One advantage of his increased stats, he didn’t need to sleep for long, and he could be woken up easily. Which was why Max’s attempts to avoid making any noise was destined to fail, even if she was trying to deal with something less intense than baking.
It was not even six. Caroline was deep asleep beside him on her Murphy bed, curled into a shape that was more cat than person, her blonde hair fanning across a throw pillow.
Max was once again wearing her oversized t-shirt that ended mid-thigh and nothing else, which, under any other time, might be a bit excessive considering the existence of a man in the apartment, but considering how the night had escalated, it was hardly extraordinary.
He watched her for a moment. Without the presence of others, doing the one thing in life that she actually enjoyed without any external factors to complicate it, she looked different.
Softer around the edges, with the sharpness she wielded as a weapon gone.
An angry Max was a sexy Max, but without that anger, she looked amazing in a whole different way.
Maybe someone else would have left her alone, thinking that was for the best. He didn’t. The baking might be comfortable, but it was also a clutch, a way for her to hope without hoping.
He extracted himself from the couch carefully once Max turned her back, and walked toward her silently. That part was meaner, but considering she had spent the rest of the night peeking at him and Caroline, she deserved some payback.
He approached from behind, still naked, and hugged her. "Morning," he said and kissed her. Max flinched, dropping the cup filled with toppings, but he grabbed it without spilling anything with one hand, the other staying on her waist while he kissed.
When he pulled back, still holding the measuring cup, Max looked dazed. “Morning,” she replied, though her tone was sharp. “I see that you’re not wearing anything again.”
“Well, considering you spent most of last night watching us, you clearly enjoy the show. As a good guest, I should help,” he said.
Her blush was sudden and intense. “I … not … that’s absurd,” she stammered.
“If you say so, Max,” he said, even as he checked the kitchen. “So, are we making cupcakes?”
"We aren't making anything. I'm making cupcakes. You're standing in my kitchen naked. It’s unsanitary?"
“Is it?” he said as he glanced around. The kitchen was not exactly immaculate.
“Maybe. Still, you can’t distract me,” she replied, speaking in a normal tone without wondering about Caroline’s sleep. But, considering the number of orgasms she had, expecting Caroline to wake up was a stretch. “This is my me-time.”
“And, for the day, it’s we time … otherwise, I get bored, and start poking other things,” he warned, taking a step closer to her. She shivered as their bodies touched.
“Fine,” she admitted. “But only because you know your way around the kitchen.”
“Good,” he said, then grabbed the pink apron that clearly belonged to Caroline, and stepped toward Max. “Anything special about the t-shirt?” he asked.
“No, why—“ she started, which was all she was able to say before he ripped it with ease, and immediately tied the apron instead. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.
“Come on, Max. A proper baker needs her apron … unless, of course, you can’t handle it.”
He was being even more confrontational than usual, because he could see that it was what Max would react to. She hated losing. Of course, her mostly unmet arousal from the night before helped as well.
Only because she wanted to jump his bones in the first place, the aggression worked.
“You’re pushing your luck,” she growled, but once he started moving around, she followed.
Thanks to Master Cooking, he could see many small changes that could be done in the process, but he kept his mouth shut. The recipe was clearly personal to Max, and he didn’t try changing anything. Instead, he followed her commands.
Well, mostly. A small kitchen and two bakers meant that there wasn’t enough space. He could have used his skills to stay away from her path, but instead, he made sure to always stay near without interrupting her tasks.
That alone would have driven her crazy, but wearing a naked apron… Each touch, each caress produced a reaction. She leaned toward him instinctively, only to pull back whenever she realized what was going on.
He couldn’t help but feel amused at how skittish she was being. He ripped her shirt and left her naked for no complaint, nor did she blink when he used her throat as a toy. But, the occasional gentle touches while sharing a domestic chore sent her spiraling.
But, just as the reaction, the solution was pure Max Black as well. Another woman would have asked him to stop, retreated away, or at least gone to put clothes on.
Max, once she pushed the first batch of cupcakes to the oven, grabbed his neck, and pulled him into an intense, erotic kiss, the kind that carried not even a hint of gentleness. “Alright. You worked hard. Let’s give you your reward,” she said as she fell onto her knees, and took him into her mouth.
He decided to follow her directions. He grabbed her head, and started fucking her face with an aggression that was even greater than last night, because this time, they didn’t need to worry about scaring Caroline.
Max was merciless and aggressive, enough to send a lesser man spiraling, but he had his own advantages. Instead of letting her take control, he grabbed her hair, taking over the pacing.
But, feeling naughty, he did something else. He limited his touch to one hand, the other starting to pour the second batch of cupcakes. She tapped his leg when she noticed. He let her pull back.
[Achievement complete. Take over Max’s kitchen despite the dangerous position of her teeth.
Challenge: Hard]
[+10 Charisma
1 Random Gold Skill
1 Random Gold Reward]
He picked Charisma.
