Chapter 5 – Cinematic Pleasures

She waited almost nervously outside his door. She fidgeted with her bag and straightened her shirt. She went with a very simple façade this time, skinny jeans, a tee with a tree on it, a brunette wig that fell to her bra strap that was pulled off of her face with sunglasses. She wasn’t quite sure what compelled her to go so simple, but for whatever reason it was she didn’t want to waste anymore time getting ready. She just wanted to see him again, and now standing in front of his door she partly wished she had taken just a few minutes longer. She wasn’t ready to face him.

When she heard the door open she was surprised to see Jason standing there. “Jason” she spoke with surprise in her voice as she walked past him and went to place her things down on the coffee table. He shut the door behind her and turned as she continued to speak, he was pretty much used to her making herself at home, “where’s Spinelli?” she tried to sound nonchalant about it, but she didn’t think it would work.

“He just went to the store for a few things”

“Oh” Maxie responded, a tad bit surprised, he was usually there when she got there. Looking at her watch, she didn’t realize it was only six o’clock; normally she didn’t arrive until around seven thirty when she came over at night. So she figured she would just sit and wait for him, she opened up the most recent issue of Crimson to see if there were any adjustments that needed to be made in the future.

Jason looked at her already making herself comfortable “feel free to wait for him” knowing she was already planning on doing that.

Turning to him “thanks” she replied with a shrug of her shoulders, how kind of him. She watched him make his way toward the stairs and she went back to reading her magazine. Jason wasn’t exactly known for his small talk, so she was she glad she had left Crimson in her bag.

“Maxie” she was surprised when he said her name.

“Yeah?”

“Be careful,” he said it with a nod, and somehow she had managed to read between the lines of his words. He meant the obvious for her to be careful, that he knew the danger existed, but he also meant for her to be careful with Spinelli’s heart. That was also a fear she had herself. A fear that Spinelli was way too good for her and she would destroy him and once again be seen to him as the “bad blonde one.”

She took her wig off and placed her blonde locks behind her ears. She contemplated if she should leave. She couldn’t believe she had let what happened last time they were together happen. Even though the feeling of taking advantage of him wasn’t there, the fear of destroying him was. She thought about how he thought himself too dangerous for her, when in truth she felt she was much more dangerous for him.

Standing up she grabbed her bag, not ready to face him. She could blame it on the excuse that Mac didn’t have to work tonight; she had an easy way out for the time being. Ready to walk out the door she heard the door open and she saw Spinelli standing there with two reusable bags full of groceries.

“Greetings Fair Maximista” he with a smile, slightly surprised to see her already there. He had intended on being home before he assumed she would arrive, but obviously she had come to visit a bit early.

“Spinelli” she said, feeling like she had just got caught and was unsure of how to handle this situation.

“The Jackal comes bearing entertainment and nourishment for our evening together” he said with a grin, pleased with the choices he had made at the grocery and video rental stores.

She couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips. Being around him suddenly made her decide that she had to stay. There was no leaving him; she had already figured that out months ago when he had called her a work of art, and she knew no matter what the fear or her insecurities there was no leaving him, not tonight. So she just smiled, let her feelings for him override her fear, and went to help him with the groceries.

Together they walked toward the kitchen and began to unload the groceries. Maxie smiled at the barbeque chips and orange soda that she knew would be in the bag. But also at the apples, caramel and grapes that occupied the bag. She looked over at Spinelli and smiled and she just couldn’t look away. Not anymore, she had been looking away long enough. It was finally time she decided to see what was right in front of her.

Spinelli felt her eyes on him and turned to see her standing there holding the caramel in her hands. He remembered her mentioning her fondness for apples with caramel just the other day and he wanted to make sure the penthouse was stocked with snacks of her choice. He couldn’t describe the look on her face at that moment, but she looked happy. She looked gorgeous, her blonde hair was showing and even though he knew the wigs were fun, his favorite part was when she took it off and the real Maxie was showing.

He walked over to her and opened the cupboard above where she was standing. “That goes there” he said softly, closely to her ear. She could feel his breath on her cheek and she felt her stomach go into a frenzy.

He stayed there much longer than the time it took to mutter those three words. He couldn’t get enough of her; she was beautiful standing there with caramel in her hands and in a t-shirt with jeans. He snuggled his nose against her cheek and saw her giggle as she titled her head downward and then turned to face him.

She smiled looking directly at him and moved that stray stand of his lovely brown hair out of his eyes, then she dropped both her hands holding the caramel in her right hand as she placed her lips every so gently against his. “Thanks for the caramel” she replied softly as she smiled to him, watching his eyes stare intently and happily into hers.

