Page 18 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Eighteen

Gabby

Listen to This Boy is Mine

by Arianna Grande

I watched his face after my announcement. Accusation flashed in his blue eyes, but I refused to flinch. I’d made a decision to play this game with him full-out in total honesty. Was I taking a risk?

Yes . Max could run back to our group and spin my story any way he wanted.

He could turn them all against me, paint me as a manipulative villain, and I was done.

He was still the leader, especially now that Landon wasn’t here.

But damned if I was going to back off. My instincts were always right, and by giving him the real background, I was showing trust.

Plus, giving him a decision to walk away.

I didn’t think he would.

He spun around on his heel and pushed a hand through his thick hair. “Are you fucking with me, Gabby?” he ground out. “You set this whole thing up?”

I shook my head. “No, Max. I had a session downstairs in the exclusive club with a guy I was seeing. When I came upstairs, I saw you at the bar. You were interacting with Landon and Elle, and everyone seemed so tight knit and happy. I realized even though I had followers, I had no close friends I could really kick it with. I wanted to know what it was like to step into your world. So, I applied for a job at Red.”

He muttered something under his breath. Stalked to my tiny kitchen, poured another shot, and downed it. Finally, he turned back around. “This is a lot to process. Does Landon know?”

“No. Only you. If I told them, I’d be blamed for manipulating our friendships.”

“Because you did!”

“Bullshit.” I curled my lip in a snarl. “I care about everyone and took a lot of crap to prove myself. I didn’t join to fuck you or fuck Adam or mess with Landon. I wanted something real, even though being with all of you is messy as hell.”

He put up his hand. “Okay, give me a minute. Landon gave me a lot of shit when I first befriended you. She told me you were a fraud but I always defended you.”

“So did Adam. But I knew Landon would be the most difficult to prove myself to. It took time but I did. We’re close now.

” I dragged in a breath. “Max, none of this was fake. I simply saw what I wanted and went after it. You’re all my friends and I care about you.

I wouldn’t screw it up. I only told you because I promised to give the truth no matter what and I will. ”

I knew the exact moment he decided to believe me. Intensity sparked from his eyes, and his body softened. The defensiveness drained away. I barely held back a sigh of relief. I’d gambled, and won.

“I believe you. Though I have a feeling if Landon knew, she’d think differently.”

“Landon’s not here,” I said simply. “But I can’t stop you from telling her or anyone else.”

He shook his head. “I’ll keep your secret, Gabs.”

My brow shot up. “Not to blackmail me, I hope.”

He grinned. “You’d kick my ass.”

“Damn right.”

“So, when did it change?” I tilted my head at his question and he continued. “Between us. When did you decide you wanted more than friendship?”

I liked that his mind went immediately to me, not Landon.

Tonight, had surprised me. Max had surprised me.

Our little game had turned me on more than I expected, and I was intrigued to spend more time with him.

Sure, he was hot, and probably experienced in bed.

But he’d allowed me to push him harder than I imagined, turning me on to an extent I was almost tempted to fuck him tonight.

He gave me more than I expected in the way he responded.

Maybe there was more to this man than I originally thought.

“I still haven’t decided what I want.”

I figured he’d get pissed but Max only laughed. “Good to know. I guess we’ll both find out.”

We stared at one another for a while. The sexual tension squeezed and built between us. He walked toward me, stopping a few inches away, his gaze pinned to mine. “Did you like it?”

The low growl of sound made my clit tingle. I thought about how I’d like to watch him between my legs, instructing him on exactly how to please me. My heartbeat accelerated. “Like what?”

“The sex club downstairs at Red.”

A smile curved my lips. “Yeah. I did.”

He studied my face. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “You keep surprising me.”

“That’s what you need, Max.”

I didn’t elaborate. I sensed he was the type of guy who always needed to be kept off kilter and engaged, or his attention wandered.

I didn’t judge him like Landon. Of course, I thought Max was fucked up to cheat and try to set Landon up for a fake assault at the club.

But I also had no intention of holding a grudge or punishing past behavior.

Max was a challenge I was dying to conquer.

Half the fun was the banter and sweet anticipation.

“What do you need?” he drawled.

I looked at his sulky mouth that would eventually bring me to orgasm. “Maybe you’ll find out.”

He laughed low. Closed the distance between us and reached out. I stiffened, ready to show him he was breaking the rules, but then he did something that shocked me to the core.

“Permission to kiss you.”

My breath left my lungs. I blinked, realizing he uttered the question like a demand. But he’d still asked. “Yes.”

He grabbed me hard, yanking me against his muscled chest, and took my mouth with a savage need I’d never experienced.

With one thrust, his tongue met and stroked mine, gathering my flavor, confident in a way that contradicted all of the submission he’d shown in the past hour.

I sagged against him, surrendering to his lead, and the kiss deepened, softened, before he slowly pulled away.

His thumb brushed against my damp lower lip.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Then he stalked off, leaving me a tiny bit breathless, and completely turned on.

What had just happened?

I think he’d taken my rules and put his own spin on it.

I pressed my hand to my mouth as adrenalin rushed through my body.

Maybe I couldn’t control Max as I originally thought.

Maybe that was a good thing.

I smiled at the delicious possibilities for us ahead.

I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.