[Charisma Perk unlocked]
[Choose One!]
[Inspirational Speech: Move people emotionally through words. Your speeches motivate action; people will follow your vision after hearing you speak.]
[Natural Leader: People instinctively follow your lead. In groups without a clear leader, authority naturally gravitates to you; people defer to your judgment.]
[Negotiation Excellence: Get better deals, terms, and agreements than others would. People want to give you what you ask for; compromise favors your position.]
Admittedly, all three were tempting. If his desire was to take the lead, Natural Leader would have been the best. Inspirational Speech was tempting, but most of the people he cared about, he fixed their lives through action rather than words. Often, steamy, fun action.
He settled on Negotiation Excellence, which was the ideal tool for him to navigate the common and ordinary challenges he faced with little issue, while also adapting to dangerous situations while still staying in the background. The latter was something that might become very valuable if Chuck wasn’t the most dangerous story he ended up interacting with.
“Don’t mess with my cupcakes, you bastard,” she growled.
“Well, hurry up and make me cum, then,” he said.
Her smirk was dangerous and sexy. “Are you challenging me?” she said as she loosened the apron, adjusted her position slightly, and used her greatest weapon, her breasts, wrapping them around the base while she started attacking the crown and her lips.
He had to admit, the warmth, the pacing, everything was spectacular. Only the incredible time he had spent since his arrival allowed him not to explode the moment she started.
“If you spill even a drop or ruin the texture, I’ll cut your balls,” she warned, which somehow made her even sexier. While she did her best to win, he carefully continued to prepare the second batch.
“It looks like I’m faster than you,” he teased her once he finished preparing. She stopped her service, rose and checked them with a sharp gaze.
“I’ll admit. You’re not terrible—“ she started, only to gasp when he pressed against her core.
“I win, meaning I get my reward,” he said.
“Really, in my kitchen?” she whispered, trying to sound dismissive. “How about the bedroom?”
“No. Here’s fine, and losers shouldn’t be talking,” he said, spanking her as he said that before he started drilling her hard enough that she pressed her hands to her mouth desperately, and even then, a gasp escaped.
“I can’t believe Caroline survived this,” Max muttered between moans.
“Oh, she didn’t,” he whispered back. “The princess there got gentle treatment. You’re getting the real deal,” he said as he drilled her mercilessly. “Of course, if you can’t handle it…”
“You’re a bastard, you know that, right?” she said.
He chuckled. “As you can imagine, you’re not the first one to say that,” he said as he continued to drill her, and soon she climaxed. He didn’t stop except when the cupcakes had reached their perfection, Tactical Awareness proving its value by helping maintain further awareness.
“Damn, you didn’t forget to take them out, and they are perfect,” she moaned. “Should I feel self-conscious? Usually, I’m good enough to make men forget their names,” she whispered.
“Oh, sexy, you’re good,” he said as he spanked her ass. “I’m just better.”
They continued fucking even as three batches of cupcakes had been cooked. “Alright, I surrender,” she whispered, her voice exhausted yet filled with desire.
“Good,” he said as he quickened his speed, and exploded inside her. She just moaned.
[Achievement complete. Take over Max’s kitchen and take her in it until her mind gets blanked with pleasure.
Challenge: Daring]
[+25 Charisma
1 Random Platinum Skill
1 Random Platinum Reward]
Charisma was tempting, but the more he used, the more he was realizing Expert Skills were too valuable, even some of the common ones. And, since there was no Perk waiting soon, he went with the skill.
[Expert Mixology]
[Elite Skill: You are a great bartender and mixologist. You know all classic cocktail recipes, understand flavor profiles, and can create unique signature cocktails that would blow the mind of the drinker based on their taste and personality.]
He smiled even as Max collapsed. That was a good reward. A very good one.
“So, who else calls you a bastard?” she said as she stood up, and wrapped the apron around herself as a skirt, which left her beautiful breasts free. He watched their movements without any shame.
They were simply spectacular.
“A wide variety,” he admitted. “I have a model, the owner of a fashion website, a ballet dancer, a microbiologist, a genius doing a double major, and a couple of bitter and bored housewives.”
“That’s a crowded docket,” she said. “Also, a microbiologist, really?”
“Yes, she’s even about to finish her PhD at USC,” he bragged. “Ah, don’t forget the undercover spy. She hated me after I defeated her in the shooting range.”
That made Max chuckle. “Now I know you’re bullshitting,” she said. “A photographer good enough to defeat a spy in a shooting range…”
He chuckled. “You sound confident,” he teased.
“Because I am,” she said as she started covering the cupcakes with frosting. “I know liars, and you sir, are one of them.”
He chuckled even as he approached her, scooped a handful of frosting, and covered her breasts. “And, what would you say that while I’m still poor, my next photography job is about to pay me enough to make me rich?”
“Bullshit,” she responded, but the idea of a lie didn’t seem to bother her. “People about to get rich don’t eat our burgers with the enthusiasm you did.”
