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“Is that what you want me to do?”
I nod so I don’t have to lie. It would hurt too much to say it out loud. The place where Addison resides is already digging its way out of my heart.
“You can’t keep hiding. She knows you’re in California now.”
I jerk my head up, my eyebrows creased. “Hiding? You didn’t tell her?” When he shakes his head, I hop up. Whoa. Too soon. Getting lightheaded, I sit back down. This entire time I assumed she was too busy with her new life to reach out to me. The pity party of one thrown frequently where I was always the drunk girl attending was unnecessary.
“I don’t understand. Why now?”
Max straightens, running his hand behind his neck. “She sort of found out I’ve been keeping track of you.”
I do a double take. “You’ve been keeping track of me? What does that even mean?”
“I’m not sorry, let’s get that straight,” he states unapologetically yet shoves his hands in his pockets looking embarrassed. “I had Stone find you every couple months to make sure you were okay.” My lips twitch, lifting to a small smile and I relax my shoulders. He shrugs. “I needed to know.”
“Why didn’t you tell Addie?”
“I figured you’d work your stuff out and come back when you were ready.”
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “I’m great at working my stuff out, huh?” Max sits down next to me and I lean my head against him.
“Tink, you were amazing up there.”
“She sure was,” Graham boasts, walking into the room. “Better than amazing! Jude wants to sign you. He wants you in the studio A-SAP.”
My eyes widen and I bolt off the couch into Graham’s arms. “Really?”
“Really! Sweet cheeks, you did it!”
“I was a mess out there. I can’t believe he still wants me.”
“He liked the mess. He wants that part of you.” I stare up at him, not sure I can give him the real me. It’s raw and painful and it ended with me blacking out. Not the desired outcome I want every time I sing. I step back.
“I don’t know, Graham.”
His arms fly out. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Sky, you sang with grit and passion. I’ve never heard you sing like that. It was phenomenal.”
“Would you quit calling her Sky?” Max interrupts, standing.
Graham puts his hands on his narrow hips. “You called her Tink. What’s the difference?”
Max chuckles. “That’s like a pet name, it’s not her real name.”
I don’t know if the shock of everything that’s happened tonight caught up to me, but that comment just pushed me over the edge. I slap Max across the face. “I am not your pet, nor will I ever be.” I catch a glimpse of Max’s stunned expression as I stomp past him into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. My back slides down the door, memories flash from the night Max changed me forever.
Anger pushes me into the dark room, only lit up by the moon outside the window. “I can’t believe you did that,” I spit out, slamming the door behind me. I could have died from hypothermia from how cold that pool was. It’s freaking almost winter. Max pushes off the bed, his large muscular body only covered with athletic shorts. He looks larger than life with the soft glow behind him. I swallow as he approaches me, the air turning still. “I’m still freezing because of—”
I gasp as he slams me against the door and welds his mouth to mine. My body submits before my brain can catch up to what’s happening. The raw emotions from hearing Addison’s story tonight rages inside me and I practically crawl up his body. My fingers scrape against his back as his tongue assaults my mouth. He growls, grabbing my hands and pins them above my head.
He breaks the kiss but keeps his lips close. The heat of his breath tickles my lips, the heave of his chest rubs against my breasts. “Don’t stop,” I say, desperation grabbing hold. I need to feel something besides pain. My best friend’s torture clasps around my heart, and it freaking hurts. Max shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “Please, Max.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking, Tink.” His voice deep and raspy. I nod. Yes, I do. He smirks over his thunderous expression. “I’m not like other guys who will give you what you want. Treat you with white gloves like you’re a princess. I take. What. Ever. The. Fuck. I want.” The sharp staccato of his words, strikes a different chord inside my body, turning me on more than I expected.
“Then take, Max.” The words fall out of my mouth, surprising even me.
With a low rumbling chuckle, he shakes his head again, holding on to whatever restraint is holding him back. He mutters a curse under his breath, pinning me with his stare. His tongue darts out to lick his lower lip. I try to release one of my hands still pinned above my head so I can touch him. He shakes his head.
“No.”
