Page 34 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Max

Listen to Wish You the Best

by Lewis Capaldi

I stood there, gaping like as asshole while she gave Landon a cheerful hello. Disbelief barreled through me. All I could do was watch Gabby hold a conversation while my ex’s voice filled the air.

Had this been planned? Was Gabby deliberately messing with me?

I walked out of the kitchen but there was nowhere left to go in the tiny apartment. Snippets of their conversation floated to my ears.

“—saw your last video and I immediately bought that sweater ? —”

“—waiting for Adam so figured I’d catch up ? —”

“—miss you all but especially decent bagels ? —

I paced back and forth and tried to make sense of the ridiculous scene. I thought we were keeping our relationship a secret! Why was she deliberately taking Landon’s call when I was here?

On cue, Gabby laughed. “Hey, someone wants to say hello.”

My jaw dropped.

Gabby turned the Facetime video around. The sight of Landon on the screen hit me like a brick bashing into my face.

Her blonde hair was caught up in a sleek ponytail, showing off those classic features that always stopped people in their tracks.

A white crop top with Unison imprinted clung to her breasts.

Her pink lips pursed in a perfect o as she finally recognized me on the screen.

All the old emotions roared up in messy chaos and dragged me to the past. My brain flickered with images of her.

The first time her gaze snagged mine at the bar and I knew she’d be mine.

The way she liked to entangle herself in my arms when she was asleep.

How she’d sneak behind the bar at Red for a kiss, making me fiercely glad she belonged to me.

The look of betrayal and pain on her face when she told me she’d seen the video.

The shock in her blue eyes the moment she believed I’d set her up for an assault at Red.

The cold dismissal as she walked away that day, declaring she never wanted to see me again.

I struggled for breath and tried to keep my voice light. “Landon. How are you? How’s LA?”

She blinked in obvious shock. Seemed to struggle with her decision of talking to me or hanging up. “Fine. What are doing with Gabby?”

“Just hanging out after our shift at Red. We went to see Noah and Elle perform last week. They did amazing. Should be done with the album soon.”

“I know. I talk to Elle all the time,” she said sharply.

Gabby jumped in to save me, turning the phone back. “You guys coming home next month right? How’s the tour?”

“Adam’s killing it. Unison sold out every event and it’s only getting crazier. But yeah, we’re coming home soon.”

“We can’t wait to see you.” I listened as they exchanged a few more words, but noticed Landon’s voice had become a bit stilted. Finally, they hung up.

Gabby turned to me. “It’ll take her a while to forgive you.”

I jerked back. “Why did you do that? Now, everyone’s going to know we’re together!”

She cocked her head. “So? You thought I was fucking Adam forever and we were just friends. We work together. Hang together. Soon, Landon’s going to be home and everyone will need to face each other. Figured it’d be good to show her I’m not avoiding you.”

I raked my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I don’t understand you. That was seriously fucked up, Gabby.”

“I didn’t know she was going to call. But honestly? Better to rip off the band aid. Now, the first convo is over. We can move on.”

Suddenly, I only wanted to be alone. Untangle all the guilty thoughts suddenly cramming my brain. “Whatever. I gotta go.”

“No, you don’t.”

I stilled, staring down at her. Irritation hit. “Oh, so now you know my schedule?”

Her gaze never wavered. The gold-green glint in her eyes had the usual effect on me, making me want to ask if I could kiss her; touch her; bring her pleasure.

What was happening with us? Why did my feelings for Gabby seem so different from Landon, yet more intense? Was it the foreplay and all this Dom/sub shit I was getting addicted to? Or something more?

“Do you still think you’re in love with her?”

I backed away, needing space. Shook my head hard. “No. I’ve moved on. Not that it matters. Just because we play some games and want to fuck doesn’t give you rights.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at her plump lips. “I think it does. I think holding on to Landon keeps you safe from whatever we’re doing together.”

I spit out a harsh laugh. “Sorry, Gabs, but I’m not serious about you. We’re having fun. That’s it. If you want more, we better cut things off now.”

Any other woman would be either intimidated or pissed off.

She didn’t seem to care. Hunger washed through me, and damned if my hands didn’t begin to shake with the need to touch her.

The way she wasn’t affected by anything I said or did made me want to show her even more.

I was used to hiding my darkness from the world.

Selfishness was masked under my smile. My need to have whatever I wanted in the moment without thinking of other people was a secret shame I’d made peace of.

But not once had I believed a woman would be okay with it.

“No, you don’t,” she said calmly. “You’re just as addicted to me as I am to you. It’s simply easier to cast Landon in the role of perfect princess.” Her shoulder lifted in a half shrug. “She did the same with you. Until Adam forced her to face the truth about what she really wanted.”

The words stung like a disturbed bee nest. I hated thinking of Adam giving Landon all the things I’d been unable to. “They’ll never make it. He’ll replace her and she’ll regret this whole thing.”

“Doubt it. I knew they were meant for each other from the beginning. It was obvious.”

I practically sneered at her confident summary. “I got cast as the bad guy for one drunken night, when they’re the ones cheating and lying for weeks. But they start using bullshit terms like soul-mates and suddenly it’s okay. Landon and I were good for one another until Adam fucked with her head.”

Gabby studied me. I got the impression she was ready to say another thing I wouldn’t like. “Landon never pushed or questioned who you really were, did she Max? She kept you safe. She kept you a good boy for the wrong reasons. That way, you never have to admit what you really want.”

“Yeah? What do you think I want?” I challenged.

Her smile was slow and a bit mean. “You want to do whatever I tell you. You want to be a good boy for the right reasons. Right now, you want to sink to your knees and ask me real nice to lick my pussy until I come.”

The room swayed. My dick swelled so hard and fast, I got dizzy.

I couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth—the same mouth I wanted wrapped around my dick again, sucking hard as I begged.

The shadows I’d willingly stepped into surrounded me, and now I didn’t want to leave.

Damned if it took every ounce of control to keep my voice full of cold dismissal.

“That’s fucking. You’re only proving my point. ”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She crossed the room until she was inches away.

I studied the curves of her face, the smattering of freckles, the ruby lips pursed in thought.

Her eyes darkened to a glowing emerald as she ran a finger down the side of my cheek, her sweet breath rushing over my mouth.

“I’m bad too,” she whispered. “I’ve been looking for a man who’s not afraid of little ol’ me.

So why don’t we see? If it’s simple fucking, you can walk away. I won’t hold it against you.”

I kept still, refusing to play her games. I was definitely walking out the door, but my exit would be more satisfying if she offered up her reward. I relished the look of surprise on Gabby’s face when I turned my back and disappeared. She was about to learn I was in charge.

“Or?” I asked.

Her palm lay against my chest. I controlled my breathing so she wouldn’t know I was crazily aroused, which just showed how fucked up in the head I really was. She leaned in, whispering her words against my lips.

“Or…” she trailed off and then a dangerous smile curved her lips.

With one last pat against my chest, she strode to the bed.

I watched with a narrowed gaze as she sat down on the edge, her short skirt hiked up her thighs.

Slowly, she parted her legs, inch by inch, doing a classic Sharon Stone move that made me want to gulp for breath.

My helpless gaze fastened hungrily on the naked length of those curvy thighs, and then?—

Oh, fuck. She wasn’t wearing underwear.

Her pussy flashed in front of me, and damned if she wasn’t wet. The pink, ripe

folds taunted me. Gabby sat back, propped on her elbows, displayed obscenely for my viewing pleasure. It was the hottest thing I’d ever seen.

“Or you can do what I tell you and fuck me right here, right now.”