He chuckled as he leaned, and started licking the frosting off her breasts, and she shivered. “Maybe I had other reasons to be happy,” he whispered, glad that he had told her and she didn’t believe him.
It would be useful once he revealed his money.
She shivered, which had little to do with the truths he was telling, and everything to do with the way he licked the frosting from her nipples. “So, what will you do once you realize I’m not telling a lie?” he said.
“Well, we can go to a shooting range and I can watch you fumble horribly,” she said. “No one who walks around with a cello can actually use a gun. That’s impossible,” she declared.
“Hmm, it’s a date,” he teased her. “We’ll find a time to visit a range, and I’ll prove it. In exchange…” he started, then paused. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll decide once I win. Think of it as a favor.”
“Let’s make it better. We’ll have it as a competition. And, I’ll win.”
He caressed her belly while she continued decorating the cakes. “You sound confident.”
“Hey, you don’t grow up in Brooklyn without learning how to shoot,” she said. “Once I win, I’m going to make you deep-clean my kitchen.”
He smirked. “That’s an actual punishment. Smart,” he teased as he caressed her ass.
She leaned into his touch even as she continued decorating. “Your lies aside, you’re surprisingly nice…” she whispered.
“Surprisingly nice for a random person you picked from the diner for your roommate,” he teased.
She chuckled. “Yes,” she said sarcastically. Then paused. “No, really nice, discounting the part you defiled both of us,” she added.
He chuckled as he hugged her from behind, and removed the apron she was using as a skirt. “Really? That wasn’t what you were saying before,” he added.
“Fine, that was nice as well, which is an exception,” she said, then she wiggled in his arms until she was looking at him. “Thank you,” she said with surprising earnestness. “This was nice. Standing here, making cupcakes with someone who knows what they are doing. It’s nice, even without all the orgasms,” she added. Then, she rose to her toes, and kissed him gently.
[Achievement complete. Get a nice, earnest compliment from Max.
Challenge: Daring]
[+25 Charisma
1 Random Platinum Skill
1 Random Platinum Reward]
He didn’t say anything to her. He could see that, simple as it might be, sharing her earnest emotions was harder than her rather impressive oral performance.
[Expert Urban Navigation]
[Epic Skill: You are an expert at navigating urban environments, understanding street culture, and finding what you are searching for. You know how to move through sketchy areas safely, understand criminal and street dynamics, and avoid trouble. The city is your domain.]
A surprisingly useful skill, though most likely situational, he decided, even as he kissed her back, enjoying a moment of tenderness. “You’re insufferable,” she said as she pulled, her soft smile already flickering back to her mean expression.
“Do you want to see just how insufferable I can be,” he teased.
That made her sigh. “As much as I want to lock you in my bedroom until you have to leave, I can’t. I have my deliveries, then I have to go to my babysitting job,” she said, checking the time. “All I have time for is a shower.”
“Well, let me help with that,” he said with a chuckle and lifted her easily.
She giggled. “Damn. I assumed those muscles were just for show, but you’re actually strong, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he teased.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still going to win the bet at the shooting range,” she responded as they stepped into the shower. He could have slammed against the ceramic wall and taken her hard, but instead, he decided to change the pace. He cupped her face with his hands, and gently kissed her while they were under the warm water, then gently washed her while also teasing her.
She purred like a kitten, the sudden soft touch making her cum even harder than the previous trick, and she leaned against him.
It was an intimate moment. She was leaning against him with her forehead against his chest, the particular surrender of someone who had been standing guard for so long that standing down felt like falling. He put his arms around her, and she let him, and they stood underwater.
For that moment, Max was relaxed. He realized that it might be the most wholesome way he had used his newest powers, but he was happy with it. He said nothing.
“Damn, you know your stuff,” she muttered, not even realizing the exact reason it worked, but it broke the spell.
Max was a surprisingly complicated person, he decided even as he passed her the towel, deciding not to push her. She was a busy woman, and trying to make her break would be taken as a grave insult.
She looked at him, kissed him gently one more time. “I’ll kill you if I’m late,” was the last sentence she said to him before she dashed away.
He let her, staying inside to finish his shower while she scrambled to finish her preparations. When he finished his shower, she was gone. It was still early, but he didn’t have much to do. He pulled his laptop to check Haley’s website, which was performing with no issues.
Then, he decided to do something else, and for the next hour, walked around the apartment, and fixed some of the obvious issues, like the shower. For most of the problematic stuff, replacing it with brand-new material would have been easier, but even without the show, he knew trying to spend money to impress Caroline and Max would have been the worst path possible.
Luckily, while there were a lot of things to be fixed, most of them required a good reach or some mechanical knowledge. The kind of thing he could do even before his arrival, though Perception and Strength made the process far faster.
An hour later, the apartment had been elevated. Caroline was still sleeping.
He decided to have a quick trip along the streets of New York. He wanted to take some pictures … and if he came across a certain redhead about to leave for work, even better.