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Until Max hears he’s breaking the internet.
Chapter Twenty-One
Max
“Is the show that boring?” I ask, returning to my seat from using the restroom. Her eyes zone in on her phone as she scrolls. She jumps when she realizes I’m back, sitting up straight and pressing the off button on the phone, dropping her hand in her lap.
When Sydney gets nervous, she releases an awkward laugh. “I was just reading an article.”
“What about?”
“I’ll tell you later. The show’s about to come off commercial break.”
I let it go for now. I’m not a wait and see type of guy, but if it was important, Stone would have contacted me already. The show is almost over, anyway.
Tonight has been torture.
Keeping my hands to myself has been harder than I expected. The red dress that fits like a glove to her small framed body, accentuating her large breasts and dipping in the back to right above her ass, has given me heart palpitations all fucking night long. Sydney is my weak spot, and it pisses me off that I can’t calm my emotions when I’m with her.
Walking beside her the whole night, I felt more like an ogling teenager than a bodyguard. The number of times I smiled like a goon is ridiculous. But every time Sydney found my gaze, I couldn’t help it. And watching her light up on stage, I’m damn proud of her. She’s come a long way from the broken woman I found on the floor over a year and a half ago.
But now, as we get closer to the end of the night, my mind won’t stop stripping off the red dress, leaving her naked body standing in front of me. Ready and willing. I swallow back the fantasy, wiping my hands down my black pants. Focusing on the two people on stage presenting awards, I concentrate on every word they say. I’m relieved when I notice it’s the last award of the night - Artist of the Year. As soon as they announce the winner, everyone stands and claps. I follow suit, sticking a hand in my pocket and adjusting my semi-hard cock.
“Ready to go?” I ask, placing my hand on her lower back. Fuck. I pull it back, shoving my hands in my pockets again.
She turns, her eyes jumping from my pockets to my eyes. She nods, her purse gripped in her hands. Another thing I’m doing, reading into everything. Her body language tells me she wants me to keep my hand there. But her body language also told me she wanted me in that hotel room and she still walked out. I can’t do that again.
“I have to change before going to the after-party though.”
Shit. I forgot about the after-party. She bites the inside of her lip, worry etched on her face. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “Yes. I just… never mind. We’ll go back to the hotel and change.” She lets out a relieved breath. Me, not so much. At least she won’t be wearing the red dress.
Jesus Christ! Why can’t she wear something in another color, like puke green?
She smiles from the doorway of her room. I went to my room and changed, figuring I’d have plenty of time to get back here and wait for her. I was right. I’ve been out here for fifteen minutes. Her tight red dress has nothing on the tiny, short red skirt and the sexy white sleeveless top that has a deep v-cut and shows off her gorgeous boobs better than the other number.
Fucking torture. I’m tempted to call Stone to escort her. I’ll tell her I don’t feel good. It’d be an easy lie since the pain from my ball sac is so intense I might pass out. Eyeing her up and down, I shake the idea from my head. Stone’s a man and I don’t need to be wondering if he’s hard as hell all night long, staring at her. I’ll just buck up and endure the pain.
“Ready?” My voice breaks and I clear my throat. She pops up an eyebrow.
“Yes,” she says, slowly. “Are you feeling okay, Max? You’re a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” She stands taller, my tone coming out harsh. I squeeze the bridge of my nose and lie. “I just got an update that Rex is still missing.”
She lays her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry. I would understand if you needed to go search for him.” Her sing-song voice is pure silk. Yet, I like the rawness underneath more.
“No. Cory is still working on it. For now, I’m not leaving your side. You never know when another shoe blow out will happen.”
She laughs. “Oh god, I hope not anytime soon. Can you believe of all the times for that to happen, it happened then?”
“You handled it well, Tink.”
She wraps her arm through mine - I think she’s trying to kill me - and we make our way back to the limo.
Sydney’s been quiet for a while, which is not like her. I clear my throat and she looks up from her phone and a moment of panic flashes in her eyes. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m so sorry, Max.”
