Page 84 of Crush

Fifteen

Amber

My entire body was singing. The encounter between Max and me had been another first. Was I proud of the fact that I’d just let him screw me in the bathroom, possibly not but it had felt so good. It was one of those moments when you knew you shouldn’t but couldn’t help yourself.

The sex had been wild and free and I hadlovedhow that made me feel. Max’s dominating behaviour during sex was a complete turn-on as it felt natural and unforced. I remembered hooking up with a guy a few months ago where we’d discussed our likes and dislikes between the sheets and it had been plain awful. It had almost felt like I was in a bad version of a Fifty Shades novel and the guy hadn’t known what he was doing at all. He certainly hadn’t been confident. He’d kept apologising every two minutes when he’d thought he’d hurt me.

Why was intimacy with Max so amazing? Sex was the closest way you could be with another person and when you liked that someone, it made it feel worthwhile and deep. And dare I say, lasting? Nothing like what I had with Zander. I pushed that looming thought that he was now free to one side. I wanted to work out why Max made me feel so much more.

Because there are real feelings involved. You’re falling for him.

I glanced towards the archway that led to the bathroom, where the hell was he? I checked my purse for my phone, thinking about texting him, but of course; Max still had my mobile. I still felt annoyed that Max and my father had conspired behind my back. When would everyone stop treating me like I needed a saviour?

Because you do.My inner voice needed to do one, either that or Max should come back from the toilets and stop me from having too much thinking time.We still needed to talk. I knew Max would want to know more about the kidnapping and what happened with Zander.

Eventually, he appeared and our eyes met across the crowded dance floor. He was so handsome and strong and he made me feel so good. Why the hell shouldn’t I trust him and explain about that shitty phase in my life; he already knew half of it. Maybe, like Mia, he’d understand.

Thoughts of Zander continued to swim through my thoughts and I felt slightly nauseous. What if hedidcome for me? And if he did, how would I feel if I saw him again? Disgusted, excited, what?

As Max walked towards me with a tender expression, my heart skipped a beat and thoughts of Zander went away.

You are falling for him.

“Apologies, I got stuck with the granny bitches from hell,” Max said with a smile. I shot him one of my own.

“Did they catch you in there?”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. I used the famous Hunter charm,” he said with a quirk of his head.

“You do have some then?” I batted back with a head tilt.

“You know it, baby girl,” he chuckled arrogantly and pushed some of my hair behind my ear. “Are you ready to go home?”

A twinge of disappointment fluttered through me. I didn’t want the night to end.

“OK,” I said, feeling slightly awkward. As far as I knew, to Max, this thing between uswasonly physical to him.

He pushed his face down into mine, his eyes narrowing. “I meanmyhome?”

Hope shot through me. “Oh. OK. Is that a good idea?”

Max skimmed his knuckles down my cheek. “Absolutely. I want to show you my crib. I have the most amazing king-sized bed. Don’t you want to see it?”

“I think what just happened in the bathroom proves I do,” I replied with a croak to my voice.

And his next words lit me up. Emotionally.

“I don’t mean that. I mean, I want you to spend the night with me. We can talk and I did promise you the best eggs in London remember? And by talk, I don’t mean shoot the shit. I want to knoweverythingabout you, Amber.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really. Don’t sound so surprised, you’re a pretty amazing woman. Annoying as fuck some of the time but—you keep me on my toes like no other woman ever has.”

“Thank you, I think—well, apart from the annoying comment, but I’ll let that slide,” I grinned.

And that sealed the deal.

When Max gave me my phone, I had several missed calls from Mia and knew exactly why she’d be calling. She would have found out that Zander was free.

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