Page 45 of The Mirage Guild

“You do have a knack for that,” she said, holding my eyes as my hand pushed up under the fabric of her dress.

“You could just ask me though,” I said teasingly. “You could just say, ‘Hey, Max, will you get me off real quick so I can stop overthinking?’”

“Oh, is that what I can do?” she asked as she widened her legs.

“I wouldn’t mind hearing it,” I admitted.

“Max, will you slip your fingers inside me so I can come before meeting your family?” Isabella asked.

“I know you think you’re being cute, but, Isabella, that is music to my ears,” I said as I pushed the fabric of her panties to the side. I tugged her hips toward the edge of the leather seat and pushed her knees out wide.

“Mmm, already wet for me, huh?” I asked.

I trailed a finger down her middle, and I grinned as she gasped when I slipped past her folds. I added a second finger and began pumping them in and out as my thumb pressed down on her clit. Aware of what she liked now, I knew what would get her over the edge.

She gripped the bar top with one hand and my shoulder with the other. I hooked my fingers to hit the spot to bring her there.

“Are you close? Are you going to come for me, baby?”

“Yes, oh, I’m almost?—”

Her voice cut off as I slid my fingers out of her and out from under her dress. Her eyes darted in confusion as I wiped my fingers on a cocktail napkin.

“I want you to start practicing asking for what you want,” I said as I leaned down close to whisper in her ear, “and trust that I will give it to you.” Her mouth fell open as I took a step back.

“But we’re going to dinner at your mom’s house. I’m all worked up now,” she said with a whine.

I shrugged. “I don’t think it’ll take long for you to get up the nerve to start verbalizing what you need then, huh?”

I chuckled as she let out an aggravated sigh. Family dinner was about to get entertaining for me.

On our way out through the secret bookcase, I brought out my phone, thumbing quickly over the screen. “Just need to give them a heads up. You know, so they don’t, uh, ambush you or anything.”

Izzy peeked over my shoulder and saw the text I was composing for the family chat:

Max: Hey, bringing a friend over for dinner. Please, do NOT make a big deal out of it. And no teasing. Seriously.

Almost instantly, there was a reply.

Lara: Ooh, a “friend”! Must be serious if you’re warning us in advance.

Ellie: Oh, I promise to be on my best behavior. winking emoji

Naomi: No promises here.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Well, I tried.”

Isabella chuckled. “Should I be worried?”

“You? No.” I smiled as I held open the tavern door for Isabella. “Me? Abso-freakin-lutely. My sisters are ruthless.”

“Oh, I love ruthless women,” she said as she followed me down the sidewalk. “How far away did you have to park today?”

I stopped abruptly. “Uh, I don’t typically drive out to my mom’s. I was just heading to Penn Station on autopilot, but we can call a taxi or a car if you?—”

She rested her hand on my forearm. “Max, it’s fine. I’ve taken the subway plenty of times. We don’t need to call a car.”

“I’m sorry, I should’ve thought about it,” I said.

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