careful, princess," he said coldly. "Keep talking like that and I'm gonna think you're jealous, and there's nothing worse than desperation in a woman."
"Desperate?" I could think of things a lot worse, like my foot up his butt. I was appalled at his accusation. "You're the one who kissed me last night and then took a completely different girl into your bed with you."
He grinned widely. His dimple deepened.
What a dog.
His eyes darkened as he prowled towards me. Standing in front of me, I felt tiny. He was at least six-two if not more. At five-two, I was a midget compared to him. "And you enjoyed every second of me kissing you, didn't you, princess? Are you upset I didn't take you to into my bed?" He stroked the space between my breasts with his finger. "Because I can render that, right now."
I gaped at him, backing up closer to the table. "My God, you are in love with yourself." I laughed humorlessly. "Believe me, Justin, not every girl in the world wants to fall into bed with you. I happen to have more respect for myself than to crawl into a bed that was occupied a few hours ago." I couldn't believe I was saying all of this, but his cockiness irritated me, and if I was honest, turned me on.
Stepping further into my personal space, he snuck out a hand and brushed a piece of my hair back from my face. I wobbled and leaned against the table for support. "You sure about that, princess?" His fingers trailed from my temple to my chin, causing my body to shiver. "Because your body seems to disagree." He tipped my chin up towards him. His hazel eyes pierced through me and my eyes fluttered closed, my lips parted. I felt his lips touch against mine ever so gently, but he wasn't kissing me...he was challenging me...My heart rate spiked and my breath quickened. He ran his tongue across my lower lip and I caved. I pressed my lips hard against his, wanting him to feel as disturbed by me as I was by him. Justin's tongue slipped into my mouth and I groaned in unfamiliar pleasure. My hands snaked around his neck as he hoisted me onto the table. Spreading my legs, he grabbed my hips and pulled me roughly against him. His lips moved to my neck and I was lost in the moment, pressed against his hard chest of muscle...
The sound of him chuckling brought me down to earth with a bang. I gasped and pushed him away from me, disgusted with myself for my weakness.
What was wrong with me?
He rubbed his lower lip with his thumb and smirked. "You keep telling yourself you don't want me, princess. See how long that lasts." He moved towards the door and I felt like throwing something.
"I wouldn't sleep with you, if you... If you... I just wouldn't, okay," I shouted.
That made him laugh harder as he sauntered out of the kitchen. Pausing at the door, he turned and grinned. "I always change my sheets, princess. Just thought you should know that." He shrugged innocently. "You know, for when you crawl into my bed."

*****

Justin

Christ, she was a curvy ball of temptation.
I nearly lost it when I saw her barefoot in my kitchen. Her peachy ass looked damn fine in those pajama shorts. I couldn't wait for her to give in. It would only be a matter of time. I could feel her want when I had my tongue down her throat-her hard nipples pressing against me, her wanton moaning and groaning...
I had to have her.
"Dude, you want me to deal you in?" Derek asked as soon as I walked into the living room.
Derek, Cam, Mo and Dixon were sat in a circle around our coffee table playing poker. I usually played, but tonight I couldn't focus and a man needed to be on form when playing Cam. That little shark could fleece the best of them. Shaking my head, I plopped down on the couch and began flicking through the channels, but my head wasn't in it. It was upstairs in Max's room, imagining her undressing...Fuck. I shifted, arranging myself against my jeans.
Jesus, she was going to be bad for my health.
Cam looked up from her cards and eyed me suspiciously. "Well, well, well, aren't you grinning like the cat who got the cream?" she mused.
I hadn't realized I was grinning. I shrugged uncomfortably. I was pleased with myself though. I had felt guilty over the way I treated her last night, and strangely off-kilter, but after her little princess tantrum in the kitchen I was more amused than anything. The nickname was staying.
"Was that Max I heard in the kitchen with you?" Derek asked as he tossed a card down on the table. Cam's eyes tightened and she glared at me.
"Oh, man, is that your new roommate's name?" Mo asked. "Because, hot damn, she's fine."
"Cat that got the cream," Dixon scoffed. "More like the cream got the pussy." The guys cracked up laughing.
I was on my feet and had the bastard by the throat. "Watch your fucking mouth." Cam stood, her eyes narrowed at me as she nodded towards the hallway. She stalked out and I dropped my hand. "Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself," I warned him before following Cam out to the hall.
That creep made my skin crawl.
Mo was all right, but Dixon was just another example of Cam's poor choice in friends. Speaking of Cam, she was now glaring at me like I stole her last condom.
What in the hell?
"Stay away from her, Justin," Cam said quietly. "She's vulnerable." I studied Cam for a minute. Shit, she looked serious. "Cam, you're looking at me like I'm the spawn of Austin Powers, Christ, I'm not a serial womanizer."
She smirked. "Aren't you?"
Okay, fair point. My past was pretty colored, but then so was Cam's.
Sighing, she looked me straight in the eyes. "Look, Justin, all I'm saying is Max is sheltered and new to the city. She's not used to our lifestyle and doesn't need the drama that comes from being with you." Well, that was a warning if there ever was one. No girl deserved the drama that came from being with me. "Max is a good girl and she has had a really shitty life. I don't know why she chose to come to me, but I'm glad she did. She needs my help, Justin, and I don't want her to run again."
Okay, point taken.
I had never heard Cam talk so passionately about anyone before, not even Derek. Max was important to her and she was running from something.
What was she running from?
A weird possessive feeling came over me. Shit... "So, in other words, don't touch her?" I muttered, stomping down on my disappointment.
Cam smiled sweetly. "Exactly. Well, you can be friends with her, but be a doll and try to keep it in your pants. That girl is nothing like us." Cam patted my shoulder. "She needs this place right now. More than you know. So just be gentle with her."
Be her friend.
Keep it in my pants.
"I can do that," I promised and I hoped that I could.

*****

A/N: Can everyone please vote comment and share, I don't know if people are actually enjoying this story or not?

Love you all,
- Katie💕