Page 11 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Eleven

Max

Listen to Can’t Keep my Hands to Myself

by Selena Gomez

I watched Coop go after Elle and grinned.

Yeah, he was definitely gonna do her in the back alley.

It still boggled my mind that Elle was into that type of voyeurism but I was happy for my friend.

God knows, one of us needed to be getting off.

My hand was getting tired and something needed to change.

Hopefully, tonight.

I knocked back my fireball shot and grimaced.

I had to upgrade my liquor, but there was something satisfying about the vintage shot and the rough sting down my throat.

I was feeling no pain tonight and it was a good time to take someone home.

Noah was finishing up his last set and Daisy was hanging close.

My gut clenched at the touch of regret. I missed the feel of Landon’s body twined around me while we danced.

I even missed Adam’s grumpy humor and the stoic calm he brought to the group.

Losing them both hurt more than I wanted to admit.

But there was nothing I could do, and I swore to focus on my future, which was suddenly looking up.

I was finally going to open a gym.

I leaned against the bar rail as I sized up contenders for the night, my mind going over my conversation with Coop.

At first, Coop wanted to discuss it all with Elle, but I convinced him to wait.

I had a bad feeling Elle could talk him out of it, especially with the way she still suspected I hurt Landon.

I knew my boy needed his mind clear and committed to our project before he spoke to her.

So, I worked my magic and persuaded him to get our plan tight first. I made an immediate appointment with an accountant, and got a real estate agent to start looking at locations.

I worked up spreadsheets to show him we could get the money.

I’d never been so grateful for those stupid business college classes.

Coop was uneasy at first, afraid we were moving too fast, but I knew momentum and action was the only way this shit would work.

And I was right.

“Well, that’s some smug expression,” Gabby drawled, blocking my view of a cute blonde who was shimmying her hips and catching my interest. “What asshole plan are you cooking up now?”

Her insults should irritate me but with Gabby, it was like foreplay.

I kind of liked her cutthroat ways. This was a woman who told you shit straight up.

Much easier than trying to figure out what’s going on in her head and be wrong.

I grinned. “Why does it have to be bad? Do you still believe that crap Adam is telling you? I thought we were good now.”

Her laugh was as bold as her scarlet lipstick.

Fuck, she was hot. Her bright red hair was wild and slightly damp from dancing.

Sweat gleamed on her pale skin, bared from her skimpy one-piece thing, and her high boots showed off her perfect curvy ass.

I had the sudden urge to see what she’d do if I reached out and touched her.

I’d been getting mixed vibes, and I couldn’t help wondering what she meant by that whispered promise at Red. That she had something to show me.

My dick stirred.

“Most of your plans go sideways, Max.” My name spilled from her tongue like candy. I liked it. “And we’re good, but it doesn’t mean I believe you didn’t do shady shit.”

I dodged the conflict with expert ease. I didn’t want to linger on the stuff with Landon. “This plan is different.”

Her tongue slicked over her lower lip. Interest gleamed in her green eyes. “Oh, yeah? What is it?”

I had no plans to tell anyone, especially at this early start. But the words blurted out of my mouth. “Coop and I are gonna open a gym.”

Her eyes widened. “What? Wait—isn’t Coop doing his photo stuff?”

Irritation rippled. “Yeah, but he hasn’t been happy lately, chasing jobs, trying to make a living. It’s bullshit.”

“Wow, I’m surprised. Does Elle know? She hasn’t mentioned it.”

I narrowed my gaze. “This was my idea, Gabs. Why are you so worried about Coop and Elle?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, you just caught me off guard. I didn’t know you were thinking of a gym. I assumed you were focused on modeling.”

“Yeah, but I hate it. I need something to dig into. I want something for my own. Figured you’d understand.”

Her gaze fastened on mine. A mix of emotions flashed, which made me want to look deeper. Gabby may speak straight forward, but her thoughts were all shadowed secrets. I wondered what it would be like to be the man she confided in. “I do. Honestly, I think it’s a great idea.”

Her approval warmed my blood. I didn’t think about the fact she was the first person I told. “Thanks.”

She shifted her weight and the gap between us closed. The scent of her perfume drifted to my nostrils; an earthy musk reminding me of sex. “Hope you’re not going to quit Red too soon. Things will be boring without you.”

