Pure Passion (12 page)

Max

I understood why RJ wanted to get to know me and had an
interest in my background, but as the day wore on, I felt like I was trapped in
an endless job interview.  Something just felt weird about the whole thing. 
Every time I asked him a personal question, he would twist his answer into
another question aimed at me.  Felix said this guy was a good friend, but I
could've sworn he was deliberately picking my brain.  He seemed especially
intrigued by the fact that Granddad started out working with Lou Fender before
starting his own company in the late '60s. 
What’s this guy's angle?  Does
he have ties with Fender?  If he doesn’t order a guitar, I’m going to be more
than a little pissed.

“You’re probably wondering why I’ve been grilling you so hard
today, Max,” he said, sensing my growing hesitation to give him detailed
answers.

“You noticed that, huh?  I’m happy to tell you all about my
Granddad and me, but I’ve got to protect my business, as well,” I confessed.

“Actually, Max, I love guitars, but I have no interest in
competing with you.  I’m merely interested in the story behind the brand.  I
think it’s amazing that such a great business skipped a generation, only to be
pursued by his grandson.  I’m not sure I’ve run across that before.”

“My granddad only had daughters, and they were focused on
raising families, not on the guitar business.  On his deathbed, he told me that
he hadn’t sold the business because he thought I might want to carry on the
tradition one day,” I explained, feeling a sense of pride.

“I guess he was right, huh?”

“Yeah, there is nothing I would rather do.  So, can I build
a guitar for you?”

“Yes, Max. You’re going to build me the fanciest guitar
you’ve ever done.  I’ll sketch it out when we get back to shore.  Now, let’s go
hit Felix up for a couple of beers.”

~~~

It was late afternoon by the time we headed back to shore. 
Nobody had done much fishing, but we all had a nice day on the water. 
The
fanciest guitar I’ve ever done, huh?  I wonder how much I can charge for it.
 
No sooner had that thought passed, than Felix yelled for me to join him
downstairs.  Lara was chatting with RJ up on the fly bridge, and Felix said he
wanted to get out of the sun for a bit.  In reality, he just wanted to get me
alone for a few minutes to talk.

“Are you going to build a guitar for RJ?” he asked as soon
as we were out of earshot.

“Yes, he said it’s going to be the fanciest I’ve built.  I
was just thinking about how much to charge him.”

“After he shows you the design and you come up with a price,
add 50% to it.  So, if you would normally charge ten grand, make if fifteen
instead.”

“Why?” I asked, since this made no sense to me.

“It’s all about perception, Max.  Are you building the best
guitars on the market?”

“Yes, in my opinion.”

“Lara told me you blew away Tag McCoy.  Is that right?”

“He was floored.  He switched stage guitars on the spot
after trying it out.  He had played the old one for 20 years.”

“You have to tell RJ that story, and then tell him his
guitar will be fifteen grand.  Just trust me.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you, Felix.  It definitely looks like
you know how to make money.”

Felix wanted to talk to me about one more thing.  He
confided that Lara was like the daughter he never had.  He told me about the
days they used to spend fishing when she was young and how they spent endless
hours on the beach collecting shells and anything else that caught her eye.

“She was a very special kid.   Always full of spunk and she
had so much life in her eyes,” he said, fighting back his emotions.  “Then
something happened to her.”

“What happened?” I asked, hoping to gain some insight.

“I don’t know for sure.  But it was as if that light within
her was snuffed out.  Sandra blamed it on some boy that Lara swore she was in
love with.”

“Hmmm. She hasn’t said anything about anyone other than her
college boyfriend.”

“Keifer?  No, it had nothing to do with him.  She just dated
Keifer to appease her mother.  Sandra was convinced that dating would help her
move on.  You know how mothers are.”

“Yeah, I do.  My mother was always looking out for me, too.”

“Was?”

“Yeah, she died a few years ago.  That’s when I decided to
follow my heart and rebuild her dad’s guitar business.”

“I’m sorry, Max.  Did you mention that to RJ?”

“No why?”

“Just curious.  RJ likes stories that have family
connections.  Anyway, the main thing I wanted to say is that Lara’s spark is
back.  She’s witty and fun, reminding me of the little girl who used to visit
me.  Is this because of you?”

“I don’t know.  I guess I don’t really know her history.  So
she was depressed?”

“Depressed?  She was beyond depressed.  It was as if someone
had drained the life out of her.  I would try my damnedest just to get a laugh
out of her.  It was really tough on her parents.  They tried everything to help
her.”

“I had no idea of anything being wrong with her,” I
confessed
.  I’ve never even met her parents!

“Well, whatever the problem was, it seems to be gone.  All
I’m saying is take good care of her.  She’s a very special girl, and she means
the world to me.”

Ok, so no pressure then.

As we headed back to shore, I sat and reflected on the day. 
It had started out great, waking up with Lara in my arms.  I was comfortable
with the decision to bring on Felix as a minority business partner.  After all,
I didn’t have to give him any ownership until we reached a million dollars per
year in sales.  Since that would be $950,000 more than last year, it seemed
like a no brainer.  But then, the way RJ questioned me made me wonder if Felix
was using him to interrogate me or something.  Only a competitor or an investor
would go into so much detail.  It made me really uncomfortable.

Then there’s Lara.  She fascinates me, but I’ve only
known her for a few weeks.  Now I’m supposed to take care of her?  What if
things don’t work out?  We live in the same house, and her uncle is my new
business partner.  Shit!  This could be a very slippery slope.

