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“If that’s it, I’m going to go to bed.” I walk away, barely noticing the plush rugs under my bare feet.
I pause at a landing halfway up the stairs, running through the past fifteen minutes in my mind. With my thoughts distracting me, Max approaches me from behind.
He grabs me at my waist, spinning me around until my back meets the wall. My breath catches and my heart hammers wildly in my chest. He molds his muscular body to my own softer curves.
He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, the gentleness of his hands in direct contrast to the harsh behavior from a moment before. I stare into his eyes, compelled by my own curiosity and the hunger in his gaze.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful.” He growls before lowering his lips to mine. I gasp, and he uses that to sweep his tongue into my mouth, claiming it. Devouring it. He isn’t holding back. It’s pure need, carnal and dark.
He holds my head, keeping me still as he kisses me. My knees weaken, and it’s a good thing he’s propping me up because arousal has turned me into a wet, shaking mess. He pulls away from my lips, only to drag his mouth along my jaw and up to my ear.
“I hate that you do this to me.” His hands roam over my body, pulling it closer to his own. His lips tickle my skin as he whispers in my ear. “I hate that you are so composed, while I’m losing control.” He licks the rim of my ear. “I hate that you are nothing like I expected, and everything I want.”
His lips trail down the side of my neck, nipping and sucking. I struggle to catch my breath through the tempest of heat roaring through me. A tiny, errant thought slips in my mind and I grasp onto it like a lifeline, using it to keep desire from overtaking my rational mind.
As the thought comes into focus, I retreat from the embrace. Max must sense the change in emotion, because he kisses me once more on the lips before stepping back. The hooded look of desire in his eyes almost has me asking for another kiss. But now that it’s taken hold, I can’t get the question out of my mind. I have to know.
“Max,” I say his name, as serious as I’ve ever been. “Did you think I was trying to use you for your money?”
He doesn’t even have to speak. I can see the answer in the flare of acknowledgement in his eyes.
My head shakes from side to side, almost unconsciously. No, that can’t be right. I haven’t done anything to deserve his suspicion. But I can see the hint of regret in his expression, the admission in his posture. A wave of sadness sweeps through me, dousing the passion like an ocean wave crashing over a burning candle.
“I have to go.”
Max takes another step back, opening a pathway to the rest of the staircase. I continue upstairs, bittersweet tears running down my cheeks. I always knew that if I were ever going to be with, anyone it would be someone with shared passion and interests. Maybe Max and I had a chance at that. But I can’t be with someone who assumes the worst about me. And that truth creates a small crack in the corner of my heart.
