Page 22 of Invisible String (The Underground #1)

My body freezes, and I can’t even process the numbers he’s reciting.

He is giving her his phone number. I’m the one fucking him, and I don’t have his number.

He doesn’t have mine. She texts him because I hear his rough voice when he says, “Got it.” His phone vibrates on the bench.

She walks up to him, hugging him, and he returns it.

She then leans to kiss his cheek. He doesn’t react as I hoped.

Maybe push her away. “See ya,” he says as he walks out.

She takes a second glance at him. She wants him. It’s obvious.

With a shattered heart, I step back into the shadows.

The woman walks to her car with a pep in her step.

I’m not a crier. No, I’m not, but I can’t help feeling overwhelmed right now.

Like an idiot, I fell in love with Max. I wished for something that could never happen.

The green jealousy monster inside wants to claim him, but you can’t claim someone who doesn’t want it.

Once the car peels out of the driveway and onto the busy street, I walk to my vehicle with tears in my eyes. I’ve never cried for a man, and I dislike looking weak.

“Rain?” Max shouts.

I wipe my tears before turning. “Yeah?”

He jogs toward me with one of his gloves on. “What are you doing here?” His brows go into a downward V. Did he not want me to see the woman flirting with him or simply not want me here?

“You left for a couple of hours. I was worried about you. I came to check if you were here.”

He examines my face. “Are you okay? Were you crying?”

“No, dust blew in my eyes, and I think I got sand in them,” I lie. He reaches for my hand with his wraps still on.

“Let’s go inside so you can wash them.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it once I get home.” I try to untangle myself from him.

His eyebrows collide. “Rain, you barely know how to drive, and with dirt in your eye, that’s a dangerous combination,” he muses.

He ignores my groaning and whisks me away into the gym, shutting the door behind us and locking it. He then points to the restroom.

Five minutes later, after calming myself, I exit the restroom. He peers up from unwrapping his hands. “Did you get it out?”

“Yup,” I answer dryly and with a snap to it.

He scrutinizes me from head to toe. I forgot I’m wearing a short skirt and a crop top. Let’s not forget high heels.

“Where did you go?” he demands, his voice hard.

“Out.”

“Out where, sunshine?”

I shrug. “To a cookout.” I don’t feel bad. He seems to know where I went. He was here with her.

“You went to your professor’s cookout?” His gruff voice trembles.

I ignore him and check my nails for any grime, just to avoid him.

“I did.”

He steps closer until there is no space between us. “Is that why you were crying? Did he hurt you?”

“He did not hurt me, Max.”

“Why, Rainey?” His jaw tightens. “Why would you go? Do you have a thing for him?”

Venom slices through me. How can he ask this of me when he claims to not give two shits?

“Why the fuck do you care, Max? At the lake, you said you weren’t jealous. Besides, I saw you with her.”

His eyes squint, and his head juts back. “You saw me with who?”

“The girl who just left.” I gesture to the door. Then I look at his cheek, which needs to be scrubbed and maybe bleached.

“She’s the daughter of the club owner. She was here, working out.” He peers at me like I’m stupid. Like it didn’t look like anything. She has his number, and they have some kind of history.

“So you know her?” On a deeper level, I want to ask.

He throws his stuff into his bag. “I do. Her parents were friends with mine when I lived here as a small kid. I hadn’t seen her since I was five or six. I don’t remember much about her. Just that I played with her brothers and sisters.”

So I was right; he knows her, and now she wants to catch up. “Oh,” is all I say.

“You didn’t answer me,” he says. “Why did you go to his place, especially dressed like this?” Veins bulge in his temple.

“I was bored. You left. I figured I’d go to hang out. I thought other people from school would be there.”

He cups his chin. “You thought it would be good to wear a tight little skirt that fits you like skin that shows every curve of your body.” Angry, a muscle twitches at the corner of his eye.

I lick my lips nervously, my pulse racing. “I didn’t think…I didn’t go to impress anyone. Only a few people were there.”

His gorgeous green eyes devour my body. He cocks a brow. “No, you didn’t think, tesoro. ” His big, heavy hands caress the lateral slope of my body to my hips. “Did you let him touch you?” A growl rumbles low in his throat.

“No, he didn’t touch me.”

“You look too fucking sexy. I want to bend you over in every direction and lick and suck you down, then have you scream my name. That’s what all men there were thinking.” His hands climb their way up my skirt. “Is that what you wanted?”

My lips press into a straight line to prevent a moan from escaping. His touch feels too good. I shake my head. He hooks my panties down. His finger brushes my center.

“Good.” He towers over me but slightly bends to nibble on my neck. Possessiveness radiates off of him.

I take a deep breath, letting the tingling sensation spread throughout my entire body. As he licks my racing pulse, I release my breath in a long exhale.

“I don’t want anyone to see what’s mine,” he adds.

