Page 46 of Crush

Amber pursed her lips and replied, “Yes, I did that on purpose. If youhadbrought a woman, the last thing I wanted to do was give you the opportunity of screwing someone in my house.”

Then the penny dropped. “Ah, I see. That’s a low blow, even by your standards,” I mocked.

Her eyes narrowed further. “Not at all.”

I gestured with one hand, “Hey, a man’s got needs,” I added with a grin, rolling the ice around my glass, and pushing back into the chair. I crossed my ankles as I surveyed her over the low table.

Amber threaded another tendril of hair back which had escaped the masterpiece on her head. “And you’re free to fulfil yourneedswhere you like, Max, as long as it isn’t my house.”

I pinched my brows together, “Why do you care what goes on behind closed doors? It’s not like I’d screw someone in the middle of the marquee.”

She tried to mask her expression but I saw a flash of annoyance or was it something deeper, “My room is only down the hall and I’m a light sleeper.”

A huge smile pulled at my lips, “Whatever. I think it’s something else.”

Amber watched me with a strange expression, guarded almost, “Like what?”

Fuck it, the booze had loosened me up, “Jealousy?”

I saw the sign that I was right. It gave me a minor sense of victory. I had learned that Amber blinked when she was nervous, it was one of her tells. I wondered how far I would have to go to get her to shed that thick skin of hers.

Overegging her snort, she replied tartly, “Me jealous of you with another woman?”

The demon inside me smiled, “Notthatnecessarily. How about you being jealous that someone is getting some and you’re not?”

She uncrossed her legs, running her hands down the skirt of her dress. I could see her hands were shaking slightly, “Who says I’m not?” Amber muttered, glancing down at her lap.

“You admitted that you don’t have a date tonight,” I pointed out.

From her body language, Amber was fighting a war inside her head. She glanced around and then leaned further forwards in her seat before whispering, “I don’tneeda date to find someone to fuck, Max.” She was watching me through heavy lashes, her eyes sparkling. “Have youseenthe security men?” Her tone suggested she was being purposely provoking.

A fresh surge of jealousy pumped through me. That feeling of anger was like a physical slap. I clenched my teeth, telling myself to keep it together, if I admitted anything she would probably laugh in my face.

I ran my eyes over the source of my torment from top to bottom with a look of forced distaste, “Really? You’rethattacky that you’d sleep with the hired help?” Our friendly, normal conversation was turning on its axis.

Amber lifted her chin, regarding me, now thoroughly unfazed and itpissedme off, “So youarea snob.” She’d called me that at Felice’s when I’d spoken about her dating a tradesman.

I swallowed the rest of what had to be my sixth double whisky and placed the glass none too gently back onto the table, “Not at all. It just feels a bit desperate, like you’ll settle for anything. I was surprised you drink cheap shit like prosecco too. What are you doing, trying to rough it?” The direction of our discussion was going the wrong way but I couldn’t stop myself.

“What did you think I’d drink?” Amber questioned with raised eyebrows.

I shrugged nonchalantly, “I don’t know. The blood of small children.” My ratty comment didn’t soften the sharpness of her look.

Amber didn’t like that and her face twisted, “Funny. And itisn’tdesperate, it’s easy with no strings,justhow I like it.” Her tone was matter of fact but her voice cracked part way through that sentence. Interesting.

I went in for the kill, purposely baiting her. Pretty ballsy stuff considering where we were. People surrounded us but they were all locked in their own conversations. Even Luca and Mia were in a different zone.

Moving my body forward, I uncrossed my ankles and placed my hands on my knees saying, “Well, if you’re looking for an easy no-strings lay, look no further. I’d be only too happy to oblige,” I husked, my tone sexually suggestive.

“I can imagine,” Amber said, her voice having deepened.

I carried the hell on, suddenly getting off on the hunt, “I know what I’m doing too as I proved at the restaurant that night. Just say the word.” As soon as that offer sat between us, I felt a shiver of anticipation. The thought of ruining her and shaking that perfect porcelain exterior and proper education made my dick lengthen in my dress pants.

How hard would it be to expose the woman hidden underneath the layers of bullshit she’s covered herself with?

Amber crossed her arms over her chest, squaring her slight shoulders in a defensive gesture.

“That’s funny Max. I do love a good fairy tale. You should write children’s books.”

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