~~~

Lara

Max was unusually quiet during dinner that night.  I could
tell something was bothering him.  Things had been evolving pretty quickly, so
I assumed his head was reeling a bit.  The only time he smiled was when Yvette
welcomed us back to shore with cocktails in hand. 
He should be happy.  I
know Uncle Felix will get things rolling for him.  It was such a gorgeous day.
What could have upset him? 

Luckily, RJ was about to drop a bomb on him.  It was a
really good bomb! 

“Here’s a sketch of what I want you to do for me,” RJ said,
sliding a piece of paper in front of Max.

They discussed the engravings and inlays that he wanted on
the fret board and face of the guitar.  Max told him it would be no problem at
all.  They were just basic inlays like those that he had done hundreds of
times.

“Then on the back,” RJ added, flipping over the paper, “I
want to have the next cover of
Rolling Stone
magazine, and I want you to
autograph it before putting on the lacquer finish.”

The autograph statement seemed to throw Max off a bit.  Hesitant,
Max said, “Sure, that’s easy.  I’ll just have to pick up a copy when that issue
comes out.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll send a preliminary copy over
to you,” RJ replied. 

Max’ look turned even more puzzled.

“Why do you want Max to sign it?” I asked, wondering where
this was going.

“Because the builder of the guitar… will be the one on the
cover,” RJ replied.

Max just sat there looking like a deer in the headlights. 
It was really cute. 

“Now, do you understand why he was asking so many questions,
Max?” Felix asked with a laugh.

“Max thought you were the toughest buyer he’d ever run across,
or maybe even a competitor,” he told RJ.

“I could tell he was getting really uncomfortable toward the
end,” RJ laughed.

Max’ facial expressions changed radically as everything
began to sink in. 

“RJ… You’re Rick Jurgens?” he asked, suddenly realizing he
was sitting with a legendary music industry writer.

“That’s me, son.  I like to go incognito whenever possible. 
That’s when I seem to get the best stories,” RJ answered.

“I’m sorry if I was a little rude there toward the end,
Rick,” Max apologized.

“You were just fine, Max.  If I wasn’t impressed, we
wouldn’t be giving you the cover,” RJ assured him.

“Now, get your website set-up.  MaxKeeganGuitars.com will be
prominently mentioned in the article,” Felix reiterated.

“I’ll get on that first thing Monday.  I promise,” Max said,
now beaming.