“You’re welcome” Spinelli couldn’t resist the urge to take her into his arms. He wasn’t sure how things were going to go after yesterday, but after she just kissed him and gave him that smile that he longed to see even though he had memorized it a long time ago, he knew that all of his doubts were no longer needed. He saw it on her face and he felt it in his heart. This is what real love feels like and he felt cherished that he was getting to share it with the Fair Maximista.

He took the caramel from her hands and placed it on the middle shelf and then closed it softly as she stood there, still all he could feel was her soft breath on his neck and he wanted to feel her even more.

He turned again to face her and kissed her on the corners of her mouth “you’re beautiful Maxie” he then lifted her up and placed her on the island in the middle of the kitchen. He then tucked that stray stand of blonde hair that always landed on her delicate features and placed it behind her ear as he left trails of kisses down her cheekbone until he met up again with her lips. He pulled himself mere inches away from her taste and darted his eyes to hers, wanting to kiss her and look at her all at the same time.

He then felt her hands run through his hair as she threw her lips onto his. It was magic, magic that she felt when she was with him. She flicked her tongue against his lips as he opened them with a moan. He tasted sweet and gentle and sexy and she couldn’t get enough. She felt him place his strong hands on the back of her hair and felt his fingertips tickle her neck. His hands and lips gave her chills. She felt his lips move away from hers and she moved her lips closer to his to gain them back only to feel his sweet pleasure on her neck.

She tilted her head as she felt him against her skin. A shiver escaped her as he left mere gestures of admiration against her skin. She was lost in everything about him, so lost that she didn’t hear the sound of her phone for the second time from the living room.

She leaned her head back as he continued his way down her neck with that sweet mouth of his. He was intoxicating; she felt the tip of his lips mist gently below the collar of her shirt and Maxie felt her body ache for more.

Jumping, she heard Jason’s deep voice coming from the living room, jumping off the counter she quickly fixed her hair, as Spinelli stood there, almost in a trance “I’ve got some business to take care of, I’ll be back later” Maxie laughed as she heard the door shut, glad that Jason didn’t walk into the kitchen and Spinelli rubbed his forehead with his hand “Stone Cold is magnificent at many things, but his timing is lacking.”

Maxie noticed the flush color on Spinelli’s cheeks and knew hers were about the same shade, she saw him turn towards the sink and begin to wash the grapes “Is the Fair Maximista hungry?” she was hungry all right.

“Very much so” she replied with a smile as she walked closer towards him. She wrapped her arms around his torso and traveled down his shirt until she found the opening between his t-shirt and his jeans.

She traced her finger along the edge of his jeans and kissed the back of his neck simultaneously “so Spinelli what else did you pick up at the store?” she smiled as she waited for him to answer and continued with her actions.

“Umm” Spinelli had to think carefully, the store seemed like ages ago “cinematic pleasures, a new book of prose, and delicious treats” his words often were a direct result of his mood, and this sentence was no exception.

“Is that so?” Maxie teased as she whispered in his ear and lightly bit on the bottom of his ear “you’re a great shopper” she removed her hands from his waist and walked to his side where she was leaning up against the sink, she grabbed a bunch of grapes from his hand and peeled one off the vine and ever so gently placed it in her mouth. The flavor was delightful and she smiled immediately, then peeled another one off for him, holding it up she continued to tease him “grape?” she asked ever so innocently, he nodded and Maxie parted his lips with the round piece of fruit and gently shared the taste with him.

“Mmm” he smiled as he chewed on the grape “The Jackal is a good shopper?” she smiled at his sexiness and decided that she had just discovered her new favorite fruit. Grabbing a bowl from the counter she placed the rest of the grapes she had in a bowl and walked over to where the other bags rested on the counter. Picking up the first movie, Maxie then headed to the living room. She turned to Spinelli and with a slightly wicked grin “You coming?”

“The Jackal would love to oblige” after their recent endeavors she was learning more and more about “The Jackal” and that alongside his kindness, generosity and compassion the jackal was definitely much more than the assassin of cyberspace.

He watched her walk over the TV and he followed with one bottle of orange soda in his hand. He took a seat in the right corner of the couch and placed the bottle on the coffee table. He watched her pick up the remote and followed her movements as if he was painting a picture of her lovely frame in his mind.

He saw her sit on the other end of the couch and looked towards her, unsure of what was going on in her mind, until he saw that wicked grin again “I love cinematic pleasures” she said with a smile and he turned to see which movie she had picked.

They sat there through the previews, both starring intently at the screen and once the movie started Maxie turned to Spinelli “this is in French?” it was a confused question.