My brow climbed. “Yeah? Nice to know you care.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not that much.”

I laughed. “You’re such a ball buster. Maybe you can give me some good tips for running my own place? Sounds like you’re doing great with the Drip.”

“I am but I work nonstop. Red pays a crapload of money and the hours are flexible, so I’m not looking to quit soon.” A tiny smile played on her lips. “Hope you’re not afraid of hard work.”

I waved my hand in the air. “Nah, I’ve been bored. I need a challenge.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

Her tone screamed flirty. I paused, wondering what the hell was going on, but no way was I gonna back off. If Gabby wanted me to fuck her, I would happily comply. It’d been on my bucket list. “You seem like you know about me.”

“I do. You didn’t fuck that girl at Red, did you?”

Oh, yeah. Things were getting interesting. I took a step closer. “No. You said not to.”

She gave a husky laugh. “That’s right. How do you feel about doing what I say?”

Music blasted. Lights flashed. My gaze locked in and suddenly, my dick was rock hard and back in action. Alleluia . “I guess it depends on the command.”

She jerked her head to the side. “You were going to hook up with that blonde tonight?”

“Thought about it. Something says I won’t need to anymore.”

Amusement flickered over her face. “Why? Because you’re going to fuck me?”

Heat gushed through my body. Landon loved to keep me off balance but Gabby was different. Like she was deliberately stoking the fire of challenge between us. Like she loved to play games like I did.

Like Gabby already knew she’d win.

I ducked my head and spoke near her ear. “Am I? Would you like that?”

Warm breath rushed over my cheek. “You’re asking the wrong questions.”

“Oh yeah? What should I be asking?”

I was ready to put my hands on her; show off my moves and confirm I could make her feel good. It was a familiar push-pull that made the sex hotter, and I was an expert. I took my job seriously in bed—I refused to leave a woman behind. If she didn’t orgasm, I’d failed.

I despised failure.

Her head arched back in one quick movement and suddenly there was a gaping space between us. I blinked, temporarily thrown off by the retreat.

“I’m disappointed, Max. I thought you were bored. You’ve played this role a million times. Do you really want to stick your fingers under my skirt to give me a quickie? Or fuck me half drunk on your mattress and convince yourself I had a good time?”

It took a while for the blood in my dick to reach my brain and figure out what was happening. “You like word games beforehand, Gabby?” I countered. “Does it make you come harder to tangle me up in confusion and mixed signals? Because if that’s what you want, I can give it to you.”

In seconds, her face smoothed over. Coldness replaced the playful lust, and I wondered why I mourned it so hard, regretting whatever wrong move I’d made to ruin the moment. “No. I’m not interested in either. Forget it. I thought you’d do something to surprise me but you’re not ready.”

I snapped my jaw shut and refused to back off. “Funny, I think it’s the opposite. I think you came here tonight with the goal to fuck me, then got spooked. Did Landon get in your head? Adam? Or are you just not ready to find I was the one all along that could give you what you need?”

She just stared at me, not moving, seeming to be calculating my next move and her response. I pressed my advantage. “Why else would you have said you had something for me? Something I’d like? Something I’ve been craving?”

Her juicy lips curved upward. Then that sexy mouth pressed against mine so lightly, it was barely a brush. A fragile taste of so much more to come if only I got the right password and sprung open the box.

“Sorry, Max. You can’t give me what I need,” she whispered.

She was trying to manipulate me. I’d met tons of women who’d tried before. Normally, there wasn’t a woman I needed that bad. I’d laugh and step back, with my hands up, letting her run the show. I used to allow Landon to win because I honestly believed I loved her, so it was still on my terms.

I could easily bed the blonde on the dancefloor. I could go home and get some sleep. I had plenty of options. I didn’t need to fuck Gabby tonight. I didn’t need anyone.

But in that moment, I wanted to push us both to the edge and see where the lines blurred. Especially if this was just a way to see if I had the balls to try.

My hands slid around her waist, and I closed the gap between our mouths, taking hers in a demanding, hot kiss.

She allowed me a few precious seconds to get a hit of her sultry taste; the imprint of her lips over mine; the softness of her curvy ass under my fingers.

Then she pulled back. Gave me a slow, smug smile.

And slapped me across the face.