Page 56

Remi

Something was wrong.

I knew it.

Max was many things, but quiet wasn’t one of them.

So, when he drew a shuddering breath, leaned his forehead against mine, and whispered, “How do I fix it, baby?” I knew whatever bothered him had to do with me.

“Fix what, Max?”

“The trust I broke.”

Sighing, I hugged him to me. “Time, Max. It’s going to take time.”

“What if we don’t have time?”

Pulling back, I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged. “Gut’s telling me it won’t be long now. Whatever is brewing is about to explode and I don’t want you getting hurt. I can’t do this if I don’t have you by my side.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know, but do you trust me?”

Taking a deep breath, I replied honestly, “I don’t know. I want to. I know you are doing everything you can to keep your promise to me, but, Max, you know as well as I do, if things get bad, you don’t think. When it comes to me, you never have.”

“I can’t lose you again.”

“You won’t,” I assured.

“Promise?”

Smiling, I held up my pinky. “I pinky promise.”

Grinning, Max linked his pinky with mine.

“We’re back where it all started, aren’t we, Remi?”

“Why don’t you tell me what brought this on?”

“Something I told Carnage.”

“And what did you tell him?”

Shaking his head, he muttered, “That he needed to learn when to butt out of shit that doesn’t concern him.”

“Sounds like good advice. So, what’s the problem?”

“The problem is, baby, I can’t butt out. I know this shit with the Soulless Sinners and those stupid ghost files going out has nothing to do with us, but my gut’s telling me I’m gonna get pulled in again.”

“Then you know what you gotta do. This isn’t rocket science, Max. James Doherty left you everything you needed. His instructions were clear.”

“And I’ll be smack dab in the thick of shit again, babe. I can’t keep my promise to you and do what Pops wanted. I have to choose.”

“I see,” I whispered, looking down at my hands.

Shit. I didn’t realize.

He was damned either way.

“What do you want to do?”

“Keep my promise to you.”

Looking at him, I stared into his eyes and said, “And you would, wouldn’t you? No matter the cost. You would keep your promise to me.”

He slowly nodded.

Sighing, I took a deep breath and said, “Then take it all, Max.”

His eyes snapped to mine. “What?”

“You heard me. Take it all. If you’re gonna go down this damned road again, then take it all. All of it. It’s the only way you can keep your promise to me, and you know it.”

Max cupped the back of my head as he pulled my body closer to his with his free hand.

“You mean it?” he whispered, his hand rubbing my hip in circles, moving lower and farther back until he was caressing the globe of my ass. He squeezed it and pressed the cradle of my hips more tightly against his growing erection.

I smirked.

“Yes.”

And that was all he needed to hear. He slammed his mouth against mine, thrusting his tongue deep inside, stroking, exploring my mouth.

He overwhelmed me like he always did, but this time, what he was doing felt so good that I couldn’t stop him even if I wanted to.

Not that I did.

I could feel his erection burning against my pussy with his hand on my ass. He ground himself against my pussy in a slow, sensual motion that matched the thrust of his tongue into my mouth.

Oh God, my nipples were so sensitive.

They felt like they were on fire.

I felt like I was about to burst into flames from head to foot. He took my squirming as encouragement and broke the deep kiss to start nibbling and licking his way over to my ear.

He bit my earlobe; a moan escaped my mouth, and I felt a tingling sensation spreading to my breast. The way he licked, bit, and breathed on the damp areas made the tension build up inside me until it felt unbearable. His kiss intensified, sending shivers down my spine, as I felt the bulge in his jeans growing more prominent.

Carefully, Max unraveled himself from the intertwined position we were in and moved a few inches away, supporting himself on his left arm while he leaned against the bed, with me still on top, facing him. His expression turned serious when he placed his right hand on the edge of the towel. With excruciating slowness, he trailed his fingers along the towel’s hem, almost touching my chest.

I shuddered and threw my head back. I felt like my entire body was on high alert, hyper-aware of every little sensation. As he reached the knot I put in the towel, his fingers moved slower, trying to undo it. With a tug, he loosened it, baring all of me to his gaze. He sucked in air and each breath was accompanied by a sharp hitch.

“My God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered while he stroked the edges of my shoulders.

Wrapping his arms around me, he rolled me onto my back, then raised himself further on his left arm while he trailed his right fingertips down from my shoulder and then cupped my breast in his hand. His thumb started slowly circling my nipple, and I felt it harden instantly under his ministrations.

I gasped and arched my back, pressing myself against his hand. He took that opportunity to lean down and suckle the hard point, pulling firmly. I was so shocked, so aroused that I let out a tiny scream. My hands flew up and cradled his head against my breast, my fingers threading through his hair. He lifted his head enough to switch breasts, moving his hand to continue to torment the nipple he had just released, teasing and stroking it with his fingers. After working the second one similarly, making me writhe under him, he raised his head slightly and blew gently on my sensitized skin.

“You. Are. Mine.”

“Yes,” I hissed.

“Say it. I need to hear you say the words.”

I shuddered. “I am yours, Max. Always and forever.”

“Damn right you are.”