The rest of the night was a celebration of food and fun, as
Felix and Yvette took us on a limo tour of the best of Ft. Lauderdale.  For a
couple of middle-aged guys, Felix and RJ could still party with the best of
them.  Just before nine, we pulled up to the Seminole Hard Rock where
OneRepublic, Mayer Hawthorne, and Churchill were performing.  Felix introduced
RJ to the hotel manager, and, minutes later, we were sitting in VIP seats with
complementary bottle service. 
RJ must have quite a life!

Max

Alright, I can get used to this!  Felix and RJ definitely
played me to the hilt today.  Nothing like going from a high, to a low, and
back to totally sky-high all in a six hour period. Bastards.  I could get used
to this lifestyle, though. 

Ironically, OneRepublic started playing “Good Life,” and for
the first time in years, I had to agree completely with the words.  There was
suddenly so much to feel good about.  I put my arm around Lara and pulled her
to me. 
This has gotta be the good life… a good, good life…

Following the show, we went backstage to meet the bands.  RJ
kept introducing me as next month’s cover boy, which made things a little
weird.  After the introduction, he would walk away leaving me to explain who I
was and why I was being given the cover.  After all, I was a complete unknown. 

After exchanging info with Ryan and the other guitarists, I
just hung out, imagining my granddad doing the same thing with the artists back
in the '70s. 
This could really be a good life
… kept resonating through
my mind.  As we took pictures with the members of OneRepublic, I briefly
thought about sending one to Celeste.  She would’ve died, as they were her
all-time favorite band.  But I honestly didn’t want to give her any reason to
reconnect with me.

“I’m definitely impressed,” I told Felix, as we exited the
club.  “I definitely chose the right business partner.”

“I think we’ll do very well together.  What do you think,
Lara?” Felix asked.

“That’s why I called you.  I knew you and Max would be a
great combination.”

We waited in the limo for a few minutes, and RJ finally
emerged from the club followed by a small flock of wannabe rock stars.  “I’ve
got your info,” he assured one person who was particularly insistent.  I felt
pretty fortunate to be on the inside, as the driver let him in and closed the
door behind him.

“What a crowd!” RJ declared, obviously feeding off all the
energy.  “I just love South Florida.  There’s so much talent everywhere you
turn.”

“You’re welcome back anytime,” Felix said, giving RJ a slap
on the shoulder.

After dropping off RJ at the Ritz-Carlton, it was only about
a two-minute drive back to the house.  Even though the night had been a blast,
I was ready for a little one-on-one time with Lara.  She looked so sexy in the
short, baby blue dress she was wearing. 
She’s come so far
since the first time I met her.

Lara

Yvette was apparently feeling frisky, as she was all over
Felix after we dropped off RJ.  At least it was a short ride; otherwise, it
would’ve been quite uncomfortable for Max and me.  I could tell Max was getting
a little revved up, too.  He continued to rub my thigh ever more aggressively
as the night wore on. 
I’ll bet he knows exactly what that’s doing to me. 

When we got out of the car, we quickly said our goodnights.
Everyone seemed equally anxious to get to their bedrooms.  Tonight both Max and
I had just enough alcohol to lower our inhibitions, but both of us were still
in total control.  In other words, we were buzz-perfect!  I needed it to calm
my nerves, as I knew this was going to be the night.  The moment we got through
the door, we latched on to each other, longing for that initial passionate
kiss.  I loved the way he smelled and how his arms felt when they wrapped
around me.  After a moment, I began pushing him backwards toward the bed.

“I hope you don’t think you’re in charge tonight,” he
teased, stopping short of my destination.

“Why?  Isn’t it my turn?”

“Nope.  Did you forget our handcuff conversation this
morning?”

“Are you kidding?  It’s been the focal point of my entire
day!”

“What’s your fascination with handcuffs anyway?  Were you
and Keifer big into S&M or something?” he asked, with more than a bit of
sarcasm.

