Page 51 of Crush

His whisky-coloured eyes rested on mine and for the first time, I didn’t feel any animosity coming off him. It could have been the alcohol or the fact that I was tired, but I felt all the fight drain out of me.

“I was being a dick, please forgive me,” Max added, vastly improving my opinion of him. “I was joking. I didn’t mean to come across as a prick.”

If Max could be civil then so could I.

“It’s my fault too, I’m not usually so touchy but tonight has wiped me out,” I explained, meeting him halfway.

I smiled and then turned back to the painting. I felt Max do the same.

“Tell me about your childhood?” he said in an encouraging tone; one that suggested,trust me. But could I? We’d done nothing but aggravate each other ever since the day we met. But of course, he wasn’t entirely to blame for that. I knew I hadn’t been the easiest person to get along with.

I shot him a quizzical look. “Why?”

Pursing his lips, Max replied. “Humour me.”

I sighed. “I can assure you there is nothing humorous about my childhood.”

Max moved away and lowered himself onto the armrest of one of the leather chairs. This brought his face more on a level and I didn’t have to crane my neck as much. He still looked larger than life even though his stance was less intimidating.

“So, what went wrong? You’re surely not going to play the poor little rich girl card?” He said, gesturing all around us at the obvious wealth in the room; the expensive paintings hanging there, and the Trussardi Casa décor. The soft furnishings and items in the roomscreamedquality and expense. His poor little rich girl comment wasn’t said in an antagonistic way and he had a point.

I leaned down and removed my heels, my feet were killing and dropped them onto the chair opposite Max. I remained standing and wiggled my toes to get some of the life back.

My resistance was wavering and after a beat I said. “What if Idodecide to play that card?” Those dangerous waters loomed closer.

Max dashed a hand down his jaw. “If you’re referring to the loss of your mother, then I could accept that, but something suggests that isn’t it. That there’s something else lurking in your past and it's dark and undealt with.”

I smiled and raised my eyebrows, “Wow, you’re a regular Sherlock Holmes.” Before I could stop myself, I added, “Don’t you need to get back to your date?”

“She isn’t my date and you know it. Stop trying to change the subject.”

Pursing my lips, I narrowed my eyes, “What has Mia been saying?” I questioned, pushing some strands of hair back from my face. I suddenly felt hot and sticky.

“Mia said very little. I’ve always had my suspicions,” Max informed me, folding his arms over his chest.

“About what?”

“That something isn’t right with you.”

I shifted nervously from one foot to the other, feeling uneasy. “Mia needs to keep her mouth shut.”

He smiled at my reply, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They were in full assessment mode.

I took a small step back as Max dropped his arms and pushed to his feet, watching me down his nose.

Within two steps he was standing in front of me, so very tall and broad. My pulse jerked as he raised his hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. It was such a tender move and it scared the crap out of me.Don’t let him in, my instincts screamed.

“Demons will always come back to haunt you if you don’t exercise them.” Max drawled confidentially with a dark expression, his eyesdrillinginto mine. He then ran the back of his fingers down my cheek. Almost like a lover’s caress. Warm heat spread further throughout my body at his closeness. He dwarfed me without my heels and his natural energy started to surround me. My blood pumped through my veins and my heart rate increased. I needed to get a grip, he was one man and he was onmyterritory. I held all the power.

I could smell the faint tinge of whisky on his breath. It was such a pleasant aroma, that I wanted to bottle it. My body started to soften, surrendering itself.

“A problem shared is a problem halved,” Max added softly. His tone was now almost intoxicating.

“Why don’t you share your darkness with me? Give me all your ugly. I can handle it.” I was mesmerised by his words. Gone was the sarcasm and disdain, his voice was honest and open and so very tempting.

“Please?”

Those words were a direct hit and my heart started to hammer in my chest.

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