“Max,” I moan when he hooks his fingers. When I finally get my footing, I push him back slightly, but he’s as hard as a stone. “I’m not yours.”

His lips twitch. “ Si tú supieras .”

I don’t know what that means, but I do need to start carrying a Spanish dictionary with me. “What does that even mean?”

He ignores me and tries to get his fingers back to where they were at. Stepping back, I slip my underwear back on. His brows furrowed, not pleased.

“It means ‘if you only knew.’”

“Only knew what?”

“Nothing,” he retorts.

“You’re not touching me anymore, Max. Not when you’re going to hang out with another woman. And you gave her your number. I’m not the type of girl who sees guys that screw around.”

His head tilts to the side, almost as if he’s confused. “Are you talking about Annette?”

I cross my arms around my waist. “If that’s the bitch’s name, who laid a kiss on your cheek? Then yeah.”

A smile curves on his lips. “Are you jealous?”

You know what? Fuck him. I turn to leave, but he grabs me by the waist. I hate that I love the feeling of his touch.

“Nah, you’re not leaving. Answer the question. Why are you fuming?” He peers down at me with those damn captivating eyes.

I swallow the spiraling emotion. “Do you want the truth or Max’s coward’s way of answering?!” I shout, fuming.

“The truth.”

Perhaps I’m exposing my vulnerability by saying this, but I’m not okay with us sleeping together while he is sleeping with others.

“Yes, I’m fucking jealous, Max. What do you expect?

We’ve been fucking, waking up together, having dinner, spending time together, making love, and I don’t want to be sleeping with someone who beds others, even if this is not a relationship.

” Although it feels like we’re in one right now.

A fake one, I guess. My heart thumps so loudly I can hear it.

“At least I can admit it. You can’t even tell me you were jealous, Max.

” With his free hand, the back of his fingers brushes my neck.

He’s silent for a little too long. His gaze is on me, and it’s like he’s battling something within.

He then blows hot air. “You’re right, sunshine.

I’m jealous you went to his place, and I was jealous then.

But what I don’t get is why in the hell you’re telling me shit about sleeping around with Annette when one: I didn’t go to her place.

You went to a man’s house who is interested in you, Rain.

” His gaze rolls up my body. “Dressed like that.” His jaw tightens.

He has a point, but…

“I didn’t go to get fucked, Max. I went because I thought other students and staff members from the university would be there. She was all flirty with you. You let her touch you, hug you, and let her kiss you.” I shove my finger in his chest. “You don’t like to be touched.”

He stumbles back, as if he’s shocked that I discovered something so personal. “Don’t look at me like that.”

His eyes go hooded.

“Maximillian.”

His gaze shoots to mine.

“I’m assuming because when we were younger, you didn’t like it when I first touched you, then you didn’t mind.

You flinched and did it with other students and adults.

I know you don’t flinch anymore, but I know you don’t like to be touched by anyone.

You said you never had a woman like you’ve had me.

So you’ve only fucked them from behind.” That’s what I’ve gathered, although I don’t know the reason behind it.

“You’re right. I don’t relish people being all touchy, and I want you to be touchy with me.

Sunshine, Annette is only a friend to me, and I’m not attracted to her.

She told me stories she remembered when we were kids and about my mom.

It’s been so long since someone brought up a memory of my mother.

It made me smile and laugh. I don’t give my smiles and laughs freely.

I gave her my number because she’s an old family friend.

Not because I’m interested in her in that way.

I don’t plan on texting her or calling her.

” He places a kiss on the tip of my nose.

“You have nothing to be jealous of. I wouldn’t know if she is attracted to me or flirty.

I didn’t pay attention.” Another kiss. “I never do. My attention has solely been on you.”

Drip. My heart is melting. A man so reserved says the most holy words to my soul. It’s enough to settle my jealousy for now. “She’s beautiful and athletic. She has the same interests as you—boxing. She is muscular, and she looks like a powerful Hispanic woman.”

A small smile tugs on his lips, causing a dimple to appear. “Maybe she is all those things, but like I said, I didn’t pay attention. You are a beautiful and powerful woman. Let’s not forget intelligent.” His thumb circles around my chin. “Kiss me, little stalker.”

“Stalker?” I huff. “I was not stalking.”

“Yeah, you were.” He laughs, sucking a breath out of me. “You managed to hear a lot. Did you have your ears pressed to the glass?”

“No, I was lip reading,” I admit with a slip of my tongue.

“You can stalk me whenever you want. Now, can I get a kiss?”

“Since when do you ask?”

“Well, since you just pushed me away. And you’re angry.” His finger trails my inner thigh. And my hands run over his sweaty chest. Any man with sweat dripping would disgust me, but not Max. I love him sweaty.

“Not anymore. I came looking for you because I didn’t want to be mad at you from earlier.” I missed you, I want to say. I peer into his tall, glorious frame. “Kiss me.”

He does it without a second thought.