Page 16 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Sixteen

Max

Listen to On the Loose

by Niall Horan

G abby shut the door behind us and I looked around.

Her place wasn’t as nice as Landon’s, and not as crappy as Adam’s.

I appreciated the simplistic style of her apartment.

The space was crammed with racks of clothes, mirrors, lighting equipment, and shoes.

But it was ruthlessly organized. Her bed was neatly made.

I doubted she cooked much with a barely there kitchen, but the sink had no dishes.

The air smelled like her. An earthy, spicy scent with a touch of smoke.

I took another whiff as I walked around, looking for personal stuff that told me who she was.

A picture of a cute Yorkie was tacked to the small refrigerator with a stiletto shoe magnet.

I remember Gabby mentioned getting the dog beginning of summer.

I tapped the shiny print. “Where is she? Or he?”

Gabby’s face dropped. Sadness flickered in her eyes. “I had to give her away. I felt too guilty leaving her alone with my schedule. It wasn’t fair.”

“That sucks. I’m sorry.”

Her smile was wobbly and my heart squeezed. I had the impulse to hug her. “Yeah, but she’s with a friend of mine who lives upstate. I still get updates. Queenie has room to run and other dogs to play with.”

“Queenie, huh?”

She gave a shrug. “All females deserve to be a queen.”

I smiled. “Agreed.” My glance swept over the rest of the place. One lone aqua blue couch stuffed with pillows. An interesting scrolled wooden coffee table. A few prints on the wall featuring people I didn’t know—probably famous fashion designers. No other personal pictures or mementos.

“No family pics?” I asked.

She turned away as she shrugged off her bomber jacket. “Nope.”

“Siblings? Bad parental relationships?”

That got me an amused smirk. “Something like that.”

I cocked out a hip and studied her from across the small room. “You don’t like to talk about yourself much, do you?”

She went to the kitchen cabinet, took out a bottle of whiskey, and poured two shots. “Do you?”

I shrugged. “My shit is boring. Not much to tell.”

“There’s always stuff under the shiny surface. Are you a poor little rich boy, Max?”

Irritation rippled but I ignored it. I hated that term. “What if I said fuck yes. I was raised with privilege. Got used to getting what I want out of life. I don’t need Adam’s daddy issues to make myself look more interesting than I am.”

She handed me the shot, those green eyes flashing with curiosity. Good. Better than dismissal or boredom. I flicked my wrist and downed the whiskey with appreciation. It was the good stuff. Another thing to note about her. She liked to indulge in other things than clothes.

“Ouch,” she drawled. “Adam didn’t ask to be abused so he could be a topic of conversation.”

“Maybe not but he definitely leaned into the role. Tats and music. Broody. Women love that shit.”

“They also love a charming asshole who will break their heart.” She tipped her own shot back with appreciation. “Women love a good fixer upper.”

I grinned, enjoying our banter. I didn’t have to hold back or pretend with Gabby.

She didn’t try to police my assholery. “Is that what you see when you look at me?” I made sure to ask the question as I held her gaze.

The air warmed and sparked with that anticipation I loved.

The unknown was so much better in the way it lit me up.

It was why I had a hard time staying faithful.

I was always lured toward the edges of good and bad, wondering if I was missing out by not taking the leap.

Unfortunately, it was now one of my biggest regrets. If I’d kept my dick in my pants at that party, I would’ve still had Landon.

Gabby’s white teeth flashed, and I got the impression of a predator. Instead of turning me off, it caused the opposite effect. I grew hard as a rock. “I see lots of things in you, Max. Probably more than you think.”

Interesting. I took a few steps forward, closing the distance. “I could say the same about you.”

She threw back her head and laughed. Then poured two more shots. “Can’t wait to hear.”

The inches that separated us seemed to pulse with tension.

My hands itched to be on her body, remembering the ripe, curvy feel of her.

After I fucked that girl from the club, I woke up wishing Gabby had been in my bed.

One taste hadn’t been enough. It was the ultimate tease, and if she’d done it on purpose, I gave her credit.

It worked. Because I craved more. And I’d do pretty much anything to get it.

“You slapped me.”

She cocked her head, seemingly not bothered. “I know.”

“That wasn’t very nice.”

She leaned over. Her warm breath teased me. “I’m not nice, Max.”

I tried to move closer but she plucked the glass out of my fingers.

Refilled it. Then gave it back. My entire body throbbed with the building pressure of our words and closeness.

Something was happening but it was so delicate, I didn’t want to make the wrong move again and destroy the possibility of fucking her.

Fortunately, I knew the power of silence.

I sipped my drink this time and let the silence stretch.

Pondered my next move. Watched her try to assess me as I stayed calm.

It was odd—Landon made me lose my temper so easily when she tried to manipulate me.

But with Gabby, it was as if we were simply assessing the other in an exciting game where we both didn’t know the ending.

Or we both believed we’d win.

Finally, she broke. “Do you like fucking nice girls, Max? Does that get you off?”

I rotated the glass in my fingers. “Depends. I can be nice, Gabby. I can be whatever you want.”

“What about control? Do you want it right now?”

I hesitated, not sure what answer she wanted. “I’m not looking to get slapped again.”

Delight crossed her face, which fascinated me.

I reached past her and set the glass on the table.

My arm brushed hers but she didn’t budge, as if wanting to see how far I’d go.

Up close, her red stained lips begged to be kissed.

Hell, I wanted to bite and suck; to devour her whole; bury my dick between them and experience the sweet suction I know she’d give me.

My hand practically shook as I carefully tucked a stray curl behind her ear, testing boundaries.

I’d never been with a woman so in control.

It was as if each reaction of hers was considered carefully.

I was used to being the aggressor; hell, I’d been taught it’s what most women wanted.

Gabby was throwing me off with these new rules, but I wanted to learn.

Her voice lowered to a husky purr. “You don’t like a bit of sting with your pleasure?”

How did my dick get harder? It was actually painful to move. “Is that what you like?”

With one quick movement, she pressed her mouth against my ear; brushed back and forth; then delicately sank her teeth into my lobe. I automatically went to hold her, grip those curvy hips and pull her in, but her intimate demand made me still. “No touching. Not unless I say so.”

Immediately, my hands dropped to my sides. Confusion swamped me as I realized I’d done it with an unconscious need to obey. WTF? Still, she was where I wanted and I didn’t intend to move.

“Good boy.”

The demeaning comment should’ve deflated my dick but I felt close to coming. Before I could wrestle my mind around what was happening, her hands were on me, and nothing else mattered.

Gabby gripped my shoulders while her nails sunk into my muscles.

Her perfect tits brushed my chest, spilling from her corset, and she moved forward, insinuating one long leg between mine, pressing her knee to my inner thigh.

A groan of need threatened but I swallowed it.

Her tongue licked my inner ear, then traveled down my neck.

Shivers burst on my skin, and I clenched my fists to remain still.

“You taste so good,” she murmured, nibbling along my jawline, then lower.

Then her teeth sunk into the line where my shoulder met my neck.

“Fuck,” I hissed, as the sensations shot down and settled heavily between my legs.

“Do you want to play, Max?” she asked, those hands running down my arms, scraping her nails across my abs, and teasingly over my aching cock.

“Hell, yes. Get on the bed.”

Another husky laugh. A punishing bite, more intense than the last. “You’re not in charge. I am. And the moment you touch me, you can get your book and go.”

“What book?”

“Exactly.” Her pause dragged out the tension. “Remember one thing. You obey my rules or we stop.”