“No!  I’ve just read about them in some of my Kindle books,
and they sound intriguing.  Derek and Hadley have been fueling my curiosity the
past couple of weeks.  I’ll bet they’re having a wild weekend without us
around!”

“I can only imagine,” he replied, as he slowly unzipped my
dress.  “I think we should take advantage of the privacy, too.” 

“I agree; no handcuffs tonight, though.  I want my hands to
be free the first time we make love.”

Max gave no verbal response.  As my dress fell to the floor,
he turned me away from him and softly kissed my neck and shoulder while undoing
my bra.  He reached around me and fondled my hard nipples, as I watched my bra
slide down my arms, joining my dress.  Max swept me up in his arms and laid me
on the bed.  I could feel the anticipation building as he methodically shed his
shirt and pants. 
He’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.

He parted my legs slightly, crawling between them as he
joined me on the bed.

“I want to ravish you, Lara,” he whispered as he began to
shower my body with kisses.

“I want to be ravished,” was my only reply as I reached my
arms around him and pulled him into me.
Good Lord, I couldn’t be more turned
on.

The heat generated between our bodies was amazing as I ran
my hands along his sides.  Our lips and tongues were caught up in a passionate
dance, determined to see who wanted the other more desperately. 
God I love
this man,
was all I could think of as I felt him exploring my overcharged
body.  So many years I had waited for tonight.  I definitely wanted this to be
the night.  After getting the business break of his lifetime earlier, this
would be a night that Max and I would remember for the rest of our lives. 
Make
love to me, Max!

My thoughts were broken as I felt Max’ fingers latching onto
the sides of my panties.  I lifted my hips slightly as he began to slide them
down my thighs. 

“I like being naked with you, Max,” I assured him as he
tossed them to the floor.

He quickly slipped his off, as well.

He had a hungry look in his eyes as he joined me once again,
locking his lips with mine.  I reached down, grabbing a hold of him.  Max was
rock hard, and he groaned as he furiously mashed my lips and tongue between his
own.  I felt a definite surge of lust as I began stroking his cock, loving the
way it felt in my hand.

“Not too much,” he protested, as he moved down my body and
out of reach.  “I don’t want to be done before we even get started.”

I’m not worried about that, Max. You can always come
twice
. 

I got a thrill out of knowing that I had him so close to
losing control.  He was obviously just as turned on as me.

Max

I needed to pull back a bit and regain control.  It had been
a long, frustrating week sexually, and Lara’s persistent stroking sent me right
to the edge.  As I kissed my way down her body, my fingers were already warming
up her lips below.  Just as the night before, I could feel her juices rushing
onto my fingertips.  Her gratitude was apparent as I continued to stroke her,
moving a bit deeper each time.  As my lips continued down the center of her
abdomen, I could hear her moan in anticipation.  She definitely knew what was coming
next. As my fingers moved inside her, I felt her body stiffen beneath me. 

“Just relax,” I whispered as I kissed my way past her
waistline. 

Stroking her softly with my fingers, I began to trace the
outline of her folds with my tongue.  Lara began to writhe beneath me, exactly
the reaction I was in search of causing.  Sucking her clit into my mouth, I
continued to move my fingers inside her.  Lara’s moans became ever louder as I
continued to stroke her and make love to her with my lips and tongue.

I felt her hands grasping for the sides of my head as she
spread her legs and pushed herself against me. 
She tastes fantastic… I love
how wild she’s getting…
These two thoughts kept going through my mind as I
continued to drive her to an oral climax for the first time. 