“Well the Jackal didn’t plan on actually watching it” she grinned as he gave her a sly look and she turned toward the screen, listening to the people talk in a language she didn’t understand.

“Do you know what they are saying?” Maxie asked curiously, Spinelli was a very wise man and on many occasions had surprised her at the great deal of information that that he knew that was very interesting.

“Absolutely”

Maxie smiled at his answer, she enjoyed the little banter they were having and she scooted one inch closer to him on the couch she saw him do the same.

Then she traveled a bit more closer to him and he did the same, then he took the next step closer to her and reached for his orange soda. He took a sip and held it out to her “Thirsty?”

He was smooth, Maxie nodded and scooted closer as she gently took the bottle from his hand and took a drink. Orange soda had never tasted better. She handed it back to him and scooted a bit closer to him. They were now sharing the middle cushion. She once again placed her lips on his, the taste of orange soda still lingering and kissed him with passion with the voices of French actors coming from the screen in the background. She rested her weight against her arm and leaned her body more into his. She felt him begin to lower his body until he leaned against the armrest. Forgetting he still had the bottle of full orange soda in his hand, he didn’t remember until he felt some splash in his face. Maxie felt the cold substance against her cheek and they both pulled up quickly to see the orange soda that had slid off of his face and landed on the couch cushion.

Maxie laughed as she felt the orange soda drip down to her shirt and saw Spinelli wiping it off his face. “I’ll go get something to clean that up” she was quite familiar at the difficulty to remove orange soda stains, and she knew the quicker the better.

“No” he grabbed her wrist and smiled “It’s a beautiful stain of this beautiful moment with you” she smiled at his words and the way he knew how to speak ever so honestly and gently that she felt his words, not only heard them.

She nodded in agreement and sat back down beside him and he turned to face her “I love you Maxie Jones” he saw the fear on her face, and he knew her well enough to know what she was afraid of. She was afraid of hurting those she loved or losing them “I just wanted you to know that and now I have this lovely orange soda stain to remind me of this magnificent moment”

He paused, as she looked down, not sure how to respond to his declaration. He wanted to share his feelings with her, he wanted to share everything and he wanted her to know how very special she was to him “I love the way your hair looks in the sun” he paused and his eyes looked as though they were reliving every memory he was about to share “I love the way your nose crinkles when it rains I love the way” she placed her finger against his lips as tears brimmed her eyes. She was almost scared of more, scared of how deeply she was feeling and how deeply he felt for her and she didn’t know how to express it.

So she didn’t, she just smiled at him and he gave her a grin and she nuzzled her neck into his as they leaned back against the couch and watched a movie in French. She felt so close to him at that very moment and she took his hand in hers and rested it against his leg. She held onto him onto his love, and she once again decided to let fear take over tomorrow. She’d be scared of ruining him tomorrow, she be scared of losing him tomorrow, tonight she would just be with him and his love and watch a movie that she didn’t understand and hope it never ended.

Maxie snuck into the house as she was used to, and again it went off without a hitch. As soon as she got into her room she sat on her bed and rubbed her fingers gently over the book that Spinelli had given her. The book that got more and beautiful every day. She smiled as she stood up and got ready for bed.

Maxie checked her cell phone quickly before she went to bed and immediately panicked when she saw Mac’s name under the missed call list twice. Quietly looking out on the driveway, she sighed with relief that his car wasn’t home. Looking at the time, she figured she would call him to make sure everything was okay.

Hearing his voice quickly on the other end answer. “Hey Dad, it’s Maxie. Sorry I missed your calls earlier I had fallen asleep from a rough day at the office.” She couldn’t help the smile that came to her face when she thought about the night’s events.

“No problem Maxie, I was just going to grab a late dinner earlier and just wanted to see if you would have wanted to go. No problem, glad to hear everything’s okay.”

She smiled; Mac was always so thoughtful “thanks Dad.”

“I’ll see you soon Maxie.”

Sensing he was about to hang up Maxie quickly stopped him “Hey Dad.”

“Yeah”

“I love you” she was so grateful to have him in her life.

“I love you too Maxie” he replied gently.

Mac looked down as he shut his cell phone while he sat in a car he borrowed from one of the officers. He was parked across the street from their house, where he had been parked for two and half hours. The truth was he had called to tell her he was coming home early and he knew she hadn’t been home long ago, and he knew there was only one place she could have been. Rubbing his chin, he had suspicions that she was up to something long ago, but he hoped he was wrong. Now he knew he wasn’t, he just didn’t know what he had to do about it, all he knew was that he had to protect her, no matter how much she would hate him for it.