Lara

Max was every bit as good as I had imagined in my dreams. 
The way he used his lips and tongue were nothing short of amazing.  I could
feel my blood boiling as he pushed all of the right buttons, sending waves of
pleasure emanating through my body. 
My god this feels good… Please don’t
stop… 

The only thing missing was the long, wavy hair that he had
in his younger days.  I would’ve loved to grab hold of it with my fingers right
now. 
Man, he’s driving me crazy…

Just then, he did something, and I felt a surge through my
body.  My hands fell away from him, and my arms slammed back against the bed. 
Oh
god, I’ve never felt anything like this before!
  My legs began to shake,
and I could feel my toes curling almost to the point of cramping. 
This must
be the big one…
my incomplete thought suddenly thrust from my mind as I
felt myself scream in utter delight.  Max pulled his fingers out of me, but he
continued with his lips and tongue as I slipped completely into a void I had
never known.  A place where the pleasure became so intense that words failed to
capture the depth of the experience.  I felt myself gasping for air, shuttering
at his touch, trying to tell him to stop but at the same time wishing it would
never have to end.  I was seeing streaks of light as I felt myself lift off the
bed and squeeze my legs together in an attempt to protect my over-sensitized
flesh.

“Please stop…” was all I could manage to say as I reached
out pushing his head away.  “I can’t take anymore.  My god, that was so
intense.”

As I fell back to the bed, I instinctively rolled onto my
side to protect against any further stimulation.  Max giggled as he cuddled up
behind me and softly kissed the back of my neck.

“Did you like that?” he whispered. 

I could actually hear the smile on his face.

“What do you think?” I answered.

“I liked it, too,” he replied, pulling me tight to him.  “I
still owed you that from last weekend.”

“Well, I am now paid in full.” 

I turned to kiss the lips of the man whom I had loved for as
long as I could remember.  This was the moment I had always dreamed of and yet
the moment I feared most.  This was the point of no return.  I could feel his
hard shaft pressing against me.

“Make love to me, Max.”

Max

Those words from Lara were possibly the sweetest I had ever
heard.  The look on her face was breathtaking as I stared into her beautiful
eyes and drew her to my lips.  Our passion for one another seemed almost
desperate as our lips collided once again.  I guided Lara onto her back and kissed
her hard, feeling her warmth with the tip of my cock.  She moved her hips and
wrapped her legs around mine, exposing her lust.  I held back slightly, teasing
her tongue with mine as we both savored the moment.

Lara was the first to give, as she began to moan and buck
her hips.  Her arms were around my neck, as our lips and tongues continued
their passionate dance.  I pulled back so I could look straight into her eyes
as I moved inside her for the first time.  As I felt her warmth engulf me, Lara
gasped and closed her eyes.  Being inside her felt so amazing, as if we were
two opposing pieces cut from the same mold.  Every other thought drained from
my head as I focused completely on that incredible moment.

I continued to hold her close and softly kiss her lips as I
began to move slowly back and forth inside of her.  Starting out with short,
subtle strokes, Lara instantly responded.  She began to moan softly, and it
felt as if her pussy was actually gripping me.  After several more partial
strokes, she gasped again as I moved deeper inside of her.  Our breathing hastened,
and I could feel small beads of sweat forming between our cheeks.  I began
sucking on her neck, which escalated her moans to the next level.  We both were
on the edge of losing control as our bodies entwined in their desperate search
for mutual fulfillment. 

I have never felt more alive. 

Slipping my arms around and beneath her, I held her as close
as possible to me.  Delivering several deeper, full strokes, we both reached
the most amazing mutual climax I had ever experienced.  As my dick pulsed
within her, I continued to hold Lara tight.  She moaned and twitched beneath
me, going through all of the phases of her own climax.

“That was amazing,” she said breathlessly. 

I continued to lay there, still buried deep inside her.

“Do you have a condom on?” Lara asked, still breathless.

“Of course.  Didn’t you notice I put it on while I was lying
behind you?”

“No, I must’ve been too distracted by the endorphin
overload.”

“You really shouldn’t wait until after sex to ask about the
condom,” I teased her.

“I know.  I was just so wrapped up in the moment. 
Everything felt so perfect.  I didn’t want to ruin it.”

“Condoms do tend to ruin the moment. That’s why I slipped it
on early.”

“You’re so smart,” she replied, pulling my arm across her
and backing into me. 

This is awesome!

~~~